Chapter 3: Rogue Mage

- Another 5 years later -

At 8 years of age, Yohan is being led home by his sister with Stella by his side. Even at school he and Stella were inseparable, they hung out during recess, lunch and they were in the same class as well. Their school was just the next block where their houses were and it was a safe neighborhood, the nice aunties and uncles would wave at them as they went home, they knew each other and would look out for one another in case of any shady people walking about.

"Hey, what type of mage do you want to become?" Amber had a friend with her, they were talking about mages. Mages were idolized by society and they were all part of a large sort of organization overseeing multiple independent guilds, which dispatches them to deal mainly with any appearances of demons and monsters. There was at least 1 guild in each city, depending on the size of the city it can be up to 4, Hakono had 2.

"I want to be a combat mage!" Amber asserted. She was turning 12 next year and wanted to enroll in a magic academy. She was studying magic studiously, so she can can excel and graduate a mage one or two years earlier. Mages can be either Combat or Enchanter mages. Combat mages included support, summoners and illusionists, since they would be in combat. Enchanters were those who make runes, enchantments and formations. They would often coop themselves in their rooms immersing themselves in formulas and magic circles, think of them like researchers or archivists. It was no surprise that the majority of the mages were comprised of combat mages by a ratio of about 100 to 1 and there were ten, if not hundred, thousands of combat mages. "I need to ask my parents to test my affinities, in the meantime I will continue doing my best in manipulating mana." Amber continued.

"Wow! Lets be combat mages together then!" Amber's friend spoke. Amber had black hair and black eyes and her friend had slightly brown hair.

"Yes, let's become mages together Leah!" They pinky promised each other.

"Stop, you criminal!" The group of children heard a shout. A middle aged man with a green sleveless jacket was running their way. He was chased by 3 other people. As if spotting a chance to escape, he ran towards Yohan and his group.

"Stop right there you mages! I've got hostages with me." He had a flame in his hand and pointed it at Yohan and his group. They were afraid as the man corralled them. Yohan stood there with a cold expression. The mages listened and stopped in their tracks. "That's right! Now none of you come near me, I'm going to leave this place with a kid and when I get far enough away, I will let the child go. Don't any of you dare follow me or I will scorch the child."

"Don't! We will let you go!" One of the mages who was a blond compromised.

"Dammit, this isn't how it was supposed to go!" A red headed female mage, was raging.

"Rena, we can only let him go, in hopes that he keeps his word." The last mage, blue hair, gills on his neck and webbed hands calmed her.

The criminal backed off with the children, still facing the mages. He reached his hand behind him and was about to grab Stella. Yohan went and offered his arm and he was grabbed instead. Stella was teary eyed as she saw Yohan was going to being used as a shield in her stead.

"Let go of my little brother!" Amber bashed on the arm of the criminal.

"Piss off girl!" The criminal backhanded Amber and she fell hard onto the ground. Leah helped her up while glaring at the criminal. Yohan had his head down, nobody knew what expression he was making, sadness, fear, anxiety. Amber, Leah, Stella and the mages were anxious for Yohan, but could do nothing since his life was in the criminal's grasp.

The criminal and Yohan backed off with a moderate speed. When they got about 4 blocks away, out of sight of the others, he still showed no signs of loosening up. Yohan finally lifted his head towards the criminal, his face in full view for the criminal to see. It was seething with anger, three tomoes in each irises were giving the criminal an uneasy feeling. Before he knew it, Yohan wasn't in his arms while he felt like he was suffocating and unable to move. He was burning alive, choking for the air which he was deprived of by the fire. He was placed under a genjutsu by Yohan. In reality he just stood their idly, eyes wide open helplessly watching himself being burned. Yohan then ordered him to leave the city, into the wild lands. The criminal was never heard from again since that day.

Yohan returned to Amber, Leah, Stella and the mages. When they saw him walk back, they were all relieved, Stella ran towards him and nearly tackled him to the floor, she was tightly hugging him with tears in her eyes, Amber came as well and hugged both of them, Leah comforted with a hand on their shoulders. The mages asked for the general direction the criminal went, but Yohan said he was too scared to even bother looking back when he was released with his best acting. They couldn't do anything about it and just left to report back at their branch.

The children returned home and they told their parents what happened. They were shocked and worried, they've heard of increasing criminal activities, but that was in other cities. From then on, their mothers would come pick them up from school once more. Yohan sat in his bed while clenching his blanket.

"No one will ever hurt my family again" Yohan vowed.