Isaac walks down the streets of London in the early morning. Smoke billows out of chimneys high above as cars putter down the cobblestone street next to him. He passes businessmen dressed in black suits and top hats, ladies in flat, pale dresses and gloves. The sky was overcast and grey, threatening to rain down on the city below. He often liked to visit London. Today was one of those days.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPx9oaaaST
He thumbs his small pendant, a yellow triangle, as he reaches an intersection and pauses. He wasn't waiting for cars. Something in the air felt... off suddenly.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XRXDku1T2
There's a shout behind him, and he turns. A boy about 16 was running up to him holding a large sword, anger in his icy blue eyes. He was dressed like a chimney sweep, blackened and ragged shirt and shorts, blond hair dirty and wild. Soot streaks stains his face.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEhyOwrS6d
With a roar, the boy swings at Isaac. He leaps backwards, into the road. It's been a while since anyone had attacked him, but who was this kid? He clearly knew what he was doing.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSjZLzM7Tu
The boy swings again at the empty air, and a streak of fire flies at Isaac. He raises his hands, and a shield appears. The fire slams into the shield and dissipates. Isaac's eyes widen. Magic?!copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡG19JXdtqbp
Isaac looks up. The boy had jumped into the air, sword high above his head. Whoever he was, he really needed to get with the times. Isaac raises a hand again, a black gun appearing in a shimmer, and he pulls the trigger at the falling boy. He watches in shock as the bullet passes right through the kid, leaving a ripple in his chest where it had struck him. A split second later, the boy's figure fades away. Gritting his teeth, Isaac frantically scans his surroundings. What sort of wizard was this kid?copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBU9igRRlE
The cars and people were gone, the air still. The clouds above were frozen, unmoving. Smoke hung suspended over the brick houses. Without even knowing it, someone, possibly that kid, had summoned an Illusion Dome without him even knowing it.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi3tfrN85L
He didn't sense anyone nearby. The eerie silence made his heart race. His finger tightens on the trigger, ready.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Aw0Dr6xWn
He feels a sharp point brush the back of his neck, making his muscles tense. How did he---?!copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbMTYd1w82
"This was long overdue." The boy says behind him. His accent was British, a mix of old and new. Isaac, between ragged breaths, tries to sense the boy's mind. It was silent and cold. He could only grasp at one word, a name: Mercury.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFvhHWIdDW
"Put the sword down," He tries, "I can explain---"copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHRp6ZyhB9
"I don't want your explanations!" Mercury rages. The sword begins to dig further into Isaac's neck. He spins to the side, pushing the blade the other direction. Mercury stumbles forward, following his sword. Isaac puts a bit of distance between himself and his attacker. Mercury turns to him, fury blazing.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBU3PSumpF
"I know who thou is!" He yells at Isaac, waving his sword at him. "You took me from my family's farm field!"copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMIRhrWe60
"'Thou'?" Isaac asks, "No one's used that word in centuries..." Yet, slowly, it dawns on him who Mercury was. He remembered the fear and shock. He remembered taking him to the platform. He remembered taking him to his dorm room. But how was he back?copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeb1LwYPFm
"I won't tolerate thou any longer!" Mercury rages. He rushes at Isaac again, fire glowing around the blade. Isaac waves a hand at the boy, ice spikes shimmering into existence. They fly at Mercury, who slices through them easily. Teeth gritted, Isaac rises off the ground, the air around him electrifying. Mercury gestures to the space in front of him. The ground rumbles and rises in long columns, which he uses to propel himself upwards.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSpkW0X8Ou
"I don't want to fight you!" Isaac yells at him, pointing a hand in his direction. A lightning bolt bursts and strikes Mercury, who dissolves once again. At the same time, a sharp pain rises from the back of Isaac's left shoulder. Startled, he spins around. Mercury was aiming at him with a bow and arrow. Isaac flies backwards, leaving an illusion in his place. He watches the arrow fly through the illusion through its chest. Not seeing any other option, Isaac brings his gun up again.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpQBuyM6I8
Mercury jerks backwards, the bullet hitting his arm. The bow drops to the ground and disappears. The arrow in Isaac's shoulder also fades with it. The pain was only a part of the illusion. Isaac slowly floats down to the boy with a hard scowl.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Eqlt2fcVw
"I said I don't want to fight you." He says as Mercury clutches his arm. He stares back up at Isaac, his gaze filled with hate.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDI1ZGYyJI
"You have no idea how long I have been looking for you." Mercury growls. "You cannot even fathom the pain I have had to go through."copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWUhmgqnc1
"I know who you are," Isaac tells him, "And... And I'm sorry, but I---"copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fV9NLDG0A
Mercury jerks upwards and punches Isaac in his gut. Winded, he staggers away as Mercury jumps to his feet, apparently already over his pain. His fist drives into Isaac's side, then kicks at his legs. He falls to the ground on his stomach, and Mercury plants a firm foot on his back. Once again Isaac feels the sword tip just barely poking at his neck.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUBI4H1DrD
"Thou took my life and my family away from me." Mercury says firmly. "So now I take yours."copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡyilUAjyLQi
"I didn't want to take you!" Isaac blurts frantically, "Please! I can swear an oath, we can make a deal, anything but killing me!" He slowly turns his head to the side to look up at Mercury, who stares back with a glare of stone. The tip of the sword just barely slices through his skin, making it sore. "Because I'm less afraid of you than I am of the others."copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Df5VOnTrj
"Others...?" Mercury repeats quietly.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuXEuq1UO2
"There's seven of us. They're strong and don't care about what they're doing. Out of all of us I am the most remorseful. But I can't defy the others or I risk my own life and possibly the lives of everyone on Earth. And if you kill me now you will be hunted. And you will not survive." Mercury still didn't seem to buy it. Isaac tries to control his breathing. His heart thumps loudly in his chest, feeling like it was trying to jump out of him and run away. "Please... We've changed who we target. I didn't want to take you."copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tMTOqCVJu
A long moment of silence passes between them.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFAfijPv8g
"Fine, then," Mercury says, removing his blade from Isaac's neck, "An oath, and you live." Isaac lets out a shaky sigh and stands, brushing the dust off his clothes.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQxz197vkx
"Alright, then," He says, trying to keep the relief out of his voice, "State your terms. But know that I cannot stop taking people."copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI4p9dTrnR
Mercury thinks for a moment. Then he looks up at Isaac and says, "Then I will know who you take and who they become in the Spiral. In return," He folds his arms and scowls, "Thou shall not meet my resistance."copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡMY0273J2QS
"And what are you planning on doing?"copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡCut5ZaUG07
"Return them to Earth, eventually," Mercury replies, "And stop other takings."copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGzWkWLkPR
"Then swear to me that you'll help as many as you possibly can," Isaac says to him, "And in return I can teach you. I assume you are Myth as well."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5Ynz2FeYw
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Mercury nods. "I'll agree to that."176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9ig94D0v8
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"Well, then," Isaac composes himself, "By the Spirits of Light and Shadow, and on my own soul, I swear by your demands."copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvQi3XkFp6
"As do I." Mercury nods. The two wizards shake hands.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8OdcGEWaB
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The deed had been done.copyright protection172ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOAt3bwFJL
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