Elenora (Pov)

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As I took my seat, their eyes turned to me, silently asking for the latest news.

“A group from Freedom of Amber has come to town,”

“Marsil isn’t in the town right now, or so it seems, but their arrival feels too coincidental. It’s likely they’re here for him—or about him.”

Eduardo took a deep breath and started speaking.

“If it’s Freedom of Amber, then Lady Amber from Whiterock City must be involved.”

“It makes sense,” I said.

“Lady Amber is one of the women who belongs to the founding family of the magical organization of Freedom of Amber, and if a hidden group from Freedom of Amber has taken an interest, it is only natural she was the one who sent them.”

Before I could elaborate, Lind El-Fia started talking.

“I heard something recently,” she said, her green eyes narrowing.

“Lady Amber has been digging into the prison break at Grimrock. It’s no secret that Lord Eval Morningstar was connected to that event—and now, with Marsil also tied to Eval, it’s possible she’s piecing things together.”

Her words sent a ripple of unease through the room.

If Lady Amber was truly connecting those threads, it could mean trouble for all of us.

But as much as I shared the concern, my thoughts began to shift.

“Maybe this isn’t such a bad thing.”

The others turned their attention to me, some of them looking surprised.

I could almost hear the question in their unspoken glances:

How could this possibly be good?

I straightened in my chair, choosing my words carefully.

“If Lady Amber and her people are targeting Marsil, he might start to feel the pressure. And when people feel cornered, they look for allies. Eval’s influence aside, we could position ourselves as the ones who can offer him safety and guidance.”

Eduardo tilted his head, his expression skeptical.

“That’s assuming he trusts us. Marsil isn’t a fool, and from what you’ve told us, he’s cautious to a fault. How do we convince him that we’re the safer option?”

I paused, letting his words sink in.

He wasn’t wrong—Marsil was far from naïve.

But I also knew that when danger loomed, trust could be built through necessity.

“It’s not about convincing him outright.”

I said slowly.

“It’s about being there when he realizes he needs us. Freedom of Amber’s involvement could be the push that makes him see Eval’s world for what it really is: dangerous, manipulative, and unstable. When that happens, we make sure we’re ready to catch him before he falls too far into their hands.”

Lind nodded thoughtfully.

“So, we play the long game. Watch and wait for the right moment to act. It could work, but it’s a gamble.”

“It’s always a gamble.”

I replied, my voice firm.

“But it’s one worth taking.”

As I spoke, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of doubt beneath my confidence.

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Marsil was an enigma—strong, intelligent, and fiercely independent. If we miscalculated, we could lose him entirely.

But then, that’s what made this so important.

Eval Morningstar’s plans hinged on people like Marsil, and we couldn’t afford to let them go unchecked.

“We’ll continue keeping tabs on Freedom of Amber,”

I added.

“And on Marsil. If we move carefully, this could be our chance to bring him closer to our side.”

The room fell into a thoughtful silence, each of us lost in our own calculations and concerns.

As much as I hated the uncertainty, I knew we were on the cusp of something important.

For better or worse, Marsil was becoming a key piece in a game far larger than himself.

And if we played it right, we could ensure he ended up on the right side of history.

Marsil Pov

I packed my belongings and made sure Sacril was ready.

The decision to move deeper into the forest was an easy one.

Crimson Berry Town, while small and relatively quiet, wasn’t where I wanted to be while testing my abilities.

Spells make noise—sometimes loud, explosive noise—and the last thing I needed was to draw unnecessary attention.

After walking for what felt like hours, I stopped in a secluded area surrounded by towering trees and dense foliage.

The forest here felt untouched, as though few, if any, had ventured this deep.

This was exactly the kind of isolation I was looking for.

Sacril stayed close by, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

I couldn’t help but appreciate his presence. H

Having him near gave me a sense of security, even out here where I was utterly alone.

I set down my pack and stretched my arms, feeling the hum of magical energy coursing through me.

The forest was a perfect training ground—natural targets everywhere and no prying eyes.

My first target was a thick, sturdy tree about twenty meters away. I took a deep breath and raised my hand, focusing on the spell I wanted to cast.

“Energy Bolt,” I whispered.

The bolt of energy crackled to life in my palm, glowing faintly before shooting forward like a streak of lightning.

It slammed into the tree, the impact loud and sharp, and the thick trunk splintered and gave way with ease.

The tree fell with a resounding crash, shaking the ground beneath my feet.

“Not bad,”

I muttered to myself, a faint smile playing on my lips.

The power of the bolt felt more refined than before, a clear sign of the progress I’d made since becoming an Adept.

Next, I turned my attention to another tree, this one smaller but sturdier-looking.

This time, I wanted to try Energy Dart.

I raised my hand again and conjured a series of darts, their sharp tips gleaming with magical energy. One by one, I released them.

The darts zipped through the air with incredible speed, each one piercing the tree’s trunk cleanly.

When I approached to inspect the damage, I found neat, arrowhead-sized holes bored straight through the wood.

“Effective and efficient,” I said, running my fingers over the holes.

“Good for precise attacks. As well as stealth attacks. Compared to Energy Bolt, it is easier to use and silent.”

Sacril watched me intently, his ears perked up.

It was almost as though he understood what I was doing, though I doubted he grasped the full extent of my training.

Finally, I decided to push myself further.

I stepped back to my original position and took a deep breath, preparing to cast multiple spells at once.

This was something I had tried before, but never to the extent I planned now.

If I wanted to understand my limits, this was the way to do it.

I began with Energy Bolt, letting it charge in my right hand.

Simultaneously, I conjured energy darts with my left.

The dual focus required an immense amount of concentration, and I could feel the strain almost immediately.

But I pushed through it, refusing to falter.

When both spells were ready, I released them simultaneously.

The bolt and darts shot forward, hitting separate targets with precision.

The bolt obliterated another thick tree trunk, while the darts peppered a row of smaller trees, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

My breathing was heavier now, and sweat beaded on my forehead.

For my final test, I tried something even more ambitious.

I cast Energy Cloak around myself, enveloping my body in a shimmering aura of protection while simultaneously charging an Energy Bolt in each hand.

The combination of offense and defense felt exhilarating, but it also drained my magical reserves rapidly.

I released both bolts, their combined power tearing through a fallen log and scattering splinters into the air.

By the time I was finished, I was breathing hard, my magical energy significantly depleted.

I sank to the ground and leaned against a tree, letting myself recover.

Sacril padded over and nudged my arm with his nose, his quiet way of checking on me.

“I’m fine,” I assured him, running a hand through his fur.

“Just... pushing the limits.”

As I sat there catching my breath, I couldn’t help but reflect on my progress.

The spells were stronger, more precise, and easier to cast than they had been before. My control had improved, and with it, my confidence.