Down to Buisness

Somewhere in Texas, United States of America.

In the middle of the desert, along a long road leading to nowhere, four Sorcerers watched over a small two-story compound.

Out of the four Sorcerers, three stood perched on top of a boulder watching from a short distance away.

"The target's five hundred meters out. We should approach with caution. I say we split up and sneak around the back of the premise." (Third Class Sorcerer, Squad Marry, Ginger Fluent)

Vlad and Ginger both stood staring out over the facility.

"Is this the place?" (Vlad)

Ginger quickly swung around. She wore the usual black-suited uniform, with the blue flower pin on her right breast. She also had light brown hair and a long brimmed hat with thick sunglasses that covered her dark brown eyes. She was taller than most girls, but not as tall as Diana. She was also very beautiful, with a bigger chest size than the usual twenty-five-year-old.

Vlad stood with an almost empty bottle of gin in hand. He tossed it off the rock, watching as it smashed against that sandy dry desert floor below.

"Your Vlad the Drunk right?" (Ginger)

Vlad turned to Ginger. Her soft brown eyes, covered by those heavy sunglasses. He smirked.

"No no. I'm not a drunk. I simply drink a lot." (Vlad)

"Well, you look drunk." (Ginger)

Vlad smirked harder.

"I'm not-" (Vlad)

Jack leaned into the conversation.

"Oh yeah he's a super drunk. I've asked him about it but-" (Jack)

"It's not a problem! I don't even get drunk!" (Vlad)

Ginger turned away. She pulled out a pair of binoculars.

The three Sorcerers stood staring out over the facility. They watched the painstaking nothing pass by. Crickets creaking. Wind blowing. Nothing happened.

Then Jack came up with a brilliant idea.

"So why don't we just blow up the place? It wouldn't be that big of a problem-" (Jack)

"Yo Jack! It's been a while!" (Marsh)

Marsh walked up on the scene with a backpack filled to the brim with supplies and weapons.

Jack looked below the boulder. He saw Marsh's familiar face, but he couldn't pinpoint who he was exactly.

"Who..." (Jack)

He started climbing the boulder, waving with one hand in the air and the other grasping for life.

"Umm... Guys... How did you... Get up..." (Marsh)

"Who's he?" (Jack)

Ginger turned around. She saw Marsh struggling to climb up.

"Oh... The mission was supposed to just be the three of us. With me as the leader. But when he caught wind of you coming to America he wanted to hop on." (Ginger)

Vlad squatted down, he blocked out the blazing heat from hitting his Russian pale skin. He turned toward the climbing Sorcerer reaching out for help.

"He's able to pick and chose his missions. What is he famous or something?" (Vlad)

"His older sister is our captain. Marry Park and Marsh Park. But don't mind him. I've worked with him before. He's super weak and cowers in front of monsters. We'll just leave him behind for now." (Ginger)

"So he's one of those types huh?" (Vlad)

Jack turned to the struggling Marsh still trying to climb.

"What do you mean those types?" (Jack)

"Well-" (Vlad)

Vlad opened his mouth to speak but Ginger quickly spoke for him.

"It differs between squads. But most of the Sorcerers in the Magic Force are usually Third-Class to Fourth-Class. With about ten Second-Class Sorcerers and one First Class Sorcerer in each squad. Fourth-Class Sorcerers are the ones who just patrol cities and work as healers or other support types. Third-Class Sorcerers are the ones like Vlad and I. But you know... He's... He's a special case..." (Ginger)

Jack sat back down thinking hard about deep stuff.

"Still don't get it? He's like a rich kid." (Vlad)

"Ok yeah, I understood the first time. You didn't have to be so blunt Vlad." (Jack)

Ginger stepped up holding out her hand for Marsh.

"You know why I'm on this mission, Jack and Vlad?

She pointed at her blue flower pin smiling proudly as she pulled up Marsh.

"Does it have to do with your Rank?" (Jack)

"I'm on my final Third-Class mission. If we succeed and none of you guys die. Then I'll get my final point to being promoted to Second-Class, then hopefully I can get Second-Class Luitenent or Vice-Captain." (Ginger)

Vlad leaned back looking up at the blazing sun.

"Eeeeh. Ginger was it...?" (Vlad)

"What is it Vlad?" (Ginger)

"I've lived long enough, and I've met plenty of people like you. And I like you, so I'll tell you this straight up. Class's and Ranks don't mean shit. You should just ride the wave of life. If you think to big you will only fall farther." (Vlad)

Marsh dropped his heavy backpack onto the rocky surface.

"Very wise words Vlad. Ok... I picked up the water. Anyone want a drink?" (Marsh)

"Ohh yes please!" (Jack)

"I'll wait till we get to the building." (Ginger)

"I'm kinda full on gin." (Vlad)

---

"I missed the explanation. What's the situation here?" (Marsh)

The group stood around the back of the facility. They stood on the edge of a massive white concrete wall that blocked out the sun.

Ginger pulled out an enchanted old knife from Marsh's bag. She pointed it at the concrete wall, she then began drawing out a plan of attack.

"Wait, shouldn't we have some background before going in?" (Marsh)'

"Yes I agree. Id like to know what we're fighting." (Jack)

She took her knife off the concrete.

"Well, where do I begin... A while back down this road, a traveling couple's car broke down for explained reasons. Then with nowhere else to go, the couple made their way inside this building. And then they disappeared off the face of the earth, no trace, no blood, no nothing. Just empty clothes scattered about, as if they were whisked from reality. Later on, some cops and detectives went in to uncover what happened, but they came back unharmed and with no answers, so both the police and the Magic Force left it up to coincidence. However, three days ago another couple disappeared here, in the exact same way. So you know the rest. Now we're involved. The Magic Force." (Ginger)

"Do we know what type of monsters are inside?" (Jack)

"They didn't say... When the cops showed up and checked out the inside. The whole place was still abandoned except for a locked door on the second floor. It could have been a monster or a Rogue Sorcerer. We have no clue what's behind this." (Ginger)

"Wait this seems a bit too-" (Marsh)

"Again. I'm only saying this one last time. We don't have much info on this case, so for the first half of this mission, were just gathering information. But if you do come in contact with a monster, fight it like normal then retreat." (Ginger)

"Umm... Ginger... This seems way too risky. Even with three Third Class's... Shouldn't we-" (Marsh)

"Don't worry Marsh. That's why Marry brought in you two." (Ginger)

She pointed at Jack and Vlad

"Us?" (Jack)

"Them?" (Marsh)

"Me?" (Vlad)

She twirled her old enchanted knife around her hand. She then slid it back into her heavy belt.

"We're splitting into two groups. Jack, you're with me. And Vlad you're by yourself." (Ginger)

"Wait...! What about me!?" (Marsh)

"Um... Marsh you sure you want to go in?" (Ginger)

"Yes!" (Marsh)

His eyes were fierce. Even in the face of danger, even when-

"Actually... No I want to go!" (Marsh)

"Fine Marsh you're with Vlad. You two stay back and go through the back door, or just break through the wall, whatever you two feel like. And Jack you're with me. We're going to go through the front door." (Ginger)

"Got it!" (Jack)

"Sure." (Vlad)

"Yes!" (Marsh)

Marsh and Vlad slumped back, as Ginger and Jack entered through the rusty metal front door.

---

Deep inside the facility. In a locked room.

Monitors strung across the four walls, wires strung from every end, a single table in the middle of the room with a singular silver briefcase imprinted in the hollow white lights.

A hidden man in a trench coat and wrapped up in white bloodied bandages stood silently watching the countless screens monitoring the facility.

Another man stood across from him. His old clock covered in colorful flower imprints. He stepped up with a tall stature, his body leaned back, slumped and tired. He held out a singular playing card, flipping it across his fingers, from one end to the other, from one end to the other.

He stepped into the hollow white light in the center of the room.

He wore a mask.

A cloth mask that wrapped all the way around his head.

A turquoise mask...

A figure moved on one of the monitors. The trench coat man rushed to the screen.

"It seems you have some company. On your big day." (Turquoise Mask)

"I always do..." (Trench Coat Man)

He was focused on the two Sorcerers entering through the front door. He saw their faces. He saw Jack.

"It's him..." (Trench Coat Man)

---

Three hours earlier.

Yaku walked the streets of Shibuya. His arms tucked into his jacket. The winter cold blasting past, blowing his black hair all over the place.

He stopped at a tall run-down building covered in graffitied symbols and ancient magic wards.

He walked up to the front door.

He knocked six times with his gloved shivering hand.

"Who is it?!" (Ono)

A pearly sweet voice echoed through the building. Step by step, soft feathered footsteps blazed down the rickety staircases leading to the front door.

A cute girl with silvery dyed hair opened the door. She wore sweatpants and an oversized sweater. She looked at Yaku.

"It's you..." (Ono)

"What's up. Long time no see." (Yaku)

She looked at her cracked watch.

"Is today really the day?" (Ono)

"Yes. We planned for the fifteenth but you canceled." (Yaku)

"Oh yeah, that big monster attack. Did we really plan it for today?" (Ono)

Yaku had a nervous smile on his face. His black hair pulled back. His uniform tucked in. Ono looked down at his black outfit. She pulled him in close looking at his green flower pin.

"Were you demoted. I knew it would happen eventually." (Ono)

"Ummmm..." (Yaku)

He looked down at her face.

She had him by the collar, the two looking right at each other, inches away.

He blushed, she blushed.

"Ummm... Anyway. Meeting today... What do you want to do?" (Ono)

"I want to catch up. Like... What is this place?" (Yaku)

He walked through he half littered and destroyed walls of the interior building. He looked up the rickety staircase leading to the perpetual loud noises.

"It's our temporary base of operations. For my new buisness. The wards on the outside are to keep trackers off our tail and stuff, it's cool right? Just like in the old days... Right?" (Ono)

She knocked on the hard concrete walls. She slid her hand up the side of the wooden staircase railing. She pointed up the stairs, to the room blasting music.

Yaku rememebred the old days.

"Yeah. The old days." (Yaku)

He reflected on those days five years ago. With no family, no way of fighting monsters, using his powers. The days of passing...

The days until he met Ono. When he met her. When everything changed. In Tokyo...

"What's upstairs? They're making a racket." (Yaku)

"Just some workers I hired, to move boxes around and stuff." (Ono)

An older man with blonde hair and a bandana walked past carrying a heavy crate.

"Whoah! Whoah! Morning Ono..." (Older Worker)

He looked at Yaku. At his uniform.

"Whoah! Whoah! A Magic Force Sorcerer?! Are you crazy!" (Older Worker)

He started to freak out, but Ono quickly calmed him down.

"It's fine, he's a friend. No need to worry. He wouldn't tattle on us." (Ono)

Yaku turned curious.

"So it's still illegal? " (Yaku)

"No no... We'll... My buisness isn't... We'll... It's not very Japan friendly. I'm permitted in other countries, but I'm just in Japan for now. To make some deals with old friends." (Ono)

Yaku sort of believed her, she had that cute nostalgic face. Her glistening eyes, the way she smiled.

"Yeah..." (Yaku)

He glanced back at her eyes.

"By the way? What happened to your glasses?" (Yaku)

She winked at him.

"I got contacts. My glasses get lost or destroyed too easily nowadays." (Ono)

She looked up at his embarrassed nostalgic face.

"But I bet you wanted to see me with them right?" (Ono)

"No... No... Well... No!" (Yaku)

She giggled...

"Um... Anyway. We should go out and get some lunch. this place is a bit-" (Yaku)

"Too stuffy. Yeah I agree." (Ono)

---

Jack and Ginger strolled through the pitch-black facility. Hallways of concrete white, the floor dusty and dripping wet. Electronic cabled spanning walls, and ceilings, from metal beams to cracked wood.

Jack held out a flashlight, shining it in Ginger's direction. She would walk in and out of every room and hallway. Watching for any monsters, for any clues to the missing persons.

She also had a monster tracker on her belt.

Beep...

Beep...

Beep...

"There doesn't seem to be any monsters, here? But I keep getting this odd feeling." (Jack)

"Agreed. Whatever attacked those couples must be a monster with a special type of magic." (Ginger)

"What do you mean, special...?" (Jack)

Ginger turned around with the old enchanted dagger.

"Jack? Your a special Sorcerer right?" (Ginger)

"Yup." (Jack)

"Then you haven't gone through the normal training I presume?" (Ginger)

"Well, I know how to kill monsters." (Jack)

He shined his flashlight down the long spiraling hallway of crumbled stacks of trash and broken tables.

"What experience?" (Ginger)

"I spent two years killing all types of monsters. I killed big ones, small ones, long ones, fat ones. I would say I know how to kill a monster, but..." (Jack)

"But exactly! You know how to kill monsters, but you don't know what a monster is. You see, knowing the monster is as important as killing it. That's why we identify certain types before we fight them, so we can send in Sorcerers specific to counter that monster's type of magic. Like if we were to encounter a monster that shoots fire. We would send in a Sorcerer with water type magic." (Ginger)

"No yeah. I understand that but... That's just not my style." (Jack)

"Your style? In the Magic Force there is no need for style. You should understand and accept your position in all of this Jack..." (Ginger)

She pointed ahead.

Dark red eyes in the darkness. A monstrous grin pealing in the shade.

"I've worked with other Special Magic Squad Sorcerers before, so I know how you guys work. You fight the monsters we can't. The ones who are special, the X-Class ones, the rare talking ones. You take out the unknown since you are the unknown." (Ginger)

"I already understand that. But what do you mean by-" (Jack)

"But that's not all..." (Ginger)

"Huh?" (Jack)

She stepped back. She grabbed Jack by the shoulders pushing him out in front of the hidden monster.

He looked back. Ginger was hiding behind an open door.

"Jack, what you should accept isn't that you are special. It's the opposite. It's that you're expendable." (Ginger)

"Huh...? What...? What!" (Jack)