"I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, IT'S NO JOKE - SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME."
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PHASE ONE
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Sitting at his customary position in his library, Fang held that book in his hand. Flipping slowly through the pages, without even staring at them once, Fang's eyes were fixed at the gates of his mansion.
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"He's been keeping an eye on you lately", Artena's voice was heard as she walked into the library.
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"Have you called the maid ?" Fang asked.
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"Yes I have", Artena replied as she arranged the books on the shelves, "and she's on her way."
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The maid rushed into the library, bowing before Fang she announced her presence.
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"My calling you is nothing special", Fang said, "I just want you to let your second master - prince Magrez - know that I don't like him placing stalkers around me like he's doing right now."
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The maid swallowed, so she had been caught right from the very start.
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"I apologize on behalf of his majesty", the maid said.
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"That makes sense", Fang yawned, "coming from the leader of the prince's royal guard, Verha, I'll accept it"
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He even knew her identity, Verha felt her ears ring. She wouldn't have considered having any form of dread for a waste like Balkyre Fang, but in these few weeks of spying and watching him, Verha had realized that Balkyre Fang wasn't just an oddball, he was a monster.
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"And that female butler of his ..." Verha sighed as she walked into the orchard to meet the second prince.
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"He was aware all this while your majesty", Verha revealed.
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"I already suspected that he was aware. If he wanted, he would have eradicated any form of evidence, like he has always done. You know what that means Verha ?" The prince said.
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Verha knew quite well.
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"You would have ended up like Barzak."
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"He has accepted us as allies", the prince continued, "that's why he has kept you alive all this time in order for you to witness what he was capable of doing."
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"Moreover", Verha said.
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"He is Moon Scythe", Magrez smiled, "Fang being one of the three lords of the underworld belonging to the GOLDEN VEIL, as Moon Scythe, Fang must have connections with him."
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"Him", Verha echoed.
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"Yes", Magrez repeated, "him. And when I say "him" I mean "him"."
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"You mean Syna ..."
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"Call that name with respect", Magrez interrupted.
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"Sage Synagogue", Verha corrected herself.
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"Not just connections", Magrez continued, "Fang might be the real deal."
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"That is, he is ...", Verha concluded.
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"Fang could be", the prince answered, "but I have a feeling that he is."
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Turning around as he walked away, Magrez gave his order.
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"Pass the message to the king", Magrez said, "that the cave is open."
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PHASE TWO
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Theonis couldn't contain her rage as she remembered the occurrence of the previous night, the attempt on Fang's life had failed for the second time, with the same incident repeating itself. She had found Barzak waiting in her room half-dead and the only thing he could say, was the same thing Arman and Dartor had said before they died.
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"Balkyre Fang ... demon ..."
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Theonis pulled at her hair, she had lost a hundred mercenaries - all elites - in that failed operation.
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"Balkyre Fang", Theonis growled, "I'll make sure I have you dead."
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***
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"What took your time, Tora ?" Verna asked the woman in a cloak standing behind her.
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"I came as soon as you ..."
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That thud was heard, then the sound of a rolling object followed. The round and rolling object stopped at the foot of a statue revealing the surprised face of Tora who's lips were still moving, with the headless body falling to the ground.
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"That's what you get for being a spy", First Sage Maya said, walking out of the shadows.
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"How couldn't I take note !" Verna clenched her fists.
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"Even I didn't ... "
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"It's not that", Verna yelled, "it's a puppet."
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"How can it be ?" First Sage Maya gasped.
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"It's the blood", Verna squatted beside the pool of blood next to the puppet, dipping a finger into it, she took the reddened finger to her nose then smelt it.
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"If not for my keen sense of smell", Verna revealed, "I wouldn't have noticed it."
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"It's waregoyle blood."
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"The puppet must have consumed to blood of waregoyle to make the death more realistic as puppets lack blood. But what this spy didn't know or didn't take into regard, was the fact that there's a stark difference between the smell of vampire and waregoyle blood."
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"We can't let her escape", Maya reminded.
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"Of course we can't", Verna's eyes glistened as she fanged out, "the spy must be caught."
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***
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Her heart beat raced as she flew for her life through the dense forest of the Sage Majors. The puppet wasn't able to find a vampire to consume before it was summoned by Verna, the only choice was the blood of a gargoyle, but it seemed that they had found out as the head of the puppet relayed the message to her a few minutes ago. It was clear that the Sage Majors had already begun their search, and one thing was sure, they weren't only after information, but her life as well.
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PHASE THREE
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"Lord Orpha", the being in that cloak bowed to the man who had his back to him and was standing at the balcony of this tower.
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"The fissures you sealed have been opened", the being revealed.
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Orpha spun around his heart racing, if not for the mask he was wearing, one could have clearly seen the tension on his face.
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"But there was no sign of Secregard's life force around the fissure."
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"Better", Orpha held himself from sighing, "then who is behind the unsealing ?"
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"We haven't been able to fish out the culprit and we've confirmed that it's not from the cadres of gods."
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"Then who could it be ?" Orpha probed further.
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"We are not sure", the man said, "but the life force of the one who had unsealed the fissure was found to emanate from the Domain of the Earth Garments and it's the same as the life force which had distorted the Erama, taken the Valtur, harnessed the seven pillars of Ciara and taken the Sword of dark flames."
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"Interesting", Orpha mused, "it isn't a god, could it be the SILENCES and FOGS have started causing trouble ?"
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"It probably is", the man replied, "but descent to the lower to domains has become nearly impossible since the existence of Secregard's riddle."
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"That damn riddle !" Orpha cursed.
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"Find the culprit", Orpha ordered, "and make his or her life feel like hell."
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"Yes, the First Balance", the man replied, fading into the air.
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"Even after your death Secregard", Orpha clenched his fists, "you still make things difficult for me."
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***
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The rain kept him immersed in his thoughts as he sat on that same chair beside the window in his characteristic manner. Fang took sparing sips from his hot cup of tea as he awaited their arrival.
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"The second moon is already at it's peak", Fang said to himself.
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Looking around the library which was lit by the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, Fang wished Artena was around for him to have someone he could talk to, unfortunately, he had sent her on a very important errand.
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"Orpha", Fang grinned, "you have guts sending someone to look for me."
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"Master Fang !" The maid beckoned, "You have two guests at the gate of the mansion."
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"Bring them in", Fang ordered.
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Seeing the two men alight from the chariot at the gate, Fang smiled, having guessed their identities.
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"King Vel Nor and Prince Magrez", Fang smiled, "you both have finally arrived."
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