Prologue

He was almost completely out of breath, just about ready to collapse. He had been on the run longer than he could think about, trying to escape from his chasers. If he stopped for even for one moment, he would be captured, and killed. Every second wasted was another second closer to his death.

"Halt!," the voices from behind him shouted, as they frantically ran to catch up to him.

I need to lose them, he thought as he continued to run for his life. He could feel his legs getting heavier with each and every step. I don't have much time left. I need somewhere where I can hide quickly!

As he pushed and ran past the confused faces around him, he found a corner in-between two buildings he could turn into. He was running out of options, and couldn't stop to think about any better options.

Although his legs were just about ready to give way, he managed to turn the corner, only to find the worst possible outcome.

This could be the end, he thought, as his chasers finally caught up to him. They had him cornered into an alleyway, a dead end with nowhere else to run. His chasers blocked the only exit he had. At this point he had only two options: he could fight to escape, or die trying.

"We are the magical knights under the great Triumvirate!," one of them proudly announced. "Stop resisting and come quietly!"

That's right, he thought grimly. No matter what I say or do, in the end I am just another fire mage for them to kill.

The fire mage was no stranger to how things were in England. Ever since the Anti-Fire Act, all mages and citizens feared and hated the fire mages alike. They were their enemies.

But still, the fire mage began to think. Why have things come to be this way? Why must I always run just so I can live another day?

"Didn't you hear him? Stand down, and come quietly!," another one of the magical knights announced.

There were a total of three of them, each wearing the magical knight uniforms they wore proudly. They were a symbol of peace and protection for the citizens of England, and a symbol of fear and hatred for all fire mages alike.

Each of the three mages readied their magic, prepared to cast a spell at him at a moment's notice. However, he noticed all three of them were air mages, to his own luck. However, his next actions could still determine his life or death.

"Never!," he shouted at them. He prepared his own fire magic, ready to ignite them in a singular blast at any moment.

The air mages suddenly stopped, nervous on their toes. Each of them saw his fire magic trickling out of his hand, always a second away from being cast. Each of them knew their own air magic wouldn't do much damage against the fire mage's magic. Instead, the fire mage could be the one doing the damage.

"Stay back!, the fire mage warned, slowly taking a step forward. "I am not afraid to use my fire magic against you!"

The three magical knights stood there, completely nervous and uncertain of what to do. Although there were three of them, the enemy's magic alone could alone defeat all of them. If they don't think before they act, this game of cat and mouse could be turned against them.

"Where is the Fire Extermination Unit?," the first magical knight asked. "We could really use the water mages!"

"I don't know, but I'm sure they should be coming soon!," the second magical knight tried to reassure him.

"You're just sure, not certain?," the third magical knight asked, worried. "How much longer do we need to wait here?"

As the three magical knights began to bicker, the fire mage noticed their uneasiness. This was his chance to try to continue to threaten them, and turn things in his own favor.

"Leave immediately, and I will not attack!," the fire mage yelled, taking yet another step forward but remaining in a defensive position. "I haven't done anything wrong! Leave me!"

Both the magical knights and the fire mage continued to watch each other, ready to cast their magic at a moment's notice if the other retaliated. One singular blast of magic could turn the alleyway into nothing more than dust. This standstill between them could not last much longer.

However, before anyone could react, a man quickly entered the scene. He swiftly made his way in front of the magical knights, almost in an instant. He was facing the fire mage in front of him before any of them could notice.

No way, no way, the fire mage began to shake. Why, why is he here?

The man in front of him also wore a uniform, but looked much more professional than the other three magical knights. He had gray hair and eyes, easily complimenting his uniform. He had a few scars on his face, as if he had been through many battles, and his beard complimented the rest of his look.

His face had a nonchalant look, as if the fire mage in front of him was nothing new to his day. However, there was also a sort of tiredness to his eyes, as if taking in everything around him was mentally exhausting. Or perhaps, there was more to that.

Both the magical knights and the fire mage looked at him, in complete surprise. Just where did he come from?

"Who are you? Which division are you from?," one of the magical knights asked.

"What are you doing? That fire mage could kill you!," Another one of them shouted.

"I'm getting tired of this," the mysterious man muttered as his eyes closed and his head lowered.

Just then, he slowly moved his arm upward, with his hand open, facing the fire mage.

"Come to me, Zephrentis," he called out.

Almost in a moment's notice, a large flash of air magic whipped around the man, almost cutting the alleyway around him. A ball of air magic formed in front of his head, forming into a gray solid-like spear. His hand grabbed the spear, and then quickly pointed it at the fire mage in front of him. The slashes of air magic around him finally dissipated.

Both the fire mage as well as the three magical knights stared at the man in complete recognition. There is only one man that could wield that famous spear.

"Wait, isn't that Solomon Windblade?," the first magical knight asked, almost in disbelief.

"That is most certainly him," the second magical knight answered, also in complete shock. "The leader of the Triumvirate, and the head of the Windblade family"

"But, what is he doing out here?," the third one asked. After all, why would the leader of the Triumvirate be out here just helping three magical knights take down one singular fire mage?

The man in front of everyone was no doubt Solomon Windblade. With both his famous spear, and his overwhelming presence, there was now no doubt in any of their minds that the leader of the Triumvirate was here.

"Surrender now, or I can and will be forced to take action," Solomon commended, standing still in front of the fire mage, his spear pointing sharply towards him.

The fire mage could only look in both horror and surprise at the man in front of him. How could the Solomon Windblade be directly in front of him and why? More and more sweat dropped from his forehead as his lack of options became stronger with each passing second.

"You! Why are you here?," the fire mage shouted at Solomon, his eyes wide open. "Why would the leader of the Triumvirate be out here?"

"I will not say it again. Either surrender, or I will kill you," his eyes turned from a cold stare to a hardened glare. Solomon had yet to move, but the second the fire mage tried to run, he knew he'd already be dead. The fire mage was out of options.

"No, no, no! This cannot be real! I haven't done anything wrong!," the fire mage shouted at the unwavering man in front of him. He began to slowly back away from him, towards the wall at the end of the alleyway. He could tell Solomon's patience was starting to run out.

"Besides, if I surrender I will be killed anyway! That's how it's been, and how it will be for all of us fire mages! This, this is all your fault, alongside the rest of the Triumvirate! Christina Windblade would have never-"

"Then, you've left me with no choice," Solomon interrupted him, not letting him finish his rant.

Just then, almost as fast as he had entered the scene, Solomon was already in front of the fire mage. His spear pierced the fire mage's heart, blood already dripping from the death-inflicting wound.

With one last look at the spear that pierced his once heart, the fire mage's body fell to the alleyway floor. Before he could fully process what happened, he was already dead.

As Solomon stood over the now dead body of the fire mages, the three magical knights could only stand there in shock at the scene in front of them. They couldn't speak or move, for the horror and awe of Solomon's raw strength and power. He had killed the fire mage instantly, without casting a singular spell.

"Go and report back at headquarters. They will want a full and accurate assessment of what happened here," Solomon commanded, looking over at them with his cold expression. "Well, don't just stand there. Go, get moving!"

Finally coming to their senses, the three magical knights quickly exited out of the alleyway, heading back to headquarters.

Solomon let out another deep sigh as his spear dissipated from his hands, wherever it may go until he needs it again.

"So, how long are you going to stand there for?," Solomon announced, as he glared over at a dark spot in the alleyway. A small spot where the sun could not reach, but just large enough for a singular person to hide in the shadows.

An outline of a man could be made out from the darkened area. It was difficult to tell what he looked like, but a small portion of his face and body could be seen.

"Oh, so you've finally noticed me, huh? Should've known," the voice from the shadows finally answered, with a small hint of laughter. "After all, you are the most powerful air mage in all of London, and quite possibly all of Europe. You are regarded as the Soulless Mage, the one who destroys his enemies without remorse"

The way the person in the shadows talked was in a rather strange tone, as if you never knew if he meant what he would speak. No hint of sanity could be made out from his voice either, like he had gone insane long ago, but had gained the function to act like a normal human being. He was surely a man you did not want to cross paths with, lest you wish to go insane with him.

"I've told you not to use that nickname several times," Solomon let out a large sigh, this man obviously costing him a lot of energy just being around. "Why don't you tell me why you are here?"

"Aww c'mon, don't give me that. I am your 'secretary' after all, aren't I?," he asked, his voice carrying a sense of dangerous playfulness.

"We both know you are nowhere near that. You are simply a member of the council, and nothing more. Now, can you tell me why you are really here, Julian?," he asked with a tired look in his eyes, as if this isn't the first time this Julian character has done something like this to him.

The mysterious character, presumably named Julian, finally stepped out of the shadows. He had a somewhat skinny figure, wearing black robes with a black hood. He finally took his black hood off, revealing the features of his face.

He had dark brown hair, and two different colored eyes. His right eye was dark brown, matching his hair. However, his left eye was a sinister black color, which would make anyone feel uncomfortable staring into it.

"What, am I not allowed to come visit you and have a nice chat? If I'm not your secretary, we are at least friends after all, aren't we?," he grinned, with a dangerous but playful look on his face. His grin was almost inviting you in, so he could then stab you in the back. "Either way, there is something I wish to tell you"

"What do you want to tell me, Julian? Make it quick, I need to head back to headquarters, and don't have time for your silly games", he gave him an icy cold glare, his patience clearly running out.

"It's just… the Magical Knights Academy is holding its entrance exam; and it seems there's going to be some interesting examinees this year," he began to speak, moving his arms around as if he was in a play.

"I'd love to watch it, but they probably wouldn't let me in, as you know. It's just… so sad…," he lowered and shook his head, almost shedding a fake tear.

"And? What does that have to do with me exactly?," he asked, hoping that Julian will soon finish his pointless banter.

"Don't you want to see it too? Your brother, William, will be there, watching the exams!," he nodded his head, as if the mere mention of William would change Solomon's mind. "Don't you want to see-"

"Don't you have anything actually important to report?," Solomon asked as he closed his eyes, trying to regain his composure. "Otherwise, I will just head back to headquarters"

"Fine, fine. I'll get to the important details!," Julian put his arms up in defeat, as if he was done messing around with Solomon.

"And?"

"They're on the move, Solomon. This one, of course, isn't the first time, nor do I suspect it will be the last," Julian spoke as he averted his gaze over to the dead fire mage on the floor.

"You mean the fire rebellion? You're sure a small group of weak fire mages would dare try to make a move on us?," Solomon looked at him in disbelief.

"Well, however small or large they may be, my intel says they are starting up again. I think it's time we make our move as well, don't you think?," Julian gave him a look that made it seem his words meant more than someone else would take it as.

"Very well," Solomon quickly nodded, agreeing with him. "You should probably head back to headquarters. We'll need to start preparations soon enough.

"Good! Then I shall head out now. See you later, Sully!," he grinned as he disappeared into the darkness around him. He was instantly gone, nowhere to be found anywhere around the now cold alleyway.

"I've told you not to use that stupid nickname either," Solomon muttered, knowing Julian wouldn't hear him, but it felt better to say it outloud.

:He looked up to the sky, his eyes turning from its usual icy cold glare to a more saddened expression. After pushing away his thoughts, he finally left the alleyway. There would be more work up ahead, as the leader of the Triumvirate.