Point of View: Lorian Vellorn
The gardens were bustling today. I saw a few noble children playing with swords—or perhaps training. I walked through the corridors with serenity. What I was about to do would be dangerous. My associates would create a distraction so I could move undetected. The morning sun warmed my skin, while the scent of flowers drifting through the gardens filled my breath.
This is going to be fun…
On my way to the tower that led to the lower facilities, a blonde girl passed by me. That blonde girl! Our eyes met. So far, I hadn’t done anything too suspicious, so I had little reason to worry—unless she had seen me last night. “You must be the heroine everyone’s been talking about. Miss Kaori, correct?”
“And you would be…? Oh, wait, I’ve seen you before. You were in the dormitories." I was caught off guard. She had seen through my magical artifact.
This girl… Either she was very intelligent, or very powerful. Maybe both. I took a deep breath, calming my heart as it began to race. Denying it now would only raise suspicions. “I was checking on the state of the heroes. I was concerned their condition might not be ideal after the ritual,” I said, watching her face closely to gauge her reaction.
“And what exactly could go wrong?” That was the question I had been aiming for. Now, I would use this moment to assess the nature of this girl.
“The ritual that brought you here is highly complex. It was developed by an ancient and powerful mage who lived about five hundred years ago. While this is confidential information, if you promise to keep it to yourself, we could have tea after your training, and I could explain it in more detail. What do you say?”
I had planted the seed of curiosity. I would slowly poison this girl’s mind against this kingdom. The seed of revolution…
She stared at me for what felt like an eternity. It was as if she was analyzing my very soul. I never thought I’d feel fear from a twelve-year-old until today. My heartbeat quickened again, and my breathing grew heavy. Her gaze was deep—I felt as though I was staring into an abyss.
“How about in the city? I’d like to learn more about this place you call Eryndell.” She had taken control of the situation, deciding the meeting place herself.
“Very well. When the sun begins to set, I’ll come to your quarters and take you on a tour of the city. Be prepared.” I shifted my gaze toward the tower. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have matters to attend to.” I started walking away, trying to appear in control, but in truth, I just wanted to get away from her.
“I can smell your fear.” Her sweet voice sent a chill down my spine.
Was I afraid?
I turned my face toward her, but she was already walking toward the dormitories. Who the hell was this girl? I couldn’t see through her. I couldn’t understand her.
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I entered the tower and descended to the lower levels. The atmosphere here was completely different—the tower above felt like a decrepit prison, but the underground floors had white walls and glass, an expensive material. I moved quickly, searching for an empty room where I could hide with my dissuasion amulet activated. I would only have trouble if I ran into Abimael.
After a few minutes of searching, I slipped into a storage closet filled with brooms.
Point of View: Abimael
We had been fighting for almost an hour. Three hooded and masked individuals, dressed in black, were invading us.
"What do you want, you bastards?" I shouted, frustrated. I was the Supreme Mage, my power and arcane knowledge were unmatched. But they were fast, wielding daggers and constantly disappearing.
"Professor Richter, they are using a cloaking device to disappear and reappear," I looked at the old man beside me. My black cape had a slight cut on the side of my chest.
"And how can we deal with this?" the professor asked.
"I know! Supreme Mage, I have a pla..." A knife pierced his chest. He collapsed to his knees as the assassin stepped back.
"Cough... Cough..." The professor spat blood and then fell face down on the ground. I felt his mana signature fade.
"CURSED ONES, I WILL KILL YOU ALL!" I screamed. In the name of my own power and the gods, I summon the flames that burn my enemies and destroy the foundation of the world…
Two of the invaders moved toward me, but it didn't matter. I had lost my patience. Ignition and Destruction.
With my arm extended upward, a fireball formed, creating a vortex around it. The flames writhed. My opponents halted and started maneuvering to dodge the dozens of flaming whips that crashed into the area. I pointed my palm, which held the fireball, in the direction of the invaders and clenched my fist.
The spell collapsed. An explosion radiated outward, burning everything—tables, doors, chairs, carpets, and melting glass. A bright orange flash incinerated everything, including Richter’s body, making it vanish. Not even ashes remained. When the magic subsided, the room was empty, blackened by the smoke swirling in the air. I had burned everything. No one could have survived that. I fell to my knees. My body and mind were exhausted from collapsing a spell. Few people used magic in this way.
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Point of View: Lorian Vellorn
After waiting for the signal from my associates—which, in reality, was a massive explosion—I moved toward the deeper rooms in the underground levels. I was searching for the children, or rather, the heroes—the true ones, not the puppets in the chambers. I wanted to know what had happened and, if possible, rescue them.
On the table inside the room, a body lay still. A child, approximately twelve years old. The chest was open, the head shaved. A girl, I thought. One of the children from the ritual. Her torso had been lacerated. I felt disgust. These bastards—how dare they do this to a child? I extended my hand and began to mentally recite the spell.
In the name of my own power, I summon the flames that burn my enemies. Ignition.
A blaze engulfed the body. I turned and set fire to the rest of the documents. If I could burn the information they had gathered, it would be a huge advantage. I ended the spell by closing my fist. There was still another child to find. I left the burning room. I had to make the most of the time my subordinates could buy for me.
I searched room by room until I reached a dark cell. The bars on the door didn’t allow much visibility. I brought my hand close to the lock.
"Ignition," I whispered. The shorter the spell, the weaker it would be. The lock melted slowly. I pushed the door open, and the corridor light flooded the space. A filthy room with a wooden bed. In the corner, with his head between his knees and curled up, was a brown-haired boy, around twelve years old. He looked pale and thin.
"Boy, what’s your name?" I asked without wasting time. He lifted his head and looked at me, his eyes completely empty. "We need to get you out of here. Come with me." I extended my hand, waiting for a response. The boy curled up even more. I couldn’t leave him here. I stepped closer and grabbed his arm. "Let's go."