Edin's Garden

I followed Misa closely, trying to not alarm Mia and Kyle. If I make any movements that indicate any threat at all Kyle would have no problem trying to kill me.

Misa and Kyle tried to stroll through the gates of the capital like it was nothing. Luckily, Mia and I held them back.

"Ahem, you forgot what clothes you're wearing?" I whispered pulling Misa back, staring at her military red and black uniform beautifully decorated with gold chains and badges made with crystals.

"So? We're the fricking heroes! Who cares what we're wearing?!" Kyle snapped directing all his built-up hatred, sadness and rage at me.

I stood there... not knowing what to say. I know I'm right... if any humans see 2 of the legendary heroes in bloodstained slave clothes their hope might break. People talk and news spread faster than we can stop it...

Misa saw me trying searching for something to say... "Can't you understand that Amber's trying to hel-"

"She's helped enough!"

"If you won't listen to her listen to me. Heroes are the hope that some people are holding onto... we shouldn't ruin that." There was a hidden bitterness within Mia's eyes knowing that she was supporting the traitor.

"So what are we gonna do?" Kyle reluctantly asked me, unable to look me in the eyes. As I went and "talked" to some merchants.

I threw cloaks and some clothes at them.

"Where did yo-"

"Borrowed it" I replied while 2 merchants ran away from me almost naked and scared.

The three stared at me in doubt, "What? I'll return it later! Swear on my honour!"

Jokes on them! I have no honour! Not trying to regain it like Zuko either! Since it's not a lie... I'm sure Misa can't tell.

I threw on the dark brown cloak and pulled the hood up to hide my face.

"So where's Shin?" Mia asked her sister

"He's healing near the stairs of the lowest layer in the Edin. I don't know why, but there was a bunch of wanted posters of him. His price is a platinum coin. I made him hide in a secret place I found... hope he's still there" Misa replied biting her nails

Anyone priced that high probably killed the king or somethin-

Oh no... Hiroto you son of a b-

Beautiful woman. Unfortunate woman...

"We're here" Misa snapped me back from my thoughts. I shook my head lightly to wake myself up and looked at the gigantic brick stairs that looked oddly cleaned compared to the walls that held up the next level and its surroundings.

While the three of us were shocked, Misa strolled casually to the side of the stairs. After we lifted up our dropped jaws we followed Misa to find a completely blank wall.

"I needed to try out a new spell I remembered from a certain book. Tell me, does this look like an illusion?" A smirk appeared on Misa's face.

An illusion? My eyes wandered along its rough stone surface. I touched the wall, but I could still feel the uneven textures of it. When I knocked on it, the sound I heard was expected of a strong stone wall.

"It's just a random wall. What are we even doing here?" I asked. There's no way illusion magic can make such things seem so convincing.

"So it worked" Misa grabbed a chained book the size of my pinky out of the uniform's pocket. "Expand" With one word from Misa a transmutation circle appeared while the book started to become bigger and bigger.

Eventually, the transmutation circle disappeared as quick as it appeared.

As it expanded, I finally recognized the book. The book of Impermissus or as it's known to me, that DAMN BOOK.

"How... did you get that?" I accidentally emitted a murderous aura towards Misa. Instantly Kyle pinned me down and Mia moved in front of her sister.

"I knew it! You were a threat!" Kyle yelled placing a hidden knife next to my neck.

"T-That book... Misa... you shouldn't have that! I-It only does harm t-to the caster" I tried to speak as loud as I could... it's dangerous. I can't lose her too.

"I stole it from our lord's library. You used one of these spells on me, didn't you? I'm sure if we have more time with it we can defeat the demon king and those first-generation heroes!" Misa smiled slowly seeming slightly obsessed with being the hero.

"First-generation what?" Mia asked

Misa sighed, "I'll tell you later. Kyle, let Amber go. She's just worried..."

Kyle grudgingly got out of my way looking unsatisfied. He will never be satisfied unless he sees my dead body or something. Think even towers of gold are still too little...

That's rough buddy, not planning to die anytime soon...

"Return" Another simple word to activate a spell that made apart of the wall fade away.

So it was an illusion... that means...

"Forbidden magic... you used it?!" I stood up staring at Misa in fear.

"It takes all my mana to replace a hole in the wall without a trace. Forbidden magic doesn't use any mana at all... it's amazing! Before I got this book, I had to cover the hole up with a piece of cloth and use illusion magic to make it blend in. It was too risky"

What the hell are you thinking?! Forbidden magic doesn't trade mana, yes, but it trades life... that's why I stopped using it! I... don't want to lose you...

"Next time... let me do it... okay?" I grabbed both of her shoulders, my eyes were watering up.

"Okay" Misa whispered, shocked by my fear

"Good to see empathy is still in your dictionary. Next, you can tell me you know loyalty is too" Kyle scoffed

"Let's go!" Mia shouted from beyond the hole in the wall

I crawled into the hole entering what looks like the sewers. The stinky smell also didn't help the grim atmosphere. We were also next to a waterfall of dirty water from the layer above.

I took that damn book from Misa and closed the entrance with illusions.

"We have to go through... that" Misa pointed towards the dirty waterfall.

Oh... no no no no no no no way! There's no way!

"F-Fine" Mia swallowed her pride and ran into the waterfall.

"You don't have t-" I tried to warn her, but I was too late.

Following Mia, Kyle ran in and Misa quickly followed.

"Come on! You're taking forever, traitor!" Mia shouted from beyond the waters

I mildly dislike the new nickname, but fine! I stretched my arms and legs.

I was stressing about not using forbidden spells, but... I'm a hypocrite...

"Freeze," I whispered creating a blue transmutation circle under me. Suddenly, it became frozen cold and the water became ice.

As the transmutation circle disappears, I gasped out for warm air, trembling from the sudden temperature change. Since it was only for a few seconds I shook it off and broke through the ice, getting to the other side dry.

With just one look at what was behind the waters made my jaws drop again.

A garden lit up by mystical rainbow lights from the mushrooms. Vines and ivy cascaded all over the stone walls. The roof was so far away that it was as dark as the demon realm's sky at night. An enormous tree bearing crystal-like fruits was the jewel of the garden.

Soft tallgrass surrounded a pathway created with some stone slabs leading to the tree.

I walked along the path to find Shin daydreaming in his bloodied up clothes. Uncertain if I should continue walking, I glanced back at Misa and she nodded.

"S-Shin" I snapped him out