All Manu Kivi ever wanted was to be at the top. He had been taught that success came at a cost too steep for most to afford, but he was never one to ask about prices. It had taken him years, but he had finally become the CEO of Aries Industries after backing the right side. No more dirty business. Unless it was for the sake of his art. Sadly, his art wasn’t worth the pay these days, with real monsters walking the streets of Vimera.

He walked into his penthouse office with a casual stride. The room itself was decorated with furniture from top brands; a small, but elegant table surrounded by 2 silk sofas sat in the left corner of the large room in case he had to entertain guests. Judy always kept up with the trends, if little else. A light scent permeated the room from the incense atop his Carpathian elm desk at the back of the room.

As he walked towards the desk, his attention was pulled to the view outside the window as it always was. Something about looking over Central from here always brought him relief. One simple act of fate had separated him from the people below, from their daily concerns and feelings of inadequacy.

To say this city never slept would be a lie. It would be more accurate to say that it truly only came alive in the night. The humdrum of daylight living was just a necessary diversion. The streets were congested as crowds representing their team colours made their way toward the Night Arena. The only colours visible from this far up were the essentials; red, blue and green. He was sure other colours were there, the small fry always eager to have their wax wings tested.

After taking in the sight, Manu took to his custom made chair and desk, not wanting to waste any more time. The masses went to the Arena and saw the magic, but it was his job to deal with the esteemed guests; the ones that truly benefitted from the Night Arena. He wasn’t foolish enough to believe that he had a hand in what he was any more than a king chose to be a king, but some people were placed at the top of the food chain and the others served him coffee. Speaking of which, he pressed a button on his intercom and in mere moments he was connected to his new secretary, Judy.

“Mr.Kivi, how may I help your sir?” her voice cut the perfect tone of subservience to his ears. She was smart, this one. If he hadn’t seen her on the street and felt compelled to recruit her for the job, he wondered if she would have lasted long in this city of monsters. There was something about her that he couldn’t place, a familiarity of some kind, and he acted on it to keep her close. She was a pretty thing for a mundane; Silky auburn hair and piercing green eyes.

“I told you to call me Manu, dear. It’s okay, you’ll learn.” He said, his tone dripping with sweetness. “When will the entertainment be arriving? I can’t be the only one in the city not enjoying a show.”

“She’ll be there soon Manu. She’s just your type. Is it alright if I request something of you?” she asked her tone innocent.

“Of course, my dear. Ask anything you’d like.” Manu proceeded to dim the lights to his office from desk. After taking care of the work Kogram assigned, he was quick to get bored. Fortunately the brothels were always willing to send entertainment his way. Anything they could do to get on the good side of Kogram’s crew. Quid pro quo at work.

“I heard you used to be quite the enforcer during the Warring period 5 years ago. My friends said that Kogram found you and offered you a place in his Brotherhood. Then when you proved yourself, they started calling you The Carver” she said, interest plain in her voice.

“Yes, all true except I was more of an artist as opposed to a mere enforcer. Kogram has always had a great eye for talent and I was carving long before him. He saw that I was meant for greater things. We can’t all enjoy our work to that extent. Anyway, what is your request?” he said, his smile evident from the tone of his voice.

“I remember seeing you once while you were doing your ‘work’. I can’t say it seemed like art at the time. I doubt my parents did either. The request is to Remember me Manu” She said as something in her voice changed.

It was the shift in her tone that hit him with a chill down his spine. Gone was the submissive tone, the fawning he was so used to. He thought back to that feeling of familiarity when he met Judy a month ago, and how he had taken her under his wing without a care. Each time he had thought to question his fondness for her, he found himself brushing it off, feeling that he could trust her without question. Now he sought answers to those questions and he searched for the memory of her.

And he did remember. He remembered the young girl that watched him in horror as he tore apart her parents; the spindly woman with the auburn hair and the man with the piercing green eyes. One of his first pieces after his Talent emerged.

His mind reeled from the forgotten memory, the haze behind him. Mind Manipulation. The Old Lion wouldn’t dare do this…The Djinn? That bit-

His thoughts were interrupted as the door to his office opened and through it stepped a masked figure in close-fitting black cargo pants paired with a grey hoodie with the hood pulled up. The mask they wore was black with a protruding nose resembling that of a fox with golden lines tracing the grooves of the mask. They pulled a sword out from behind them; a plain black cross guard, smooth pommel much like the swords at the Academy, but the blade was a pitch black.

As the hooded Fox walked towards Manu, strange white wisps began to dance around the blade. How many more Talented were involved in this?

“It sounds like your entertainment is here. I’ve taken care to disable the alarm so you two can be alone. I hope the art she makes with you is something The Carver would approve of.” Judy said with a hint of catharsis in her voice. There was one final beep and the intercom went silent.

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