WAS Headquarters, Hazen.
The full red moon bloomed in the sky, casting a crimson glow over the large building.
The WAS building - a huge complex made of glass and the purest tenzen minerals. Standing over a land mass of four by four kilometers, and as high as 20m, the WAS HQ is the tallest and largest building in the whole of Eldrid.
It served as the vanguard of sorcerous activities, and was also in charge of certifying sorcerers, establishing guilds, and detecting demonic activities through a satellite-device known as "tenzometer".
The WAS HQ also served as the office of the Sorcerer-general of Eldrid; Sir Zelazny Zoldrak.
...
Whirl!! Whirl!!
The still silence was suddenly punctuated by whirling sounds, which got louder as it neared the building.
An helicopter - the size of an airship appeared from the dense clouds, as it hovered towards the building.
People, clad in black suits and trousers over a white shirt and tie, were already standing there, as they stood close to the helipad, watching the helicopter descend.
Slowly, the helicopter hovered over the top, as it carefully landed on the helipad.
The helicopter gave its last whirling sounds, as its blades decelerated.
The passenger's door of the helicopter immediately flung open without warning, as a foot stepped out.
He was wearing a black toxedo suit that stretched to his knees, over a white shirt and black trousers that screamed quality. The man looked slightly old, like he was in his late 50s, but his deep blue eyes glowed of youthful praise.
He was the Sorcerer-general of Eldrid - Sir Zelazny Zoldrak.
Before Sir Zoldrak could take the next step out, people instantly sorrounded him.
"Welcome back, sir," they all greeted, as a man in glasses stepped forward. Unlike the others, he wore a yellow suit and trousers over a white and black tie.
His name was Arthur Smith.
"Good grief," Sir Zoldrak sighed, his brows furrowing. "I finally decide to take a month off and I come back to meet this?" He shook his head, as he removed his suit.
Arthur stretched his hand, as he collected Zoldrak's suit.
"My apologies, sir. We tried contacting nearby sorcerers, but none gave any response," Arthur replied, as he and Sir Zoldrak began walking to the elevator.
"Tch." Sir Zoldrak bit his lip. "And the 1st-grades?" He asked, as the elevator's door swung open.
"None at all," Arthur responded.
"Arrrgh," Zoldrak sighed, as he stepped into the elevator.
The elevator door closed, and -
Cling!
The elevator descended, as it moved from the top floor down to the 10th floor, which was the penultimate floor.
The door flung open again, as Sir Zoldrak and Arthur Smith stepped out.
As they stepped out, Sir Zoldrak was met with another round of greetings.
"Welcome back, sir!"
"Yeah," Zoldrak replied, waving his hand to them, as he walked through.
"How about Harbinger? Did you contact him?" Zoldrak asked.
"Yes, we did, but he said he was busy with another mission, and wouldn't be back until tomorrow," Arthur replied.
"Anastasha?" Zoldrak mouthed, eyes fixed forward.
"She said she was too tired to go," Arthur replied.
"Uh?!" Zoldrak stopped in front of a large door. "What of Ackerman?"
"He was the only one who responded, but not until two weeks later," Arthur replied.
"That's so like him," Zoldrak whispered, as he walked towards the door and opened it, then he stopped.
The entrance gave way to a large room. The room was dim, save for the faint light that seeped in through the wide glass window opposite the entrance.
In front of the window was a huge leather chair, and a wide table, on which papers were scattered. By the side was a sofa, perfectly made and laced with gold, that it seemed heavenly.
"Feels like I haven't been here for decades," Sir Zoldrak said, as he stepped in, and walked to his chair.
"So, what did Ackerman say?" Zoldrak asked, as he took his seat.
Arthur walked forward, towards the table. "He said he couldn't bring himself to go, since he was far stronger than the demon," Arthur said.
"Uh? Does he know that the demon has been ravaging freely for weeks?" Zoldrak exclaimed, his eyes widening.
"Yes, sir," Arthur nodded. "But he just laughed it off, saying a mid-class, with an A.T.R of minus thirty eight point two was more like an insult than a mission."
"That lazy, arrogant bastard! If I get hold of him," Zoldrak gritted his teeth.
"But strangely, sir..." Arthur cut in.
"Uh?" Zoldrak raised his head.
"...the demon has already been neutralized," Arthur added.
"Neutralized?" Zoldrak repeated, his eyes widening.
"We suddenly lost signals from it about for hours ago. The only conclusion that could be drawn from this, is its demise," Arthur said, as he raised his hand to adjust his glasses.
"Hmm, that's right," Sir Zoldrak nodded, bringing his hand to his chin thoughtfully.
After a few minutes of silence -
"Arrgh," Zoldrak sighed, sinking further into his chair.
"For now..." His gaze turned serious.
"Contact Harbinger. As soon as he's back, I want him investigating the Sylva forest perimeter...We don't want another Blackthorn incident springing up." Zoldrak commanded.
"Yes sir!" Arthur said, as he bowed and turned to leave.
"Also..."
Arthur stopped, as Zoldrak's voice boomed from behind him.
"Could you get me a cup of coffee? The night's been really chilly these days."
"Yes, sir," Arthur replied, as he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him with a soft bang.
As soon as Arthur left, Zoldrak turned his chair, facing the vast glass window behind him.
His eyes locked onto the blood-red moon.
"For now, I should get some rest," he whispered aloud.
"This body won't hold for long."
***
To Be Continued...