The group regrouped on the docks, the mist now mingled with the acrid smell of burned wood and scorched flesh. Marge winced as Flo gently applied a salve to her burned arm, her gloved hands steady despite the tension.
“Hold still,” Flo murmured, her voice unusually soft. “This will sting.”
Marge hissed as the salve touched her skin. “No kidding,” she grumbled, but there was no anger in her tone—only exhaustion.
Nearby, Captain Henry and his men worked tirelessly, hauling waterlogged workers from the icy waves. Shouts and groans filled the air as the survivors were pulled to safety, some coughing violently as they expelled seawater.
Hans paced the edge of the group, his brows furrowed. “What was that?” he asked, breaking the silence. “She could summon titans. That’s—how is that even possible?”
Marge and Flo exchanged a look, their faces shadowed by unease. “It’s not something we’ve seen before,” Flo said cautiously. “Her control—it’s unlike anything we’ve been taught.”
“No,” Rem said firmly, her arms crossed as she stared at the horizon. Her voice carried a weight that made the others fall silent. “That wasn’t just some power. That was the Jar of Pandora.”
Hans blinked. “The what?”
Rem turned to face them, her blue eyes sharp and unyielding. “An ancient artifact,” she explained. “It was covered in the second-year history classes. Maybe you’d know that if you hadn’t all dropped the subject for combat training.”
Hans raised his hands defensively. “Hey, I’ve got enough to worry about mastering water manipulation without cramming myths into my head.”
“This isn’t a myth,” Rem snapped. “Artifacts like the jar are real—and they’re dangerous. There are only a handful left in existence, scattered across the kingdoms. Most are locked away, heavily guarded, because their power is uncontrollable.” She paused, her gaze narrowing. “To see one here... It’s not just rare. It’s catastrophic.”
Marge frowned, flexing her now-bandaged arm. “Then we need to report this to the academy. They need to know.”
Rem nodded in agreement, but Marge didn’t stop there. She turned to Flo, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “But there’s more to this than a rogue titan or an ancient jar. The mission’s deeper than we thought.”
“What do you mean?” Hans asked, stepping closer.
Flo exchanged a glance with Marge, who sighed heavily. “The city of Londona,” Marge began, her tone grim, “has been experimenting on titans. Illegal research. It’s been banned in the kingdom for decades—at least not without explicit royal permission. And Ika—” Her voice cracked slightly, but she pushed on. “She’s probably with them. Either that woman, Elvira, has her... or the Magistrate, Baron Ewan.”
Hans swore under his breath. “Experimenting with titans? That’s insane. What are they trying to do—play gods?”
“We don’t have the answers yet,” Flo said, her hands clenching into fists. “But we have to find Ika. She’s... she’s one of us.”
Marge nodded, her jaw tightening as she reached for the power of her ring. The moths swirled around her, their delicate forms shimmering like fragile stars. She sent them scattering into the misty air, their silent wings carrying them across the sprawling city of Londona.
“I hope she’s fine,” Marge murmured, more to herself than anyone else. The weight of uncertainty pressed on them all, thick as the lingering fog.
——
The secret lab was a grim, cavernous space, illuminated only by dim, flickering lights that cast eerie shadows across the walls. The titans, bound in massive chains inscribed with runes, snarled and groaned in containment, their monstrous forms a chilling testament to the twisted experiments performed here.
At the heart of the chaos stood the magistrate, Baron Ewan, his face flushed with fury as he slammed his fists onto a steel desk. Papers and instruments clattered to the floor. His breathing was labored, interrupted by a harsh, rattling cough that shook his shoulders. He fumbled for a handkerchief, dabbing at his mouth as he wheezed, “So that widow has killed Ellingham too?”
His voice, raspy and filled with venom, echoed in the cavernous lab. Pacing like a caged animal, he waved a trembling hand at his guards. “Useless, all of you! Increase the defenses around the lab. We will not go down without a fight.” Another violent cough seized him, and he leaned heavily on the desk for support, his knuckles white against the cold metal.
Turning to the group of armed men standing stiffly before him, he pointed a shaking finger. “Kill that woman and take whatever artifact she’s using,” he rasped, his lips curling into a snarl. “And those students?” His voice dropped to a venomous whisper. “They’ve learned too much. Eliminate them all.”
The guards exchanged uneasy glances, but a quick nod from their leader sent them scattering to follow his orders.
As the room cleared, Baron Ewan’s gaze flickered toward a shadowed corner of the lab. A figure leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, the dim light catching the fiery red of his hair. His face was marked with intricate tattoos that seemed to pulse faintly in the gloom. On his finger, a golden ring gleamed ominously, exuding an aura of raw power.
The man tilted his head slightly, his amber eyes glinting with amusement. “You’re awfully confident for someone who keeps coughing like a dying man,” he said, his voice smooth, with a trace of mockery.
Baron Ewan’s expression tightened, his handkerchief clenched in his fist. “That’s why I hired you, isn’t it?” he snapped. “I don’t pay you to comment on my health.”
The man smirked, pushing off the wall. “Fair enough. But don’t forget—when it comes to protecting your sorry hide, I have my limits. If you can’t keep control of your enemies, this whole operation is going to collapse, and no amount of coin will make me stick around.”
Ewan glared at him, his pale face flushed with anger. “Just do your job, Idran. Keep them away from me.”
Idran shrugged, flexing his fingers, the golden ring sparking briefly with heat. “As long as you keep your end of the deal, I’ll keep mine. But don’t expect mercy if things get messy.”
Baron Ewan turned away with a scowl, his cough returning as he muttered under his breath. The lab, with its snarling titans and buzzing machinery, seemed to grow colder under Idran’s sharp gaze.
Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!
In the far corner of the lab, Ika hung limply from her chains, her wrists raw and bloodied from her futile attempts to free herself. Her breath came in shallow, uneven gasps, her thoughts racing. Without her ring, she was just a powerless girl. She scanned the room desperately, her eyes darting over the racks of instruments, the humming containment chambers, and the guarded exits. There has to be something... anything…
Suddenly, the heavy metal door behind her creaked open, sending a chill through her. Her body tensed as footsteps approached. Her heart pounded wildly, and as she opened her mouth to scream, a hand clamped over her lips.
“Quiet,” a voice whispered, low and urgent.
Her eyes widened as the voice registered. Familiar. Safe. Tears welled up, and when she turned her head, they spilled freely down her cheeks.
“Professor Neil?” she whispered, her voice trembling with relief and disbelief.
Neil, one of the three bearers of the Emperor Rings, stood before her. His presence, tall and composed, radiated an aura of quiet power. His pearly ring glinted faintly in the dim light as he knelt to inspect her chains. “Stay calm,” he murmured, his fingers tracing the links. “I’m going to get you out of here.”
With a faint shimmer, the chains fell away, disintegrating into golden dust as Neil’s ring pulsed with energy. “Now, stay quiet,” he instructed, his tone firm. “The guards are still here, but I’ve cast an illusion. They think you’re still tied up.”
Ika rubbed her wrists, staring at him with wide eyes. “How... how did you find me?”
Neil gave her a faint smile. “For every five-star mission, the academy dispatches a secret tutor to oversee the team. I’ve been following you since you left the capital, casting illusions to keep a low profile. I observed how you all worked together. I was impressed... but also concerned.” His expression darkened. “When you were hit and taken, my worst fears were realized. I followed the kidnappers here.”
Reaching into his pocket, Neil withdrew a small object. Ika’s eyes widened as she recognized her ring, glinting faintly under the weak light.
“They took this from you,” Neil explained, holding it out to her. “I replaced it with an illusion so they wouldn’t notice it was gone. Take it.”
Ika clasped the ring with shaking hands, slipping it back onto her finger. A wave of relief and power coursed through her, though her fear remained. “Thank you, Professor.”
Neil’s gaze was sharp. “The academy and order of Equilibrium has already been alerted. Rena has dispatched the Aegis Enforcers. They’re on their way to Londona as we speak. But until they arrive, we have to get out of here without drawing attention.”
——
Meanwhile, Marge’s team regrouped, poring over a spread map of Londona illuminated by the faint glow of a lantern. The tension in the air was thick as Marge’s sharp gaze turned toward Captain Henry.
“You’ve been serving the magistrate,” she said bluntly, her tone laced with suspicion. “Do you know anything about this lab? Or where Ika could be?”
Captain Henry met her gaze, shaking his head with an air of earnest frustration. “I swear, I don’t know anything about a secret lab. I was born and raised in Londona, but I only joined the town guard eight years ago. My promotions were based on skill and leadership, not any insider knowledge.”
Flo frowned, her fingers trailing over the map. “But Ellingham… if he was part of the cover-up, wouldn’t the lab be somewhere tied to his influence?”
Captain Henry nodded thoughtfully. “If that’s the case, the lab must be hidden within one of the buildings Ellingham had a hand in constructing. He was a major force in Londona’s development.” He tapped the map in several spots. “There are a few possibilities, but the most likely is the new magistrate’s office currently under construction. The old office is in disrepair, and this new building would make for a perfect cover—no one would question activity there.”
Marge’s eyes narrowed as she scrutinized the map. “The new magistrate’s office…” she murmured, her mind racing. “It’s been the centerpiece of recent urban projects, hasn’t it? That could explain how they’ve kept this hidden under everyone’s noses.”
Hans chimed in, a hint of urgency in his voice. “Then that’s where we head next.”
As the team gathered their equipment, Hans’ eyes lingered on a large, sealed container on the dock. Its surface was marked with intricate glyphs and stamps, indicating its origin from the eastern region. He frowned, pointing at it.
“What about that?” he asked. “It definitely contain a titan, you all sense it, don’t you? The malevolent energy”
The room fell silent as the others turned their attention to the ominous container. Marge approached it cautiously, running her fingers over the seals. Her expression remained calm, though her mind raced with possibilities.
“The seal will hold,” she said finally, her voice firm. “It’s traveled all the way from the eastern region without breaking. It’ll last a while longer.”
Hans still looked uneasy. “But what if—”
Marge cut him off with a glance, her gaze shifting to Captain Henry. “I’ll need your men to keep an eye on it. Don’t touch it, don’t try to open it—just ensure it stays secure until reinforcements from the academy arrive. They’ll know how to handle it properly.”
Captain Henry gave a curt nod. “Understood. I’ll station a watch on it immediately.”
Satisfied, Marge stepped back and adjusted her coat. “Now, let’s focus on the widow and the Jar of Pandora. We can’t afford any more delays. Ika’s depending on us, and we still don’t fully understand what we’re dealing with.”
The team exchanged resolute nods before heading out, the tension palpable as they prepared to confront the growing chaos in Londona.
——
Before leaving the room, Ika’s gaze lingered on the three deformed titans. Their massive, grotesque forms shuddered faintly, their glowing eyes dim, yet their presence remained oppressive, like a storm waiting to break. She clenched her fists, the chains binding the titans rattling softly in the cold, sterile air.
“Professor,” she said, her voice firm yet laden with a quiet urgency. Neil paused, turning to face her. “We can’t just leave the titans here. They might seem powerless now, but if they’re freed… they’ll bring calamity to Londona. We’ve seen what even one can do.”
Neil studied her for a long moment, his sharp gaze softened by a flicker of pride. She had grown so much in the past year. He nodded once, a small but firm gesture.
“Alright,” Neil said, his voice low and steady. “But we have to be swift and quiet.”
Ika nodded, her expression resolute. She stepped forward, lifting her hand. Her ring—the Sacred Bell—began to glow, casting the room in a soft golden light. The illumination danced off the metallic walls, highlighting the grotesque forms of the chained titans. Then came the sound: a pure, resonant chime, deep and commanding, reverberating like an ancient bell ringing through the ages.
The air around her grew heavy, vibrating with the force of her power. The titans shuddered violently, their guttural growls echoing in defiance. Suddenly, flames erupted from Ika’s hand—purification flames, golden and brilliant, spiraling through the air before engulfing the monstrous forms.
The titans’ growls turned to agonized roars, their massive bodies writhing against the inferno. The flames burned brighter, cleansing and consuming their malformed shapes. The largest titan crumbled first, its jagged limbs disintegrating into motes of light. One by one, the others followed, their defiance fading into silence as they dissolved completely.
When the last of the titans vanished, Ika lowered her hand, her breaths shallow and labored. Her ring dimmed, and the golden flames flickered out, leaving only a faint warmth in the air. She swayed slightly, her hand trembling, but Neil steadied her with a firm grip on her shoulder.
“You did well,” he said quietly, his own ring shimmering faintly. With a wave of his hand, an illusion spread across the room. To any watching through the surveillance feed, the scene remained unchanged: Ika still bound in chains, and the three titans appearing intact and subdued.
“Let’s go,” Neil urged, guiding her toward the door. They slipped out of the lab, the echo of the bell fading into the oppressive silence behind them.
As they navigated the dimly lit maze of the laboratory, Ika broke the silence. Her voice, though quiet, carried an edge of unease. “Professor,” she began hesitantly, “if the magistrate is behind all of this… why would they send a quest to the academy to eliminate the titans? It doesn’t make sense.”
Neil’s pace slowed as Ika’s question settled in, his brow knitting in concentration. “At first, I assumed the titans that killed those victims were rogue ones that had escaped from the facility,” he began, his voice measured. “It would make sense—escaped experiments causing chaos in Londona. But…” He hesitated, his thoughts turning over. “Why would they risk contacting the academy if they knew it operates under the authority of the King and Equilibrium? That alone doesn’t add up.”
“But there’s more to it, isn’t there?” Ika pressed, her tone steady despite the rising tension in her chest.
Neil exhaled sharply, his frustration barely concealed. “Yes. The titans wreaking havoc in Londona don’t match the ones we found here in the lab. These were incomplete, grotesque. They lacked the sheer destructive power described in the incident reports. The killings were far too… precise for creatures like these.”
Ika’s stomach turned as she considered his words. “So the titans causing the killings… aren’t the ones from this facility?”
“That’s the question,” Neil muttered, half to himself. His mind raced as new possibilities surfaced. Are the rogue titans seeking revenge against their captors? Could they have remembered the magistrate’s cruelty and escaped to strike back? But if that’s true… how does the summoning fit into all of this?
There was something else—layers within layers. And Neil knew they were missing a crucial piece of the puzzle. He glanced briefly at Ika, reluctant to share his growing doubts. He couldn’t risk unsettling her further.
As they rounded another corner, Neil’s gaze hardened. “For now, we focus on getting out of here alive. Once the Aegis Enforcers arrive, we’ll uncover the rest. Until then, stay sharp, Ika. There’s more at play here than we realize.”
Ika nodded, her expression firm, though her mind churned with unease. “I understand, Professor. And I’ll be ready.”
Neil offered a brief, approving nod, but his thoughts lingered elsewhere. He was still unaware of the Widow and the Pandora Jar—an unseen thread tying together this web of chaos. Whatever they were up against, the answers waited somewhere in Londona, and they weren’t going to like what they found.