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[trinitynox]

Trin Reviews: Oppenheimer

Nolan, Nolan, Nolan...

I gotta say, I was quite disappointed with Oppenheimer. I came away feeling relatively...empty?

I barely felt any intense emotions during the 3 hours.

Now, don't get me wrong, I did have a decent time. I thought the movie was decently paced. I did not at any point think "When is this movie going to end?" I just left the theatre without much to say. I guess it's why it's taken almost 2 weeks since I watched it to write this review.

Nolan did try something interesting with non-linear storytelling. But I think it was overdone. There are three distinct era: before and during Project Manhattan, the AEC hearing, and Strauss' confirmation hearing. The non-linearity generally works in the middle of the movie but in the beginning, scenes were cutting back and forth so quickly, it took some time to understand when the scene was taking place.

Nolan very helpfully shot Strauss' confirmation in black and white to differentiate that era but the other two gets a bit muddled for a start. Or maybe I'm just stupid. Whatever the case, I thought it didn't help me engage with the movie.

I think it's good that they didn't try to make us like Oppenheimer, they just wanted to portray him as accurately as possible, flaws and all. So that's a plus.

Emily Blunt's performance as Oppenheimer's wife was great. I loved her tearing the prosecution a new one when everyone else seemed to just not want to fight. I suppose it's an accurate portrayal again? I mean the other people testifying had their own careers to watch out for so it made sense.

Then there's how the news of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was received.

I get that it was accurate for the time. But I did not enjoy the jubilation shown when the bombing was announced. Maybe that's the price to pay when going for accuracy. I thought it was insensitive but it would have probably been accurate of what happened at the time.

The explosion in the Trinity Test was also quite disappointing. It did not feel like it was given the gravitas it should have for what is the beginning of a new era of warfare. And I'm strictly speaking about the explosion, not the reactions to it or the immaculate attention to detail on the sound delay. Those were fantastic.

This review is probably quite messy and not very well written but it's hard to do so when I feel so weakly about the movie...

I wish I did not spend the money I did to watch this movie in IMAX.

5/10

[trinitynox]

Trin Reviews: Barbie

Short answer is, I liked this movie. Long answer, it's a bit more complicated than just it's good or it's bad. There are different interpretations to this movie, critical response has been overwhelmingly positive but there are also some negatives, and no, I'm not talking about Ben Shapiro or people who got their fragile egos hurt by this movie.

For some, this openness to interpretation is what makes it a good story. And that is fair, as a piece of art. But I reckon that the openness detracts a bit from its identity as social commentary.

I think Barbie is not as truly impactful as it could have been or as the marketing surrounding this movie would suggest. It is not generation defining but it is close. A couple revisions to fix those flaws might have helped it achieve that status. Provided that is what the makers of Barbie wanted. A few plot threads got mixed together and I didn't really get the point they were trying to make with it but maybe I will as I write this review.

If you found it more impactful that I did, that's fantastic! Don't let my opinion take that away from you.

Social commentary aside, the movie was quite fun. I loved the random inclusion of high profile actors and actresses as Barbies and Kens. The dance number with Ryan Gosling and Simu Liu's faction of Kens was a great moment of I don't know what's going on but I love it.

From here on, it's going to be spoilers.

*****SPOILERS*****

I don't really know how to start the spoiler review section so I guess I'll just go with whatever thoughts come to mind as I write.

One scene that stuck out for me was when Barbie was having a breakdown and said something along the lines of how she doesn't feel attractive/pretty anymore. It is then lampshaded by the narrator who says that Margot Robbie is the wrong actress to cast to drive that point across. In the moment, I laughed and agreed with that 4th wall break. However, upon reflection, the joke kind of fell flat for me.

Much has been said about how mental health and insecurities can and will affect everyone. And that even physically attractive people have the right to feel ugly. Highlighting Margot Robbie's looks and saying that she's the wrong actress to cast to drive across the point that even Barbie can feel ugly feels...reductive.

The scene was Barbie at her lowest, when her worldview was shattered and she felt like she had lost everything that made her who she was. That joke implies to me that Barbie is just her looks and not anything else, and that her struggles aren't real or her identity crisis isn't significant. Maybe the point was that her looks are too distracting? I don't know.

I watched it with my SO and her thoughts on the movie surprised me a little. She disliked the movie and gave it a 1/10.

When I tried to probe a little to find out why, I found that the message just didn't resonate with her. In fact, she didn't really get the point of the movie. The plot was too confusing, the character actions made no sense to her, there was too much going on, etc etc.

She couldn't pin point why exactly, but she felt that the movie had the opposite effect for her, where she felt less empowered.

I think the reason is this movie is meant to be a satire. It's supposed to take things to the absurd extreme. And the thing about satire is that not everyone gets it. Some might take it too seriously or on face value. Sometimes its message gets lost amidst the absurdity.

There was a pretty great speech in the movie about how difficult society's expectations of women have been so unfair and continues to place undue pressure on women that men don't normally face. I think that speech was the main thesis of the movie, but it was lost in the satirical take on gender norms/roles throughout the movie for some.

Then there was Ken's subplot. This one bothered me a lot, mostly because I absolutely hate everything his subplot is on the surface. Toxic Masculinity. So I guess that's a point to the creative team cuz it probably brought out the emotional reaction they wanted.

But it's also mixed in with Ken's own identity crisis. He doesn't know who he is without Barbie because it's always Barbie and Ken, never just Ken. I'm not sure what to think of this subplot?

Based on the resolution, I think the message is that men shouldn't form their entire lives around finding a partner, and they aren't any less for not having one. A good message to try to steer some away from becoming the internet's stereotypical incel, I suppose. Did it succeed? I don't know.

There's a whole thread about how Margot Robbie's Barbie starts thinking about death even though they can't die in Barbie land. It's a little funny that she starts as Stereotypical Barbie and ends with Death Seeking Barbie (I know, I know...it's not so much she's seeking death but more experiencing what being human has to offer, which includes death. It's a joke.)

Overall, while it was an entertaining movie, I think it failed to be as impactful as it could have due to it being a satire.

6/10

P.S. My favourite joke that I laughed out loud but no one else in the theatre did was: Random Executive: gives a suggestion Will Ferrell: Great idea, executive no. 2!

I died a bit inside when no one else laughed...

[trinitynox]

Trin Reviews: Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I

This review contains spoilers for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part I

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Amidst the memery and hyper of Barbenheimer, Tom Cruise’s latest attempt at tempting fate and spiting god appears to have slipped by audiences – kinda like how Ethan Hunt slipped by his pursuers in the movie though he probably intended it.

As someone who hasn’t even watched every movie in the franchise (never saw M:I 1 or 2; vaguely remembers 3-6), some easter eggs and themes are going to be lost on me, so do forgive me. I also rate Fallout to be the best Mission: Impossible before going into this one. Has this entry changed my ranking?

The movie opens with a tense scene in a Russian submarine, the Sevastopol, in a sea-trial gone wrong that sets the movie in motion. Ethan is then sent to rescue Ilsa from mercenaries sent by his boss. In true Mission: Impossible fashion, the fight isn’t easy. The power couple has to shoot their way out (I agree with Hideo Kojima, Rebecca Ferguson with an eye patch, sniping... sweats) of a sandstorm and fake Ilsa’s death. Maybe because I’ve seen the trails too many times but the camera work didn’t feel as impressive to me in this scene as I thought it would from the trailers. Or maybe it’s the score? I don’t know. 

I was originally going to continue on scene by scene but then it wouldn’t really be a review, would it? It’d be a text based reaction commentary. 

So anyway, the movie was supremely entertaining. My partner who has never watched a single Mission: Impossible, was very happy with the movie and had the urge to watch every preceding movie after we came out of the theatre. 

The action was fantastic. A lot of hype and attention was given to Tom Cruise biking off a cliff and parachuting down but to me, the more impressive stunt was the fight atop the Orient Express, where they had built a train to shoot on and eventually wreck because they couldn’t find a train that they could also destroy. 

Tom Cruise and Esai Morales (and his stunt person, I guess?) fighting on a moving train was one of the tensest and most exhilarating fight sequence I’ve seen. One wrong move and the whole thing could’ve been over. Then there was the part where they had to fight on their bellies while the train was going through a tunnel. God. What a show. I’m really interested in knowing how the whole sequence was filmed.

A fight that I was not a huge fan of was between Rebecca Ferguson (Ilsa) and Esai Morales (Gabriel). Ilsa entered the fight with a sword while Gabriel had a knife. In theory, as long as Ilsa kept her distance, she had the advantage. BUT SHE KEPT CLOSING THE DISTANCE, WHERE SHE HAD EVERY DISADVANTAGE. That ticked me off so badly, and made me so anxious, especially since Ilsa is my favourite MI girl. She had Gabriel locked with her legs at one point, which he obviously used as an opportunity to stab her in the thigh...

Needless to say, I was quite upset with Ilsa’s death (they faked her death once, they can do it again. C’mon McQ) especially with her role in this movie. She felt less like a character and more like an NPC team member whose role is to get the MC to the next plot point.

Haley Atwell was a welcomed addition to the crew, if only it wasn’t so obvious she would be replacing Rebecca Ferguson. Ethan being given a choice on whether Grace or Ilsa should die may seem weird, and it kinda is, given that Ethan and Ilsa has been through so much together. Even if not romantic partners, Ilsa should’ve been the obvious choice for Ethan to save over Grace. But I think him not being able to choose or refusing to choose is very in character for Ethan. He will have his cake and eat it too, or die trying.

Anyways, back to Grace. The chemistry between Ethan and Grace is fantastic, and I think it’s carried by Haley Atwell’s charm. She definitely showed that she has the potential to be a stellar field agent but not one yet. Someone put it well, she’s well versed in the criminal world but terrible in the spy world. I think she just needs some training and polishing, which I think she will get with the implication of her joining the IMF.

Which leads me to the comedy in this movie. I think this is the funniest Mission movie of the ones I can remember. The jokes are not the quippy Marvel fare, which has gotten grating over the years with almost every character having a one-liner. The comedy in this one is more situational, more like 2 close friends giving each other shit and being themselves, and of course lamp-shading how absurd the series has gotten. (What does the International Monetary Fund got to do with this?)

I think almost every joke landed for me or at least got a chuckle out of me. And it didn’t detract from the emotional moments while adding some levity to moments that didn’t need to be as serious where other franchises might’ve taken very seriously. 

I have tried to find a way to work in parts about Vanessa Kirby and Pom Klementieff in this review but failed to because their characters were fairly minor and not very relevant to the central core of the plot. They’re not irrelevant, just minor.

Nothing much to say about Vanessa Kirby’s White Widow except the way looks she gives throughout the movie makes me feel things. Such a powerful and commanding presence whenever her character is relevant to the scene. 

Pom Klementieff’s Paris was fun. I’m glad she survived and hope to see her in Part II. Her enjoying the thrill of the chase and fight with Ethan in a tight alley makes me think she could be a very good Harley Quinn. Maybe an alternate version since Margot Robbie currently owns that role? 

I thought the story was a little weak compared to Fallout, but the latter had set a high bar for Mission so it’s not a failure on Dead Reckoning Part I to not meet that bar. It was a little confusing who the players are, which side they’re on etc, but perhaps that is the point? 

In this crazy crazy world where facts almost don’t matter, how can you know who is good and who is bad? Who is right and who is wrong? The movie has pointed out that Ethan has gone rogue frequently to save the world and that he has always been right to do so. But what if he’s wrong once? What will the consequences be when Ethan thinks he’s doing what he’s doing for the greater good but is actually becoming the very villain he has tried to stop time and time again? ...That might be a good potential movie idea. TC, McQ, gimme a call.

There’s also a question of what is the Entity’s end goal? What does it want? Besides killing Ethan, of course.

I hope these question can be answered in the next movie, along with a proper emotional payoff for Ilsa’s death (SHE BETTER NOT BE DEAD)

8.5/10

[trinitynox]

ArchAngels Chronicles: Chapter 2 - Carol I

Soft steps accompanied the rustling trees and cricket chirps. In the moonless night, seven hooded figures trudged through to the edge of the woods. The side of a modest mansion greeted them from across a small clearing.

Amongst them stood Carol. Lifting her white hood, her jet black hair fell out on her shoulders. “Lu, if you would.”

“Of course.” Lu started to tap her fingers in the air as if to play a piano. Yellow glyphs appeared where her fingers stopped and disappeared when lifted. Her eyes closed, Lu seemed to dream while her fingers danced. “Oh my.”

“What is it?”

“They have magic dampeners installed around the building and anti-magia weapons. Nothing we can’t handle.” Lu stopped her motions and opened her eyes.

Carol nodded and spoke into her comm-set. “Agent Apollo to Command, Delta-Note is in position and completed site risk assessment. Threat level upgraded from green to blue. Is mission a go?”

“Stand-by.” Carol was used to the moment of silence after the immediate reply, as was her team. “Mission is go.”

“Roger that.” Carol turned to her team. “Mel, shroud. Dan, shield. Ki, lock. Lu, you stay here and provide surveillance.”

Melanie began to dance her fingers in the air like Lu did before, yet her song was different and glyphs glowed violet. Beside her, Mivodan blew into his oboe. A soft melody filled the air around Delta-Note. The seven’s bodies shimmered blue and purple for a moment and the light extinguished itself.

Lu’s fingers resumed their movements, yellow lights disappearing and reappearing like they did before. Airaki pulled her bow across the strings of her violin. Runes on her instrument shined a pale blue as she played the song. Moments later, Lu gave a thumbs up to Carol and Airaki, and continued to tap her fingers in nothingness.

“Ladies and gentlemen, shall we begin?” Without waiting for a reply, the leader sprinted towards the side-door of the mansion. Her five teammates followed suit, each wearing a black body suit and a different coloured jacket. Bolero for the ladies and full jacket for the men. They stacked up on the door with Carol alone on the hinged side and the rest closer to the knob.

“You have fifteen seconds,” Lu transmitted over the comm-set.

Carol raised two fingers and counted down. When her fingers formed a fist, she opened the door and Delta-Note spilled into the mansion. They ran through the short corridor and entered the first room on their right. It was filled with a myriad of supplies from household cleaners to stationaries.

“I see you. Patrol just passed. The targets are in the dining hall on the second floor. Ki, I’ll guide you up. Mel’s shroud and Dan’s shield may be strong enough against their equipment but let’s not take any chances.”

“Agreed. The rest of us will proceed with the secondary once Ki is ready,” Carol added.

Her violin in hand, Airaki left the room once given the all clear by Lu. Carol could hear Lu’s directions and warnings to her Anatolian teammate over the comm-set. The five remaining agents waited as their comrade moved into her position.

“Two guards at the door.”

“I have visual,” Airaki replied followed by two minutes of silence. “They’re down. I’m ready.”

Carol motioned for the rest to move out. They poured into the corridor and Carol fired two stray rounds towards the ceiling from her assault rifle.

“Who’s there?” A yell came from the corner. Patrol guards streamed into the hallway Delta-Note occupied.

“Go.” One word from Carol and Delta-Note sprang into action. Melanie’s fingers tapped away mid-air, violet glyphs hovered around her.  Carol trained her rifle sights in the same direction. Beside her, Fyr, an auburn haired girl followed suit. A red glyph spun in front of their muzzles. Purple bolts and red tracers screamed down the passage.

Explosions after explosions erupted, shaking the mansion and shattering the windows. The flames burned orange and purple. Debris shot at them but bounced off a barrier. Screams of agony resounded throughout. And then, silence.

“Boom!” Fyr giggled.

“Dan, you’re with Fyr and Mel. Jorden, you’re with me. Continue with the mission,” Carol ordered. The five split into their groups and moved deeper into the mansion. “Ki, sitrep.”

“Mission complete.” Airaki replied.

“Roger. We’re en route to your position.” Carol and Jorden sped towards their lone teammate, guided by Lu. When they arrived outside the dining hall, several bodies laid by the open door. Their faces were pale and blue, eyes wide and bulged. There were no signs of violence, but a foul stench assaulted their noses while a concerto serenaded their ears. Entering the room, they were greeted by a platinum blonde performing a solo.

“They couldn’t do a thing,” Airaki said. At her feet laid dozens of crumpled bullets. Behind her, Carol saw multiple lifeless bodies. Some had their faces planted in their dinner, some slumped in their chairs while others laid on the floor accompanied by pistols, their pale faces frozen with the last emotions that ran through their minds. Fear. Anger. Confusion. Carol walked to the far end of the long table. A pudgy, balding man slouched over his plate of steak and mash. Her hand reached out to grab the body.

“Burn them.”

Carol paused. Jorden and Airaki were at the door standing guard.

“Burn it all!”

“No! Don't!”

She stopped again and stared at her teammates. No change in their posture. Carol shook off the voices.

She leaned the body back and confirmed the target’s identity. Mughi Len. President of Illian. Carol stepped away from the deceased leader and gathered with her teammates outside the dining hall. She stood at the door and trained her sights into the room. The same red glyph appeared at her rifle and she fired once at the dining table, consuming the mahogany and the dead around it in a pyre. She let loose a few more shots into random spots in the room, turning the grand and decorated dining hall into a sea of inferno.

One of her shots landed closer than she had intended. The explosion from her glyphed bullet singed a hole into the left sleeve of her white bolero when she shielded herself. Carol checked for injuries and only found her bodysuit charred. She let out an exasperated sigh.

“Fyr, status?”

“Having the time of my life!” Her second-in-command quipped. Mivodan’s oboe could be heard in the background, amid gunfire and explosions. “Mel’s almost done downloading the files. These guys just keep throwing themselves at us.”

“Do you need back up?”

“Nah, Dan’s doing a great job with his shield. I think their anti-magia rounds are knock-offs!”

“Roger. Rendezvous at Lu’s location when you’re done.”

“You got it!”

The three meandered through the corridors and passageways. As they were about to reach the exit, sparks showered from their backs. They turned to find a squad of guards peppering them with bullets. The metal pellets slammed into the shield, igniting a navy blue glyph wherever they struck, sending ripples of light across them.

“Jorden,” Carol started.

“You don’t need to tell me,” Jorden grunted, unsheathing his greatsword. The blade glowed green, intricate runes flared along the metal. He charged at the helpless guards while Carol and Airaki made their escape. Just metres away from the mansion, the ground rumbled, throwing them off their balance.

“Jorden never holds back with his quakes, eh?” Fyr laughed over the comm-set. “We’re on our way out now!”

As they closed in on the treeline, Carol spotted dancing yellow spots within the darkness of the trees. Lu had her eyes closed, her fingers tapping away. They watched the fire rage, swallowing the mansion whole. In moments, four silhouettes broke through the side door, a blue aura highlighted their outlines. Mivodan had his left hand occupied with a glyph in the form of an armillary sphere.

“Well that was a thing!” Fyr exhaled, the blue glow around her dissipated when Mivodan dismissed the magic. “Anyways, we’ve got the intel. What about you guys?”

“Targets were neutralized with ease. Carol decided to make sure they stayed that way.” Airaki answered matter-of-factly. Carol was lost in thought, staring at what was once the centre of political power in Illian.

“Sweet. Now what say we call in our ride?” Fyr nudged her commander.

“Wh- Oh, right. On it. Agent Apollo to Command. Delta-Note reporting. Primary and secondary success. Location for pick-up?”

“Negative, agent. Your team is being redeployed. Execute protocol Zulu to receive your next instruction.”

“Roger, wilco.”

“Protocol Zulu? That’s a secure private channel for each of us. What could our next mission be that they need such security?” Mivodan pondered.

“I don’t know. But we have our orders. Follow them,” Carol instructed. They each tuned their comm-set to a private frequency known only to themselves. A chime indicated a successful connection.

A recording Counsellor Metis’ familiar fatherly voice greeted Carol. “Good evening, Agent Apollo. Report to safehouse Charlie for your supplies and location of your next mission. Good luck.” The recording ended with a series of beeps. She looked up at her team to see they had also finished their instructions.

“I’m going to Charlie.” Carol told them.

“Danny and I are going to Foxtrot!” Fyr chirped. “I hope they have chocolates there.”

“Jorden and I will be reporting at Safehouse Alpha.” Airaki answered.

“We’ll be at Lima.” Lu had her arm around Melanie’s waist.

“Alright, we better get moving then. Keep your comms open, stay in contact. See you guys soon.” Carol wished them well and the team started towards their own destinations. Behind her, the burning mansion crackled with blaring sirens and the yells of men.

Exiting the woods, Carol found herself at the outskirts of a deserted slum. Huts constructed from rusted metal sheets lit by dim oil lamps stretched as far as her eyes could see. The silence of the night was occasionally broken by cricket chirps and dog barks. She strolled through hovels with her hood down, her black hair floating in the night breeze.

Carol spotted a solitary hut with lines in the form of a pair of wings graffitied on the door. The hinges groaned when she pushed the door open. Staring into the pitch black interior, her nose filled with musty, stale air. She summoned a yellow glyph and her silver eyes burned gold. Tracks in the ground led her to a lone dusty table that furnished the hut.

The table growled as she dragged it aside. Carol brushed the sand on the ground away, revealing a wooden cover. Lifting the board, a crate waited for her underneath. A symbol adorned the top of the crate: an upright stiletto dagger with three pairs of wings.

She opened the box and removed its contents: a passport; a new set of clothes; a haversack containing rations and supplies; air tickets; a wallet with different currencies and a letter.

“Location: Spire of Hope, Bei Deng, Kingdom of Anatolis Additional instructions: Leave your weapons in the crate and destroy the safe house. You will re-kit once you've arrived.”

Carol read the short letter, dropped it on the floor and sighed. She unbuckled her side-sword from its holster and unslung her assault rifle, carefully placing them into the crate as instructed. After changing into a fresh set of bodysuit and bolero, Carol left her charred ones folded in the crate. She then returned the crate below ground and replaced the cover.

A crimson glyph manifested on the ground and a pale blue glyph spun below the ceiling. Air rushed in through the crevices and holes around the hut. Carol stood outside, her hair fluttering in the gust. She snapped her fingers. The air ignited, the abandoned shelter incinerated in a flash, reducing it to a pile of molten metal and charred wood. Satisfied she could not see the cover or the crate under the rubble and ash, Carol stepped into the night.

[trinitynox]

ArchAngels Chronicles: Chapter 1 - Freidlien I

The engines hummed softly into the cabin as the jet soared through the sky. Freidlien Hunt looked past the condensation on the glass, down at the sprawling city beneath him. From his vantage point, history’s mark could easily be seen in the mismatched architecture and awkward planning.

The outskirts were short and uninspiring, blocky buildings haphazardly thrown beside each other. The closer it got to the centre of the city, however, the taller the buildings got, as did their elegance. Vibrant structures reached for the skies, glass shimmering orange in the glow of the setting sun. A towering spire stood at the centre of it all, casting a looming shadow that reached beyond the city limits. Freidlien drank in the scenery and his whiskey, the spire gradually disappearing from his field of view.

“We’re on our final approach, Sir.”

“Very good. Are they informed?”

“Yes, Sir. The Anatolian officials have been informed of your imminent arrival. Their envoy will be waiting for when we disembark.”

“Excellent. I’ll be meeting the King alone. You stay here and monitor the situation.”

“Understood.”

Freidlien cracked a smile at Secretary Darius, who promptly returned to his seat at the front of the cabin. The cityscape slowly turned green as the urban slum faded into the lush vegetation that surrounded the city. As the jet touched down on the bare airfield, Freidlien saw a convoy of sedans and a limousine parked on a concrete field beside the runway, waiting. The jet rolled to a stop beside the convoy. The side door lowered towards the ground, steps sliding out over the door.

As the passengers made their way down, the limousine door opened. A man wearing a silver-trimmed maroon trench coat alighted. He walked towards the guests with a wrinkled smile.

“Director Hunt!” The grizzled man opened his arms wide to receive Freidlien.

“Envoy Bradley.” He returned the greeting with a nod.

“Welcome to Bei Deng. I trust your flight was smooth?”

“Uneventful,” Freidlien chuckled, thrusting his hand into a firm handshake.

“I’m glad to hear that. Shall we make our way to the Royal Palace? His Majesty is sorely eager to meet you.”

“After you.”

The small party boarded the limousine and the convoy rode off into the trees. The tinted windows darkened the twilight sky as the vehicles made their way through the forest. Freidlien focused on the trees they were passing.

“Tell me, Envoy. Since when did Anatolis become so accepting to the use of magic?”

Envoy Bradley chuckled. “You have a keen eye, Director. What gave it away?”

“The trees. They’re repeating. I must say I am impressed. The magic done here is first rate. You must introduce me to the one responsible for this. I might just poach them.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. His Majesty may not like it very much. He is very protective of her.”

“This is the work of Her Highness?”

“Not entirely. It was with the help of her tutor, one of His Majesty’s Royal Blade.”

“A Magia? In the Royal Blade?” Freidlien was unable to hide his surprise at the news.

“Indeed, a Magia is a member of the Royal Blade. The first ever. Not many are aware of it. Not even the Blades themselves. To them, the Magia is simply an expert marksman and an exceptional swordsman who earned a seat in their ranks.”

“Fascinating. I would like to meet this person.”

“I’m sure you would.” Bradley laughed as the limousine door opened and the two gentlemen emerged.

As he passed the frame of the vehicle, his vision flashed white. Freidlien blinked repeatedly to allow his eyes to adjust. Once his vision cleared, he was greeted by a colossal palace. Three rows of tinted windows stacked upon each other, each taller than a mammoth. Spot lights lit up the grandiose ornate exterior. The enormous front door opened silently. A man wearing a trenchcoat with same colour as Envoy Bradley stood inside. His, however, was littered with medals and gold trim.

“Director Hunt, welcome to my humble abode,” King Luther greeted with gusto.

“I don’t know about humble, Your Majesty. But I certainly do feel welcomed.” Freidlien bowed, placing his right fist over his heart.

“Come, you must be starving. Let us proceed to the dining hall, I hope you like a good roast!”

“I’m sure I will.”

The halls boomed with the King’s laughter. They made their way through the corridors, their steps silenced by the beefy monarch’s roaring voice. Freidlien paid little attention to what the bulky monarch was saying and instead focused on the paintings that watched them. One in particular caught his attention. One of the royal family. King Luther in his decorated maroon coat standing beside an intricately carved chair, beaming. Sat in the chair was Her Majesty, Queen Lorraine. Her beautiful long titian hair flowed down her left shoulder. Her smile was graceful yet muted. Standing on the other side of the chair was Princess Amelia. She took after her father’s platinum hair, her sapphire eyes from her mother. Many have hailed her as the epitome of Anatolian beauty. Perhaps it was an understatement, Freidlien thought.

Before long, they arrived at the dining hall. Instead of a large extravagant room and a lavish dining table, Freidlien was greeted with a modest room with a balcony on the far end. An immaculate grill stood in the open accompanied by a table filled with a myriad of meats and vegetables.

“I thought you said we would be having a roast, Your Majesty?”

“Roasting, grilling, what’s the difference? What matters is the food and the company!” King Luther laughed, pouring three glasses of wine. “And please, call me Luther!”

“Well isn’t that the truth?” Freidlien chuckled. “And since you asked, I shall. But only if you call me Freidlien.” Accepting the drink the monarch offered him with a bow, the three men talked and laughed over the grill, eating and drinking to their hearts content. It is not everyday that one can savour food personally prepared by one of the most powerful men in the world. Hours passed and the ingredients on the table grew smaller as their bellies grew fuller. Freidlien and Luther sat on opposite sides of a table, an almost empty bottle of wine between them.

“...and then I told him, ‘Find me my headlight fluid!’ Poor boy must have been searching for days!” Luther roared with laughter, tears flowing down his red cheeks.

“Poor lad!” Freidlien joined Luther in his guffaw. He placed his drained glass on the table. “This has been a wonderful evening, Luther. But tell me, you didn’t invite me all the way here just for a barbeque, did you?”

“I was hoping to get you drunk before we talked business.” Luther’s laughter became subdued. “That is true. I invited you here to ask for your help.” His jovial disposition turned grim. “As you know from our history, Anatolis hasn’t been too friendly to magic users, to say the least.”

“I sense that might not be the case for much longer.” Freidlien tipped his glass towards his host before sipping from it.

“Indeed, great strides has been made in mending the rift between Anatolis and the rest of the global community. However, the same cannot be said for the relations with the magical community.”

“I concur. With a history as bloody as yours, it will be a daunting task to change the mindset of the masses.”

“I'm afraid it is. Everyday, I receive reports of magia being beaten, their shops vandalised, schools burned.” Luther shook his head and sighed. “It has been a difficult road. The hate runs deep and ingrained within our identity. Even as King, I cannot just remove the pain and brutality suffered decades and centuries ago. But it is my wish to open another door for my people, as was my father's wish. Think about it, Freidlien. Without magic, Anatolis has risen far beyond that of others. Imagine what we could accomplish with it.” Freidlien could see the passion burning within his wrinkled eyes.

“It is remarkable, Luther. What your people have accomplished without magic. However, it was the pain and the humiliation suffered by your ancestors that drove them to achieve what they did.” Freidlien acknowledged. “But even so, how do you plan to get your kingdom to accept magic? As you said, the hate runs deep.”

“Amelia.” In one word, Freidlien could feel the swell of pride and regret in Luther.

“I see. Her being the heir to the throne, you hope for her to be the bridge between them and the magia.”

“Even when your stomach is filled with wine, your mind doesn’t dull.” Luther grinned.

“It is the nature of my job.” Freidlien replied matter of factly.

“Yes. She is my hope. Where my ancestors have cast out any royal blood born with the crest, I have chose to do otherwise. I have held her closer than ever, guiding her, teaching her, grooming her to be a Queen worthy of my people’s love. My regret is I cannot teach her magic.”

“Which is why the Royal Blade found a Magia amongst them. To tutor the Princess without drawing too much attention.”

“Exactly. The Blade will guide her in the art of magic while having a purpose to be in the palace and around the royal family.”

“Sounds like you have everything in place. How would me or my agents be able to contribute?”

Luther sighed again. “As skilled a magia as that Blade is, there is only so much one person can do to protect her. I have no intention of announcing it yet but it will not be easy to hide Amelia’s abilities for much longer.”

“So you want a security detail to be around her. But you also want the detail to be magia for her to continue her learning.”

“Correct.”

“You also cannot risk sending Amelia to a magic academy for tutelage without raising attention, no matter the location.”

“Correct again.”

“Colour me intrigued.” Freidlien internalized the information. His agents would definitely be up for the task but something was amiss. Something had plagued him ever since he received the invitation. “Before I offer my agents to you on a platter, answer me this. How did you find out about ArchAngels? We do not exactly promote our existence. Those aware are either working for us or dead.”

“Ah, I'm afraid I cannot reveal all my secrets, Freidlien.” It was Luther’s turn to tip his glass at his guest, giving him a cheeky smile. “I am prepared to pay a very handsome compensation in return for their services.”

Freidlien held his reply, contemplating. “Very well. Fortunately, I believe I have a detail that's appropriate for the job.” Freidlien fished out a device from his suit and navigated among the files before handing it to Luther. “This is the Delta unit. They are the cream of our crop of agents. I reckon the Note detachment is well suited for your requirements.”

The king glanced at the performance profile of the agents presented in the device. “Interesting choice. I'm sure that they are very capable and fine individuals. But I was hoping you'd be offering me something else. Something…more.”

“More? I'm afraid I don't follow.” His voice hid his curiosity.

“When ArchAngels were brought to my attention, I was told of a certain unit that was best and it is not Delta.”

“Then I'm afraid you were misinformed. Delta is our best.” Freidlien reached for his glass.

“Am I? Are they? Because I am rather certain there is another. Does the name Omega ring any bell? I already said, I am prepared to pay an enormous sum.”

Freidlien paused, his brow raised. “Now I am truly interested in the source of your information.”

“Alas, I cannot reveal the source. However, your interest in it tells me Omega is real. What would it take to hire them? Name your price.”

“Ah, but that is where you’re mistaken, Luther. Omega does not exist. They are but a phantom. A rumour.” Freidlien proceeded to drained the bottle of wine into his glass. “My interest in your source is merely habitual.” He swirled his wine before sipping.

“My offer is the Delta-Note detachment. I assure you, they are more than capable for the task.”

Luther eyed Freidlien. Staring. Trying to read him. “Fine. I’ll accept Delta-Note. They better be worth the price I’m paying.”

“They are worth every cent. You have my word. What about yourself? Do you not want a team?”

“There will be no need. I have full confidence in my Royal Blades.”

“I would like to meet with the magia in your service. To be skilled in magic in this country is unheard of.”

“I’ll see that you do. But more importantly, when can I expect the arrival of this Delta-Note?”

“Soon. I make the preparations once I’ve returned. My secretary, Darius will be in touch with further details.” Freidlien placed his partially drained glass back on the table.

“Very well. I look forward to hearing from you again.”

Freidlien and Luther simultaneously stood up and shook a firm handshake. The two walked through the same halls that led them to the dining room. Freidlien bowed in respect to the monarch and boarded the limousine back to the airfield. The moment he entered the plane, Darius was standing at the ready with a tablet in hand.

“Do we have any details on how they managed to track us down yet?” Freidlien asked as he was handed the device.

“No, Sir. But I believe we may have a starting point after tonight.” Darius answered. Freidlien scanned the tablet, reading the rudimentary profile on each member of the Royal Blade.

“It would seem so. I want a detailed report on every Royal Blade ready when we arrive in Olympus. In particular, this one.” Freidline pointed to one of the profiles.

“I’ve already instructed intelligence to do so during your dinner, sir.”

“Efficient as always, Darius.” Freidlien curved his lips slightly.