Me a ball of hot sphere eradicator.

MAGNUS

Before I could thrust my sword in the Beast's eye. A blinding blast of orange light shot through the air like battle canon and lifted the Beasts off their feet. While sending us backward, slamming us back to our starting position.

I thought it was only me and Roland, turns out it's my whole team got knocked off their feet. The Rank Elders stood on their ground. But the Faery woman stuffed her chest with air and let out a loud piercing cry, the same one that whisked me off the sand dunes.

Next thing I know the Rank Elders we're on the ground with us.

"Banshee… what took you so long?" A voice boomed somewhere around the dunes. I look around. Found no one. The Beasts hovering in mid air, barely moving except for the occasional growl and snapping of necks. They're gawking as if we're food they're looking forward to grill in exploding volcano. Nothing in the ground poses the owner is here. The bodies of fallen Rankers are now in the ground.

And the veil that I saw before, the one that covers the whole Beasts with realistic illusion is starting to case them in all fours.

"No!" I sprinted towards the bodies of Rankers. But with a blast of lightning from above I was blown back to my first position. I shuddered. My legs turned jelly at the attack. What was that? That lightning wasn't shot to kill me in the spot. It meant as a warning. Never cross the veil.

All of us are instantly on our feet. Wary. Vigilant. If another lightning struck down I don't think we will survive the blow. I doubt the Rank Elders, with their staff and hocus pocus spells can withstand it. I look up at the stars. The full moon illuminating us. Strange. There's no clouds forming in the sky.

No thunderstorms, no dark hovering fluffs covering the stars…that attack…it was as if it came from –

"Greetings Rankers and Rank Rulers." The voice came again. This time it echoed in the air, letting us know where it came from. I searched the sky. Almost fifty feet from our position, hovering above the floating Beasts, is a man in full body armor with blue cape flipping in the air. He's riding a horse made of white mist. He held a spear made of pure bronze. The blade reflected the moon's light. His chain mail hung tightly under his neck. He wore a steel conical helmet with pointy horns. His face is unnerving. Cold. If I was slightly shaken at the Rank Ruler's expression when he threatened to rob me of my title. This guy is different. He had that aura around him that force you to submit in every word he uttered.

"I hope you like our little present." He cocked his head with his steel helmet slanting. His eyes are on the Beasts growling at us.

"We came here with a proposition in mind." He continued. All at once, the Rank Elders fired their white and red orb shape like lights at him. The Faery woman catch it with her wings. I stepped back in surprise. Deep inside me, I know she will fire those orbs back at us. With the same intensity as those air bomb screams.

I braced myself. She faced her back at us, wings folded on her side. Something is glowing underneath. I counted to three. Waiting if my gut feeling is right. After four the glowing got bigger and brighter. As if she's stuffing fire underneath her leathery wings. I ran to the front.

The lightning, this time I confirmed it came from the guy's bronze spear, keep striking at my sides. Missing me a few inches. The intensity is lower than the first. Like he knows what I'm up to. And is doing this flashy lightning for a show.

I keep my pace until I'm at a fair distance from my comrades. I flung my swords in a cross. The singeing of sands struck by lightning swept over my nose. The cackle of electricity withdrawing towards its owner floats in my ears. I readied myself for the strike.

"Ranker what are you –"

A red hot sphere of steaming gunk, with sizzling flame and high frequency current, ten times the size of what the Rank Elders fired earlier came swooping down, trying to smolder us into pieces. If only I was alone I could dodge this and strike while they're preoccupied. But I'm not, so I can't.

'Don't let anyone get hurt in the face of danger Magnus. You're strong, so use your strength to protect others. Whatever happens, never forget that.'

I smiled. Dad's words are ringing in my ears again. As if he's actually here talking to me. My sole reason why I became a Ranker. My only motivation to seek out any bizarre items to make me stronger… I did all of it for preparation to find him one day.

I refuse to be holed up in this boring kingdom full of hypocrites. Who judge Rankers based on their family status. Never cared about anything except the clothes you draped on your body. They don't ask for your name but which household you came from. And if you answered you're a son of a baker or a smith, they'll immediately put some distance and spread rumors you never know ever existed.

I'll find him. I'll bring him back. If the Seeker from the prophecies is finally found, I'll come with him. Help him find these Eklektos at the same time make a journey of my own to search for Dad. If I can't go back in this kingdom, because of treachery and other accusations they'll throw at me... If I can't retain my immortality from the Mark…fine, I don't need it.

I just need to know where's my Dad. That's all. And that 'Faery' people suspected to be my Mom. I'll find them. The trouble is stirring in the realm of our kingdom already. I can't afford to get caught in it and delay my search.

I take a step forward and inhaled a deep breath. I close my eyes and dig deeper into my memories. I need to do it just exactly as how my Dad taught me. I visualize his face. How he turned into a dark hideous figure with the face of a man...

In an instant, my veins protruded from my skin. Black liqueur pulsed through. Replacing my natural blood. I can feel my temples beating. My heart pumping in different rhythm.

The fireball is already at the tip of my forwarded feet when I open my eyes and plunge myself into the hotness of crackling fire. Currents tingle in my skin. But I feel nothing. I let go of my swords and suppressed the black spots forming at the tip of my fingers. Eating away the fire dancing all around me.

I waited. I counted. At three, I can feel my body heating up. At five, I can see the face of the Faery woman and the Beasts hovering in the air. And at ten, the hot sphere of fire died down. Drained by the technique, I collapsed on my feet. Heaving breaths to my lungs.

I can feel the shaken stares crippled with fear of my comrades. They already know. They found out. It's too late. They'll know what kind of creature I am. What kind of traitor I am. Me being allowed to live within the borders of Gifted People is a crime.

Because I'm a half Faery and a half mortal.