Cintra, 3rd of Harvestide, year 305 UC

She wasn't him. She wasn't her father.

Looking at Bryan, Emilia knew she had to do better. Be tough, but give him praise when it was needed. Maybe she'd be more like Rashaka.

Smiling often.

She tried it, but it felt forced. She couldn't even see herself, but it was just a feeling.

Should she try again? No. She should relax, they had an hour to go before they reached the city. There wasn't anything wrong with taking a little break and closing her eyes for a moment or two.

Except, there was.

The Inquisition was out there, and they had already made their move.

It was a barbaric one, but given the situation, she couldn't help but be impressed by their ruthlessness. To burn down an entire orphanage was not what she expected.

Kill a few people, sure. Torture the citizens for information. That's what she expected out of them.

But arson? No, not in a million years did she believe they'd make such a move.

What was she to do?

Go back to Cirrigur and what? Wait and see what would happen?

It was a bit cowardly, but it was their best chance at survival.

She should have listened to her first mind and stayed put. No one knew Bryan was the cause of those deaths, they wouldn't even be able to track him with how quickly she moved.

But now?

They returned to the city and the Inquisition was there. Yeah, that was a problem.

Especially if they were monitoring the site, which she guessed they were.

It was only a matter of time now before the Inquisition got them.

As they made their way to the train she checked to see if anyone was tailing them, but nothing.

Here on the train, they were safe.

Or so she thought.

There were mages here.

Not the ones that were seated in their own cabins, their presence was easy to sense.

No. This one was subtle. As if they were trying to to keep their presence contained within a small space so no one would notice.

But, she did.

Mages that wanted to stay hidden did such things, but not all mages. And especially not five of them walking together.

'Is this them?'

She asked herself as she took a quick glance at Bryan. He was sleeping, but they were close.

Acting now would save her the hassle of dealing with all five of them. They didn't know she sensed them, meaning if she struck first she could kill one, maybe two.

But, what if they weren't the Inquisition?

Then she'd have dead bodies here on the train with no way to explain it.

Going out the window was an option. It would allow them to escape quickly, but the chance of injuries was high. Especially to Bryan, whom she wasn't sure she'd be able to project from the impact they'd take.

Leaving Bryan here and heading out herself was something she considered, but tossed it out the window. That would leave him alone to protect himself, and if someone with high mobility was among them. Then… it was easy to see how that would play out.

If this was the Inquisition, they were doing a terrible job at hiding their presence. Granted, she was a high-ranking mage but their work was sloppy at best.

She'd never let them be on her team during any missions.

This was not the work of highly trained killers.

But…

'It could be a trap.'

Emilia thought as a frown formed on her face.

Adjusting the amount of ether they withheld to make them seem like novices would be a tactic she'd use to have the enemy lower their guard. And once that guard was lowered, she'd be able to strike.

She took a moment to let out a deep breath she was holding in.

'Overthinking. Stop overthinking.'

Sometimes, the path forward was to use the simplest method. In this case, kill first and ask questions later.

Emilia's eyes narrowed, her breath steadying as she focused on the presence of the five subtle mages outside the cabin. They were close—too close—and their attempt to mask their Ether wasn’t enough to escape her keen senses.

She raised her hand, and five small orbs of fire ignited at her fingertips, each no larger than a marble but pulsing with concentrated heat. The temperature in the cabin surged instantly, the walls shimmering under the pressure of her magic. Bryan stirred in his sleep, beads of sweat forming on his brow as the cabin grew stifling.

With a flick of her wrist, Emilia launched the fireballs in rapid succession.

The tiny spheres of flame pierced through the cabin door, leaving five smoldering holes in their wake.

The orbs exploded out into the corridor, expanding mid-flight, each one swelling with intense heat until they filled the narrow space. The air roared as the fireballs detonated on contact.

The hallway outside erupted in flame. Emilia heard a choked curse, quickly followed by the sound of bodies hitting the ground—two of them. The acrid smell of burning flesh curled into the cabin.

Before she could draw her next breath, a violent gust of wind slammed into the cabin from the corridor. The door shattered inward, torn from its hinges and splintering into countless fragments.

Emilia reacted in an instant, pulling Bryan into her arms and pivoting her body to shield him from the debris. The force of the blast rocked the small space, knocking loose bags and blankets from the overhead racks.

As the dust settled, Emilia’s sharp gaze pierced through the smoke-filled hallway.

Two of the mages lay motionless, their bodies still smoldering where the fireballs had struck. But the remaining three stood unharmed, shimmering barriers of translucent energy surrounding them, crackling as they dissipated the residual flames.

'Tsk. They were quick with those barriers.'

She thought to herself.

Suddenly, a figure appeared at the far end of the corridor, stepping through the haze as if he owned the space. His movement was unhurried, confident. Emilia hadn’t sensed him at all.

The three remaining Inquisitors quickly made way for him, their deference revealing his superior rank. He clasped his hands behind his back as he surveyed the scene, his gaze falling to the two fallen Inquisitors on the floor.

"Pity."

He said, his voice tinged with disappointment.

"I had hopes for you, Laurence."

His attention then shifted to Emilia, and she could feel the weight of his scrutiny even through the mask.

"Guess we've found our fire mage."

He remarked.

"Name."

He demanded.

Emilia assessed the situation. This man was clearly a high-ranking mage; she could sense the power emanating from him.

It would be a difficult fight, and protecting Bryan in such close quarters would be challenging. She considered ways to quickly dispatch the other three, but any such action would likely cause significant damage to the train and endanger innocent lives.

"Name."

The masked man repeated, snapping his fingers impatiently.

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Emilia offered him a sly grin but remained silent.

"So, you want to play games, huh?"

He asked a hint of amusement in his voice.

"I'd go first if you want. I'm Veron, and you-"

His gaze suddenly shifted, locking onto Bryan, who sat wide-eyed and shocked in his seat. The masked man tilted his head slightly.

"Now, who do we have here?"

He mused, his attention fully on the boy. Turning slightly to one of his subordinates.

"Lyra, he had white hair and red eyes, correct? So, is that him?"

He asked.

Emilia tensed, acutely aware of the danger Bryan was now in. She knew the man had his hands behind his back, but she could sense a powerful barrier erected around him. It wasn't something she could quickly break through, and any hasty action might put Bryan at greater risk.

Ten condensed fireballs, the size of a pea all stacked behind one another may be able to do the trick. Each one needed to hit the same spot so the barrier would break. She could do it, and her finger twitched as she began.

Veron clicked his tongue and wagged his index finger back and forth.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

He said, his gaze fixed on Emilia.

"Save both of us the hassle of this pointless fight, and come with me."

Emilia thought the man was crazy, but she had finished calculating the best way to get out of this precarious situation.

With unwavering resolve, she replied.

"No."

In an instant, two blazing pillars of fire erupted beneath the feet of the closest Inquisition members. The flames roared to life, twisting upward in a violent spiral of heat and light. The inferno consumed them, engulfing their forms in the searing heat as the air shimmered from the intensity.

Lyra reacted in a blur, darting away from the sudden explosion of flame with supernatural speed, her form a streak of motion in the confined space.

Veron shook his head in disappointment.

"Guess we're doing it this way."

He sighed.

To Emilia's surprise, a hissing sound filled the air as steam began to rise from the inferno. In seconds, the towering pillars of fire were extinguished, leaving nothing but curling tendrils of vapor in their wake.

The temperature in the cabin dropped rapidly, and the two Inquisitors who had been caught in the flames stood unharmed, their clothing barely scorched.

Veron waved his hand in front of him with a lazy flourish, and a fine mist curled from his fingertips, blanketing the room in a cold, oppressive chill.

"Ah yes, a direct counter to you."

He said, a hint of smugness in his voice.

"Ice magic. Comes in handy, doesn't it?"

It wasn't something she was expecting, as mages capable of using Ice magic were rare—one in a thousand mages, maybe less. She had encountered ice mages before, but never one who could neutralize her flames with such ease.

This was not going to turn out well for her.

The cold deepened. She glanced at Bryan, who was still in his seat, his breath now visible in the icy air. Whatever she was going to do, she had to do it fast.

"I must admit, I'm impressed by your power."

Veron continued, his tone conversational despite the standoff.

"It's not often we encounter a fire mage of your caliber."

He took a moment to look Emilia over.

"Powerful, skilled, and in control over her emotions. Well, this cuts the number of fire mages down by eighty percent. You wouldn't happen to give away your family name, now would you?"

Emilia was not sure what game he was playing. Why was he speaking so often? Was he stalling for time?

'This is a distraction.'

She quickly came to the conclusion.

The talking was meant to distract her from whatever else was going on.

But what?

"Quick thinker too. Narrows the list down a bit more, and yes you're right."

Veron said with a chuckle.

"Bit too late though."

Before Emilia could react, she sensed it—multiple presences above them, faint but undeniable. Her eyes darted upward just as the ceiling began to crack and groan under the weight of Ether-infused attacks.

The roof caved in.

Magic rained down—fire, wind, water, lightning—all converging on her position in a deadly barrage.

Emilia threw up a barrier of flame, the intense heat forming a dome around her and Bryan, shielding them from the onslaught.

Something flew past her, it was small and barely noticeable. She didn't pay it any mind as it wasn't a spell and it wasn't aimed at her.

From the corner of her eye, she saw a bit of blood streak down Bryan's cheek.

The cabin shook violently as the combined magic attacks pounded against her barrier. Sparks flew, and the air sizzled with raw Ether. She could hear the crackle of lightning and the roar of wind, the magic attempting to tear through her defenses.

Through the maelstrom, six figures dropped through the shattered ceiling

If Veron was this skilled with ice, any large-scale fire attack would be neutralized just as easily as the first. She needed to change tactics—fast.

With a swift motion, she unsheathed her sword. If magic wasn’t the answer, she’d rely on raw speed and skill.

Without warning, she lunged forward, her blade slicing through the air. The nearest Inquisitor barely had time to react as her sword cleaved cleanly through his neck, his head hitting the ground before his body followed.

The other five sprang into action, their movements synchronized and deadly. But Emilia was faster.

She ducked low, twisting away from the first strike aimed at her head, then parried a blow from another attacker, the clash of steel ringing through the ruined cabin.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bryan, still frozen in place, his small frame trembling. She had to get him out of here—now.

Her plan was clear: grab him, burst through the window, and escape. Out in the open, she could unleash the full power of her magic without fear of collateral damage.

"No, I think not."

Veron stated as he materialized in front of her, catching her hand in his.

He stood between her and Bryan.

'Who the fuck is this guy?'

She wondered for the first time.

He not only had powerful ice magic, but could close the distance in an instant.

Without hesitation, Emilia kicked him square in the chest, her boot connecting with force that should have sent him flying. But instead, Veron barely budged. He slid back a few feet, his eyes never leaving hers, unfazed by the impact.

Instead, he merely slid back a few feet.

Glancing down, she knew that was the moment she was screwed.

A pale bracelet with a red dot was on her wrist, and she didn't place it there.

'Magic Dampener.'

She clicked her teeth in frustration.

It was a device designed to drain the Ether from mages, disrupting their control and denying them access to their magic. She could feel her power being siphoned away, the Ether in her core rapidly depleting. She had maybe ten, fifteen seconds at best.

"And this here is check."

Veron said as he clapped his hand.

Before she could react, pain exploded in her abdomen.

Lyra, who had vanished earlier, reappeared behind her, thrusting a sword clean through Emilia’s stomach. The cold steel slid between her ribs, and the world seemed to slow. She gasped, the metallic taste of blood flooding her mouth as the blade protruded from her front, slick with crimson.

'Barriers won’t stop a physical attack.'

She thought bitterly, as her vision blurred around the edges.

She had lost track of Lyra in the chaos, and now, she was paying the price.

Veron strode forward with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Pity I never got your name."

He remarked, stepping over Emilia’s collapsing form as though she were little more than an inconvenience.

"Oh well."

Emilia’s knees buckled, her body collapsing to the floor. Blood pooled beneath her as she tried to summon the strength to stand, but her legs gave out, and the sword pinned her in place. Every breath was agony, her body trembling as the Ether continued to drain from her.

The Magic Dampener had done its work, leaving her helpless.

Through the pain, she heard Veron’s footsteps moving past her, toward Bryan. Her heart pounded in her chest as she forced herself to look up.

Bryan had backed up against the wall, his small body shaking uncontrollably. His wide, terrified eyes locked onto Veron as the Inquisitor leaned down, his voice sickeningly calm.

"Now, who do we have here?"

Veron mused, his tone mocking as he leaned closer to Bryan, who was frozen in fear.

The boy wet himself, trembling as he tried to press further into the seat, but there was nowhere left to go.

Emilia’s vision swam as she tried to push herself off the ground, but her body refused to cooperate. Her fingers scraped against the blood-slicked floor, her strength fading rapidly.

Veron’s attention remained fixed on Bryan, a predatory gleam in his eyes. He reached out slowly, as if savoring the moment, ready to pluck the boy from his seat like a helpless rabbit.

"I wouldn’t move, if I were you."

Veron warned, not even bothering to look at Emilia as she struggled.

But she wasn’t done yet.

With a final, desperate surge of strength, Emilia gritted her teeth and reached for the hilt of Lyra’s sword, still lodged in her abdomen. The pain was excruciating, but she forced herself to pull it free, her hand shaking as blood spilled onto the floor.

Her vision dimmed, but she refused to let go of the thought that she had to protect Bryan.

Veron sighed, noticing the movement. "Persistent, aren’t you?" he muttered, before giving a slight nod to Lyra.

Before Emilia could react, Lyra stepped forward, her foot connecting with Emilia’s chest in a brutal kick. The force of the blow sent Emilia sprawling backward, crashing into the side of the train car. Her body slammed into the window with a sickening crack.

The glass shattered under the impact, and in an instant, Emilia’s world tilted. She felt the rush of wind as she was tossed from the train, her body hurtling through the open night sky. The cold air whipped past her face, blood trailing behind her in the darkness.

For a brief moment, there was nothing but silence. The stars above, the distant sound of the train fading, and the ground rushing up to meet her.

Inside the train cabin, Bryan's lips were trembling as his eyes were glued to the spot where Emilia had fallen.

He was in a trance, as he kept picturing Ms. Kelly falling down as blood pooled around her.

The scene kept replaying over and over.

Emilia took Ms. Kelly's place in one scene in his head as she fell.

The two of them kept trading places, between one another and he couldn't do anything to help them.

Why.

Why.

Why.

The sight of his own blood, mingling with the memories of Ms. Kelly and Emilia, pushed Bryan over the edge.

His eyes, once wide with fear, now blazed a bright, unnatural red.

A sudden shift rippled through the room.

All the blood—Emilia’s, the fallen Inquisitors’, and Bryan’s own—began to defy gravity, rising from the floor like crimson threads being pulled by invisible strings. It twisted and coalesced midair, morphing into razor-sharp crescent blades

The Inquisitors, caught off guard by this unexpected display of power, barely had time to react.

Four Inquisitors who had dropped their guard after Emilia's fall were cut down instantly. Flesh and bone offered no resistance as the blood blades sliced through them. Limbs were severed, torsos cleaved in two, blood splattering the walls and ceiling as their screams were cut short.

The carnage unfolded in mere seconds, leaving a trail of destruction that painted the cabin in shades of crimson. Bodies fell in gruesome pieces, pooling more blood that Bryan’s magic eagerly consumed, feeding the storm.

Veron's eyes widened behind his mask, genuine surprise etched in his posture. He clicked his tongue.

Reacting swiftly, Veron summoned his ice magic.

The air hummed with power as he swept his arm across the room. In an instant, a bone-chilling frost exploded outward, covering the entire cabin in an icy sheen. The blood blades, once a spinning maelstrom of lethal intent, froze mid-flight and dropped to the floor, shattering into hundreds of brittle shards.

The temperature plunged to freezing in the blink of an eye, the sudden shock enough to halt Bryan’s rampage. His body, still small and fragile, trembled from the sudden drain on his core. He swayed unsteadily on his feet, the glowing red fading from his eyes.

Seeing his opening, Veron closed the distance with terrifying speed. His fist connected with Bryan’s temple in a precise, controlled strike. The boy’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed, his limp body crumpling like a discarded doll.

His gaze fell on Lyra, who stood trembling, her face pale with shock. Her left arm had been severed just below the shoulder, and where her flesh met the frozen stump, blood had hardened into an icy red crystal.

She had barely managed to avoid the fate of her comrades.

Veron’s eyes narrowed.

"Barely made it, I see."

He said, his voice cold and without sympathy.

Lyra swallowed hard, nodding weakly as she tried to stifle a cry of pain.

Veron’s attention shifted back to Bryan, the unconscious boy lying at his feet.

"I think I'll be keeping this one."

He muttered, more to himself than to Lyra.

Without another word, Veron lifted Bryan with ease, slinging the small boy over his shoulder. He turned on his heel and made his way to the exit, his boots crunching against the icy floor, leaving a trail of blood and shattered ice behind him.

As he reached the doorway, he paused, looking back at the remaining Inquisitors, who were still frozen in shock.

"Clean this up."

He ordered, his tone as cold as the frost in the air.

"And make sure it looks like an accident. No survivors. No witnesses."