RANAHEIM
RANACE LABORATORIES
Grovan and Cresson were fully engrossed in their study of Rinporter’s energy and vibrations. The laboratory buzzed with the sound of advanced scientific instruments and the glow of computer screens displaying intricate data.
In the center of the laboratory, Rinporter stood tall with his back straight and shoulders squared, surrounded by an array of sensors, oscillators, and spectrographs. Occasionally, he would subtly shift his weight, as if adjusting his stance to better align with the energy being measured.
The duo observed how Rinporter’s energy fluctuated and resonated in response to various stimuli. They meticulously recorded the data, creating a comprehensive profile of his resonance frequency range. They spent hours on this task, realizing that it would take time to fully comprehend the extent of his power.
“Okay, that’s it for today. Let’s do this tomorrow again. Same time,” Cresson instructed, signaling the end of their study session.
“Sure,” Rinporter replied, finally freeing himself from the sensors and equipment. “Let’s all go. We’re all heading to the same location, right?”
“You bet! Let’s go, Cres. Let’s enjoy the free ride,” Grovan chimed in, rising from his chair.
After gathering their belongings, Rinporter drew a circle in the air with his forefinger. His green eyes glowed and a portal emerged.
____________
NORTH CALUM
VEILBREAKERS NEST
After spending several minutes alone with Garo Lat, Keiro took the opportunity to further question him. Elthier, a common purple-colored plant found throughout Planet Arcanum, possessed anti-magic properties. As a result, Arcanians believed that they were unable to possess extraordinary powers due to the presence of these plants. However, they had a remarkable trait—they had a reduced sensitivity to physical pain. This unique attribute allowed them to navigate their daily lives and engage in combat without being hindered by extreme discomfort.
Listening intently, Keiro nodded in contemplation. “You make a valid point, but it also presents the risk of unforeseen death. While you may have felt fine, the truth is that you could have already been slowly dying.”
Garo Lat was momentarily speechless, and then he responded with a hint of humor, “Well, when you put it like that, it does sound rather scary.”
Suddenly, the sound of a heavy door thudding reverberated through the laptop speaker, causing both of them to flinch in surprise. Following the noise was President Dale’s voice. “Those incompetent fools! Can’t they even perform their job properly? How could they lose all the packages? Fuck them all!” His frustrated mutterings continued until he uttered, “Marcus, I’m granting you a final chance. If you disappoint me again, you may not witness another sunrise.”
“Whoa! That’s intense! The imposter President definitely has a scary side,” exclaimed Grovan, his voice booming and echoing through the basement, capturing the attention of Keiro and Garo Lat. Behind him, Cresson and Rinporter appeared, descending the stairs in unison.
“Where’s Vanarah?” Cresson asked, noticing his wife’s absence.
 Sighing, Keiro shook his head. “Beats me. She just called me and said I need to keep an eye on Garo. As soon as I arrived, she left in a hurry. Why is your wife always so busy?”
“She—”
“No, never mind. By the way, why did you all come through the stairs when Rinporter could have simply transported you here?”
Rinporter shrugged nonchalantly and settled into a chair beside the table. “I think it had something to do with those boxes. They seemed to interfere with my powers,” he explained with a sigh. “We need to find a solution for them.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Cresson chimed in. “There’s no reason for us to hoard those items. I’m certain they’re all meant for the production of Elthier cuffs.”
Grovan enthusiastically raised his hand. “I second the motion. We can’t let poor Marcus miss the opportunity to witness the sunrise again, can we?”
Keiro chuckled and raised his eyebrows, conceding to his point. “All right, let’s return the packages to where we found them. Rin, could you attempt to create a portal for us?”
He nodded and proceeded to draw a circle in the air. A portal materialized, albeit smaller than usual. Rinporter shrugged and remarked, “Well, something is better than nothing, right?”
Another phone conversation took place after President Dale spoke with Marcus. This time, the tone was pleasant as he addressed the person on the other end, saying, “Yes, Commander?”
“I heard there’s a problem. Princess Meda informed me.”
“Ah, yes. But don’t worry, it will be resolved soon.”
“Make sure. The Queen doesn’t tolerate any slip-up.”
“Yes, Commander. I will keep that in mind.”
The Veilbreakers exchanged puzzled glances with each other. Rinporter voiced their confusion, asking, “Princess Meda? Commander? Who are these people?” The rest of the group turned their attention to Garo Lat, hoping he had some answers.
Garo Lat raised his brows in response to their expectant looks. “Don’t give me those intimidating stares. I’m willing to share what I know.”
Keiro urged him to continue, saying, “Go ahead, then.”
“First of all, as I mentioned before, I have no idea who the imposter President is. I promise,” he declared, raising his hand as if taking an oath. “Princess Meda is a princess from one of our planets. As for the Commander, based on the voice, he seems to be the Military Commander of Arcanum. From what I see, the imposter President is affiliated with him. But even if my theory is correct, it’s impossible for me to pinpoint his identity, considering there are millions of—”
“Fuck it!” President Dale exclaimed. His frustration reverberated through the basement via the speaker. The thud that followed indicated that he had probably slammed his desk in anger. Everyone flinched, their surprise intensified as they heard him say, “I’m certain Black Marzec is involved in this.”
____________
ELDAM CITY
BLACK MARZEC ABODE
Intrigued by the President’s mention of the Black Marzec, the Veilbreakers couldn’t help but wonder why he suspected them of being the culprits behind the stolen packages. Fueled by curiosity, they resolved to visit them after they had returned all the boxes.
The Black Marzec Abode was situated in the heart of Eldam, a renowned city in Ranace known for its tranquility. Unlike other cities, it had never experienced any chaos caused by conjurers for decades, possibly because the Black Marzec claimed it as their territory. They were infamous conjurers who operated outside the control of the government, earning them the reputation of being evil. The Veilbreakers regarded them as irrational beings driven by a thirst for power, causing harm to humans, but not as meticulous as intercepting Elthier shipments. However, upon hearing the President mention them, they couldn’t help but speculate that there was more to them than initially met the eye.
“They certainly live up to their name, don’t they? Black Marzec, really? Are we absolutely certain about this?” Rinporter questioned skeptically as they stepped out of the car, now standing by the imposing iron gate.
The Black Marzec Abode was a sprawling estate that rivaled the Noble Citadel, complete with a vast lawn. What set the mansion apart was its distinctive black color scheme. The roof, walls, and every aspect of the mansion were adorned in black. The darkness of the night and the presence of flying bats only served to enhance the aura of mystery and eeriness of the place.
“Well, our intention is just to have a conversation. We’re not seeking trouble, and if things do escalate, we have you on our side,” reassured Cresson, attempting to alleviate any concerns.
Letting out a sigh, Keiro interjected, “All right, we’ve come this far. There’s no turning back now. Let’s proceed.” He glanced at the others and nodded, signaling that it was time to press the buzzer.
As soon as the button was pressed, all eyes turned towards the camera mounted above them on the gate post, its lens fixed directly on the visitors, sensing their presence.
“Let’s hope they’ll be kind enough to grant us entry,” Grovan muttered under his breath. Without missing a beat, the gates swung open, beckoning them to step inside the grand manor.
As they crossed the threshold, a resonant voice echoed from speakers strategically placed in the corners of the high ceiling, guiding them toward the throne room. Cold gazes from a few scattered individuals greeted them as they made their way through. Finally, a man stationed by the massive double doors, adorned with intricate carvings, graciously opened them, inviting the visitors to enter.
“Keiro, Cresson, Rinporter! How unexpected to see you here,” Jekyll greeted them, gracefully descending from the dais. His imposing figure was adorned in golden armor from head to toe.
Two other men stood guard on the dais, donning silver armor, as if protecting a king. Vondlor, seated on the throne chair, commanded attention as the leader of the Black Marzec. Clad in a black fur robe, he observed the scene in silence.
“We have something to ask you,” Keiro stated firmly.
“Before we proceed, who is the unfamiliar face among you? Is he also a Shadow Hero?” Jekyll inquired.
“No, I’m a Valoure,” Grovan interjected.
“What did you say?” Jekyll growled, his eyes widening. He scrutinized the Veilbreakers intently. “How dare you bring a mere human into our abode?” He turned to Vondlor. “Father, they are disrespecting us!”
The Veilbreakers exchanged glances with each other and, with a collective nod, escaped through Rinporter’s portal before anything escalated.