4 The Ark Of The Domains

The young Valkyrie was barely able to comprehend Gillian's words before she fell fast asleep.

"Some nice words of wisdom you've got there, Gil."

"Ever heard of knocking? It's what you do before entering the room, Baldwin Noble," replied Gillian as he tucked the Valkyrie in.

"Hmph. Lady Meslander," said the man engulfed in shadow as bowed down to Ysabeau.

"Why did you mask your presence?" asked Ysabeau.

"There were no interesting newcomers so there was no need to," explained Baldwin, nonchalantly.

"Oh? How about her, then," asked Gillian, giving his signature smile.

"I want nothing to do with the likes of her kind."

"To be fair, she's only a child, no more than seven years old I'd reckon."

"Makes no difference. Child or not, she is the last Child of Valokia. I'd be cautious if I were you."

"So why are you here?" asked Ysabeau, seemingly upset that he would brand Mavislin as a killing machine.

"Old Man Pond is preparing to launch another sting operation against the Campania's domain. He wants prime soldiers again," explained Baldwin, waving a scroll about.

The Congregation was the name of the somewhat broken alliance of five domains. The headquarters of the Congregation rested on the Urnsfield domain. Surrounding the Urnsfield's domain were mainly the Albion, Briton, Teuton, and Campania domains.

As mentioned earlier, the departments are based on the number of Elements a Mage can wield. And the somewhat broken alliance meant that all of the departments functioned differently than each other.

Albion consisted of two smaller domains, the North and South of Albion. North Albion is for newcomers, they would arrive there straight after the tryouts to began the classifications. The South Albion housed the Mages who could only wield a single Element, known as Single Holders. Plus, the Urnsfield domain had no problems with the way they worked.

The Briton domain was separated by a little lake from the North sea. The Mages who dwelled in this domain, are masters of two Elements, Twin Holders.

The ratio between Mages and Humans were not in the Congregation's favor. Furthermore, the Humans there were aggressive towards the Mages, least to say. Thus, the Urnsfield domain has to back them up via skilled Mages and soldiers.

The Teuton domain's vast land dwarfs most of the domains, including the Urnsfield domain. This domain was home for the Triplet Holders of the Congregation. They needed bigger land for the amount of training they normally do.

Triplet Holders are not only masters of three Elements but they have been also gifted the only spell that only their kind can use. The Holy Trinity Spell. The merging of all three of the Mage's powers to deliver an ultimate blow.

With the amount of devastation that the Mages there would be able to do, to anger them would be akin to suicidal. The Holy Trinity Spells can give off the same amount of damage as Ancient Spells. Therefore, the Urnsfield's decision not to mess with them was a wise choice.

That just leaves the Campania. It is slightly smaller than the Urnsfield domain, but the Mages that lived there are mostly of the first-rate status. Quadruplet Holders, those who commandeer four Elements.

The Urnsfield domain was the only domain that housed all of the elites. Those who wielded five or more elements. Those who were all-rounders. Those who used Lost Magecraft. Those who were the best of the bunch.

Due to the Campania domain's uprising of hate from both the Mages and Humans alike, Urnsfield decided to wage a war against them. The Mages there complained about the way that the Congregation functioned as a whole, being too strict and not upholding their promises.

Humans simply did not accept them at all, calling them monsters or freaks. For about five years, the two domains have been fighting. Leading sting operations like the one Baldwin had mentioned common.

"Tell him Ysabeau and I will be absent. I don't care much about angering the Campania's region again. Once was enough for me," said Gillian, waving the matter off.

"We would be losing two good fighters."

"Ask Peanut to fill in for me."

The shadowy man sighed as he slipped out through the window.

"What's with him and his fear of doors," murmured Gillian.

"Has he not found out about the recent incident?" asked Ysabeau, eyes heavy.

"The one that occurred at the Campania? Or the one with children?"

"There were two?!"

"What makes you think that they were separate incidents?"

"There was a reason why I didn't want you or me to go to that sting operation. You wouldn't like it. Neither would I. And with newcomer with us, I highly doubt she'd like the impression that mission would give," explained Gillian.

"Nevermind about that for now. We need to let lil' Mav be comfortable around us. Let's get some sleep for now," said Gillian.