it was the end of the day and it was getting dark. Felix finally saw the light of a fire camp in the distance. He was exhausted, he felt so... empty. The only reason why he could still hang on to the leash of his flying snake was the strenght his staff was giving him. He had made a long journey to get to the far east of the Maldock's Wilderness. To his Master's hideout.

When he was close enough to the fire, he slided down the still flying snake and landed hardly on his knees and hands. He couldn't look u pto the people that was sitting around the fire. He could feel how she looked at him... He hated her so much. He heard footsteps coming closer to him. He looked a bit up and when he recognised the black and brown button up shirt and coat that was coming his way, a small whimper escaped from his throat. His Master was coming closer and closer. He tried to hold on the tears that was pricking out of his eyes. He didn't want to break down in front of him... or them. His Master stopped a few feet from him and said with his deep voice that made him shivered ''I am not feeling any magic coming from you at all. Only your staff is lightly irradiating power. What happened?''

When Felix didn't answer, the authoritative figure in front of him put a finger under his chin and forced the sorcerer to look him in the eyes ''What. Happened?''

Even if his odded yellow and brown eyes was partically hidden by his black bangs, when Felix eyes met his Master's eyes, he broke down. He jumped in his arms hopelessly, but still being careful to not crush the small snake his Master had around his right arm, and tried to apology, letting his tears fall down on his pale cheeks ''They were much more powerful than I... there was this illusion... and tha tgirl talked to herself... she changed the spell and.. and...''

Felix's Master was getting more and more upset and frustated by the non sense the sorcerer was saying, but when he pushed Felix's chin up once more, he didn't let his negative emotions show. In fact, he became really soft and caring ''They took away your powers, right?''

Felix could only nod, still crying in his arms.

''I will let you get some sleep now, you most be exhausted. You can explain everything when you wake up tomorrow, okay?''

''Mhmm.'' Felix knew he shouldn't do it in front of the others, but being so close to him again made him feel so... good. He leaned closer to his Master, but he was stopped by a finger on his lips ''Shush now, you know we can't do that in front of them. Go to sleep now.''

Felix dried his tears and headed to his small house without looking at the other two silhouettes by the fire. The other man sighed and stood back up. That was messing his plan up. He rubbed his forehead with his hand, trying to figure out what he will do now. Has he exhale loudly out of frustration, he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was the woman that was previously sitting by the fire. She was wearing a leather armor and some strips of fabrics was wrapped around her. She had spiky short red hair and she was slowly putting her hand on the man's chest ''It's so funny to see how he thinks that he can have you~''

She leaned closer to him, only to get her kiss get denied the sam eway Felix got his denied too ''You should go to bed too, I want you to head to those girls castle as soon as Felix tell us where it is. I want you to go there and find something that could help you track them.''

''But...''

''Don't make me repeat myself, Gaelle.'' He said in a deep threatening tone.

She stormed off to her house and slamed the door shut. He went to sit back by the fire with the third person that didn't move from his seat the whole time. The last man was really tall and muscular. He was wearing a khaki pants and a sleeveless shirt that was unzipped on his bare chest. He turned to the darker figure that was playfully letting his snake wrap around his arm and hand ''I will never understand how and why you can pretend to love them...''

''It's much more easier to manipulate someone that loves you. The more they love me, the less they will ask questions when I ask them to do something. They will do it to make me happy.''

''You're so evil!''

''I know~''

''So bad and everything, but yet you also love pet names and I think that is really funny, Master~''

''Oh, Marcus, stop teasing me~''

''You already have two 'toys', Malik, what would you do with a third one?''

Malik stood up and came closer to his friend, almost touching his chest with his fingers. ''Well, I could show you...''

''It was a rhetorical question and you know it!''

Malik sighed when he saw his friend's chest retract to not let him touch it and he went back to his seat.

''I should probably go spend some time with Felix... Without his powers he must feel empty. I will have to... comfort him, if you know what I mean.''

''Eurrk, Malik! Too much details, dude!''

Malik laughed and apologied. He knew how his friend didn't like to hear about those kind of things, but he couldnt help himself sometimes.

''And can you try to keep it quiet this time, please. So I won't have to pierce my eardrums... again!''

''I will try my best. Goodnight Marcus.''

''Good night Malik.''

Malik walked to Felix's house to comfort the sorcerer while Marcus stayed a little longer by the fire, watching it die slowly. The fact that Felix failed his task made him upset too. He had the same goal as his old friend. He was getting tired of people over looking him because he had magical abilities. The only thing he wanted was to smash all those who thought he was a freak. And there was a lot of them! When the fire wasn't big enough to keep him warm in the cool air of the night, he took his spiked club beside him and walked to his house to get some sleep too.