I have a big problem. I did want to infiltrate Witchaven but it has a barrier that detects anyone who enters. Those who fly in get instantly identified and those who teleport in get rerouted to a terminal where very strict Misha control who enters the city. None of them have a sense of humor so I don’t think I can act clever and get in without the council knowing that I have entered the city. I could dig my way in. I don’t know how to dig… Maybe a disguise. I looked at my chest. Yeah, no way I can hide these. What else can I do? I got a genius idea. I will just hack the barrier. It’s just a string and cluster of mana runes. It shouldn’t be hard for me to make a hole in it or find its blind spots. I grinned. Don’t mess with Ayaru Mistflower!
I flew to Witchaven and got as close to the barrier as possible. Nobody is guarding the outside of the barrier or taking watch because anyone who flies in instantly gets identified. And I am going to exploit this fact. I slowly unraveled the runic structure of this barrier and took a peek. I was still hiding by my water illusion but anyone who put in effort to find me would probably find me. I got into the barriers runic structure. It was quite complicated and the one who made this barrier did a great job. Just not good enough to keep me out! I identified the sequence that caused this barrier to identify whoever entered. I looked at the sky. Misha were entering the city constantly by flight. I could temporarily turn it off but that would be noticeable if a group of Misha appears that haven’t been identified. I will have to go for something more difficult.
I will make an area in this barrier where this identification is disabled. It will be the barrier’s backdoor! I will have to escape after telling Remi goodbye so It would be efficient if I could just leave after I do that. I had to carefully reroute mana away from this part of the barrier to starve the mana runes in front of me from the mana supply. This will prevent them from working as intended. I had to insert some runes into the barrier to create the illusion that this part I’m working on is still being supplied with mana. I had to knock out the mana runes that would send out an alert if the barrier got altered. I then had to knock out any runes that were related to identification.
It took me 12 minutes to find the runes that will redirect teleports. I might as well knock these out too. This part of the barrier was just a normal barrier now. I will have to insert some dummy mana runes to fill in the vacancies. How about restoring some mana to those that pass through this area? I can’t make it make me prettier once I go through it. Maybe braid my hair? Ugh, that is a bit too difficult to do now. I couldn’t come up with anything that was practical so I just had the barrier give me some mana it had in excess whenever I passed through this part. I removed the runes that diverted the mana flow and the mana flowed back into the part that I had altered. It was indistinguishable from the rest of the barrier. I am a genius! Now to test it out. I walked through the barrier and it felt different from what I would normally feel while going through the barrier. This is a good sign. I was quite far from the Misha Academy because the academy was in the center of the city.
I decided that teleport might be a bad idea so I ran through the streets. It was late in the evening so not many Misha were outside. I decided to check out Remi’s house first. No smoke was coming out of her chimney. That means she hasn’t been home for a long time. Brewing magic potions is as normal for us as it is for humans to boil water. We have some magic spells monitoring the process so our cauldrons are on even when we’re not home. We only stop doing this when we will be away for extended periods of time. I looked over to an azure chimney in the distance. It hadn’t seen smoke for a long time. I sighed and continued my sneak adventure.
I got distracted by a small park with beautiful flowers. A familiar had seemingly detected me and I had to run away before the Misha of the familiar noticed. Maybe my illusion is worse than I thought. I reached the Misha academy out of breath. I am not made for this. The academy also had a barrier but I had already messed with this barrier in my student years. I located the backdoor in the barrier and slipped in without any issues. The corridors were easily navigated because they were empty. I had to evade several professors but this was a piece of cake. I entered Remi’s office. She looked up.
“An invisible visitor, the only person that dares to do this unannounced… so you’re okay. You’re not hurt, are you?”
I removed my illusion. “Oh, so you knew that I was alive?” Remi had another sad look.
“The council paid close attention to your fight. That [Azure Mist] was wonderful, the council however…” Tears started to roll from her eyes. “They have decided that you are an equal or bigger threat than Verruka. Any Misha that kills you or brings you before the council will be greatly rewarded. I’m sorry Ayaru! I tried!”
I spotted fresh wounds on Remi. I gave her a hug. Magic flowed from me to her and healed her up. I am not skilled in healing so all I can do is maximize body contact and transfer mana that has the instructions to heal.
“Thank you Aya but I will be fine, it’s you who I’m concerned about.” I wiped Remi’s tears.
“I came here to say goodbye and to tell you that I’m alive. I will be leaving Witchaven forever. This isn’t my home anymore. But now it seems they are my enemy. I’m sorry to have dragged you into this.” I also started to tear up a bit. I hugged her again and both of us cried.
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We had gone through a lot together and apart. This parting hurt. I wish I could take her with me but she has her life here. I have my life somewhere else.
“I will take Paula with me. They might try something with her after all this. I want to ask you again. If anyone wants to pick up or continue my research. Please help them like you helped me.” Remi nodded and wiped her tears.
“I will, be safe out there and don’t be caught.”
“Thank you… I have to go…”
Remi got up. “I will create a small diversion for you, your invisibility skill isn’t as good as you think.”
I nodded. Remi left her office and started to talk to some nearby professors. I hid myself by bending the light around me again and sneaked out. I got quite far into the city when I heard an explosion. I know Remi said she would cause a small diversion but this is going overboard. The sky brightened and a [Meteor] was about to fall on Witchaven. I saw several council members fly up to delay and dispel the [Meteor].
Hmm, that is strange. Remi doesn’t know how to use [Meteor]. A large [Crimson Eagle] rose up. I recognize that skill. I decided that a look wouldn’t hurt. I weaved between the alleys and arrived at the council house.
“What do you mean; she is a criminal? I return from this shitty long assignment you give me and what do I hear when I return? Ayaru is a criminal? Have you hags finally gone senile?!”
Bea’s hair was flaming and she had 3 [Crimson Eagles] flying around. She had successfully burnt down the council house. She was standing strong but she was no match for the council members. I sighed. I can’t ignore Bea after hearing this. I dispelled my illusion and released all my mana. My hair turned wavy like water since I’m serious too.
“I thought your dumbass had gotten yourself killed!” Bea moved her [Crimson eagles] out of the way and I used [Tsunami].
“You’re still alive! So, they lied that they made you fight a god!”
“Unfortunately, that wasn’t a lie, I got lucky.” I looked at Bea, she looked more mature. Maybe it was because she was angry but she at least didn’t look like an idiot anymore.
“You have become more mature and prettier since the last time I saw you.” Bea smiled
“Did your boobs grow since the last time I’ve seen you? You might seduce me at this rate.”
“Dream on I am not interested in dumbasses!” The council members lined up some curses and various amounts of attacks. I dispelled all of them while Bea assaulted them with the [Crimson Eagles]. Bea used another [Meteor] to keep the other council members busy. I used [Flood].
Bea’s attacks created steam explosions when they came in contact with the water covering the floor decreasing the visibility. I used [Mistflower field].
“Are you insane! Are you trying to kill us?!”
“Just like how you tried to kill me by sending me after a god and now by making me an outlaw? Yes.” The Mistflowers bloomed and exploded. Bea was sniping the Misha out of the sky with her [Crimson Eagles]. The earth and the sky were unsafe.
“Ok, we will reconsider!”
I tipped my hat. “Wrong response. Enjoy the [Azure Mist].” I used [Azure Mist]. I confirmed several kills and the elders scattered and fled. Bea managed to kill 2 in their escape. 12 of the 34 elders here had been put to rest.
“Yeah! You run! This council was a bad idea anyway!” Bea continued to mock the council members. 9 elders were still dealing with the [Meteor] Bea had attempted to drop on Witchaven.
“Thank you for sticking up to me Bea, but I have to leave.”
“Why? The council can’t do anything to us!”
“I know but I just don’t feel at home here and they are sure to notify the capital. My life is over if I stay here. “
“Hey! Don’t let anyone kill you!”
“Don’t get yourself into more trouble and thank you.” I hid myself in my illusion and escaped Witchaven. The remaining council members seemed to be looking for me but too bad. I descended and went to visit Paula.
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I barged into her house.
“Paula get your stuff! We need to go!” They were eating.
“Do we have time to finish our meal? And are you ok?”
“Yes, and yes but if we take too long, we might not be ok. Ooh is that cake? Can I have some?” I took some cake. We ate and Paul and Paula started packing.
“Can I ask what is going on?”
“Not now Paul, get all of your essentials. Speed is of the essence!” Paula was ready to go after 10 minutes and Paul was ready 2 minutes later.
“So where to Aya?” We went outside and readied our staves.
“How about the capital of Hjuva?”
“Sure.” We heard a loud noise. 5 council members flew at us on their staves.
“So now they get off their lazy asses and come outside! Paula, Paul, let's go!” I interrupted their magic skills while we flew away. I sabotaged the runic structures of their staves so they crashed down to the ground.
“Ha! Good riddance!”
We decided to take some detours to give possible pursuers the slip.
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We arrived at the capital of Hjuva 2 weeks later, Vong. What a strange name.
We got in quite easily. No barrier to check who comes in or out. No strict rules. I’m not sure what their stance is on other races this far north but they seemed accepting enough. We also look like humans so there is that.
Paul went to arrange for lodging while Paula and I looked around.
“It is still a wonder this city, I have heard that the ancients have built this. But I had heard a rumor that this city had been built on top of another city but nobody could find that city.”
“How do you know all that? I thought you got kicked out of Witchaven ages ago, you didn’t have access to the library!”
“Heh, you forgot that I had sneaked into the library and went through a lot of forbidden documents and books before I got kicked out!”
“Oh, what juicy stories have you read there?”
Paula grinned. “I will tell you later, you might be quite interested in it.”
We continued sightseeing until Paul met up with us and brought us to where we would be staying for the foreseeable future.
“Heh, it’s a good thing that our research had earned us quite some money!” Paula said as she put her hands on her hips.
“How do you have money? You haven’t been able to get funded!”
“Tss Aya, so naïve!”
“Paula got it from beating up Misha who tried to mess with her…”
“Paul!” She smacked him.
“Hah, typical! I got filthy rich for my cosmetic hat paper!” Even though the Misha hated me they did love my paper. I had gotten some requests to personally adjust them but I had declined all of them.
Paul and Paula had 1 room and I had my own room. I went to bed as I was quite tired.