Dark Magus Returns

The entire Crimson Crane group was still trying to get over the fact that this person in front of them was the Dark Magus. His smooth skin, his smaller body frame that had yet to fill out, as well as the lack of deep wrinkles in certain places, all pointed to him being at least a student.

An older teenager who had yet to become a full adult. This was the person they had been working with, this was the person they had been fighting against literal demons to keep by their side.

There were quite a few that were a little unhappy with the fact that they had done so much and gone against so many to get him on their side before. One of them was Kizer, but he had been convinced after receiving a new item from the Dark Magus, and he had done his best to try to convince the others, but it was hard for them to see.

Nonetheless, they would listen to Alba because she was their leader, the one they trusted, and the person who had allowed them to get so far.

Now, though, after hearing the words out of the Dark Magus's mouth, they all thought this was a step too far. "We can't do that… can we?" Tilon asked, his voice fluctuating slightly high at the end, as he wasn't so sure if the others felt the same way.

"Of course we can't," Cronker answered. "The Dark Faction Pagna Academy isn't like the other academies; the principal of that place is the head of the Erupting Fist Clan.

"They are the strongest Clan in the whole of the Dark Faction. This isn't like when we went up against a single Elder that belonged to a clan in the Light Faction.

"Do you even understand what you are asking us to do, Dark Magus? Right now, we might as well be declaring war on the entire Dark Faction!"

It was more dire than Cronker even realized, since he was unaware that currently five main disciples had been in the academy, the five major clans of the Dark Faction had been keeping a close eye on the academy.

It wasn't a question of if the other clans got involved but more so when.

After hearing Cronker's explanation, they all turned to look at Raze, to which he had nodded slowly, understanding he knew the situation.

"I don't think that the Dark Magus would try to enter a fight he thought he could lose," Kizer replied.

"Yeah, which is why he's asking us for our help!" Elivin replied. "You know, we could end up dying because of this, and even if we fail, and somehow manage to escape, we'll be hunted by the whole of the Dark Faction."

Many at the table nodded their heads.

"So it seems like we are in agreement that we can't do this," Cronker stated. "Going against the Pagna Academy is not something we can do on behalf of someone else just because of a favor."

So far, Alba had been keeping quiet. She had her finger on her chin and was stroking it back and forth. Cronker was a bit worried as he saw this, wondering what she was thinking and why she hadn't just outright refused the Dark Magus straight away.

"Don't you think the Dark Magus has a reason to do this?" Reno said. "At the time, when the Light Faction Elder attacked, I'm sure of it, if he wasn't there, I would have lost my life, and the reason we had run into them was coincidence on my part."

"As Kizer stated before, the Dark Magus has fought by our side, he knows our strength, so I assume that he has some sort of idea of how to face the academy."

"Not just that," Kizer added. "If we pull this off, won't we practically have taken the Dark Faction down ourselves? We will have a place we can permanently stay, where we don't have to worry about the Light Faction or the Dark Faction, and our names will be placed in history books to be read on."

"We will be Pagna warriors with a legacy left behind."

These words had ignited quite a spark in many of their lives. A legacy, a name to be remembered, these were some of the main reasons why people became Pagna warriors in the first place.

"In order for it to become a legacy, we need to succeed, and I very much doubt that can happen," Cronker replied.

The group seemed torn, some of them undecided, and when this happened, they would often look at their leader for an answer.

Now all eyes were on Alba. Seeing how it was her time to talk, she placed her hand down by her side and had a large smile on her face.

"I want to ask you all a question. If I was to ask you to go up against the Dark Faction Pagna Academy, would you follow me into battle?" Alba asked.

Nearly everyone nodded with reassuring grunts immediately.

"I mean, I would have some questions as to why you would want to do such a thing, but I would agree, of course," Cronker answered.

"Exactly, my favor was he could take control of the Crimson Crane as if it was his own one time. The Dark Magus's request is the same as if the request was from me, so I expect all of you to treat it that way."

After finishing her talk, there were no more arguments between the group, they now knew what they needed to do.

In that instance, she started to walk towards Raze and looked down at where he was sitting.

"You're in that state for a reason; I'm hoping that you aren't asking us all to fight to the death for some petty reason such as revenge," Alba stated. "I hope you have something bigger in mind.

"The favor you asked for is bigger than I imagined, so I hope you can create even better weapons than I imagined as well."

Looking up, Raze managed to break a smile as he gave a nod.

"Very well, from now on until we finish this task, you can be the boss," Alba said. "So when are we going to do this? It will take us quite a while to head to the Dark Faction."

While Alba was mumbling along and making plans, Raze had stood up and walked to an empty part of the floor; he started to draw away.

"The Dark Faction aren't hostile towards us so it should be easy to enter. The problem is entering the academy; maybe we could come as guests?" Alba said, talking to Cronker and devising a plan.

That was until a blue glowing light was shining on her back. She could hear a strange ominous floating sound from behind.

Slowly she turned around, and all of the eyes of the Crimson Crane, they were all stuck on the sight in front of them.

The glowing large oval shape that was floating in the air.

"It's a portal," Alba said. "The Dark Magus, did he just open a portal? How is that even possible?"

Raze lifted his hand to his throat as he gave the command.

"We leave now."