[Location: Verm Evocaier Academy - Drifter's Room - Morning – Year 1092 Ad Felicitas]

Holographic light filled the room as Drifter sat on his brown sofa, watching the comedy show “Mot and Reyjr”. Every now and then, he chuckled softly, trying to enjoy a peaceful morning. However, a familiar voice shattered his concentration.

"Drifter, are you in there?"

It was Luna Sabriel’s voice. Drifter took a deep breath and turned off the large holographic screen in front of him. He stood up and walked toward the door. The hinges creaked softly as the door opened.

There she stood, dressed differently than usual. She wore an elegant black gothic gown, complemented by a black-and-white veil cascading down her back.

In his mind, Drifter immediately thought, “Another sudden mission?”

“What's up?” he asked, his voice low.

Luna slightly lifted her chin, trying to maintain her composure.

“There’s a situation in Azistile Town. We’ve lost contact with the investigation team.”

Drifter stared at her for a moment, his mind already racing through possibilities. Azistile Town—a quiet, unassuming town on the outskirts. Its name now carried a grim weight.

Footsteps approached from the hallway. Alina Walsh and Jaxon Virelli appeared behind Luna.

"Hey, pal—looks like the fearless four are back together again," Jaxon said, his casual tone attempting to ease the tension.

Drifter managed a faint smile, greeting them with a nod before turning back to Luna.

"Lost contact? What’s going on?" His voice was calm, but the sharp edge of determination was unmistakable.

Luna glanced briefly at Alina before responding, her tone measured.

"We’re not entirely sure yet. Reports of missing residents started coming in, and now the investigation team we sent has disappeared as well."

Drifter met Luna’s eyes with a stern gaze.

“Come in. Give me a moment,” he said.

He stepped aside, allowing them to enter the living room before heading upstairs. The sound of his footsteps faded as he climbed the stairs, disappearing into a room on the left.

Inside, his movements were swift and purposeful. Glass bottles and potions were placed into his bag, the soft clink of glass breaking the silence. His hands worked deftly, ensuring each piece of equipment was perfectly secured.

He paused for a moment, memories of the Grakling's Assault flashing through his mind—the screams of Alma and Nadia, blood dripping, their pale faces as they were taken to the hospital. His jaw clenched. “Not again,” he thought. He tightened his belt, making sure everything was in place.

Returning to the living room, Luna, Jaxon, and Alina stood from the sofa, their attention immediately focused on him.

Jaxon pointed to the belt full of bottles Drifter was wearing, his smile as relaxed as ever.

“What’s the plan, plan? Opening a potion shop in Azistile?”

Drifter glanced at him briefly, a thin smile gracing his face.

“Sure. But if you buy, it’ll cost you twice as much.”

Jaxon chuckled, patting Drifter on the back.

“But seriously, pal—can’t your belt hold any more?”

A small laugh came from Alina and Luna, though the atmosphere remained tense. Alina shook her head lightly, her eyes fixed on the bottle-filled belt.

“I didn’t expect you to be so obsessed with potions, Drifter.”

Drifter shrugged casually.

“Better to have more than not enough,” he replied.

Jaxon smirked, directing his teasing toward Alina.

“Lucky you’re not as much of a perfectionist as some people here.”

However, Luna’s sharp gaze silenced him immediately. That look was enough to make him turn and start walking.

“Okay, okay. Let’s go. We can’t waste any time,” he said quickly.

Location: Skyrail – City of Nethia – Moments Later

From the academy, they boarded the Skyrail, speeding towards the city’s outskirts. Upon arrival, Luna stood at the front, her gaze fixed straight ahead.

In the distance, the Translocator loomed tall—a black monolith with a slowly pulsating blue crystal, emitting energy like a living heartbeat.

As they approached, Luna didn’t hesitate to touch the control panel. Glowing symbols appeared, lighting up brightly, and a blue light immediately enveloped them. The air around them vibrated, and the surrounding world gradually faded away, replaced by a dazzling brilliance. Deep down, Drifter felt the tension intensify. Azistile awaited.

[Location: Azistile Town – Verm – Morning – Year: 1092 Ad Felicitas]

In an instant, Drifter took in the sight of the river, lush green trees, stone and wood buildings painted in various hues, and cobbled streets with a bridge showing cracks of age. A stone sign engraved with "Azistile Town" greeted him. At the edge of the town, an old gray building perched atop a small hill loomed in the distance. However, a dense fog hung heavy in the air, blanketing the quiet streets. The atmosphere felt lifeless, as though the sun had been swallowed by the gloom.

In the distance, a wooden sign creaked faintly, reading "Evergreen Potion Shop," accompanied by the rustle of dried leaves drifting on a faint breeze. Luna Sabriel stood before it, still and sharp, her gaze fixed on the empty road.

Around her, Jaxon, Alina, and Luna began walking toward the cracked stone bridge. Drifter followed them cautiously. As they reached the bridge's end, they were met with empty buildings that stood like dark silhouettes. The windows were black, reflecting the oppressive silence.

Luna, at the front, moved carefully, her eyes scanning the fog as if searching for unseen threats among the swaying shadows.

Drifter turned to his left. Alina crouched, her fingers brushing the cold, wet surface of a stone. Her eyes glimmered with the activation of Enchanted Sight.

"What happened? Nothing? No signs of an attack or any Evocyte traces," she muttered, shaking her head slightly.

Beside her, Jaxon Virelli furrowed his brow, his guarded eyes hidden behind dark glasses. He glanced around, inspecting every corner with precision.

Finally, Luna gave a firm command, "Spread out. Regroup in 15 minutes."

Without objection, the group dispersed to investigate further. However, they all returned empty-handed within the allotted time.

Drifter’s gaze locked onto something atop the small hill—a large, old building stood defiantly amidst the thickening fog. Its multiple stories were barely visible in the gloom.

"There," Luna said quietly, suspicion lacing her voice. "The mansion on the hill. We haven’t checked it yet."

Without further words, they began walking toward the mansion, navigating through the increasingly dense fog.

[Location: Azistile Mansion – Afternoon – Year: 1092 Ad Felicitas]

As they approached the building, Drifter observed it in detail. Its walls were covered in cracks, overgrown with thick moss that dripped down like wet wounds. The pointed, curved roof clawed at the gray sky, resembling an untouched shadow of darkness. At the front, a massive fountain stood useless, its water long replaced by layers of dark green moss, making it appear like a relic abandoned by time.

The fog moved unnaturally, wrapping around the mansion like a living entity breathing. Drifter heard Jaxon's low voice beside him.

"Well... here we are. Who’s going in first?"

Ahead, Luna pushed open the large wooden door. It creaked slowly, revealing dimly lit rooms illuminated by the faint golden glow of Evocyte lamps. The cold air inside was biting, a sharp contrast to the warm light. Their footsteps echoed, bouncing off the empty walls.

In the center of a vast main hall, a dusty table stood surrounded by worn furniture. On an old sofa, a little girl with pointy ears and pink twin-tailed hair tied with ribbons sat quietly. Her dress, a striking mix of black and red, contrasted with the unnerving glow of her crimson eyes. A wide smile stretched across her face—innocent yet deeply unsettling. Beside her sat two skeletons, their bony hands moving in slow, deliberate motions, creating a scene that was both eerie and surreal.

image [https://i.ibb.co.com/h8G1CJ5/01-32.jpg]

Luna stopped abruptly, her brows furrowed.

Drifter stepped forward, leaning slightly, his sharp gaze fixed on her.

"Hi there. What’s your name, little one?" he asked.

The girl tilted her head, her hair swaying as though touched by an unseen force. With a small finger, she pointed at them.

"I’m Vellya! Who are you? Are you here to visit me and my family?" she asked cheerfully, her light voice carrying an unnerving weight.

The air in the room shifted. The cold intensified, sinking deeper, almost freezing. Drifter noticed the two skeletons slowly bowing, as if greeting their guests. Jaxon, standing to his left, gave a faint smile, bowing slightly.

"Good afternoon, sir and madam," he said evenly.

Drifter's gaze remained fixed on the little girl, calm but searching.

"Vellya, is this your home?" he asked gently.

Vellya tilted her head, her wide smile unchanging. Her voice took on a dreamy tone.

"Hmm, no... Vellya doesn’t have a home. But that’s okay! I’m happy as long as I’m with Papa and Mama!"

Jaxon, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow, his mind working to make sense of her words.

"Why are you here, little girl?"

Vellya pressed a finger to her lips, striking a playful pose.

"Eh... Vellya doesn’t know either, hehehe. I just woke up here. So weird, right? One minute I was walking in a meadow and resting under a tree, and then—poof!—I’m here, hehe."

Drifter tilted his head slightly, his tone calm but insistent.

"When did this happen, Vellya? How long have you been here?"

Vellya paused, tapping her chin as if trying to remember.

"Hmm… I think yesterday morning? Yeah, that sounds right!"

Luna, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. Her tone was sharp, demanding clarity.

"When you got here, was the town already like this? Empty and covered in fog?"

Vellya nodded enthusiastically, her pink hair bouncing with the motion.

"Yep! It was all foggy and quiet, just like now. Papa and Mama told me to stay here, though."

Luna's expression darkened as she muttered to herself.

"The report came in yesterday afternoon, and the team was dispatched immediately. But everything was already gone by morning? This started earlier than we thought."

Drifter and Jaxon exchanged a glance. Drifter turned slightly, catching the subtle nods from Luna and Alina in silent agreement. Exhaling quietly, he shifted his focus back to Vellya.

"Thank you, Vellya. We’ll be on our way now," he said, keeping his tone steady.

Vellya raised her small hand in an enthusiastic wave, her unnerving smile still intact.

"Bye-bye! Come back soon!" she chirped brightly.

They walked out, leaving the room with measured steps. Outside, the fog thickened, coiling around them like a serpent tightening its grip on its prey. The evening sky faded slowly, leaving behind the dark silhouette of the mansion looming above them, its presence even more foreboding in the stillness.

Luna stood still, her eyes locked on the closed door.

"Something's not right with that girl. And those skeletons... she's controlling them. How is she even here alone?"

Alina crossed her arms, her jaw tight with frustration.

"This doesn’t make any sense. None of it does."

Drifter turned to her, his voice calm but firm.

"She’s just a kid, Alina. Whatever’s happening, we can’t just leave her here."

Jaxon placed a hand on Drifter's shoulder, speaking with quiet conviction.

"I mean, come on, Alina. Kid or not, she’s clearly in the middle of something weird, and weird’s kind of what we signed up for, isn’t it? We look out for people, period."

Luna let out a heavy sigh, glancing between them.

"You two… fine. But we need to be smart about this. No rushing in."

Reluctantly, they turned and re-entered the mansion. In the middle of the large room, Vellya stood waiting, her glowing eyes watching them intently.

"You’re back! Want to play now?" she asked with a cheerful tone.

Drifter stepped forward, leaning slightly.

"Not right now, Vellya. Would it be okay if we looked around?"

The girl giggled softly.

"I’ll ask Mama and Papa!" She stood still for a moment, her expression distant, before her wide smile returned.

"They said yes!"

Without another word, the group moved on, leaving the main hall to search the mansion for clues.

The long corridors felt oppressive. Old portraits on the walls seemed to watch their every move, their faded eyes following them in silence. The wooden floor beneath their feet creaked, their echoes mingling with an eerie, almost deafening quiet. Shadows flitted in the corners of the rooms, bringing with them an icy chill that seeped into their bones.

Drifter searched room after room, finding nothing but dust and emptiness. Jaxon scouted another area, only to uncover more vacant spaces and decrepit furniture.

In the small library, Alina flipped through several ancient books. Each page held mundane records, offering no meaningful clues. Frustration flickered across her face as she continued her fruitless search.

Upstairs, Luna discovered a small drawer in an almost-collapsed bedroom. Inside, a dusty photograph caught her attention. Carefully, she picked it up. The picture showed a silver-haired man with long ears and red eyes standing beside a pink-haired woman with similar features. Both were laughing, radiating joy like a pair deeply in love.

She raised the Lumina Core on her wrist, snapping a photo of the image for documentation. After surveying other notable parts of the room, she left to rejoin the group.

By the time they regrouped in the main hall, the sky outside had grown darker. Vellya sat on the oversized sofa, playing with her skeletal companions, whose movements seemed to follow her silent commands.

Luna folded her arms, looking at the team with a stern expression.

"Anything?" she asked firmly.

Alina shook her head, her face serious.

"Nothing. Everything’s empty."

Drifter sighed softly, his tone low.

"No signs of anything useful."

Leaning casually against the wall, Jaxon shrugged.

"It’s just an old mansion. Nothing interesting here at all."

A tense silence settled over them. Suddenly, Vellya stopped moving. Her eyes grew vacant as she stared straight ahead. The skeletons around her dissolved into dark red particles, scattering into the air. Slowly, she rose from the sofa and spoke in a flat voice.

"They’re here."

In an instant, every light in the mansion flickered out, plunging the room into complete darkness. A faint whisper echoed in the silence:

"…xsa…hra…vra…"

From the shadows, dark bipedal figures emerged, their bodies completely black and their glowing red eyes piercing through the gloom. Their elongated arms ended in razor-sharp claws, which lunged toward the group with frightening speed.

Alina froze momentarily, her eyes wide.

"What’s happening?!" she cried out, panic in her voice.

Luna raised her hand, a glowing blue sigil materializing in her palm, illuminating the immediate area. Jaxon summoned his twin bowguns, Emberstorm Crossfire, their fiery aura radiating heat. Alina summoned her greatsword, Frostshard Legacy, its blade gleaming like frozen starlight.

Drifter focused on the dark figures, recognition flashing in his eyes.

"They’re the same as before…" he murmured, his mind drifting to a memory of shadowy creatures aboard a doomed pirate ship. His gaze flickered to Vellya, who remained motionless on the sofa, her vacant eyes betraying no emotion.

Without hesitation, Drifter stepped forward, his movements swift and decisive. Spectral blue swords materialized in the air, cutting through the shadowy creatures with precision and speed. In his right hand, Exaltare gleamed, delivering rapid, fluid combos of slashes, while from his left, Exalt Bolt unleashed a relentless barrage of blue energy projectiles. One by one, the shadowy beings disintegrated into nothingness.

Jaxon moved with the fluidity of rollerblade-like strides as he activated Firestorm Strafe, his body surrounded by a blazing trail of flames. Red projectiles erupted from his twin bowguns, Emberstorm Crossfire, each shot exploding on impact and obliterating the creatures one by one with relentless firepower.

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Beside him, Alina unleashed a series of powerful cleaving strikes with her greatsword, Frostshard Legacy, its icy blade glinting faintly in the dim light. Each swing shattered the creatures into shards of ice, sending frozen fragments scattering across the room.

Luna stood slightly behind, raising her hand. From the glowing sigil in her palm, she unleashed Ice Bolts, each one striking the creatures with deadly accuracy, freezing and shattering them in bursts of frosty explosions.

Yet despite their combined strength, the shadowy creatures kept coming. Their numbers seemed endless, pressing the group further into a tightening encirclement.

Jaxon grinned widely, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of battle. Raising his twin bowguns, Emberstorm Crossfire, he locked onto the incoming horde.

"Volcanic Whirl!" he shouted.

With a swift spin, he unleashed a barrage of fiery projectiles in a circular pattern. The room lit up with red-orange bursts, resembling fireworks detonating in every direction. The searing heat crackled in the air, the projectiles incinerating shadowy figures one after another. The fiery glow reflected off the walls, casting flickering shadows in the chaos.

But then, a massive black mist-like figure appeared, its form dense and impenetrable, as if swallowing every trace of light around it. The being floated weightlessly, its formless lower half trailing into nothingness, while a glowing purple core sat at its center, surrounded by swirling black fog.

Alina gripped her Frostshard Legacy tightly, leaping into the air and delivering a powerful downward strike toward the misty creature. But her blade passed through its form harmlessly, leaving no effect.

"Why isn’t this working?!" she cried in frustration, glaring at the creature, her confusion and anger palpable.

The creature responded by releasing a circular pulse of black and purple energy from its core, obliterating nearby furniture into splinters. Jaxon, Luna, and Drifter dodged just in time, but Alina was caught in the blast. A bright blue barrier flared around her, shielding her from critical damage.

Luna, her face set in a determined scowl, raised her hand again. Ice Bolts shot from the glowing blue sigil in her palm, aimed directly at the creature. Simultaneously, Jaxon fired another round of explosive projectiles from his Emberstorm Crossfire, sending fiery detonations rippling across the room.

Meanwhile, Drifter unleashed his glowing blue swords, sending them slashing toward the mist creature with deadly precision. Yet every attack—ice, fire, or blade—passed through the creature like a breeze through smoke, leaving it untouched.

"What is this thing?..." Drifter muttered, narrowing his eyes in frustration as he tried to decipher the enemy.

Suddenly, the mist creature lunged toward Drifter, sending out a series of black-and-purple circular pulses from different angles. The energy waves struck hard, activating the natural barriers around the group as their last line of defense.

Amid the chaos, Vellya approached Drifter slowly. Her small smile twisted into a sharp, eerie grin, her laughter echoing like a haunting breeze.

"Hihihi," she giggled, the sound unnatural and chilling.

"You can’t hurt them..." she said coldly, her tone devoid of the playful innocence from before.

Raising her small hand, sigils of deep crimson light appeared around her, glowing like embers in the dark. With a sharp motion, she released Blood Bolt, a crimson projectile that shot straight into the mist creature's core. A small rupture formed on its surface, but Vellya didn’t stop.

She followed up with Bloodstorm, summoning swirling crimson sigils in the air. A storm of sharp, blood-colored darts rained down relentlessly, tearing through the mist creature. In moments, the dark figure dissolved into nothingness, reduced to a void of emptiness.

But before they could catch their breath, the black fog around the walls shifted. The same mist creature reformed, whole and undamaged, as if the destruction had never occurred.

Drifter turned to Vellya, his expression serious and questioning. The small girl stood upright, her face devoid of emotion. The cheerful spark that had once filled her eyes was gone, replaced by a cold, calculating intensity.

Lifting her head slightly, Vellya spoke, her voice low, steady, and sharp.

"Find the controller... they’re here, somewhere. Fighting them is useless. They won’t stop coming."

The weight of Vellya's words seemed to thicken the air in the room as the dark shadows continued to shift around them, their presence oppressive and unrelenting.

In an instant, Alina activated Enchanted Sight, her eyes glowing brightly as they scanned the space. She spotted thin threads of dark energy stretching upward. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the upper floor, with Drifter, Luna, and Jaxon close behind.

In the dimly lit bedroom, a figure stood motionless. They wore a featureless white mask, smooth and expressionless, and a black cloak that trailed to the floor.

The masked figure began to move, raising both hands high. Suddenly, glowing red sigils appeared, radiating crimson light into the air. From the ground, dark shadows began to emerge, their forms shifting and indistinct but moving quickly. The creatures filled the room, circling the masked figure, with some lunging at Alina with outstretched black claws.

Alina swiftly activated Cerulion Dash, her body shrouded in icy layers as she darted through the room at incredible speed. She unleashed Blauzorn Tempest, swinging her greatsword in a wide arc to summon a swirling ice storm that obliterated the surrounding shadowy creatures.

Behind her, Drifter, Luna, and Jaxon sprang into action. Luna raised her hand, summoning Glacialis Lanzaris. Floating magical sigils formed in the air, launching spears of ice with blistering speed, cutting through the cold air and targeting the masked figure.

Jaxon, with a quick pull of the trigger, activated Heat Seeker. He fired a barrage of large, blazing projectiles that streaked across the room, locking onto the masked figure with searing intensity. Meanwhile, Drifter deployed Exalt Storm, igniting three glowing blue sigils in the air, which rained down energy blasts toward their enemy.

The masked figure lifted its hands, and a pulsating wave of blackness enveloped its body. The darkness throbbed like a living entity, creating a shadowy barrier that absorbed each incoming attack. Exalt Storm, fire, and ice collided with immense force, resulting in a blinding explosion that shattered the barrier into fragments of shadow, scattering them across the room before they vanished.

The masked figure was now exposed, its white mask cracked in several places, small pieces falling to the floor. As its hood shifted, a strand of pink hair slipped free, glinting faintly in the dim light.

Suddenly, the walls around them began to change. The oppressive blackness melted away, replaced by beige tones that felt unsettlingly out of place. Without hesitation, Drifter activated Exalt Shift, teleporting in a flash of blue light directly toward the masked figure. He swung his blade with precision, but his strike passed through empty air.

The masked figure vanished into the shadows, moving too quickly to track. The nearby window shattered violently, the sound reverberating through the room. Alina rushed to the broken window, glancing outside. Under the pale moonlight, she spotted the figure riding atop a massive winged shadow beast, soaring away into the night sky and disappearing into the darkness.

Breathing heavily, the group regrouped in the large hall below. Vellya was there waiting, her cheerful demeanor intact as though nothing had happened. She sat calmly, arranging her two skeletal companions with care. Despite the tension in the air, she seemed completely at ease.

Drifter approached her, his expression serious and filled with unanswered questions.

"Vellya… those monsters. We saw someone in a black cloak upstairs. Who are they?"

Vellya tilted her head curiously, touching her finger to her lips, her wide eyes innocent.

"Monsters? There are monsters here, big brother?"

Luna Sabriel narrowed her eyes, her tone soft but warning.

"She’s hiding something..."

Jaxon Virelli glanced at Luna, his voice low and sharp.

"I don’t think she’s pretending. Look at her eyes… her movements. She doesn’t know."

Alina ran a hand through her hair, her frustration boiling over.

"We barely made it out alive, and she…" She gestured toward Vellya, who was calmly arranging her skeletons like nothing had happened.

"—she’s just sitting there, playing like it’s all a game! And now she doesn’t even remember? What the hell is going on?!"

Drifter let out a slow breath, his tone steady but resolute.

"Maybe so, but without her, we wouldn’t have made it at all."

Luna turned her gaze to Drifter, her expression wary.

"She’s dangerous, Drifter. We can’t trust her."

Ignoring the tension, Drifter stepped closer to Vellya, his voice soft but steady.

"Vellya… would you like to come with us? Back to the academy?"

Vellya's eyes widened, her smile spreading with excitement. She clapped her hands gleefully but hesitated for a moment, glancing at her skeletal companions. Her joy dimmed slightly.

"Really? But… Mama and Papa… what about them?"

Jaxon, crouching beside her now, grinned warmly.

"They can come too. The academy’s got room for all three of you. I bet Mama and Papa would love it there."

Vellya's cheer returned, her eyes sparkling.

"Mama? Papa?"

She froze momentarily, her gaze growing distant as though listening to something only she could hear. A few tense seconds passed before her face lit up, her smile slow but sure.

"They said yes! Let’s go!"

Alina shot a sharp glare at Drifter and Jaxon, her voice rising in frustration.

"Have you two lost your minds? What if something happens? Can you handle the consequences?"

Luna, her expression measured but filled with doubt, chimed in calmly.

"I agree with Alina. This is too dangerous. You’re being reckless."

Drifter glanced at Vellya, whose shoulders had slumped under their words. Her bright demeanor faded as Luna and Alina spoke, her expression clouding with uncertainty. He let out a slow breath, his voice steady but tinged with empathy.

"She’s just a kid. Don’t you feel anything for her? No home, no family, no one to keep her safe…"

Deep within, Drifter felt a growing connection to Vellya. Her loneliness mirrored his own in ways he couldn’t ignore. Memories of Paxluma, the home he’d lost, flickered faintly in his mind, reduced to little more than a blurry shadow. Though he was learning to navigate this new world, the echoes of his past still haunted him—voices, faces, and a sense of belonging now lost.

Jaxon, with an easy shrug, spoke with a calm but pointed tone.

"We’re peacekeepers, aren’t we? Watching out for people like her is kind of the whole deal. Leaving her behind? That’d be us failing the Evocaier Order, plain and simple."

Alina sighed heavily, her frustration giving way to resignation. Drifter offered Jaxon a faint, appreciative smile. Meanwhile, Luna, biting her lip, seemed caught in an internal debate. After a long pause, she exhaled sharply, her shoulders slumping slightly.

"Fine… but we have to bring this to the Grandmaster. No exceptions."

Without another word, Alina and Luna turned toward the exit, with Drifter and Jaxon following behind.

As they walked, Jaxon, glancing over his shoulder at Vellya, gave her a teasing grin.

"Come on, kiddo. Let’s get moving."

Drifter nodded, adding softly,

"Let’s go, Vellya."

Vellya paused, her gaze distant as she murmured,

"A home… I wonder what that feels like…?"

The group left Azistile Town, heading toward the Translocator. As they walked, Drifter occasionally glanced back at the looming mansion atop the hill. Doubts swirled in his mind.

"Let’s hope… we’re not wrong about this. Let’s hope she isn’t the one behind all of this…"

In a flash of blue light, the Translocator enveloped them, and within moments, they arrived in Nethia. The glowing city greeted them with dazzling lights, crystal towers, and the gentle hum of life at night.

The Skyrail whirred softly as it carried them toward the Verm Evocaier Academy, its rails connecting the city to the grand campus. The calm night scenery provided a stark contrast to the tension that lingered between them. Jaxon, walking briskly beside Vellya, who looked around with curious eyes, led her to a room prepared for her. There, an instructor awaited to receive the young girl.

Meanwhile, Drifter, Luna, and Alina continued toward the Grandhall.

[Location: Verm Evocaier Academy – Grandhall – Night – Year: 1092 Ad Felicitas]

The hall was eerily quiet, the sound of their footsteps softly echoing off the marble floor. Suddenly, Lysander Everhart, the commanding Grandmaster, materialized in a projection of Evocyte energy. The soft glow from his form gave the room a calm but tense atmosphere.

Luna Sabriel stood at the forefront, maintaining a firm posture despite the tension evident in her eyes.

"Grandmaster, we’ve returned. The mission to Azistile Town… was far more complex than we anticipated."

Lysander raised an eyebrow, his deep, composed voice cutting through the stillness.

"What did you uncover?"

Luna took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully, her tone steady but strained.

"We couldn’t determine the cause of the town’s disappearance, but we were attacked."

Her voice tightened as she continued, the memories of the mission clearly weighing on her.

"Shadows and dark mist… creatures immune to our Evocyte abilities. We couldn’t touch them. They were controlled by a masked figure in a black cloak, wielding crimson sigils."

Standing beside her, Alina Walsh, visibly tense, added sharply,

"They were impervious to everything we threw at them. We only survived because of her."

Lysander turned his piercing gaze to Alina, his tone now sharp.

"Her? Who?"

Drifter stepped forward, his expression firm and his voice unwavering.

"A young girl. We found her in an old mansion overlooking the town—accompanied by two skeletons she called her parents. Her name is Vellya, and she fought the creatures using crimson sigils."

Luna spoke again, her tone soft but resolute.

"She’s… unusual. Her power is unstable. Sometimes, she’s just a child—sweet and curious. But other times…"

Alina interrupted abruptly, her voice cutting through with precision.

"—she’s a threat. She needs to be closely monitored."

Lysander, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair, kept his gaze locked on them. His voice was calm but laced with authority.

"Crimson sigils… blood magic… Forbidden magic. And you decided to bring her here? To the academy?"

Drifter held his ground, his voice steady.

"Yes, Grandmaster. It wasn’t safe to leave her there. Not alone."

For a moment, Lysander remained silent, his face unreadable as he processed their words. Finally, he sighed, leaning back slightly in his seat.

"I agree with your decision, Drifter. The girl must be protected," Grandmaster Lysander said, his tone calm but resolute. "However, she cannot be left without supervision. Assign two instructors to monitor her at all times."

Despite the clear instructions, Luna and Alina still seemed uneasy. The tension in their faces betrayed their underlying anxiety, even as they stood straight and composed.

Luna, her expression thoughtful but concerned, spoke carefully.

"Grandmaster, have you ever encountered shadow creatures and mist like these before?"

Lysander paused, his gaze distant, as though searching through long-buried memories. When he finally spoke, his voice carried a weight that stilled the room.

"If these creatures aren’t the usual undead… then… it’s likely…"

He let the words linger, the silence heavy before he continued, his tone dropping to a grave murmur.

"The black mist—perhaps Nebelgeist."

Luna frowned, the unfamiliar term deepening her concern.

"Nebelgeist?"

Lysander nodded slowly, his expression darkening.

"Ancient beings, bound by Blood Magic, created in a time now almost forgotten. They have no true physical form, but their influence in our world is undeniable. If I’m not mistaken, they can only be harmed by Blood Magic."

His explanation hung heavily in the air, leaving the room suffused with a quiet dread. Despite her attempt to appear calm, Alina's voice trembled faintly as she asked,

"What do we do, Grandmaster?"

Lysander fixed his sharp gaze on them, his voice cutting through the tension like steel.

"For now, seal off Azistile Town. No one is to enter until we understand the full extent of what we’re dealing with. This threat cannot be underestimated."

The team exchanged solemn glances, nodding as they absorbed the gravity of his decision. Their steps felt heavier as they turned to leave the chamber, the weight of responsibility pressing on their shoulders.

Just as they reached the door, Lysander's voice called them back, quieter now, but laced with mystery.

"One more thing. Blood Magic has stirred an old memory. Have you ever heard of the Eternal Keeper?"

The question stopped them in their tracks. Luna and Drifter exchanged uneasy glances, a flicker of fear crossing their faces. Finally, Luna turned back, her voice hesitant, almost reluctant to hear the answer.

"Eternal Keeper, Grandmaster?"

Lysander nodded again, his expression hardening further. It was as though the weight of the past bore down on him with each word.

"An ancient order, driven by an obsession with knowledge and power that transcends death. They practiced forbidden arts—Blood Magic among them. If the Nebelgeist and the disappearances in Azistile Town are connected to them… then we are facing something far older, and far more dangerous, than we imagined."

The silence that followed was heavy and suffocating, the air thick with unease. Lysander scanned their faces one last time, his piercing gaze leaving no room for doubt. As his Evocyte projection began to dim, he gave his final command.

"Watch the girl. Protect her. But remember—knowledge is a double-edged sword. We cannot allow it to fall into the wrong hands."

With that, Lysander vanished, his image fading into the darkness of the room. Drifter, Alina, and Luna stood still for a moment, their faces marked by both resolve and uncertainty. When they finally spoke, it was with the same word, firm yet shadowed by doubt.

"Understood, Grandmaster."

As they exited the chamber, silence lingered between them. Each of them carried the weight of Lysander’s words in their hearts. Drifter, walking alone, found his thoughts in turmoil.

"Is this related to the Cult of Shadronis? Or are we dealing with something entirely different? Or worse… both?"

[Location: Verm Evocaier Academy – Residential Zone – Morning – The Next Day – Year: 1092 Ad Felicitas]

Drifter stepped out into the quiet morning air, the stillness of a day off hanging over the residential zone. As he walked toward Luna’s room, he spotted Jaxon in the distance and approached him.

Jaxon, strolling with a noticeable bounce in his step, flashed a playful grin at Drifter.

"Hey, pal… let me guess— they called you too, huh?"

Drifter gave a slight nod, his expression calm and unreadable.

"Yeah."

Jaxon, never one to miss an opportunity for teasing, waggled his eyebrows as his grin turned mischievous.

"What do you think they want? Don’t tell me it’s for a date?"

Drifter shot him a brief glance, his tone flat.

"Keep dreaming."

The two stopped in front of a door, and Jaxon knocked. When the door opened, Luna appeared, her long black hair falling freely over her shoulders, dressed in a simple black dress without her usual coat. She gave them a curt nod.

"Come in."

The room was bathed in muted gray tones, dominated by a sleek black leather sofa and a minimalist glass coffee table. The warm glow of Evocyte lamps wrapped the room in a cozy yet professional atmosphere. Alina sat on the sofa, her expression blank as she regarded them with a silent gaze.

Alina broke the silence, her tone flat but carrying a weight of impatience.

"Took you long enough."

Drifter glanced at them, his sharp eyes catching the fatigue etched into both Luna and Alina’s faces. Their weariness was palpable—Alina’s eyes looked darker than usual, and her hair was slightly unkempt. Drifter tilted his head slightly.

"You two look like you haven’t slept."

Jaxon, ever the jokester, patted Alina lightly on the shoulder.

"What’s wrong, Alina? Bad dreams? Hey, you know you can always call me if you need someone to talk to."

Alina merely sighed, staring ahead with an unusual blankness, her usual sharp retorts absent. Jaxon's grin faltered slightly as he noticed something was off.

Before the silence could stretch too long, Luna straightened, her voice firm.

"There’s something you both need to know. We found a lead."

Drifter and Jaxon sat on the sofa, the room's atmosphere heavy with unspoken tension. Drifter leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees, his curiosity evident in the intensity of his gaze.

"A lead?"

Luna nodded, her expression sharpening as her tone steadied with focus.

"Last night, Alina and I went through the Vytros Seal Database. We scoured the entire Arcane Network. There’s nothing—no trace of the Eternal Keeper. Not a single mention."

Jaxon, his tone shifting to skepticism, leaned back.

"So… we’re chasing a ghost, huh?"

Luna sighed deeply, her frustration beginning to show through her otherwise composed demeanor.

"Either it’s a story that’s been deliberately erased, or one that’s been forgotten for centuries. I don’t know which is worse."

She paused for a moment, her gaze locking onto Drifter, her expression growing more serious.

"But that’s not all."

Drifter’s tone remained calm but expectant as he asked,

"What else?"

Luna hesitated, her voice dropping slightly as uncertainty crept in.

"The mansion in Azistile Town—it’s registered to an Elven couple. They owned a large farming estate there, wealthy landowners. There’s a strong possibility that… Vellya is their daughter. The resemblance between her and the woman in the records is too strong to ignore."

She raised her Lumina Core, projecting a holographic image into the air. It showed a silver-haired man with pointy ears and crimson eyes standing beside a pink-haired woman with shoulder-length hair. The two were laughing, their faces radiating warmth and joy.

Drifter studied the image closely, his brow furrowing as he asked quietly,

"Anything unusual in their records? About their work or connections?"

Luna shook her head, the edge of frustration clear in her voice.

"Nothing. No history of Blood Magic, no ties to the Eternal Keeper. They seemed like regular citizens… until they vanished without a trace."

A heavy silence settled over the room, Luna’s words hanging like a dense fog. Drifter noticed her hand gripping the leather gauntlet on her arm, a small movement betraying her tightly wound tension.

Almost as if speaking to herself, Luna whispered,

"I don’t know what’s worse… learning who her parents were and knowing they’re gone, or realizing she’s been living among their bones."

Jaxon, always quick to lighten the mood, grinned broadly.

"Man, first it was the black cube, and now this?"

Luna didn’t respond, her lips pressing into a firm line as she turned and walked briskly toward the inner halls of the academy.

Jaxon, undeterred, flashed his usual grin as he turned to the others.

"Hey, how about we actually enjoy our day off for once? Let’s grab something to eat. Fair deal?"

His laugh was lighthearted, but the tension lingered in the air. Drifter, arching an eyebrow, smirked faintly.

"Relax, I’ll cover for both of you—consider it a thank-you. But Jaxon? Yeah, he’s on his own."

Jaxon gasped in mock offense, his eyes widening dramatically.

"What? Since when did you turn into such a heartless spender, dude?"

Alina, quietly observing, finally cracked a small smile. Her grin grew into a soft laugh as she teased,

"Are you sure, Drifter? Luna and I don’t usually settle for cheap places, you know."

Despite her exhaustion, Luna allowed a faint smile to touch her lips as her eyes met Drifter and Jaxon. It was small, fleeting, but enough to lighten the mood for a moment.

For a brief instant, the weight of their discoveries faded into the background, giving them a fleeting reprieve before reality inevitably pulled them back.