The Extra Wants Control

Relief, laced with a bitter aftertaste, washed over Viktor. He had won. He had defended his guild, his new home, from this brute invader. Yet, the victory felt hollow. The fight itself had been a brutal dance, a stark display of raw power that left the once-proud guild hall in ruins. But the unsettling silence that followed, broken only by Viktor\'s ragged gasps for breath, was even more unnerving.

A rustle from the shadows drew his attention. Cloaked figures, the same ones who had appeared during the fight, emerged from the periphery of the hall. Their movements were fluid, silent, their presence an unsettling reminder of the unseen forces at play.

Viktor tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for a weapon that wasn\'t there. He had fought with the ferocity of a cornered beast, but facing these silent figures, these ghosts in the moonlight, filled him with a primal fear.

"Search the premises," a voice, laced with chilling authority, echoed from one of the figures. "See if this… individual came alone."

The cloaked figures vanished in a blur of movement, disappearing into the wrecked guild hall like phantoms. Viktor watched them go, his heart hammering against his ribs. Who were they? Were they allies, or something far more sinister?

Suddenly, a figure stepped out from the shadows, emerging into the pool of moonlight. It was Kael, his assigned teacher, his face an unreadable mask. Viktor\'s emotions warred within him – relief at seeing a familiar face, mixed with a surge of anxiety.

"Viktor," Kael\'s voice was low and measured, "you did well."

Relief washed over Viktor, a wave so potent it nearly buckled his knees. "Master-" he began, only to be cut off.

"You only have one master," Kael interrupted, his voice firm. "And it\'s not me."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Viktor\'s face, but it was quickly replaced by understanding. He bowed his head slightly. "Teacher, then."

Kael nodded. "Your fight was commendable, but you still have much to learn before you can face such adversaries consistently. However," he continued, his gaze sweeping the unconscious form of 011, "you handled yourself admirably."

He gestured towards the shadowed figures who were meticulously searching the wreckage. "We need to know if this… individual came alone. Eliminate any potential loose ends."

"My sister… the guild members… are they alright?" he rasped out, his voice thick with worry.

Kael met his gaze. "Don\'t worry. Your sister and the rest of the guild members were evacuated to safety before the altercation escalated."

Viktor let out a breath he didn\'t realize he was holding. Relief flooded him, washing away the bitter aftertaste of victory. "Thank you," he rasped, his voice thick with gratitude.

"Now," Kael said, his tone turning businesslike, "the man you fought. What can you tell me about him? Did he mention who sent him?"

"Actually we already know but he doesn\'t need to be aware of that." Thought Kael.

Viktor shook his head, his mind a whirlwind. "No… He just barged in, looking for the guild leader… beat up a Jerry and started a fight."

Kael grunted, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. He turned on his communicator, a small device strapped to his ear. "Master," he spoke into the device, "there are no signs of any accomplices. He seems to have acted alone."

A short pause followed, then a voice crackled through the communicator, Ray\'s voice, cold and calculating. "Is he alive if so exterminate him."

"Wait," he said, his voice surprisingly firm. "Bring him back."

Another pause, then a sigh. "Understood," Ray conceded.

Kael turned back to Viktor, something flickering in his icy black eyes. "The next couple of days might be rough, Viktor. You\'re coming with me to Babel."

***********

Ray leaned back in his plush chair, a frown creasing his brow. His fingers tapped a restless rhythm against the armrest, the silence in the dimly lit chamber heavy with unspoken tension. Mavis, perched on the edge of a nearby table, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement, watched him with an unnerving intensity.

"Is this how they\'ll attack?" Ray finally muttered, his voice laced with suspicion. "Will it be a direct confrontation between them and us, or will they resort to other tactics?"

Mavis tilted her head, a predatory glint in her eyes. "Hoh... sir," she drawled, her voice dripping with amusement, "it appears our Babel is about to receive some visitors."

"Explain," Ray commanded.

Mavis, unfazed by his frosty tone, pushed herself off the table and sauntered closer. "Apparently, a band of young human nobles has entered the city. They seem to be in a rather… celebratory mood. And from the whispers I intercepted, they appear to be headed straight for Babel."

Eric, his ever-present scowl deepening, spoke up from his position by the window. "Shouldn\'t these nobles be in their Academy learning how to be proper little lords and ladies? What brings them here? No offense master."

Mavis let out a throaty chuckle. "Ah, Eric, my dear," she purred, "you underestimate the sheer entitlement of human nobility. They are most likely here for a frivolous reason – a lavish party to show off their extravagant possessions and belittle one another. You know how they are, obsessed with maintaining a facade of superiority."

A slow smile crept across Ray\'s face, a dangerous glint flickering in his blue eyes. "So, they think they can waltz into Babel and flaunt their wealth to their peers? This is great news for Babel right? But it\'s too random. This is suspicious."

Mavis\'s smile widened, mirroring the amusement in Ray\'s eyes. "Indeed, sir. And Amber, she ensured Babel\'s prices for luxury goods are sky-high during these \'noble gatherings.\' Let them empty their coffers trying to outdo each other."

Ray chuckled, a humorless sound devoid of warmth. "Hmmm... Okay. But," his voice turned sharp, "there might be more to this than meets the eye. We can\'t rule out the possibility that this is a scouting mission by the nobility faction, a way for them to gather intel on Babel\'s operations."

Mavis\'s amusement faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression. "That\'s a valid concern, sir. We should keep a close eye on these… noble guests."

A tense silence descended upon the room once more. The implications of the noble visit hung heavy in the air. Ray steepled his fingers, his gaze fixed on an unseen point in the distance. His mind raced, strategizing, analyzing.

"We need to turn this situation to our advantage," he finally declared, his voice firm with resolve. "These nobles… they present an opportunity. An opportunity to sow discord, to manipulate them into doing our bidding."

Amber\'s lips curved into a predatory grin, who was silent till now spoke. "Now that sounds interesting, sir. How do you propose we accomplish this?"

"Have you ever heard the phrase \'feed a man\'s ego and he\'ll keep rewarding you?\'" Asked Ray.

***********

These pampered youngsters, adorned in their finery and dripping with an air of entitlement, wandered through the stores within Babel, their eyes wide with a mixture of fascination and disdain. They fingered handcrafted wares, scoffed at prices, and engaged in petty squabbles over who could secure the most exclusive item.

It was precisely the scene Ray had envisioned. His plan, a calculated blend of manipulation and shrewd marketing, was unfolding perfectly.

"Look at them, Amber," Ray chuckled, a low rumble emanating from his chest. "They\'re like magpies, drawn to shiny baubles."

Amber smirked. "Indeed, sir. They may scoff and complain, but their eyes betray their avarice. They crave what they cannot readily possess."

"Precisely. And Babel caters to that very desire. We offer them a taste of the extraordinary, the unattainable. Limited edition trinkets imbued with minor enchantments, garments woven from luminous spider silk, delicacies that tantalize the taste buds – all at an exorbitant price, of course."

Amber snorted, a plume of smoke curling from her nostrils. "Exorbitant being the operative word. You\'ve tripled the prices for these \'exclusive\' trinkets, haven\'t you?"

Amber snorted, a plume of smoke curling from her nostrils. "Exorbitant being the operative word. So we tripled the prices for these \'exclusive\' trinkets, don\'t we?"

Ray raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his golden eyes. "Yes. But exclusivity comes at a cost, my dear. And besides, the higher the price, the more desirable the object becomes in their eyes. It\'s a game of perception, and these nobles are masters of playing it."

"See how they squabble?" Ray continued, a hint of amusement in his voice. "They\'ll each pay an arm and a leg just to outdo each other. News of these extravagant purchases will undoubtedly spread back to Stonegate, further piquing the curiosity of the nobility."

Amber chuckled, a dark, melodious sound, now understanding. "And the more curious they become, the more eager they\'ll be to visit Babel themselves. A self-sustaining cycle of greed and envy, beautifully orchestrated, sir."

" Yes and more importantly the nobles seeing this won\'t resist the greed for Babel will be great. I\'m sure these children when they are alone will tell of this experience to their parents who\'ll hurry up and attack Stonegate to get Babel, of course that applies to the nobles of this region. The others will simply not interfere cause of the non interference pact which is absolute.

Still we\'ll be fighting a war on two fronts one with the nobility faction in the light and in the dark we\'ll be against Gorgon I\'m sure Keller is fuming about our message." Said Ray.