Victicus Starbilis

"Boys, can you put your protective shields up at all times when you are around me, that will allow us to talk a little longer."

Falgur and Sheyken who were sitting on the chairs they first set in when they first talked with Selduralto did not hesitate. The words of the man were kind and did not impose on them in any way. They still did not know why, but to them, it felt like he was someone they did not want to disappoint.

"Selduralto...."

Selduralto kneeled at once. The man was her father. The only time he would call her by her name is when he was angry.

"I lost one of my daughters today, so innocent and to anyone who knew her, a flower amongst the thorns and who was the bridge between our world and the normal world. It would help if you went a little softer on the man who raised her and considered her his only daughter."

"Yes, father."

Seduralto answered like a daughter who knew she had done something wrong. The man looked at Salina who for the first time in his presence looked like she had lost her way and was still crying while slumped on the floor. He stood up from the chair and went to her. He then went to her side, kneeled and then hugged her.

"I am very sorry my child. You should not blame yourself. Her death lays on my shoulder and main alone. You were her friend. She would not want to see you like this and you know it."

He stopped hugging her and then looked at her at arm's length with his hands still on her shoulders.

"I am a fool. A fool who cannot protect those I love. So do not blame yourself, beautiful child. Her death is a result of my arrogance. Let out all the anger you feel right now on me, for seeing you like this does not only tarnish her memory, but it further breaks this old's man heart."

He then moved one of his arms from her shoulders and lifted up her head by her chin gently.

"Let it out, my child."

The last words he spoke were like from all cries of the fathers in Uros who had lost a child and did not want to lose another one. Sazi who was by Salduralto's side just started crying.

Salina let out her hand and strike his chest with the strike as loud as a paper landing on the ground.

"Let it out."

He said again gently. Salina started hitting him multiple times with each one getting hard.

"Let it out."

Her eyes turned red and her hits were now fierce and wild. He hugged her again tightly and with her eyes completely red, her arms flaring on his back, and with her ripping the back of the amour he was wearing, she screamed and cried.

This lasted for about five minutes. Salina calmed down by herself and as soon as she did, he stopped hugging her and wiping her tears using his sleeves. He then kissed her on her forehead and then stood up.

"Alati would be proud of you right now."

Those words drove deep into Salina's heart, grabbed it, and did not let it go. Salina stood up and for the first time since she was there, she looked at him with clear eyes. She nodded and kneeled down on the floor just like Seduralto did. Her movement was full of respect. At that moment his words, action, and love toward her stood above the anger she felt for her best friend's death, a person who she would call her sister. As she kneeled, she remembered why she would do anything for the man standing in front of her.

'Father, even if I could be stronger than you, I do not think I can feel your shoes. I think your heart has the capability to encompass the whole of Uros.

Seduralto who had let a tear escape from one of her eyes during that shot scene thought.

Falgur had also failed to hold his back, but Sheyken was the only one who hadn't and instead was watching the scene like he was learning. The man then went back to his sit but also looked at Sheyken. His face looked like he knew he was watching the scene and was telling him that ' Son, that is how you're supposed to comfort a woman'.

"Ladies, I am sorry to impose on you at such a time, but can you leave us. We need to have a talk and me introducing myself to them is long overdue. Salina, can you please take Sazi home and be by her side as she sleeps. I am sure the two of you will need the rest for what is to come."

Salina's body wanted to interject, her mind saw the reasoning and her heart just listened to its protector and father figure.

"Selduralto, can you please go to Sisilana and tell her what had occurred. I am afraid if I go, that old hag would hit me with a frying pan."

All of the people in the room let out a slight laugh as they thought his statement true.

"Daughter, she will know what to do, and how to handle this. Shadow her and learn from her. This shall be part of your growth."

Selduralto nodded and all the girls left the room. They did not talk on the way. They parted ways when Salina and Sazi reached the Mystic. Seduralto hugged Sazi and then Salina.

"Let us both get stronger so no one could even think of hurting the ones we love, ok."

She said as she let go of her, but just like her father, she had both hands on her shoulders.

"Be strong girl, if I lose you, I might just go berserk."

Salina let out a smile.

"And here I thought they called me 'The berserker."

"Awe, so do you care to now tell me what they call me?"

When Salina heard that, she quickly took Sazi's hand and hightailed it out of Selduralto's sight like she had seen a storm coming.

Selduralto let out an angry sigh and went to where the conference was. When she got there, it was at its fever pitch.

"Man, are scum, we should cut off their balls and feed them to the Trial Forest. Only then will they start treating us like real women!"

"Those good for nothing cheaters!"

"I want to have lots and lots of man, and see how they would feel!"

When the last lady screamed the place went silent for a bit and then loud laughter sounded out from all around. Selduralto felt for the husbands and boyfriends who will be having hell in the next few months. Sisilana was amongst them laughing and having a good time. When she saw Selduralto's face though, she instantly knew something was wrong. She went to her and they both went to a secluded place.

"I had something happened by Lariote's house and that Algazuma, that handsome man... I heard that he erupted. Is Alati alright? She is the only thing that can make him erupt in the town's vicinity."

Selduralto did not know whether to laugh or cry. The woman was already spot on with her assumptions but she had never heard anyone call Algazuma handsome. She told her what happened and she was shocked at the first thing Sisilana did when she heard the bad news.

"My child, I am very sorry. Are you ok?"

Sisilana asked Selduralto while hugging her.

"It's ok, it's ok... You do not have to act tuff around me. I know how big his shoes are for you to fill.... its ok my child. I know you loved Alati too. Not letting yourself grieve will make your life full of regrets...."

She softened her voice and repeated.

"You do not have to act tuff around me, you are my child, just like everyone else. Let it out."

After those words, tears come out of Seduralto's eyes like a waterfall for the first time in a long while.

"It is ok.... my child... even mages have hearts. You have to cry in order to grow sometimes."

After a short time past, Sisilana let go of her and just like her father did with Salina, she wiped Selduralto's eyes with her sleeves. She then folded her arms and her face turned into that of a devil.

"I am telling you, that man forgets sometimes that even if you are his daughter, you are fragile too. The day I see him I will knock his head off with my frying pan."

The words caused Selduralto to laugh out loud as Sisilana was the only one she knew talked like that about her father and the only person her father feared,

"Come on girl, let us give these people a feast they would never forget, for tonight it is not only Mortuus-finstiva, but also the day both of us celebrate Alati's life. The townspeople can have their cries on another day. She would not want us to ruin such a celebration for them."

Seldurato nodded and followed her. Sisilana took out the Vatagroes that Sheyken had given to the guild and started preparing it.

"Owe, the Demon of the kitchen is about to prepare the male of the day!"

"Wait, are those Vatagroes... I have never had one before."

People started gathering around the cooking area in numbers as this was the only time they were going to see her work.

"Selduralto, I will need you to keep every port at the same temperature. Remove the word and control the heart in the sand. It should be a piece of cake for you."

Selduralto nodded like she was about to go to war. Sisilana then handed her a small bottle.

"That is the Ventegroes's blood. I will need you to pour one drop of the same amount on each and every dish when I tell you too, ok? If you pour even a spit to much, it will over power the dish. the right amount will keep it at a consistent temperature after it is cooked and the blood is full of nutrients that will make your ovaries healthy and your circle consistent all year round. If you get pregnant during that time, the baby will grow supper healthy and will more lightly have fire affinity. So make sure you eat a lot, I will give you 5 servings, I see the eyes of wanting to become a mother in you.'

Seduralto was seen red and blushing for the first time and not knowing what to say. She thought of Falgur at that moment.

"Make sure that you find a gentleman like Algazuma and not your father though."

Sisilana winked at her. Seduralto was now sure that the two of them must be hooking up.

"let us begin..... forgot to tell you that it will also make the man be more active in bed. We will have to see how our conference is next year...hahaha."

Sisilana whispered in her ear. Selduralto laughed and the pain in her heart eased a little.

"You seem fun to cook with, looks like you are the only one I can invite into my kitchen young lady."

She said with a smile.

Her hair then grew longer and took tentacles-like forms with each one grabbing a cooking utensil. At that moment she really looked like the Demon of the kitchen as the bright moon shined on her eyes making them seem red.

A bright light went from the hand of the old man and then went into Algazuma's forehead just like it had done in Salina's case. Algazuma quickly woke up and after getting his barring and remembering the whooping he got from Selduralto, he set down on the floor. He knew he was wrong but the grief was eating at him. He looked at the floor and all he could think about was his daughter.

"Come now, old friend. You are not the only one who feels the pain that you feel."

A voice he knew sounded at the other side of the table that was blocking his view to see who it was since he was sitting down. He stood up and when he saw who it was, he instantly kneeled down. He had thought that Selduralto would be sitting there.

"Old friend, now is not the time for that. You can stand."

He stood up and him fighting the man's daughter now haunted his mind. The only problem was that he could not even call it a fight but an arse whooping of the highest level. He thought to be lucky to be alive. He caught a bottle from midair that was strewn to him by the man. He looked at it and what he saw inside was a clear liquid with sparkles of light. His eyes went wide out of shock.

"This is...."

"Care to share a drink with me old friend?"

The man said.

"But of cause."

He replied quickly.

"I still have to attend to our two Honorary guild members first. Can you please wait for me on the rooftop? I think that is the only spot appropriate enough for our talk."

Algazuma nodded and quickly left.

'Is this man using the light element for all this? One of the rarest elements to master.... just who is he?'

Sheyken thought.

"So, boys, it is a pity I have to introduce myself to you at such a time, but it is long overdue."

He looked at the two boys in front of him that he thought highly of in such a short space of time.

'I think me being inactive have given raise to you watches to make some bold moves in my town, but acting now would be as if I was telling the world I do not have faith in the sons and daughters of my town. I do not hate you witches, for hurting you would give rise to false thoughts of that I am above you when we are just only human living the way we think it is best for ourselves. But.... do you see it, because I see it? Two boys who share the same hate for you such that I think the killing of innocent people you have done throughout the ages will not rival the corpses of your own they will leave behind.'

That thought took less than a second. He looked at Falgur and then looked at Sheyken intently.

'I have to protect this two until they can protect themselves, for they are the bane of all witches. The mistake of killing someone they had come to love as a friend will come back to you a hundred-fold, for I had already seen tense hatred for you witches in them.'

"I am the Guild master of the Desert guild, Victicus Starbilis ."

He said as he looked at them both.

"I am sure you have already earned the right to know my surname even before we met."

Sheyken and Falgur just gulped. Them being near him was scary enough but talking to him was also scary. It was like they thought they could not lie to the man. Everything about him was mystic. to Sheyken, even his surname represented a star from the way it sounded, which was cool and powerful.