—I finished bathing the cats. —Maria said. Priscila joined her, sitting on the couch, captivated by the droid broadcasting a gravity ball game. She paid no attention to her student's naked arms, stretched and tense, covered in slight bleeding scratches.

—Up, my fierce Butterflies!! Three to two! Keep it up! Those audacious turtles are the worst crap from Rhodantis! Their selection is about to be buried!

Priscila's cheeks were painted with pink and white lines, the team's flag. She wore a loose commemorative shirt and short shorts. She sipped on a frosty mug of beer, accompanied by seasoned peanuts.

—Pri... please. —She begged on the verge of tears.

—Oh, really? Of course, sorry.—Maria took advantage of halftime, noticing the wounds—. Put some alcohol on it; it's okay, you don't need to waste magic on that.

—O-okay.

She marched to the bathroom where the first aid kit was kept. In the middle of the healing, Priscila entered the room, moved by a sense of responsibility and guilt. She took the bandages and helped her heal, applying a potion that would completely regenerate the tissue by the next day.

Back in the living room, Maria looked again at the mystical eye painting on the wall. It depicted a towering colossus, a statue resembling an irregular hexagonal prism on a base that looked like a blooming rose, fleshy and leathery petals of purely living tissue. At the top of the entity, a human eye stood out on a faceless head from which a luminous ring shone behind an apparent neck. Multiple floating eyeballs surrounded it, emerging from a white light. On the sides, a pair of rocky wings stretched, cracked like part of the entity's surface, from which emerged the bruised arms of the helpless. On the ground, a runic symbol stood out, an X split in half by a closed uppercase I and enclosed by a perfect circle.

—Beautiful, don't you think? —Priscila placed her hands on her student's shoulders—. Xotec Sabbanur of the infinite consciousness blesses this house.

—I'd say unsettling. —Maria said uncomfortably, looking away—. I stick to the faith of Mother Earth and the other Titans. Is it true that many important figures used to praise him?

—Him and the others of the triad. His Majesty Amber Topaz followed his word, not openly outside of Trisary, of course. They say Xotec Sabbanur is a titan of an unknown element, and that's why he doesn't manifest in this world. —A theory that still unsettled Maria—. You may not like it... his apostles wrote many of the grimoires we use today. His word is not far from the Traveler of the Templars; knowledge is power... except for the 'love one another' part, that's optional... his cult was popular, and that's why they vilified it.

At her young age, Maria read books of legends and myths from the Grishland continent. In the Templar mythology, it was said that the emperor of the ancient civilization, called Chroneidos, went mad due to the call of four dark entities from beyond the astral plane, causing the end of everything brought about by the Renaissance in which they lived. One of those forces was attributed to Xotec Sabannur, turning his cult, which inspired the pursuit of knowledge and progress, into a pagan religion, opposing the ideals of the Templars' own prophet.

Three gods, neither good nor evil, worshiped and listened to devotees' voices from the astral plane. Their minds could be illuminated to the brink of madness by exposing themselves to the infinite through drugs and spells, confused by the message of something divine. Whether real or not, these entities had power over conscious beings in one way or another.

—By the way, the cats have been very calm... haven't left their room. —Priscila heard them meowing from the living room, nothing out of the ordinary, sounding lively with the scratching of their paws on the wooden floor.

—It was hard to dry them, they were in a bad mood. —Maria said, sitting on the couch, gently rubbing one of the still throbbing bandaged arms—. So, I had to give them some toys, the ones you said I could grab from the second drawer of your dresser.

—Well... —Priscila suddenly opened her eyes wide, adjusting her glasses with pale skin as she discovered an inconsistency. On the brink of hysteria, she managed to keep calm—.You mean the second drawer under my wardrobe.

—Eh? Oh no, I think I got confused...—Maria admitted the mistake, trembling—. That would explain why it had a lock. I used a spell you taught me to unlock it; I thought it was a test. Anyway, weren't those cat toys? You had many of those, all different sizes and vibrating.

Priscila's face turned red. She panicked and flew at full speed to the cats' room without giving any explanation, shouting echoed throughout the treehouse:

—Babies, leave that!! Those are mommy's toys!!

Confused, Maria received the punishment of standing in a corner for half an hour and was not allowed to play outside for a whole day while the sorceress buried some of her damaged possessions, noting the expenses she had to make to buy new ones.

...

Maria accompanied Priscila to the city of Nemea, nicknamed the Grand Savannah. A huge walled metropolis known for its diverse population, many with beastly features to varying degrees.

Surrounded by a layer of shrubs and sparse large trees, the lack of coverage allowed for a tall and continuous herbaceous layer, combined with forests and miles of grasslands on the roads.

The buildings towered, casting shadows over the streets with architecture resembling free cities. Grey and green structures, abundant in vegetation; vehicles other than mounts were rarely seen. The roads were not paved with cobblestones but with dirt paths.

People were dressed in animal skins, barely covered in tunics. It wasn't uncommon to see shirtless men with tattoos or women wearing fur tops.

Maria quickly noticed that people in the higher areas stood out for having more beastly features, while the completely human with bronze skin walked in the humble grounds. One of Nemea's attractions was its coliseum, right in front of the ruler's palace.

She had never had the opportunity to go to such places. She could barely see the houses from the polarized window of a luxury limousine that Priscila rented. The veteran hated visiting that place; her face wrinkled in disgust. She moved her feet anxiously to reach the place where she used to conduct her business, passing through the lower area. The expressions on the veteran's face indicated that she was suffering from a blockage of some days.

Before properly learning the use of magic, after a mathematical training that revealed Maria's great potential for quick learning, she began to help Priscila account for the positions and tools she would sell in the Hidden Market, as well as buying some of the toys her cats damaged due to the confusion.

Maria could never forget the first time she visited it. They got out of the car and paid the driver, agreeing that he would come back for them at sunset. Maria followed Priscila to an alley away from the crowded streets of the city center. Two flying droids in the shape of spheres guided the sorceress, storing items she intended to trade.

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A growing discomfort emanated from Maria due to the gloomy atmosphere of the place, and terror seized her as they approached the end of the path where a group of five punks sat on wooden crates with malicious faces, under the dim lighting of the buildings.

Hiding behind Priscila, she tugged at her skirt, begging them to leave, but Priscila ignored her. For a moment, Maria thought the worst of her mentor until, in complete calmness, Priscila pulled a compacting gem from her bag and, releasing high-voltage webs, materialized the tool into a spectral light.

A platinum staff with a star-shaped golden head and two curved blades at both ends in an inverted crescent moon, with a grayish gem shining at its core. The imminent manifestation did not disturb the gang; they chuckled lightly, emitting an aura of death that enveloped Maria.

The girl's legs trembled; she was on the verge of loosening her sphincters and wetting herself. Just as she was about to turn around, Priscila's hand silently took hold of her arm, not even bothering to look at her. Maria struggled and pleaded in every way she knew, but Priscila paid no attention.

—Shut up and watch. —Priscila spoke calmly and dominantly. That gesture alone made Maria stay still. With a movement of the staff, the vision of the bandits distorted, just like a stone thrown into water, leaving the aspirant soulless.

—How? —Maria asked.

—It's an illusion, made for ordinary fools. —Priscila said—. Come and follow me. If you're scared, close your eyes and squeeze my hand.

She obeyed the order, lowered her head, and let herself be led with shaky steps. A moist breeze grazed her face, passed over her hair, and went through her body as if entering a wall of water, and instinctively, she held her breath.

Passing through that illusory wall, the heated temperature outside was replaced by a refreshing climate. She didn't dare to open her soul's windows immediately, not until Priscila nudged her slightly.

—Go on... look... —She encouraged her calmly.

Doubtfully, she followed the request very slowly. As her vision cleared, her eyelids opened wide, amazed by what surrounded her.

—Welcome, Maria, to the hidden market. —Priscila stepped aside, presenting the wonders.

Tall candles instead of light poles illuminated the streets of silver ground so pure it looked like glass, a vast shopping center of buildings shaped like strange modernistic geometric figures lit by neon. Light centers projecting holograms of the latest wand models or recordings of models wearing the latest wizarding fashion.

Tents with signs announcing merchandise, from tonics to improve physical rhythm in the body to potions that claimed to cure terminal illnesses. The cobblestone streets were filled with natives of Nemea and foreigners, coming to the bazaar to buy or trade their products.

Maria walked behind Priscila, marveling at everything she saw. She scrutinized a display case showing pieces of beasts hunted and sold by the guardians, used for the creation of magical tools.

Music resonated from a stage in the middle of the street, where magicians created a show based on illusions to the rhythm of agile chants, powerful notes that enlivened the blood, gathering the crowd, mostly hybrids of elves, beasts, and humans. Forbidden car ads were facing the entrance to that market, a completely different city within Nemea.

—Spectacular. —Maria tilted her head; her purple eyes marveled at silver statuettes on a table with runic inscriptions, imitating shapes of mythical creatures. She saw a hybrid of a woman and a spider alongside a giant rock creature.

—Within these statuettes are inscriptions to summon familiars. Tell your mom to get you a new best friend... —The elf with pointed ears winked.

—She's still too green for that, and I don't remember giving birth to her, thanks. —Maria looked at him with disdain.

Priscila took her hand, dragging her along, but Maria couldn't take her eyes off everything. She clung to the hat on her head, hiding her hybrid ears.

—This place is...

—This ghetto is the largest magical trade in Trisary. All sponsored by the government. — Priscila stopped to buy food at a stall—. Do you want a flaming wasp burrito? I love hunting them; they taste delicious.

—Is it dangerous? Magic is supposed to be industrialized... —Maria replied—, why is it hidden?

—Things are sold here that aren't necessarily for normals. There are only two ways: you have a license, or you're a wealthy normal who hires a wizard or an employee of the place to enter and act as a guide. Besides monitoring what is bought, there are bastards who accept bribes and act as stand-ins. Anyone who knows the location and a dispersion spell could enter. You can see a magician selling potions for acne or compacting jewels right on the street. Here, you'll find advanced spell books or clothing if you prefer not to make it yourself. Personally, I prefer to buy the materials and do it on my own.

—Come, come! —A bearded man in a weapon store spoke—, we sell enchanted weapons: flaming swords, instant spells, summoning grenades, rifles that create ammunition using your magical power.

—Interesting... —Priscila took a duel pistol, showing the medallion that identified her as a guardian—. And since I have a military record, can I buy weapons that are not accessible to civilians? Maleficarium?

—No, miss. —The nervous seller said with hands raised—, that is prohibited here.

—I thought so... —She nodded, satisfied that the seller passed the test.

—Who's in charge? —Maria was still hungry for knowledge.

—Carpoforo is in charge... but the people here manage themselves. It's like a small fiefdom within another. — Priscila explained—, he gives his little share to the ruling family and lets them do whatever they want, as long as they don't threaten their city.

—If not for that detail, it would be completely independent, which can cause certain disputes. In many large cities, there are always ghettos. Unfortunately, the best ghetto in Trisary is here, so I moved near Nemea.

The name Carpoforo caught Maria's attention. Something didn't add up; she knew Priscila's quirks and, of course, her background. She participated in the civil war of guardians on the side of the nobility, where there was a clash between the veteran and the golden lion.

That day, she couldn't ask about that matter due to an unexpected event. There was a collapse followed by a roar, triggering a stampede of people fleeing from a beast that had once been in a museum, where they exhibited captured and mutated monsters. A mistake in adjusting the chains unleashed a catastrophe of an unholy creature hungry for revenge for its degrading way of life. It killed the captors and the hired esper, taking them by surprise.

In the midst of a murderous rampage, the monster emerged onto the streets. It looked like a giant white baboon with fists that touched the ground, as thick as tree trunks. It measured four meters, and its mouth was filled with yellowed fangs. The little flesh not covered by fur showed swollen, pustule-covered skin, in contrast to the bloodshot blue eyes.

It leaned against a wall with one claw and held the bloodied torso of one of the guards with the other; intestines spilled, hanging in broken strands. Puddles of red with remains of brain dripped from the crushed skull, barely retaining the lower jaw attached to the body. The shocking image shook Maria; her purple eyes filled with tears, and she ended up vomiting on the floor.

—I'll give you a tip if you take care of the girl! —Priscila didn't wait for confirmation from the merchant. Taking two steps forward, on the third, she levitated in flight magic, thrown straight into danger.

—Hey, wait! —The manager's protest was ignored.

Most of those on the streets were nothing more than wealthy civilians without powers, whose visit was facilitated by paying a guide. Countless lives would be claimed upon the arrival of the response personnel, giving Priscila a limited time to act.

The enormous primate detected Priscila flying towards it, making her its next target. In a mad scream, demanding solitude, it exhaled a freezing blizzard completely nullified by an arcane barrier materialized in Priscila's right hand.

Snow dwellers couldn't generate such power, and they didn't reach that size. Priscila wasn't surprised; she was facing a mutation, one that went terribly wrong with the repulsive disfigurements of an animal in a painfully miserable existence.

—The biomancer who created you must have been an idiot. —Her eyes smeared with a mixture of white and sparkling orange—. For that insult, I'm going to give you a painful death, and then I'll break that idiot's hands.

She broke the blizzard with an energy discharge that stunned the creature. With the defense lowered, Priscila focused an energy sphere between her hands and shot an arcane beam directly at the monster's head.

The little hair covering its face burned, its eyes popped out, and teeth shattered in a bloody surge flowing from the jaw. Dying, it swung a futile blow that hit nothing but air, dodged by the sorceress whose scythe materialized in her hands, hammering into the monster's eye and letting it fall backward.

Priscila stood up victorious without a scratch. She received applause, which she acknowledged with bows like an artist at the end of a show. The glamour lasted shortly, as she searched for her apprentice, finding the manager running and quickly catching up to him.

—Where is the girl? —She demanded, still in that hostile aura.

—I... I don't know... —His tongue got tangled.

—Speak, damn it! —She pulled him by the collar of his shirt, making sure he looked directly at her and understood she wasn't joking.

—In all the chaos, she ran out and went into that alley... —He pointed to a dimly lit path and narrow streets.

—No... no... —Priscila pushed him, knocking him to the ground, and flew in that direction.