Welcome Back

Daron spotted Laurence striding down the corridor in a casual suit, his golden hair bound in the usual ponytail.

"Laurence!" Daron waved, closing the distance between them with a few quick steps. "You're back!"

The blonde magician flashed his signature charming smile. "Indeed I am. Did you miss me already?"

"More like I'd like to hear about your mission. I bet it was epic!"

"Ah, you know how it goes." Laurence shrugged casually. "Just your typical few days. Gangsters, mayhem, the usual."

"But it took longer than expected, right? You said two weeks."

Laurence's smile turned cryptic. "Let's just say things got...complicated."

"Fair enough," Daron conceded, realizing Laurence didn't want to talk about it right now. "I'm just glad you made it back in one piece."

Laurence laughed. "I've been known to come back in one piece. But enough about my exploits. I hear you've been making quite the impression yourself."

Daron's eyebrows shot up. "You've been keeping tabs on me?"

Laurence nodded, his expression turning serious. "Of course. Scarlett's been keeping me updated on your progress. She's quite impressed with how quickly you're adapting."

A warm glow of satisfaction spread through Daron's chest. Scarlett was impressed by him? It was high praise indeed.

"I've been working hard," Daron admitted, trying to keep his tone modest. "Putting in extra hours at the training grounds, studying every magical tome I can get my hands on."

"And it shows." Laurence clapped a hand on Daron's shoulder. "You've come a long way in a short time. Which is why I think you're ready for the next step."

"Next step?"

"Your first mission." Laurence's eyes glinted with excitement. "And I'll be right there with you, observing and evaluating your performance."

A whirlwind of emotions swirled through Daron - elation, nervousness, determination. This was it, his chance to prove himself.

"Alright," Daron declared. "Whatever the mission is, I'll give it my all."

"I know you will. But don't think it'll be a cakewalk just because I'm there. I expect nothing less than your best."

"I won't let you down."

"Great! Now then, let's head to the main room. I will explain the details of the mission."

With a nod, Daron fell into step beside Laurence, back into the room he just came from.

As they entered, a skeptical voice came from behind. "Are you truly prepared for this?" Morveth's tone dripped with doubt. "A real mission is far more dangerous than your little training sessions."

Daron mentally brushed off the god's words.

Nah, I've got this!

The MagiTech table dominated the center of the room, its sleek surface alive with shimmering holographic displays. Daron watched as a three-dimensional map of the Science District flickered to life above the table. Tiny dots of light danced across the hologram, each one representing a different magical signature. Daron leaned closer, trying to make sense of the patterns and clusters.

"Each light is a magician," Laurence explained, pointing to two particularly bright dots. "And this is where we'll be heading tomorrow night. Our mission is to deal with a gang causing trouble in the science district. They've been extorting businesses, terrorizing civilians, and we suspect they might have ties to the Order of Resurrection. We can't allow them to destabilize the district."

Can I really do something like that?

Straightening his shoulders, Daron met Laurence's gaze. "I understand. I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to stop them."

"Foolish boy," Morveth's voice echoed in his head. "You have no idea what you're walking into."

Daron clenched his jaw. He wouldn't let Morveth's skepticism hold him back, not when he had a chance to finally make a real difference.

Laurence nodded. "Good. It will be your job to extract information from the two gentlemen. I will be watching you from a distance, don't rely on me."

"I won't"

This was it, his first real mission as a member of the Special Magic Force. He would prove himself, not just to Laurence and the others, but to himself.

"The mission will commence tomorrow night. Take the rest of today and tomorrow to mentally prepare. Get some rest, meditate, do whatever you need to focus your mind and magic."

With a final nod, Laurence dismissed him.

Daron turned and walked out of the room. As he navigated the labyrinthine halls of the headquarters, his mind raced with thoughts of the impending mission.

Gangsters, the Order of Resurrection, potential threats to the city's stability...

The weight of the task settled heavily on his shoulders, but he refused to buckle under the pressure.

Reaching his room, Daron pushed open the door and stepped inside. Atop the newly placed nightstand sat Anne's unopened gift.

Daron paced the room, his black-nailed fingers tapping against his thigh. He tried to focus on the mission details, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Anne.

The thought brought a flicker of comfort, a reminder that he still had someone who cared about him, even after everything he'd been through. But he felt guilty for not having opened her gift or contacted her yet. He hadn't felt ready—until now.

If I succeed tomorrow, I'll finally reach out to her and let her know I'm okay.

Daron paused by the window, staring out at the city skyline. The sun hung low on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Somewhere out there, amidst the towering skyscrapers and bustling streets, the gangsters were plotting their next move.

And I'll be there to stop them.