“That is where I come in.” Renaldo appeared before them, his presence commanding and intense. The sound of his voice drew in an dramatic thunderstorm. Blue lightning charged the dome, illuminating the night with a fierce glow.

The trees began to shake as something of great power approached. Raziel watched in horror as this man in blue and gold robes began to weave a spell. His voice caused the earth to quake. The frequency of his voice caused stress on the very molecules within Raziel, making his bones vibrate painfully.

A man dressed in robes of black and gold walked right through the dome of power. His eyes glowed with golden specks of stardust, like miniature galaxies swirling in the depths of his irises. “ISSAC! You will return with me and now!” Xanther’s eyes resembled a galaxy more than irises, filled with the weight of countless stars.

Renaldo’s eyes flashed with sapphire light, illuminating the darkened forest with an eerie glow. The dome turned into a tesla coil, crackling with electric energy. The army outside of the dome scattered as trees began exploding under the might of high-powered lightning strikes, the air thick with the scent of ozone and burning wood.

In the shadowed realm where chaos thrives, Renaldo’s voice echoed with an ancient power. “By the twisted threads of fate, Xanther your plan comes late. By the power of Apocalyptica, you will not tread on what I deem as mine. The threads of reality obey my command and bind this sorcerer.”

A web of blue ropes, shimmering with arcane energy, bound Xanther from moving.

He screamed in frustration, “My Grandson is not yours!”

He struggled before yielding to Renaldo’s power. “I am claiming him as mine, and under my direct protection. You and yours will not touch him or Raziel. Am I clear, Xanther?”

The clouds above their heads let out a torrential downpour of water. It sizzled and evaporated from the dome, creating a steamy haze.

Xanther’s army completely fled, their morale shattered by the display of overwhelming power. The stardust faded from his golden eyes. Xanther screamed in pain as the blue threads tightened, cutting into his flesh. “I will only ask you one more time!!!” Renaldo screamed at him, his voice a thunderclap.

The winds howled as a rain-wrapped E5 tornado formed around them, a vortex of destruction. The trees of the entire forest ripped from the ground and circled them like a blender of elements, the air filled with debris and the roar of the storm.

Xanther hung his head. He closed his eyes tightly. The fight fled him as quickly as he had entered the dome. Renaldo smirked and walked over to him. He touched his chin, raising his head. “Xanther?” The bound man looked up into the Alchemist’s eyes with silver irises.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good, you may leave.” Renaldo told him just above a whisper. He tugged on the rope, and they released their hold on him. They all watched as he dropped to his knees in defeat. Xanther stood and turned. He walked away without another word, his shoulders slumped in resignation.

The dome fell and the tempest ceased. Raziel took in the mass destruction. Miles of forest now laid to waste. The ancient oaks, fractured toothpicks, littered across acres of land. Raziel decided at this moment he never wanted to be the target of this blue-eyed monster’s wrath.

Faldonia smirked. “You always did know how to make an entrance, Renaldo.”

The monster just touched his spectacles and smirked at her. It was now that Raziel really took in this man’s appearance.

The eldritch alchemist was dressed in blue and gold robes. His long black hair flowed in the gentle breeze. In this moment, a realization hit Raziel.

In a streak of bravery, he stepped forward. “You are why I am in the material plane, aren’t you?”

Renaldo did not speak; he simply nodded his head.

“Why am I here? Why did you take me from the King?” Raziel asked with pointed intention.

Renaldo simply took out a piece of parchment and wrote upon it. “The answer to that is simple. You asked me to. Young fae Prince, you are the 12th in line for the throne.

“You were miserable and asked me for an adventure. I just happened to have need of you. You are to travel with your knight to Lord Erickson.

“He will be able to guide you. When you get there, do what it takes to gain his trust and join his ‘crew’.

“You want to learn to fight? Do so in his arena, there will be no end to those that are willing to fight you for your learning pleasure.” He handed the paper to Raziel.

The boy stared at it for a moment before scrunching his nose. He looked back up and the sapphire-eyed man was gone. He turned to Issac who was standing by Faldonia and Elrian, his mouth open in shock.