Silent market was a repurposed castle that been built on a hill before the area was flooded in a massive earthquake. The village that had existed below the castle was submerged underwater completely. An inevitable outcome of the flood was the death of the many villagers who were peacefully asleep inside their homes, not knowing that a wave of death was coming for them.

A dive to the depths of the water would reveal houses of rotting wood, skeletons still inside the rooms and lots of aquatic creatures who had long since made the submerged village their own home.

Silent market castle, the only survivor of the tragic flooding, loomed above the watery grave under a large yellow waxing moon.

"The tide won't let you enter right now,

" a certain plant mage told a blond anti mage whose hands were tucked into the pockets of his cotton pyjama pants. It helped that the handsome man appeared the least concerned about what anyone would say of his choice in visiting wear.

"I don't have time to wait on the tide,

" Rowan answered.

"Time, Rowan, and tide wait for none,

" Alka replied reflexively.

"Rowan and time don't wait for the tide.

" He tested the variations he could spin with Rowan added to the age-old adage.

"Rowan, time-

"

The rest of Alka's words were consumed by the explosion that rocked the hill upon which Silent Market rested. A corner of the hill broke off and began sliding down into the water.

"What the hell was that?!

" Alka was wide-eyed as he turned to Rowan.

"Their first warning,

" the anti mage answered. Rowan would have blown the market to smithereens if it weren't for the innocent people who were shopping inside its walls.

"You did that?

" Alka asked. Anti mages weren't capable of feats of magic and yet Rowan seemed to have accomplished it. Alka couldn't think of anything else other than magic. He stared at the side profile of the anti mage and wondered what Rowan really was.

"I'm just an anti mage, Alka,

" Rowan answered as if he could read Alka's mind. His sights though were focused on the silent market.

The plant mage nodded.

"Right. We're also just standing here and watching a third party attack the hill. I wonder where the evil wrongdoer is hiding.

"

A second explosion sounded and it shook the hill terribly. Another slice of land sank into the watery depths below it.

"Will their third warning be the final one?

" Alka asked Rowan.

The blond shrugged lightly. A strong sea breeze tousled his gold hair and swept up his night robe behind him.

"WHO DARES TO ATTACK US?!

" A loud voice amplified by magic asked from the top of the castle.

Alka could see a man's silhouette on a balcony that jutted out of the highest tower of the castle.

"ROWAN WINDWALKER!

" the voice roared.

"HAVE YOU COME SEEKING DEATH?!

"

"How will he hear your answer unless you shout out just as loud as him?

" Alka dully asked the anti mage. Some questions he didn't voice out. So, you know each other? How did he recognise you from over there? Are we in trouble? Of course, we're in trouble. We're in big trouble.

"Not all answers are verbal,

" Rowan replied.

By now the plant mage knew better than to question the anti mage. It only took a moment for Alka to understand what Rowan meant because the tower atop the shouting man was sliced off in another show of his power. The debris crashed onto the castle roofs below, loudly startling the man on the balcony.

"IMBECILE! YOU, THE **ALL ONE NEXT TO ROWAN! YES, YOU! STOP DESTROYING MY PROPERTY! I DEMAND YOU STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!

"

Alka stared pointedly at Rowan. Why was he taking the blame for this?

"I want compensation,

" Alka told the anti mage,

"for the damage of my good name and reputation.

"

"Everyone just wants my money,

" the anti mage replied while blowing off more portions of the castle.

"Except Syryn. Ryn always looks so guilty when I pay for him. It's unfortunate because I like taking care of his needs. I find that buying him things comes so naturally to me.

"

Was Rowan actually sharing his personal feelings and inner thoughts right now? At this moment? When they were laying an offence to a powerful economic entity? Alka couldn't quite keep the shock from showing on his face.

"STOP IT!

"

"STOP IT, FOOL!

"

"I CURSE YOUR BLOODLINE! I CURSE YOUR FAMILY! MAY YOU NEVER HAVE AN HEIR TO CARRY YOUR BLOOD FORWARD!

"

Alka was fine with that last part. His seeds would never enter the womb of a woman anyway.

"Rowan, sometimes I think you act like Syryn's mother.

" Rowan had picked a strange time to give vent to his feelings but Alka wasn't one to judge or deny him an honest reply.

The blond chuckled.

"You're the second person to imply such a thing.

"

"Why are you so...

" Alka searched for a word that wouldn't sound too offensive.

"Protective of Syryn? He's powerful, and not as stupid as his decisions may sometimes appear to be. What I'm saying is that Syryn knows the risks associated with the decisions he makes and accounts for them before he executes an action. This, of course, does not include the strange things that have been happening to him because those events are out of his control.

"

"WAIT OVER THERE! I'M COMING FOR YOU!

" The man roared one last time before retreating back inside the castle.

"You're right,

" Rowan answered.

"Syryn can take care of himself most of the time. Well, except when he's being pursued by unknown enemies.

" The anti mage looked almost wistful.

"But some things tend to stay in your mind and they make it difficult for one to adapt to reality.

"

Alka couldn't make heads or tail of Rowan's words. He nodded along and hoped that the anti mage could get off whatever weight was sitting on his chest.

"Ah, here he comes,

" Rowan said as he released an anti-magic field that suffocated the plant mage.

"Stand behind me, Alka.

"

The plant mage scrambled to a spot right behind Rowan's back. From his vantage behind the anti mage, Alka was struck by how safe he felt. Rowan was like a solid wall that felt impenetrable. Was this how Syryn felt when he was with Rowan? Alka thought with a small smile. No wonder his friend was so smitten. He forgave Rowan for stealing Syryn from his brother.