An angry sneer formed on Maddox's face. He looked down as the book in his hands started to glow before a seal appeared. _Damn, I didn't take it quick enough,_ he thought to himself. Then the words appeared on the cover, saying the seal would be released if the Magic Council was to be defeated. _That means..._ He looked up to the fight, as now James, Sasha, and Lazarus joined Jamie in the fight against Grane. His brow furrowed as he held the book to his side with one hand.

**"Hey!"**

Maddox started walking forward after his shout, casually towards the combatants. "You guys are doing well," he began, stopping next to Sasha. He held the book out for her to hold. "You should all rest. He is the last obstacle between us and Wes." Maddox continued walking forward now, heading directly towards Grane. "I haven't had a real fight in _so_ long..." His red eyes showed no emotion as they locked onto the lizard-looking Council member.

"Before we fight, Grane, I need to know something." Maddox stopped, making sure to not stand so close as to be easily sucker-punched. "Right now... Are you following your beliefs.. or are you following your pride?" Maddox made a wave of his hand to Jamie, as an indicator to back off. "Oh, and I think we should take this fight somewhere else. Somewhere with less..." He looked over at his guildmates, all of them in various states of exhaustion and pain. "Collateral."