Hasty whispers and the warm glow of magic pull Ryuu’s mind back from the depths.
He finds himself resting on a bed of red and gold, with unnecessarily large pillows beneath his head.
This is without a doubt Lucian’s bed.
How many times am I gonna wake up like this after a fight?
As his eyes fully open, a frantic voice swoops upon him.
“Sir Ryuu, you’re awake! Oh thank goodness! I didn’t want to leave you behind, but Mister Isaac insisted that we-”
“That’s enough, Sherry. Dragon Blade is still regaining his energy. Now that you’ve made sure he’s okay, I think it’s time you and Isaac head back for the night.”
Two low voices reply, “Yes, sir,” as light spills in from an open door.
Ryuu is soon left alone with Lucian, feeling the throb of his injuries return.
He makes an effort to sit up in the bed, which earns a neutral stare from the elder Blade.
“What were you thinking, taking them on alone?”
“I didn’t have much of a choice… We happened upon what seemed to be some grunts, but the muscular guy was the issue. How the hell were they already in the city?”
“I’ve received reports from guards, and contacted M’yin around the three levels. They say your fight wreaked havoc throughout half of the Entertainment Floor, which I believe after the scene I came across. What kind of enemy did that to you?”
“He was a tough one, that’s for sure.
They gave the name “Garth”, but who knows if it’s real or not.
What I do know is that he practices both paths of mastery, and is undoubtedly in the Advanced-Tier as an A’yang.”
“…It seems a large player aside from Morrell has appeared. On the bright side, I doubt they’ll immediately show their faces again, but Titania has taken a hit. We’re going to prepare a funeral service for those that lost their lives under our watch.”
Ryuu’s face goes crestfallen at Lucian’s words as memories of the fight come flooding back.
He had let people die, then failed to avenge them after finding his resolve.
What would Ilene do in this situation?
Would she comfort me, or, more realistically, berate me?
“…Let me attend the service, please,” he mutters.
“Are you sure? Although I don’t believe you’re entirely to blame for what happened, the people of Titania might not feel the same.”
“I understand. I have to take on the burden of their emotions before I return to training. It’s the only way I can atone…”
“Fair enough. I’ll be sending in a healer to give you a final check-over. After that, find your way to the training yards.”
“But-”
“You’ve found a sense of responsibility. That’s great, but it will not make you any stronger if you don’t get to work. You must use whatever it is that drives you to commit such reckless acts and aim for further heights. Otherwise, it could be someone close to you that dies next time.”
Lucian then opens the door.
“The funeral won’t be for a couple of days. You should at least do what you can until then.”
It shuts behind him, leaving Ryuu to his thoughts.
Lucian’s speech makes sense, but there’s still a nagging feeling in his brain.
Garth.
He acted like he wasn’t mana-sensitive, then pulled out some kind of instant-kill spell at the end.
To be blunt, he was taking it easy on me.
That Boost technique was bad enough, but it’s possible that he’s at the Advanced-Tier as a M’yin as well.
He stares down at his palm and remembers the {Charge Point} clash they exchanged.
The way things stand, I have no hope in surpassing Garth as an A’yang before we meet again.
I’ll pour all of my focus into magic and show him what I can really do!
My Draconic Armament hasn’t let me down yet!
The door to the room swings open once again as a different maid enters with a smile.
“I’m here to check on you again, Sir Ryuu.”
“Thanks. Please do.”
******
Ryuu soon leaves the room feeling physically fine, but mentally drained.
His body has been repaired, and his mental state is stable, yet the amount of adrenaline the last fight had taken from him leaves the Blade depleted of energy.
Regardless, he follows Lucian’s instructions and navigates to the training yard.
The “sky” of Titania is still dark for the night, without so much as a moon or stars to shed light upon the grass.
Small crystals offer the only salvation in the endless void, besides him.
Lucian stands alone in the center of the yard with a thin shroud of mana around him, functioning as a beacon of light in this environment.
He looks up as he senses Ryuu’s approach and straightens his glasses.
“Welcome. Sherry informed me that you learned [Magic Cannon] today with Isaac. Do you think you’ve gotten the hang of it?”
“More or less.”
“Interesting. Show me.”
Lucian raises a palm toward Ryuu and silently casts [Barrier], summoning forth a whitish-yellow diamond of mana.
It sparkles as it holds steady–not in the shape of a traditional diamond, but like one would find in a deck of cards.
“I said that I would specifically teach you about battles between M’yin, so consider this the first lesson. [Barrier] and [Magic Cannon] are equally powerful arts in the hands of a skilled M’yin. This means that, theoretically, one should be able to create just enough force with [Magic Cannon] to destroy their own [Barrier], and their [Magic Cannon] should fade immediately after. Can you tell me what that means for you in a fight?”
“If you can’t block your opponents [Magic Cannon], or destroy their [Barrier] with your own [Magic Cannon], then they’re the stronger M’yin.”
“That’s the general idea. Talents always have the potential to be game-changing powers, as I’ve mentioned before, but mastery over the arts is what defines a true M’yin. One does not reach the realm of Master by knowing a few powerful spells.”
“Okay, so I just have to fire my magic art, right?”
Ryuu aims his palm ahead, gripping his wrist as an unconscious habit now, then focuses.
Golden mana builds in his palm for five seconds before he releases [Magic Cannon].
The beam of mana barrels into Lucian’s shield and stops in its tracks, unable to put a crack in the barrier.
Ryuu holds out for a few moments longer, then drops to a knee and releases his art.
His mentor frowns and rubs their chin, then paces closer.
“You learn quickly, but your overall power is a little off. I thought you were much stronger than this… What have you learned from Master Darius?”
“His class taught me a lot of rudimentary information necessary for a M’yin. We used a cool training area once or twice, but most of my training was actually done with a classmate of mine.”
“Hmm. This doesn’t explain how your magic was able to affect Morrell back then. It was thanks to that that I was almost able to land the finishing blow in time, but, as you know, there was interference.”
“Ah, about that.
Both Morrell and Garth mentioned something similar.
That masked bastard said something like, “Your power ignores my defenses!” I can’t remember exactly what it was…”
“I wonder… Would you mind casting one of your spells?”
“Sure.”
Ryuu pushes back onto both feet and splays his fingers.
“[Piercing Claws]”
Golden light shimmers to life around his right arm, soon becoming dense enough to appear solid.
A thick, gauntlet-like arm overlaps his own, with long, pointed claws on the fingertips.
Damn.
I’m not able to create two of them like I did during the fight.
“I see. No charge time, nor a need for an extended chant. The mana cost doesn’t seem heavy, and you aren’t required to continuously feed power into the gauntlet.”
“Right, and if it takes damage I can repair it with mana.”
“Handy, and similar to my own magic. Supposedly, there’s something more to your Talent than all of this that makes it a threat to our enemies. I will cast my Barrier art once more. You know what to do.”
Lucian’s glinting diamond manifests in the same space as Ryuu steps forward.
He twists his hips and thrusts his arm through the barrier, shattering it without any resistance.
“Huh? What just happened, Dragon Blade?”
Ryuu steps back, waving his hands while he shakes his head.
“I don’t know either, really! The information drop I got when I awakened hasn’t said anything about it either. There’s a lot I don’t know about my Talent…”
“Well get to learning. There’s a reason that Morrell and this mysterious group are after you, and it’s obviously that Talent. If you can uncover its secrets, you could at least fight at the Advanced-Tier, even without all of the proper skills.”
Lucian’s words send a memory jolting through Ryuu’s brain.
“Wait. That reminds me, Garth mentioned that I wasn’t their target here. Thinking back on it, he really didn’t even seem to know who I was.”
“They’re not after you? I suppose that explains why they’re moving so soon after Mahora, but what could they be searching for?”
“They said, “It is here!” when they found us in the old tavern. If it’s not me they’re after, that leaves…”
“Isaac, or Sherry. He should be safe for tonight, but I’ll pull Isaac into the palace starting tomorrow. His parents will have to understand. Sherry lives in the palace as it is, so there shouldn’t be any issues on that end. ”
That’s another two people I’ve pulled into all of this.
“We don’t know what their goal is with those two, but we will be sure to keep them safe. Now then, let us return to your training. There’s only one way to protect everyone.”
“Right, Lucian!”
The two Blades train deep into the night, their thoughts dwelling on the dangers that lurk in the darkness around them.
More!
I have to get stronger!
It’s not enough, not until I can protect everyone around me!
Lucian calmly instructs Ryuu while hitting him every few openings.
Eventually, a thought that he wouldn’t dream of uttering aloud crosses his mind.
“How do you grow so fast, Ryuu? If it’s you, perhaps even I can…”
******
The ceiling crystals of Titania surge to life as morning arrives.
Morning traffic hits soon after, and the faint echoes of cleaning in the Middle Levels reach Ryuu’s window.
He rolls out of bed and throws on some spare clothes he found in a lone wardrobe, skipping out of his door with an unusual grin on his face.
Haha!
Lucian finally spilled the beans about the bathing area.
Apparently it’s hidden in the residential wing, about as far from my room as it can be.
Paradise, here I come!
The snow-haired young man slips through a curtain along the palace wall and steps into a changing area.
It’s prepared with a few lockers and towels, as well as a water station.
The main event, a hot spring, lies just past a thin sliding door.
Ryuu strips down and wraps himself with a towel before charging through the door and taking in the beauty around him.
A constant plume of vapor rises from the clear water, while delicately placed crystals shine in multiple different colors.
One section of the bath has cool lighting, and another has a vibrant vibe, while other sections are constantly shifting.
“Jackpot!”
He dives from the top of a short flight of stairs, landing in one of the constantly shifting areas of water.
After a few seconds, his head pops out with a satisfied sigh.
A relaxed expression settles across his face as he floats on his back, taking in the warmth seeping through his skin.
The ideal paradise lasts for almost ten seconds, before a voice brings him back to reality.
“You’re sure having fun…”
Ryuu glances to the side with the same relaxed look, spotting Isaac in the cool lighting.
“You’re here too? I guess that means Lucian already told you the deal.”
“Yeah… He did. Look, I’m sorry about last night. I… I don’t like to fight.”
“I don’t need an apology from you. I’m the one that talked big, sending you away then getting my ass kicked.”
“No, that’s not the case… Getting in contact with Sir Lucian was the right move, but splitting up was not. You only did that because I was showing signs of weakness, while Sherry was against the decision.”
He’s a sharp one.
“Even so, I don’t blame you, Isaac. I dragged you outside and got you caught in this mess. Now you have to live here, or you’ll put your family in danger. I should be the one apologizing.”
Isaac shakes his head and sits up straighter in the water.
“I don’t like to fight…but I hate watching people get hurt in front of me! I’ll stand with you the next time they show up, so let me help!”
“I appreciate it, but this isn’t your fight. We’ve only known each other for a day. You don’t need to feel like you owe me something.”
“This is my fight. They hurt the people of Titania, my home. If I don’t use my power to protect the place I live in, then what was I born with it for?!”
Woah.
Looks like you’ve got some backbone after all.
More than me, at least.
“If you’re gonna go that far… Alright. Let’s give it everything we’ve got to protect Titania!”
“Right!”
The two of them make a promise between men before finishing their morning baths.
After they get dressed in their usual attire, Ryuu leads the way out.
A certain Blade stands waiting for them outside in the hall.
“Finally done, you two? Follow me, breakfast is finishing up. Lady Evelyn would also like to have a talk.”
Isaac and Ryuu exchange quick glances, then follow Lucian down the main hall.
They eventually reach the dining hall, where Lady Evelyn and Sherry already sit in discussion.
Last night’s dinner guests have gathered around the table again as food is brought out by a team of chefs.
Crisp bacon, some kind of poached egg, and the scent of fresh coffee wets Ryuu’s appetite.
As soon as Lady Evelyn takes a bite, he digs in like a starved animal.
The others–seemingly used to this behavior already–wait for the duchess to begin speaking.
“Good morning, everyone! I heard you had a long night. I’m glad all of you made it out safely.”
The three misfits nod while Lucian folds his arms, then she continues.
“We’ll take care of the damages, of course. I trust Lucian filled you all in on some events, but I’ll tell you everything Titania has planned moving forward. First, tomorrow, we mourn the three men and one woman that lost their lives in this tragic attack. We must keep the feeling of community aflame in the Middle Levels at all costs. After that, there’s an annual festival beginning exactly two weeks from today. We expect the attackers to strike sometime before then, as many of our M’yin that venture outside the city will return for the festival.”
Ryuu leans forward with his elbows on the table.
“So we have up to two weeks to prepare for them to return. I’ll be training to death until then!”
Lady Evelyn offers an invisible smile, “Indeed you will be.”
She then turns to Lucian and waves toward Ryuu.
“From now until this is all taken care of, you are relieved of your normal duties. Your job is to train Ryuu to the best of your abilities in this little time, Lucian.”
He bows his head and sighs with relief, taking a bite out of a salad.
“Understood, my lady.”
“Good. Now, there’s still more to say. Isaac and Sherry, you two are possible targets in their attack. I don’t want you straying far from the palace in the meantime, but feel free to use the training yard to your heart’s content. If an attack should occur while you happen to be outside of this area, your only thought should be running here–no matter what it takes. The goals of this organization are still unknown, but the actions they’re taking suggest nobody will be safe if they succeed.”
“Yes, Lady Evelyn.”
“Yeah… I’ll stay inside.”
She smiles at them through her veil, then snaps her fingers.
Lucian produces a small notebook and reads off her schedule for the day, signaling that she’s done talking for now.
The others quickly finish their food before excusing themselves to the training yard.
******
The trio stands in a triangle near Isaac’s corner of the yard.
A tall willow tree grows just past the fence, giving the spot an ample amount of shade most of the day.
Inside of said shade, the two young men of the group stand with blank faces as the third member lectures them.
“We’re never leaving someone behind again, got it?! If Sir Ryuu had gotten himself killed when I could’ve helped, I don’t know what I would’ve done!”
“You’re exaggerating…” the Blade mutters.
“We’ve only known each other for a day or so.”
“Even so! We bonded over the book I love so much! It doesn’t matter if we’ve known each other for a day, or a year, we’re kindred souls!”
I’m bad at dealing with this type.
She’s too pure.
“Boo! How rude.”
Isaac sits down on his stump and stares at the crystal ceiling.
“I don’t see why we need labels… I’ll protect you guys because I want to… Isn’t that enough?”
Sherry stares at him for a moment, then rushes forward and grips his shoulders.
“That’s what I’m talking about, Isaac! Sir Ryuu needs to be more like you!”
Ryuu shakes his head and turns to look behind himself.
He catches a glimpse of Lucian’s tailcoat coming through the crystal tunnel, then watches his mentor step into the yard with a serious expression.
He waves Ryuu over, then folds his arms once the younger man is close enough.
“We determined last night that your Talent ignores defense. Plainly put, the only way to stop one of your spells is to meet it with equal or greater force. Outside of a few exceptions, I doubt there’s any wall or barrier that you can’t destroy.”
“That would certainly explain a lot about my previous battles.”
“With that in mind, the most efficient route for quickly making you stronger is to put you through repeated experience. You and I will fight every day from here on out, and you’d best fight like your life depends on. If you move poorly, I’ll make sure {Recovery} alone can’t heal you.”
“That’s fine with me, but you really don’t want to teach me any more arts? What about [Overload]?”
“There would be no point. You’ve already amassed a variety of techniques that have yet to be fully mastered. What you should do now is learn everything you can about the power that makes you unique.”
Ryuu nods and settles into his usual stance, a half crouch with his weight toward his back leg.
“I’ve been meaning to ask, Dragon Blade, but where did you learn to fight? Your movements and reactions aren’t like any of the Mahora A’yang I’ve seen.”
“Uh… I’m self-taught. I was shown some moves by an old guardian, but most of what I use was learned through experience.”
“So I was correct, you’re that type of man. In that case, let’s get right to it. Today marks the start of your days of battle.”
Lucian brings his hands together, performing the required hand sign before muttering, “[Edge of Light]” and creating the same sword he’d used to defeat Morrell.
“You mentioned that Garth person used magic to defeat you.”
“Yeah. He chanted a three-phrase spell, then I was cut by something I couldn’t see. He didn’t even move after making a hand sign.”
“Then the spell was either too quick, an instant-kill type, or both. Either way, my sword will be a worthy substitute.”
Ryuu nods and casts [Piercing Claws].
A golden gauntlet covers his right arm as he holds his stance, waiting for Lucian to make the first move.
The elder Blade remains motionless for a few moments, then disappears in a blur.
He appears in Ryuu’s blind spot and thrusts the spell at his back, but Ryuu spins and deflects the blow with his claws.
The younger Blade tries to counterattack by stabbing his gauntlet forward, yet Lucian disappears again.
How can he move this fast without using aura?
He hasn’t even cast those boots of light.
The Radiant Blade materializes behind Ryuu again and swings his sword in a downward arc.
Ryuu thrusts his claws upward and clashes with Lucian’s spell, creating a minor spark of mana that pushes them away from each other.
Lucian adjusts his glasses as he closely watches his trainee.
He analyzes all of the young man’s movements and habits, studying what makes him so powerful.
Two steps later, he’s behind Ryuu again before he can be tracked, then another swing-
Screech!
Ryuu’s gauntlet blocks the sword of light once more as he rolls backward.
The series of sudden attacks from his powerful opponent have instantly awoken his battle instincts, allowing him to anticipate the strikes that surpass his sight.
“You’ve got good reflexes, Dragon Blade. I can see how you managed to survive last night. Find a way to imbue that same resourcefulness into all of the skills you’ve learned thus far.”
The men trade rapid blows in back-to-back clashes, while Sherry and Isaac watch from a distance before beginning their own training.
Dirt swirls in the air, mana surges in the surrounding space, and the two Blades hone their skills further and further as they prepare for the battle ahead of them.
***Ilene***
The chants of numerous spectators fill an underground arena as a fighter falls to the ground.
A lone figure swipes their sword through the air, flicking blood in an arc across a nearby wall.
They raise their sword in the air and cause the crowd to shout with more energy, “Illusive Sword! Illusive Sword!”
“Woah! That’s the tenth win in a row for the legendary Illusive Sword! Can anybody stop them?!”
Ilene slowly lowers her rapier.
Ever since the day Ryuu left for Titania–five days ago–she’s spent every night here clearing her mind, just as she did until a little over half a year ago.
Things have been busy ever since he arrived.
I’ve supported him while I could, but the Succession Election is approaching.
I can’t afford to take it easy now.
The announcer’s voice rings out across the wide space, bringing everyone’s attention back to the fight.
“Next up, a new possible legend in the Golden Club?! This fighter has only been participating for three months, yet already boasts a record of fifty wins to zero losses! Place your bets people, here comes Magic Killer!”
Ilene turns to the opening across the arena from her.
A petite, lithe figure steadily walks into place without much equipment on their body.
The handles of two daggers can be spotted from behind their back, but a dark shawl and headscarf obscure any identifiable features.
Hiding their identity?
I suppose I’m not any better, considering I’m altering my appearance with a spell.
It’s the only way I can continue to come here in peace.
“Has everyone gotten their money in order?! Now then, without further ado, Illusive Blade versus Magic Killer! To your places!”
Ilene steps back a few paces to her marker, studying her opponent with every second she has.
I’m surprised I’ve never heard of this person if they’re experiencing so much success.
I’ve been out for six months, but there was no sign of them when I brought Ryuu before.
“Ready… Begin!”
Magic Killer immediately draws their daggers: two sleek, obsidian blades.
They rush in with a few quick strides, clearing ground in no time, and strike in a X-pattern.
Ilene leaps back out of range while keeping her hand on the hilt of her rapier.
She waits until her opponent pauses to assess things, then slides forward on her lead foot.
In one swift motion, the Illusive Sword draws her artifact and thrusts at three different areas.
Magic Killer leaps backward, believing they read the attack, then staggers as they land.
They look down and find three shallow punctures in their shawl, leaking small streams of dark blood.
“You’re quick…”
A woman?
I haven’t met many down here.
“You too,” Ilene responds.
“I was aiming to end it with that.”
She adjusts her stance, keeping her feet at shoulder-width as she holds her rapier close to her chest.
Magic Killer lunges forward and feints a thrust, instead sliding to the side and swiping at Ilene’s legs.
She parries the daggers with ease before spinning around and burying a heel into her opponent’s chest.
A heavy cough spills out of their headscarf as they roll backward, but they leap to their feet without taking any real damage.
I was wary because of their name, but I’ll go ahead and end this with a spell.
Most of my toolkit isn’t ideal for this setting–requiring chants or impossible conditions–but there’s one reliable spell that earned my title of “Illusive Sword”.
I just need to draw a little more blood…
Ilene takes the offensive this time, thrusting and slashing with her rapier in rapid succession.
Her opponent weaves and parries, but Ilene’s footwork leaves them without a chance to escape.
Thin gashes appear across their arms and thighs, leaving a stinging sensation every time Magic Killer moves.
Now.
[Dark Witch’s Curse]!
Ilene silently casts her spell, using the blood on her weapon as a medium to complete her magic.
Magic Killer’s vision instantly triples as blotches of darkness cloud their view like spilled ink.
They drop to a knee while subconsciously loosening their headscarf as a fever manifests.
“What…did you…do to me?”
Ilene paces over and rests the tip of her rapier against their chest.
“I defeated you. Forfeit, or I’ll have to do much worse than ruin your perfect record.”
“…murmur murmur…”
Magic Killer mutters some words under their breath, which causes Ilene to dig her sword a little deeper.
A pinpoint of blood wells up along the tip of the flawless blade.
“This is your last warning. Give up.”
“…[Dispel]”
Her rapier gets pushed into the air by two quick dagger strikes.
Ilene falters for a moment as her opponent lunges forward, twisting into a deadly combination of ripping and slashing.
She manages to drop and roll in time to avoid any damage, but comes up panting after being caught off guard.
Her movement just now–it’s like she’s unaffected by my spell.
Is that why they’re called “Magic Killer”?
This could be tiresome.
The petite fighter isn’t done lashing out.
They twist around and fully extend their daggers, cutting in a wheel around chest-height.
Ilene raises her weapon and blocks the repeated slashes, but is suddenly sent flying through the air by a slash from behind.
Don’t tell me!
“Artifacts?!” she concludes.
Ilene rolls across the ground as blood seeps from her back.
She uses her [Mana Sense] and detects traces of mana around her opponent’s obsidian knives, confirming her suspicion.
“That’s right, these are artifacts,” her opponent reveals.
“They’re perfect for dealing with cautious people like you.”
Mana wells in the daggers once more as Magic Killer crouches low to the ground.
They then dash in a straight line toward the wounded fighter and thrust their weapons out like a set of horns.
Ilene narrows her eyes and concentrates her enhanced senses to a small area around her body.
The moment the daggers enter her range, two invisible slashes also appear near her neck and Achilles tendon.
She moves her rapier without wasting any movement and intercepts all four attacks before they can break skin.
Before Magic Killer can escape, Ilene sweeps their feet out from under them and skewers their shoulder into the ground.
“Ack! You really…just did that?!”
Ilene steps on their free wrist and leans in close, brushing a loose stand of hair behind her ear as she does.
“You underestimated me a bit too much. If you want to win with little tricks, you’re against the worst possible opponent.”
“I definitely see why they call you that now, Illusive Sword. It’s not just that unpredictable magic of yours, even your sword techniques made me second-guess myself. Who are you, really?”
“I think you know I can’t answer that. Now end this, or I will.”
“…I forfeit.”
Ilene retrieves her sword as the announcer’s voice calls the end of the fight.
“The winner is…Illusive Sword! It looked like it could go either way for a second there, but the champion has proved themselves once again!”
The victor leaves the arena before the announcement finishes, collecting tonight’s earnings from a nearby booth.
She then enters a secluded area where nobody can watch her and casts her concealment spell.
“Erased from sight, erased from mind, step into the veil. [Invisibility]”
Ilene’s body disappears as she finishes her chant.
She leaves the alcove and rushes up the steps of the Golden Club, eventually reaching the top landing, and activates the hidden passageway.
After a few minutes of walking–and wrapping up her wound–she emerges onto the edge of the Golden Temple as the sun begins to peak over the horizon.
The red-orange light washes over the space around the noble lady, and she takes in its warmth.
She then releases her [Invisibility] and [Perfect Disguise] spells, returning to her original form as she reappears.
There’s no time for rest.
I must return to my daily duties without worrying about any missing sleep.
The streets of the Gold District come to life as Ilene descends the long steps of the Golden Temple.
She jogs down the sidewalk, her torn coat having already repaired itself along her back.
Businessmen and retired elders roam the main street, while the platinum-haired lady ducks into an alley, then follows a side road to the inner wall.
A few moments later, a secret passage is opened, leading down to a familiar bar in the Silver District.
A tattered door creaks open at the end of the passage, and Ilene steps out into the dull, warm lighting.
“Hello, Boris. Anything new today?”
A burly barkeep stands behind the bar along the far wall.
“Welcome back, Lady Ilene. I’m afraid I don’t have much news for you today. All I’ve heard is that some people near the wall of the Bronze District have reported sightings of strange, hooded figures moving at night.”
“Hooded figures? What could they gain from sneaking around the Bronze District?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. The only things you can find there are death and disappointment.”
Ilene frowns at his words, but recognizes them as true.
Which is why I must become a duchess.
My father is too focused on flowing money into the city, a characteristic inherited by my brother, but I will bring life into Mahora.
I’ll make my mother’s wish come true.
“Thank you. I’ll go investigate immediately.”
“Right. Be safe, my lady.”
They exchange subtle nods as Ilene steps past the bar and climbs a few steps.
A small entry space deposits her into the back alleys of the Silver District, on the opposite side of the area from where the sightings were reported.
She takes a deep breath and continues toward the main street that leads through all of Mahora’s districts.
“Hey man, look at her!”
“Damn! That’s not something you see often! Hey, sexy, come hang with us!”
Ugh, do they not realize I could take their heads for this harassment?
It’s always the same outside of the Gold District.
Ilene shrugs off the catcalls of the random men on the corner.
The frequency has been cut down in recent years, but five years ago, before her mother had died, the harassment was almost unbearable.
Unlike the gilded buildings and streets of the Gold District, the Silver District seems extremely industrial in comparison.
Structures of copper and steel line the outskirts, pumping out smoke as they process metals and magic materials.
The Silver District serves as Mahora’s money-making hub, full of factories, farms, businesses and trade markets.
This is where the average citizen of Mahora lives, and makes their living, hoping to one day make it to the Gold District.
It’s pitiful, the way they climb over each other to the top.
Instead of taking solace over the fact that they’re not in the Bronze District, they only look up toward what they cannot grasp.
To be expected from humans, I suppose.
My mother’s dream coming true would mean erasing this element of our city, but this structure is part of what keeps everything operating.
Perhaps my view is biased… Ryuu would have an answer.
And he’d deliver it in an infuriating tone.
Half an hour later, she reaches the far edges of the Silver District, where rows of similar houses sit under the shade of the inner wall.
Children are still in school while their parents work, leaving Ilene reasonably free to roam the area.
Remembering that the sightings were all at night, she reasons that the perpetrators are most likely from the Bronze District.
They’re likely making use of an old passage made during Archie’s rule, as I do.
If I could find one of them, who says I can’t find another?
The concrete is dense and even, hardly touched by the march of time.
Ancient magic runs through the city’s foundation, cementing it as the capital of the Northern Reaches–despite some outside opinions.
Traces of said ancient magic tend to concentrate around the secret pathways, or at least the one Ilene had found in the past.
She walks along the wall for twenty minutes before she spots a disturbance in the surrounding mana.
Ilene coats her fingers in mana and runs one through the odd area.
This self-taught technique slowly unbundles the complicated knot of magic, and reveals the method of opening the path.
Little tricks like this come naturally to the noblewoman, as a result of her Talent.
After reciting a password revealed in a hardly-known language, a section of the wall separates and forms a straight tunnel to the Bronze District.
Ilene brushes her hand over her rapier and steps inside.
The path doesn’t seem to be anything fancy; it’s a simple tunnel through the concrete, tall enough for someone double her height.
I can’t imagine this being hard to see, even at night.
How much of this report is legitimate, and how much has been fabricated?
The path ends in a barren section of the Bronze District.
Rotting houses and idle people litter the clearing of dead grass in every direction.
It’s hardly an image one would conjure when thinking of the capital, but the reality of it cannot be denied.
The Bronze District–the shame of the Mahora family.
The original family built this as a place for criminals and war prisoners to be rehabilitated into society.
Most of them failed, but the ones that successfully found their way are likely several generations deep in the Silver District.
I’ve only been here once before, and I don’t want to remember that…
She shakes her head and continues her search with [Mana Sense] still active.
There had been sparse residue of filtered mana in the tunnel, meaning it belonged to somebody.
The trail leads deeper into the clearing, where a surprisingly clean shed and dry well sit alone.
Ilene kicks the door open–ready to attack– but the inside is crammed with multiple stacks of crates.
The trail definitely leads here.
Only one thing to do.
A small orb of red mana manifests in her palm as she casts [Magic Cannon] at the crates.
The power of her art is significantly held back, but it does its job of clearing the path for her.
The only thing left in the shed is a hatch in the ground lined with glowing gold runes.
Ilene kneels next to the hatch and runs her fingers across the runes with a blank stare.
Her lips move soundlessly as she completes her tracing of the words, then recites them back to herself.
“Seal of strength…blood of the fallen…eternal might? This isn’t any kind of seal I’m familiar with…”
A stone rolling across the ground behind her shocks Ilene back to attention.
She turns while kneeling, her rapier already a quarter of the way drawn, but nobody’s there.
A quick expansion of her [Mana Sense] range reveals a lone figure running about thirty yards away.
She immediately jumps up and breaks into a sprint after the mysterious stranger.
It must be someone that uses that hatch, maybe even the person I was trailing.
I won’t let you get away!
The figure pumps their legs, but doesn’t seem particularly athletic.
Ilene catches up in a few moments and holds her palm out.
“[Barrier]”
A wall of bright red mana appears in front of the figure, and they slam into it with a startled cry.
Ilene grabs the back of their neck and slams them to the ground, then pins them until she satisfies her spell’s condition.
“[Soul Scribe]”
A summarized text of the target’s surface-level information appears in her brain.
It remains crystal clear in her memory for the next hour, allowing her to freely access anything helpful.
Not that.
Nope.
Ah, here we are.
There wasn’t any helpful information concerning the weird sightings, but the method to opening the hatch comes easily enough.
After knocking the strange person out, she returns to the shed.
It turns out to be quite simple, with Ilene waving her hands in a few closed gestures as the seal fades.
The metal door swings open with a light hiss and reveals a narrow space with a ladder leading all the way down.
She moves without hesitation, letting her enhanced senses guide her as she descends into the darkness.
******
The ladder comes to an end about five minutes later.
Small, flickering lights line the ceiling of a wide chamber with multiple tunnels leading out of it.
Torn banners and broken machines take up space on the floors and walls, giving a glimpse into the kind of place this might’ve been before.
This decor, and the semicircular desk in the center of the room…
Could this have been some kind of meeting room in the past?
Most of the banners are too damaged to make anything out, but a few of them look like outdated versions of certain cities’ emblems.
If I’m right, representatives would meet here and discuss important movements within the Northern Reaches.
It’s possible that these tunnels could lead as far as neighboring cities, ending in chambers similar to this one.
I have to bring some sort of evidence back to the castle.
Ilene shuffles through the desk while keeping her guard up for the person she tracked here, since the person outside was not the owner of the original trail.
Countless drawers and papers rest upon the thirty-foot curve of oak, which makes the search feel endless.
Almost all of this stuff is junk.
I’m sure whoever is using these tunnels has already dug through all of the good things.
Would I find something if I took one of the paths?
Clunk!
Bright lights flash to life in the chamber as the sound of a switch echoes.
Gates drop down over all of the tunnels, while two figures block the ladder behind Ilene.
One of them has a disdainful expression and pointed ears, while the other stands at their side in a dark shawl and headscarf.
Magic Killer!
The other is…an elf?
What’s going on here?
The shorter of the two figures pulls out a pair of black daggers and slowly approaches, keeping their voice measured.
“Who are you? How did you get inside this room?”
“…You don’t recognize me?” Ilene replies.
“Why should I?”
The elf behind Magic Killer speaks up as he catches up to his partner.
“Take a closer look, dumbass. That impossibly light hair, magic irises of the highest purity–creating that ruby-like color–and the S-grade artifact, Heroic Will. This is obviously Ilene Mahora.”
“I’m impressed, you even know about my sword. Whoever you are, you’ve done your research.”
The elf smirks and dramatically bows.
“Where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Fulcrest, a former member of the elven royal family. Feel free to look me up, though I’m sure you won’t find my name anywhere.”
He’s certainly an odd one.
“And this bag of bricks next to me is Mary. Go on, introduce yourself.”
Mary points a dagger forward and mutters, “What’s the point? Our job is to eliminate anyone who gets in our way.”
“Don’t even think about it, pipsqueak. This one has protection from the boss until the event passes, remember?”
“Ugh…”
Who is this boss?
And what event?
Ilene steels her nerves and paces forward, resting a hand on Fulcrest’s shoulder.
“Thank you, Mister Fulcrest. I see that even though you’ve rejected the noble life, you still maintain your own personal code.”
He gives a slight nod.
“Of course I do. It is only natural that the brain of this team would understand such matters.”
She smiles and slips past, nonchalantly walking toward the ladder.
“Hold on just a minute.”
Ilene freezes.
Mary’s voice stops her in her tracks, then continues.
“Turn around. Do you think just because we can’t kill you, we’ll let you go? No. You’re staying here until the election has passed.”
The Succession Election?
Why would that be their deadline?
I’ll have to think about this later.
What matters right now is that I get this information back home at all costs.
“Or what, Magic Killer? Are you under the impression that you can overpower me?”
“What?! How do you know that name?!”
“I know I disguised myself before, but maybe you’ll remember after this.”
Ilene draws her rapier and holds it close to her chest as she watches Mary tense up.
“That stance… It’s not possible!”
The two women lunge at each other with startling speed.
Ilene’s slender blade maneuvers under a pair of crossed daggers, piercing through her opponent’s shawl and drawing blood.
“Gkk!”
Mary slides back and holds her hand over her chest.
Blood heavily seeps through her tightened fingers without any sign of slowing.
“You…really are…Illusive Sword!”
“That’s right. Now you’ve lost twice in a matter of hours. There’s no point in pressing this any further.”
Mary’s face contorts, then she breaks into an amused grin.
Wisps of white energy begin swirling around her wound as the flow of blood ceases.
“You may have beaten me before, Illusive Sword, but I wasn’t giving it my all! I’ll show you what I’m like when I’m serious!”
She finishes healing and kicks hard off the ground with a burst of aura.
Ilene parries the initial flurry of blows with a few concise movements, then swings her rapier in a horizontal arc at her opponent’s midsection.
The lithe woman twirls her daggers in her hands and clashes with the S-grade artifact.
The shock sends it flying above Ilene’s head, allowing the A’yang to slam their knee into her stomach.
Ilene slides across the chamber, yet maintains her footing, panting as she reforms her stance.
Her physical abilities have improved several-fold.
I thought people that practiced both paths were supposed to be rare?
“Surprised?” Mary calls out.
“I may be an Awakened, but I’m still an A’yang. This won’t go like it did in the Golden Club.”
Ilene wordlessly glances at Fulcrest on the sidelines, who notices and waves with a sly grin.
“I won’t interfere. If you can beat this hyperactive idiot, you’re free to go.”
“I hope you’ll keep your word.”
Ilene changes her stance after speaking.
She parts her feet at shoulder-width, then holds her sword flat in front of her.
A ruby embedded on the pommel of the artifact begins to glow as she places her other hand over the sharp blade.
“Awaken, Heroic Will! Lend me your strength so that I may overcome this trial before me!”
An immense energy pours out of the rapier and wraps around Ilene.
Its translucent glow completely covers her body, as well as the length of her blade, sending shudders through the air around her.
Mary raises her guard with a frightened look on her face.
“What is that aura?! The intel didn’t mention you being an A’yang!”
“This is the power of a hero lost to time. I wield the remnants of their will that have been passed down for centuries.”
The light-haired noblewoman raises her sword high in the air as aura and mana begin to coalesce around it.
Pressure rises in the underground chamber, cracking the foundation as the energy level around Ilene continues to rise–earning a low whistle from Fulcrest.
Once the vortex of power reaches its peak, Ilene swings her sword at her opponent while silently casting [Magic Cannon].
A mixture of white and red energy erupts from the tip of the rapier and tears across the old meeting room.
Mary casts [Dispel] as the attack connects, which successfully erases the ruby-like mana, but the powerful aura blasts through her torso.
Magic Killer drops to her knees as a dark bruise shows through a wide hole in her shawl, then falls to the ground with a dull thud.
Ilene heavily breathes for a few seconds as she sheathes her sword, and the aura around her fades.
Meanwhile, Fulcrest trots over to his fallen partner and shakes his head, leaving her to escape as he’d said.
I tried to kill her with that attack.
If she has some kind of nullifying spell, it would explain how she survived, as well as how she broke my curse in our previous fight.
Oh well.
She should understand the difference between us now, and I can’t risk a drawn-out fight.
Unfortunately, that means I have to give up on taking the man I knocked out above ground.
******
Ilene safely returns to her room in Mahora Castle.
After quickly washing off and eating a light lunch, she sits on a sofa, lost in thought.
I was able to cast [Soul Scribe] on Fulcrest before the fight, but I haven’t had a chance to go over the information until now.
There’s a bunch of random, narcissistic waste in here, but their real identity is a member of the Eternal Order.
I suppose that includes Magic Killer, or Mary, among their ranks.
I was curious about the reasoning behind the election deadline, and the identity of the one they called boss, but it’s buried pretty deep.
She shifts over and lounges across the sofa, letting her feet dangle off the armrest as she twists a strand of hair.
If I think about this logically, it should be easy to find a correlation.
In fact, I’ve had someone in mind for a while… Xander, you wouldn’t work with the Eternal Order, would you?
This information isn’t well-known, but the attack on Mahora was the result of an incident Ryuu had before meeting me.
Xander didn’t know Ryuu existed until recently, so he can’t be too deeply involved.
The most reasonable conclusion is that my brother wants me distracted so that there’s nothing in the way of him becoming the duke, and that’s supported by the fact that I’m to be kept alive, at the very least.
Considering this, I may not be able to bring this information to my father.
There are too many eyes and ears in the castle…
Her thoughts wander to memories of times far in the past, when she would spend her days with Xander and Michael, practicing their magic as they aimed to please their parents.
I suppose there’s a few people I can trust with this.
I’ll pay them a visit…as soon as I…
The exhausted Lady passes out on her sofa as the several days of nonstop work and stress catch up to her.
She lightly snores before rolling over, letting her hand fall down and rest on her sword atop a small rug.
The ruby glows once in response, then rests, along with its current wielder.