The Elemental Hymn

Chapter 3: execution

The Noctua brothers are escorted through a portal created by Mila, and the soldiers left them in an unknown location before going back to rejoin Julius. Isaac felt the floor being cold yet smooth beneath his feet, but he heard multiple footsteps coming towards him and his brothers. He tried looking around, but he couldn't see anything due to a bag covering his head. Then the bag lifted off his head, and he found himself in a chamber along with his two brothers. A circle of magicians surround the three brothers, and behind the circle, another circle of unknown people. Three soldiers stood behind the Noctua brothers, making sure none of them escape.

"Who are you people!?" Shouted Isaac.

"Oh come now, you already know who we are. We are the Black Leaves, an organization led by Emperor Terra" replied one of the mages.

Then two magicians stepped apart, revealing a young woman walking through the two rows. She is wearing a black hooded cloak with images of stars, and a mask that is styled like either a waning moon or an eclipse. She walked up to Destin before removing the bag over his head, and she saw the look of fear in his face.

"So, you must be the Noctua brothers. Mila had informed me about you three, and that's why I'm here to punish you for your failure. Before I do that, let me introduce myself. I am Selene, the dark magician" she introduced herself.

"Its not our fault we failed! There's a female water magician who had mopped the floor with us, not to mention a fire magician who punched Caelum unconscious! If it weren't for that brat, Caelum would've struck the water magician with his lightning magic!" Explained Destin.

"That is not of my concern. Although, what you said was true, then that water magician has beaten you by using water magic" she said.

She bent down and put both hands on Destin's head, staring into his eyes as he felt fear and confusion.

*crunch!*

She snapped his neck with a sickening crunch, and he silently crumbled to a pile of ashes and clothing. Isaac was horrified upon seeing this, but Caelum couldn't see anything due to a bag covering his head.

"Brother!!" Screamed Isaac.

"Huh? What's going on? What's that sound?" Caelum puzzled.

"She... She killed Destin, our brother!" Said Isaac as tears ran down his cheeks.

"Its your turn now" said Selene.

"What!?" Yelled Caelum.

Selene removed the bag, before placing both hands on Caelums head.

"Stop! Please, spare him and take me instead!" Pleaded Isaac.

"Why should I? Only his imperial majesty can spare you two, but since he is busy, it seems it's not your day" she said coldly.

Then the doors opened, and every magician were whispering amongst themselves as they saw someone they have recognized walking down the rows. The sound of footsteps gotten closer and closer, until Selene turned her head to see who it was. As it turns out, a man arrived in the inner circle and stood in front of her. He is dressed in a regal black robes with gold embellishments, and an elaborate gold crown adorned with gemstones. He has pale skin, dark brown hair with grey streaks, a mustache and beard, and he is assumed to be in his fifties.

"What is going on, Selene?" Asked the regal man.

"Emperor Terra! I was... I was doing an execution to the Noctua brothers for their failure" replied Selene.

"Noctua brothers? I've heard about their crimes up until their deaths, but I never seen them in person. From the way I see them, I don't think I recall them joining our organization years ago" he said.

"Well... They were brought back to life by Mila to slow down the heroes, only to fail when the female water magician defeated them. I had received word a day ago by Mila, expecting to see if the brothers failed. When they do, I get to execute them" she explained.

"Yeah! You killed my brother Destin!" Isaac pointed out.

Selene replied by punching him in the stomach, and he groaned in pain.

"You did kill one of them, in which I am very disappointed that I haven't seen him. Since you mentioned that they had failed Julius and Mila, I think the two remaining brothers deserve a second chance" said Emperor Terra.

"What!? Why!? It's my job to execute them!" Exclaimed Selene.

"The reason why I am having you spare them, is because I find them rather interesting. I already sensed that one brother is a light magician, and only a select few can draw upon the power of light. The other brother is an air magician, a common one at that. They shall play what role I have planned for them, in the meantime, you shall continue whatever thing you do" he explained, before gesturing the soldiers to untie the brothers.

Isaac stood up, but he felt a stinging sensation on his left shoulder from when his light attack grazed it. The magicians who were attending have walked out of the chamber, except for the outer ring who had stepped forward. He can see that they all look identical: their uniforms consists of a short sleeved white tunic with black rims, cloth headresses that resembled helmets that obscures most of their faces but the eyes and the mouth, black armbands and ankle bands, but it doesn't seem that they're wearing no footwear.

"Who are these people?" He asked.

"They are the attendants, fighters if you will. They are those who have less magic but compensate it by punching and kicking, in which they train until they became attendants to magicians" explained Emporer Terra.

"In other words... servants who can use martial arts and a bit of magic" he said.

"Precisely" Emporer Terra said with a smirk.

Then the Emperor turned around, and started to leave.

"Before I leave, I will give you and your brother two different missions. You two will have to choose a partner for your missions, in which they will be of use. Also, have that nasty wound taken care of or it'll fester and rot" he said as he left the chamber.

Selene glared at the two remaining brothers, knowing that they're lucky that the Emperor made her spare them. She walked up to Isaac and stared at him silently, before stomping her high heeled shoe on his bare right foot thus causing him to yell in pain. Then she leave the chamber, while muttering to herself.

"What's her problem?" Asked Caelum.

"I don't know, but I hate her. Well, I need my wound healed before setting out" replied Isaac.

One of the attendants walked up to him and used healing magic on his left shoulder, at first it stings until it soothes the pain. He was grateful for the attendant that healed his wound, so he thought that the attendant can be his partner for the mission.

Authors note: sorry for the delay, but here is chapter three. What do you think of the part where the two brothers watched as Destin gets killed by Selene?