Two days later, already at the airport.

  —Oh, guys... I’m nervous —said Albert, trying not to bite his nails.

  —Mason and Mr. Gonzo, watch Albert for me, please. He’s a bit of an idiot —murmured Edward, laughing.

  —Alright, lads, the first flight is for the girls. Wish them luck —announced Yu-Han with a calm smile.

  So, Sarah and Damien exchanged a tender look as they said goodbye; Layla took Mason’s hand with a small smile to hide her sadness, and together with Master Yianiss they bid the group farewell and departed for Magdolonia.

  —Well, I think it’s time for us to leave too. Master Yu-Han, please be careful in Apalacide —said Gonzo, with a trace of concern. Then he left to catch his flight to Ponaj along with Mason and Albert.

  —Alright, guys... only us left, and it looks like it’s our turn to go too —added Yu-Han, straightening his coat.

  Damien cast one last glance down the corridor where Sarah had gone. And so Damien, Yulian, Edward and Master Yu-Han boarded the plane bound for one of the places —perhaps the most paranormal place on the planet—: the vast Mountains of Apalacide.

  Across the city, a meeting was about to begin.

  —Master, good news: I’m told Yu-Han and his crew have left on a trip. What should we do? —asked the shadow Xalgo, his voice echoing from the darkness.

  —We must go and destroy that old bastard’s home now that he’s away. That will be our message —Jonatan growled, barely containing his anger.

  —Silence —the Boss cut in, his deep voice filling the room—. We won’t do that yet. There are still people from the Foundation watching the place. But we can kick off the main phase of my plan.

  His eyes flashed like embers.

  —Xalgo, go with Jonatan and warn the others. Gather cryptids and fairies to cooperate. Recruit them by any means necessary. Force them to work with us. Then, Xalgo... I want you personally to go to Apalacide. Find the one they call the “Human Destroyer.”

  —Bah, what a shitty idea... —Jonatan protested— I’ll go myself to send a message into the old man’s domains.

  —Are you challenging an order? —the Boss snarled, releasing a wave of Koa so dense the air itself seemed to crack.

  Jonatan trembled. —N-no... of course not. I’ll go with Xalgo.

  Even someone as arrogant as he was knew a single move from the Boss could erase him from the map.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  —Now go. Gather everything you can. I estimate we’ll have a couple of days... Then we’ll deliver our first message —the Boss decreed, a cold smile on his lips.

  Xalgo and Jonatan left the chamber. The former laughed at his companion, mocking his fear, while Jonatan muttered threats through clenched teeth.

  —Train them well, Yu-Han... —murmured the Boss, watching from the window—. In a few days, I will unleash chaos.

  Over the next hour, Xalgo and Jonatan roamed the dark districts, recruiting every fallen being they could find: desperate cryptids, street fairies, deformed creatures. Some joined out of fear; others were forced by Xalgo’s brutality.

  —Good, I think these will be enough... —said the shadow, laughing malevolently—. Now I’ll fetch the heavy hitter, straight to the Mountains of Apalacide.

  —Are you stupid? Isn’t that where the old man is headed with his crew? How do you plan to get there first without being noticed? —Jonatan jeered.

  —I have my methods. I don’t follow your rules, human... —whispered Xalgo, dissolving into a swirl of shadows.

  Within hours, almost at the same time Yu-Han and company landed in Apalacide, Xalgo had already managed to convince the so-called “Human Destroyer” to join the cause.

  —Boss, I’ve convinced the subject. How do I bring him there? —Xalgo asked by phone.

  —The private plane I sent ahead should have already arrived. Good job, Xalgo —the Boss replied, then hung up.

  —Ah, that damn shadow left me hanging —Jonatan grumbled, kicking stones—. He’s good at slipping away. I’ll head home then...

  But something interrupted him.

  —Hey, I want to join —said a small deformed creature, one arm longer than the other, a wound on its chest and a face full of scars. Its body looked like it had been stitched from scraps of different beings.

  Jonatan looked at it with disgust. —Do whatever you want, but you better be strong. That madman only recruits the best.

  —Relax... I’ll prove it... I’m strong —the creature whispered, following him into the shadows.

  In the Boss’s office, the darkness seemed to breathe.

  —Boss, your champion is already on the way on that plane. What’s next? —Xalgo asked as he materialized before the desk.

  —We’ll wait for Jonatan’s idiot and the other top members to arrive —the Boss answered, lighting a cigarette—. We’ll prepare the recruits. In a couple of days we’ll make our first move.

  Meanwhile, the group of youngsters rested at their respective destinations, preparing for the training missions ahead.

  —Wow... so this place is Magdolonia? I’ve never been. It feels pretty stifling —said Sarah, wiping sweat from her brow.

  —I love hot weather —Layla said with a grin from ear to ear.

  —Calm down, girls. There will be air conditioning in the rooms. We won’t stay just anywhere; we’ll go to a decent place —said Yianiss with a small laugh.

  —Master, why did only we come? —Layla asked, a little puzzled.

  —You need to become strong —the master answered seriously—. You mustn’t rely in a fight on Yulian, Damien or Mason... nor on any of the others.

  —Why the emphasis on those three? —Sarah asked, confused.

  —Yulian is the strongest and most talented —the master explained—. Without realizing it, you all lean too much on him. Mason, being Layla’s boyfriend, tends to focus on protecting her rather than fighting. And Damien... well, the situation with him and you, Sarah, is similar.

  —Damien... and me? —repeated Sarah, blushing.

  —Come on, Sarah, don’t play dumb. Damien would die for you if it meant keeping you safe. Let’s stop pretending. But the master is right: we’re not damsels in distress. We are thaumaturges, after all —Layla laughed.

  —That’s the spirit —Yianiss smiled—. Now relax and rest. Tomorrow we begin our mission: find The Madremonte.