The Virtues’ Meeting

All the virtues met in a room. In front of them was a round table where they discussed all their affairs.

The most powerful beings of that continent were united in that room to make the most pertinent decisions about the problems that plagued their land.

A long time ago has passed since that meeting had been called, but the times in which the world was now plunged were so dark that the Virtues would have to honor their legends.

The meeting was chaired by Maximo.

"We're all here. Can we start?" Maximo asked seriously, after he saw, that Jonah already took a seat in his corresponding place.

At that moment, everyone paid attention to the Virtues council leader.

"I call this meeting because we have to discuss the situation that is happening to us. As you well know, the Church of the Four apparently made a movement against the Markeds. Their goal is presumed to be freeing the Riders," Maximo explained seriously.

Several of those present let out snorts of frustration. No one could understand why those people would want to free those creatures.

However, time had diluted the danger that these terrifying creatures had posed.

Nevertheless, the Riders were considered immortal at some sense as they could only be sealed not really killed.

Probably this alone was enough reason for some to be fanatics. This fans, then wanted to change the order of the world without imagining the consequences this would bring on everyone.

"Why would someone want to do something like that?" Sebastian asked, while staring at Jonah. "You have fought with them. What do you really think is their intention?"

Jonah sighed. He should his head. "I really don't know. But whatever it is, we need to deal with this!"

Sebastian, who was the Dream Virtue nodded in agreement.

Satin snorted. "It seems to me that we are exaggerating. Let them come for the Markeds, and we will crush them in that instant! Isn't that the plan initially? That we use a bait?"

They all looked at Satin and back to Jonah, who was glaring at the other. "Do you really think that it was that simple, huh? If that was really the case, this meeting would not make sense!"

Jonah then continued while looking at Maximo, "These people have proven to be very cunning and have apparently recruited very powerful Mages. These Mages are capable enough, that they could even be comparable to us!"

There were collective gasped from everyone in the room.

"Are you sure?" Sebastian questioned, in disbelief.

Jonah frowned. "I cannot joke on―"

"You are over your head, Jonah! Comparable to us? This is insane, we are the Virtues. There is no mage more powerful than us!" Petra, the Necromancer Virtue, interrupted. For her, Jonah's comment was absurd. She was a prideful Virtue, and confident that she was strong enough to take down anyone.

"Yes, you are right. Rondha thought the same," Mabel said before chuckling. She was leaning leisurely in her chair and with her hands behind her head.

Petra's eyes narrowed at Mabel, clearly displeased.

Mabel then leaned forward, while looking Petra with a smirk, she added, "You remember Rondha, right? She was your friend… She also thought she was invincible until I took her place."

Petra tightened her expression and looked at Mabel with contempt. But she couldn't say anything.

Mabel, unlike the rest, had not been chosen in the Tournament of Virtues.

No, the Elemental Virtue chosen in that tournament was Petra's best friend and Water Elemental, Rondha Spencer.

But her position as Virtue was taken by a girl almost eight years younger than her.

Without training, and a nobody, who suddenly appeared, demanding a duel against the Elemental Virtue, made Rondha accept the challenge fearlessly.

She was a consecrated Virtue, and without a doubt an extraordinary mage. Her water element was naturally powerful against the element of this nobody named Mabel.

But to everyone's surprise, especially Rondha, Mabel was absurdly powerful, untrained, and inexperienced.

She managed to defeat Rondha in battle and take her position as a Virtue.

Rondha wanted to claim her position several times, but the result was the same in five matches.

Until one day, Maximo got annoyed as he thought it was pointless and stopped her from trying. It was clear that Mabel was the superior Mage.

Everyone on the Virtues Council had learned to accept Mabel's incredible power and accepted her as a virtue.

Except, Petra.

Rondha was her friend and confidant, and Mabel had made her lose her position.

Thus, Petra could not help but looked at Mabel with hatred.

"It is stupid to think that just because we are Virtues, there's nobody who could give us problems. That kind of mentality was what cost Rondha her position," Mabel continued, tauntingly, "Well, you are friends with her. Birds that have the same feathers flock together and get to die―."

"Mabel! Enough!" Maximo intervened, while looking at her apprehensively, he added, "What Jonah said was true. There are impressive mages that could give us problems. So we must act with caution and night fight among ourselves!" He said with unmasked annoyance.

Maximo then asked, "Jonah, what information did you get?"

"One of the enemies we captured gave us information and locations of other lairs! We have three possible points in three different cities where we could find the leaders of the group," Jonah recounted what happened in the lair.

They all nodded.

"That fixes it! Why we don't just pulverize them?" Satin arrogantly suggested.

Jonah watched him indifferently. "It is true that the information is useful, but there are several things to take into account."

Just as he said that, Jonah created a scale map of the entire continent, using his powers.

"These places are absurdly far from each other. If we were to move to one of them, returning to the capital or attending another group in another of the points would take days," Jonah explained.

When he said that, Sebastian snorted as Satin leaned back from a chair, his arms crossed over his chest.

"There is also what happened to the hostage," Jonah added, "They left trap seals on the bodies of a hostage, as the report says. Unfortunately, one of them died. But I think you have to consider that to leave those stamps they had to think one of two things."

"That they were going to let the girl go," Mabel pointed out.

"Or they knew we would catch them..." Junica added with a weird smile.

Jonah nodded. "Exactly! It is impossible to know if the information we got is legitimate!"

"You are right. They are very cunning, for having the Markeds gathered in the capital city. We can't just leave them unprotected," Maximo said, as he intertwined his fingers in front of him.

"What do you suggest then?'' Petra questioned with a frown.

Maximo looked at Petra and then at Jonah before speaking, "I'm not well versed in military strategy, Jonah, but do you suggest we split up?"

Jonah nodded seriously. "Yes! In truth, Mabel is right. We should not think that just because we are Virtues, no one can give us problems!"

When he said that, Mabel gave Petra a gloating smile.

"But Petra is also not wrong. We are Virtues that in themselves are an advantage. There are not too many people that can give us a run for the gold," Jonah continued.