Tyrus's ears flickered, and he looked out the window overlooking the inner section of the capital.

A chill ran down his spine, causing his tiger tail to stand erect. He knew that feeling all too well, having witnessed it a couple of times in person. The others felt the disturbance too and looked toward the window, confused.

Sir Wayne grimaced. "That rise of mana out of thin air... Nothing of this magnitude has appeared within the capital."

Not long after those words left his mouth, the mana in the distance swelled; a massive, fiery plume swelled into the sky, curling and twisting like a furious dragon unleashed. Part of the once blue sky was suddenly ablaze with brilliant hues of orange and red. Then, like a blooming flower, the fire exploded, spewing curling clouds of dark smoke in all directions.

"An explosion in the inner city?" Reo said as he slowly rose.

Grant frowned. "This is no regular blast. That flux of mana and then an explosion soon after? It was not a result of ordinary means."

On the second floor, a small group of explorers looked up at the smoke, exchanging bewildered glances. Downstairs, the scene was no different—explorers huddled against the walls, jostling and pushing one another to catch a glimpse. Some rushed out the door, while others remained, captivated by the unfolding spectacle.

"Its like those fools have never seen smoke and fire before," Igneal chastised.

Sir Wayne responded, "In situations where something out of the ordinary happens, it is common for people to seek answers, especially if their safety is a concern."

"Or for gossip," Reo added. He rose slowly from his seat and smirked. "Since Fiona will take a while and there's nothing better to do, how about we do something and get a closer look?"

Everyone sitting down looked at Reo like he was crazy for suggesting such a thing. He didn't look like he cared, let alone would wait for an answer as he strolled down the stairs. Grant let out a heavy sigh and followed his friend, apologizing along the way as he slid through the crowd on the first floor. Tyrus, not keen on being left behind, got up and quickly caught up with them.

***

Blue Dawn was not the only group interested in securing front row seats to the disaster. It didn't take long for the streets to become crowded, making it difficult for the three of them to navigate through.

A line of guards, armed with spears, stood in formation, blocking the gates leading to the inner district of the city. As a result, the bridges were filled to the brim with people bustling and colliding with each other, eager to catch a glimpse of the rising plume. The atmosphere was charged with a blend of anxiety, fear, and excitement, oddly enough.

"Stand back!" a guard with a full-face of hair barked. "It is for your safety that you remain in this district! The guards in the inner district will handle the matter, so there's no need to worry!"

"Is this some sort of practice for emergencies?" a gentleman with a cane said.

A younger man shook his head. "Are you blind, old man? What kind of practice involves real fire and smoke that large-scale!?"

"It might just all be an illusion," said a woman holding a baby. "The same type the Aerial Troupe use during their yearly performances!"

The crowd seemed to be in a frenzy as they threw around guesses. Conversations blended together like whirlpools, and the guards struggled to calm the panicking crowd. It didn't seem like the guards were letting anybody in anytime soon so the rest of Blue Dawn backed away from the cramped bridge and stood to the side.

"Tsk, they acted faster than I thought," Reo said, biting a fingernail. "Change of plans. We'll have to sneak around without alerting the guards."

Sir Wayne scoffed. "This is a foolish idea. Young Master, there is no need to involve yourself in this matter."

"Usually I'd agree, but I am curious about how this will go," Igneal said.

"Glad you're enjoying this," Reo said as his voice trailed.

Reo glanced at the canal nearby and eyed the mighty wall blocking their progress. It was a particularly tall one, about as tall as three adult men. There were no guards at the moment patrolling the top. Tyrus could more or less guess where this whole thing was going.

Reo took a quick peek at the guards, gauging whether they were paying attention or not and jogged toward the canal, sliding down the slope. He took one leap upward, landing and proceeding to lock his hands and feet in footholds embedded within the wall. Like a lizard, he scurried up the wall, his speed and dexterity increasing as he got closer to the top. Not long after, he jumped over the ledge, out of sight. None of the guards had noticed someone got past, and even if they did, Reo had already disappeared by the time they'd looked over.

"So Reo is really committed to this," Grant muttered under his breath as he cautiously made his way towards the canal. "It's highly likely that there are people affected by this unfortunate event. As a sorcerer, it's our duty to lend a hand to those in need, no matter what the consequences may be."

Just like that, Grant followed Reo's tracks and began climbing. It was a rather clumsy climb, however, and Grant kept slipping and sliding down the wall, but he got over nonetheless. It was baffling how easy it was to slip past security. Were the guards that incompetent? Or were they too engrossed with the growing crowd?

Seeing that he had no other commitments and a desire to be helpful, Tyrus left. Like the others, he slid down the slope. He jumped and landed close to the wall, then started climbing up. Thanks to his experience in climbing, he effortlessly propelled himself upward and successfully cleared the wall without requiring any mana. Just before impact, he tapped into his mana to reduce the impact and smoothly came to a halt near a bakery where people were still present.

Tyrus's eyes were immediately drawn to the smoke. It was much darker and thicker up close. Because of the wind, the smoke was blowing toward the outer district. His nose scrunched from the scent, and he covered his mouth with a sleeve.

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Shortly after, he noticed nearby movement. As he turned his head, he was met with the sight of Sir Wayne and Igneal standing right beside him. He couldn't help but marvel at how Igneal had managed to join them until he recalled his servant was also an Augmentation Sorcerer—and the fact that Sir Wayne was cradling Igneal in his arms.

Igneal quickly pushed his way out of his servant's arms and adjusted his garments, scowling as he mumbled something about embarrassment.

Tyrus surveyed the area, but Reo and Grant were nowhere to be found. It hadn't been that long since they split up, and yet they were already forging ahead. Grant's eagerness to move quickly made sense, but Reo's sole focus was on discovering the cause of the sudden surge of mana. In hindsight, his plan to approach the origin of the fire and smoke seemed rather dumb.

"Young Master, I strongly suggest you turn back," said Sir Wayne.

Igneal ignored his pleas and stood next to Tyrus. "What are you standing around here for? Please continue with this little trip."

"...You're curious as well, aren't you?" Tyrus said. "Why else would you be following us?"

Igneal shrugged. "I am here solely to be entertained by the actions of fools."

"Wouldn't you be one as well since you're following us fools?"

"That only applies if I came here unprepared, which I am not. Now, are we done talking here? I can already feel my lungs withering away."

Tyrus rolled his eyes and began to jog toward the heart of the fire.

Now, Tyrus wasn't familiar at all with the inner district. It was his second time here, so everything was very unfamiliar to him. He recognized a few of the streets and shops when the head butler transported them back to the guild, but anything else was out of his memory.

In this area, the inner district seemed to shrink in size when compared to the expansive outer district, but the roads stood out with their remarkable width, providing a sense of openness. A bustling supply of businesses dominated the landscape, creating a greater gap between the buildings than one would typically expect.

The stone used in construction had an unexpected sleekness and polish, giving the structures an appearance as if they were intricately carved from pure marble. The sight was visually captivating, truly a sign that nobility truly wandered this region.

They mostly traveled on the main road, dodging guards that were running all over the place, probably to assist those in need. A lot of the buildings still contained people, which was surprising. Wouldn't it be the sensible choice to evacuate in a situation like this? What if the fire were to swallow their homes and belongings? Then again, not much of the buildings were crafted from wood, but polished stone instead.

Dwelling on the inner workings of a nobles mind was a useless endeavor, so Tyrus focused his thoughts on the important things.

Wait, if the inner district is where nobles frequent daily, then does that mean I'd be helping nobles if one were to be in trouble?

The thought of assisting nobles, who he despised wholeheartedly, did not sit well with him. On one hand, helping people was the right thing to do, but on the other hand, they were nobles. He still hadn't forgotten their words back at the interrogation. Sure, not all of them were there or shared the same thoughts, but there were a significant number who believed him to be beneath them. Would his unwillingness to help meant that he was a bad person?

Tyrus shook away the evil thoughts plaguing his mind and focused his attention ahead. There, he finally spotted Reo crouched on top of a roof, staring at a burning warehouse without so much as coughing from the excess smoke or even sweating.

Then he noticed the soft glow emanating from Reo, and Tyrus finally understood why. The mana inside Reo was acting as a shield, protecting him from the heat, smoke, and whatever else was in the air. Augmentation did increase the body's defenses from what he remembered.

To test that out, Tyrus immediately willed the mana deep inside his heart to circulate around his body. In a few short moments, his breathing steadied and the powerful smell of smoke weakened alongside the heat. He didn't know exactly how the mana was helping him, but the effects were undeniable.

Tyrus was about to join Reo on the rooftops and ask him what he would do next, but before he could, another rush of mana appeared out of nowhere. Tyrus immediately felt the source and shifted his gaze toward the sky.

Amidst the swirling smoke and raging flames, figures appeared. At first, they were blurry and vague, merging with the hazy surroundings. But suddenly, an eerie clarity descended upon them, as if they were being shaped by the very essence of the fire. Gradually, their forms took shape, rising from the inferno like shadows brought to life, their bodies solidifying within the billowing smoke.

Their spectral forms appeared ethereal, almost otherworldly, comprised of shadowy, ember-like shades that radiated with an intense, fiery brilliance. The elongated shadows stretched out, their slender bodies contorting and undulating as if composed of living smoke, their movements graceful yet eerie.

Wisps of dark red and orange trailed behind them, reminiscent of the fading embers of a dying fire, leaving faint, luminescent trails in the air. The scene was a visual fascination, accompanied by a faint crackling sound and the lingering scent of burnt wood.

Their faces, or whatever could be made out of them, were merely hints—a hazy silhouette where eyes and mouths could possibly exist. However, deep within that shadowy abyss, two radiant, fiery orbs gazed upon the warehouse, emitting an ethereal glow. These eyes flickered with an eerie intensity, mirroring the flames that gave them life.

"What is that?' Tyrus said, squinting.

"A spirit in the form of an ember wraith," Igneal replied, surrounded by mana like Sir Wayne.

The ember wraith lowered itself toward the destruction and raised both its arms. Not long after, the smoke and flames surrounding the warehouse condensed and swirled around its body. The blaze intensified as the spirit began to draw the fire and smoke into itself, absorbing them into its chest. The longer it stayed there, the bigger it grew, while the flames and smoke continued to shrink.

It didn't take long for the rest of the flames and smoke to completely disappear, revealing a blackened building missing a chunk of its roof and walls. Dozens of guards wearing surcoats popped up from a nearby street, rushing inside now that the flames were no longer there.

Tyrus glanced back toward the ember wraith once more, but it vanished as abruptly as it had appeared, leaving nothing behind except lingering smoke and embers.

"Hmph. It seems following you guys was worth it after all," Igneal said.

Spirits truly are a special existence that Tyrus would love to learn more about. Not only did they use the elements like a sorcerer would, but they came in a variety of different forms. They were entirely different creatures compared to beasts. Mysterious beings that he could spend a lifetime learning about, especially their origins and why their bodies were made of mana.

Reo jumped off from a different roof and approached Tyrus. "I was listening to the guards for a bit to find out what happened. Apparently, they have no clue. This warehouse was a storage site for oil and ores. They think an accidental fire happened, but I doubt that. There's the mana signature and that spirit to think about."

"Ember wraiths are usually found in places with a high concentration of heat," Igneal said. "They are harmless creatures, and they prefer to live alone. Clearly the ember wraith was summoned by a Conjuration Sorcerer... or maybe a situation similar to what happened underground."

Reo's brow furrowed. "That spirit definitely didn't belong to Scourge. It absorbed all the fire and smoke into its own body and then disappeared. The spirit helped instead of spreading the flames all over the city. I wonder who it belonged to..."

As if the heavens themselves answered his question, the ground near them rumbled. Tyrus looked down to see cracks forming on the cobblestone road, stretching far and wide. Everyone backed away from the damage just in time as an enormous hole opened up. From the hole, a spirit flew upward, one that looked oddly similar to Meadow, except it was a boy.

"Finally, freedom!" said a woman's voice.

Through the hole, two heads covered in thick soot surfaced, resembling moles emerging from the ground. Tyrus felt his breath catch as Royal Knight Nessa and Fiona tumbled into a heap of dirt, and pebbles their labored breathing filling the air. The spirit came to rest atop Royal Knight Nessa's head, sprawling out as if he had just sprinted through the entire city.

"Master—I expect a vault of gemstones by the end of the day..."