CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: COINCIDENCE MEETING YOU HERE.

DISCLAIMER!: HEY DEAR READERS! MY TOP APOLOGIES FOR THIS SUDDEN INTERRUPTION, BUT IT'S NECESSARY I CLARIFY A FEW THINGS:

1. THERE ARE THREE COUNTRIES IN THIS FICTIONAL UNIVERSE, I HAVE ONLY MENTIONED TWO; PANDORA (OUR CURRENT SETTING) AND EUPHORA.

2. THE GOVERNMENT, MAGE HOOD AND REVERRED ARE QUITE INTERTWINED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE HEAD UPPER MAGE IS THE KING OF PANDORA AS WELL.

3. THE TOPS IN THE MAGEHOOD ALTERNATIVELY KNOWN AS THE MAGE CREST ARE THE HEAD UPPER MAGE (WHO DOUBLES AS THE KING), THE UPPER MAGE, UPPER MAGE 2 AND UPPER MAGE 3.

4. THE UPPER MAGE IS THE HOODED ONE; AN ULTIMATELY MYSTERIOUS FIGURE WHOSE ONLY CERTAIN VALUE IS HIS MAGIC STRENGTH.

5. UPPER MAGE 2 IS GAZO AND UPPER MAGE 3 IS THE MAN WHO DIED IN EUPHORA WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY.

SORRY FOR ANY EARLIER CONFUSION I MAY HAVE CAUSED, I ONLY NOTICED THAT I MIXED UP THE TITLES IN THE MAGE CREST IN EARLIER CHAPTERS.

THANK YOU 🙏!

TAKI'S POINT OF VIEW.

"If you were given a chance to kill ANYBODY of your choice…who would it be?" Yal questions rather casually, I stare at him quizically, the bright light of this realm's atmosphere flooding his face, he regards me shortly before looking down to carry on peeling the skin off the weird fruit we just found, "If it was me…I'd kill my father" he pronounces this bitterly, then he sighs heavily and continues his peeling, I gaze at him in interest and I undertone "Me too…", a thudding sound of a body falling startles us and distinct voices

TAKI'S POV END.

THE HOODED ONE'S STORY.

MEMOIR FOUR.

He stares at me suspiciously for a while, I obviously notice this but I feign oblivion to his gaze -I find this tenseness amusing-, the library hall is slowly getting cleared out but it seems he remains for the core purpose of spying on my routine -this is the first time I've noticed him-, he's an absolutely insignificant fellow, -but perhaps he seeks my attention?-, from the corner of my hooded eyes, I observe him in interest, his swept back, black hair shields his left eye and the right eye in question is a dull shade of grey, his lips are thin and his nose is sculpted medium, his skin is pale and lifeless, "Hey Hood…you coming?" Fenice asks nudging me out of my analysis, I shake my head non affirmatively, and look back down to 'read' the wizard book, I have actually already memorized word-for-word, Fenice suddenly grabs the book from my hands "Now now Hood, don't be a bore and come join us in the wizard games besides it'll just be another chance for you to show off" Fenice playfully intones as he lifts the book up, I sigh in exhaustion and simply stand up while saying "I'm taller than you so don't be stupid Fenice", Fenice chuckles and grasps my hand tightly "Well…now you're up so you'll have no excuse but to come along my good fellow" he mutters mischievously, I smile to myself "So this was your plan all along you manipulative fiend" I state, he shrugs "But anybody else can go with you" I protest rather weakly, "Nah…nobody wants to be my partner…they're all much too frightened at my energy" he responds in an indifferent tone, "Nobody?, what about him?" I slyly motion to my 'stalking observer' sitting all across at the other end of the huge library, the guy flinches and quivers in -fear?- Fenice instantly beams and rushes over there "Let's go then…Zael"

END OF MEMOIR.

"Rave…he's still breathing!" I remark in excitement after checking on Sesugh's unconscious body "So…what about it?" he snaps "There's nothing we can do…he'll be dead soon anyway" he adds on a more subtle tone, "Actually…there is" a familiar voice approaches us -Yal's?- Yal and Taki approach us, I instantly gush in happiness at seeing Taki and she does too "Coincidence meeting you guys here isn't it?" she mumbles "It was his unmistakeable deep voice that attracted our attention" she adds pointing to Rave "Anyhow, what can be done to save his life?" I question, Yal shrugs "I happen to have some knowledge of fruits and herbs…there is one that may neutralize the beast poison give him a chance of living...it's infact what I and Taki just finished devouring...but…" he pauses "We need to be quick in finding it…or he's already dead"