Director Nicholas Lim hadn't slept for forty-eight hours straight, dreading this filthy meeting with the councilor in the briefing room of the Lunar Tower: a tower especially made for the privatized organization of peacekeepers called Pack Protectors.
Director Lim looked at the ancient clock placed perfectly in the middle of the wall facing him. Every second dragged itself as though it might take days before landing at the witching hour.
"Unpunctual, old buffoon," he said with a clenched jaw. He took a deep breath, an attempt to calm his nerves. He always hated that man, the one he had been waiting for more than three hours.
He gripped the back of his elegant chair and checked himself again for the twentieth time from the reflection of the glass wall beside him. His thin face wore thinner. His sunken eyes sank more, resisting the urge to fall into unconsciousness.
He fixed his coat, dusted something off his shoulders. That was his favorite white leather coat; he wore it for this occasion and made sure to pair it with black gloves, black pants, and black shoes. He prepared for this, and the councilor was making him wait. The audacity.
The door opened, and Councilor Francis Umbaña, wearing a cream suit lined with black strings, walked in. He barely had the sun touch his skin, but his complexion never changed. His hair, which was as white as snow and was almost gone from his head, and his wrinkled face were evidence that he hadn't been living any peaceful days as one of the Regent Councilors. Director Lim flashed a smirk, reliving the moment he witnessed the man's acceptance of the responsibility. He could see how the responsibility hadn't been treating Umbaña well. And look at those brown pants. Why would someone wear a pair of loose brown pants with a cream-colored suit?
"What's the status?" Councilor Umbaña said, low and cold.
Director Lim tightened his fist behind his back. "Dire," he said, and opened the holographic map from the big and rounded conference table. The lights in the room shut off, and the beaming blue light from the map followed, slowly constructing a miniature model of a village.
The map was well-spent funding, thank you very much! Every little detail was present, even fallen leaves on the grass were spotted if you looked closely. It was an easy stroke to a man's ego, to feel as though they were gods staring down upon a village and its people like they were ants.
"The activities of the Brotherhood have risen at an alarming rate," said Director Lim, pointing at a huge mansion that was torn in half. "This mansion was situated in a magicless village. Owned by a wizard family. Six hours ago, this happened."
Director Lim pressed a button on the table, and the image of the proud mansion was replaced by a ruin. It was burned to the ground, blown in half. Some bodies were scattered around the vicinity, half of them turned into ashes, the other half still had their bodies intact but barely recognizable.
The councilor remained calm, at least on the outside. But Director Lim saw his jaw clenched subtly. "Has the Department of Unknown Activities been informed?"
Director Lim nodded. "Both the DUA and the Non-Magic Intelligence Agency are to prevent the magicless from investigating this." He folded his arms. "But we both know who's really behind this."
"The Brotherhood," said Umbaña, audibly pissed. "They're becoming a threat to the magical community. We let them get away with their petty crimes and vandalism against the Regent Council—now this? A national mess!" He rested his chin on his fist. "And they're humans, which makes it worse! No races from the other regent councilors are causing such trouble. This is bad. They're jeopardising humanity's position in the Regent Council."
Director Lim raised an eyebrow. "Witches and wizards are dying, and you're worried about your position?"
"Humanity's position," Umbaña hissed, "When I sit on that chair, I represent every human race in Magicana. Do not misunderstand, Nicholas. I only want the best for humanity. Or have you forgotten humanity's position after the Battle for Magicana?"
Director Lim contained himself. Who did he think he was? Callin him by his first name and in his own office no less. If it weren't for funding, Francis Umbaña would've found himself spitting blood over the ground already. Director Lim breathed. Umbaña's words were indeed nothing but facts. They were treated like dirt after the war in 1967, blaming the bloody era on all humans.
"Councilor," finally, after an awkward silence. "I'm not saying the Pack Protectors cannot handle this situation. But if the Brotherhood is now a threat to the magical community, why don't you mobilize an Aegis?"
The Advanced Elite Guards for Intelligence and Security, or more commonly known as Aegis, was, by the name itself, an advanced law enforcement unit, hand-picked by the Regent Council and bound by nothing but the Regent Council.
"They are above the law after all," Lim continued.
Umbaña agreed at least, which was rare. He crossed his arms. "However, we are dealing with humans, and this has yet to be a national concern. You know the law. All species handle their own unless it concerns the others. The Brotherhood is our responsibility. If the other regents find out this is going out of hand…"
"A human Aegis then? Our own race can keep a secret."
Umbaña shook his head. "We lost contact with Julius Andromeda since his last mission." He sighed. He had no choice after all. "An Aegis title can be given by any councilor. But before we grant one, we take the real assessment with tough considerations."
Umbaña folded his arms, considering his next words, considering his decision, considering if indeed that idea was the best.
"Pick your best agent and I mean the best. We will give your chosen agent a field test. And if that agent passes, I will grant that agent the Aegis title." Councilor Umbaña paused for a second. "Humanity's reputation is on the line, Director. Failure is not an option. Or the trust in humanity will begin to fall."
Director Lim nodded. With the pressure humanity was facing against the other races, there was, indeed, no room for failure.
Before Councilor Umbaña opened the door, he mouthed something to the director, which he replied with the same phrase, proud, loud, and clear. With a clenched hand on his chest.
"Glory for the wizards."