Hunting Nightshades

Seven days later, Sebastian was ecstatic. He spent the entire week making the new spell, which he managed after having observed the skill at the Theater.

"Sebastian! You are going to be late!"

"I'm coming, mom!"

With that, Sebastian came down the stairs.

He descended the stairs swiftly, the sound of his mother's voice weaving through his thoughts like a persistent melody.

The urgency of his recent endeavors fell away as he stepped into the familiar warmth of the kitchen.

There, his mother, Mary, stood amidst the comforting aromas of home-cooked food, her figure silhouetted against the soft glow of the evening light filtering through the window.

"Sebastian, this is turning into a habit. You're late for school again," she said.

Mary's expression was a complex tapestry of emotions. Concern etched lines on her forehead.

Annoyance flickered in her eyes, a silent rebuke for the worries he caused her.

Mary's hands were on her hips as she surveyed her son, who looked sheepishly back at her.

"I'm sorry, Mom. It won't happen again," Sebastian said, knowing full well the promise was one he would not keep.

His mother sighed, shaking her head as she turned back to finish preparing his breakfast. The clatter of dishes filled the brief silence between them.

Unbeknownst to Mary, Sebastian's tardiness was not due to laziness or disinterest in his studies.

To accomplish his goals, he often left school to go to the slums. There was no way he could hunt the gang members and increase his mana when he was at school.

However, he couldn't say to his mother that he was not going, or that he had no intention of going, and left the school's premises every time his mother left him there.

Of course, he had to be slick about it, otherwise the school would rat him out.

After a hurried breakfast, Mary drove Sebastian to school, the car ride filled with her gentle reminders about the importance of education and punctuality.

Sebastian offered his apologies once more, promising to try harder.

They arrived at the school, and after a brief goodbye, Mary drove away, believing her son was heading straight to class.

"Finally."

As soon as her car turned the corner, Sebastian made his way to the bus stop, his mind set on a different destination.

Today was not just another day of truancy; it was the day he planned to destroy the Nightshades once and for all.

He boarded the bus for the slums, his heart racing as the excitement in it grew.

As the bus rumbled towards the slums, Sebastian's mind was a whirlwind.

"Today, the Nightshades will fall," he said to himself, his resolve as fiery as the spells at his command.

He mulled over his arsenal of spells, each a potential key to infiltrating the Nightshades' headquarters.

<Cinder Blast could clear a path, but it's too conspicuous,> he thought, envisioning the flames leaping from his palms.

<No, stealth is essential.> His mind then turned to the Manifest Illusion spell.

<Last time, the illusion sowed confusion among Nightshades's ranks. Perhaps this a less instinctive approach could make things even easier?>

He imagined conjuring the image of a Nightshade member, using it to slip past guards unnoticed by luring them away.

But the heart of his plan rested on the newly gained Shield of Virtue.

<The 27 shield will protect me from an attack I can't block, but its real value lies in bolstering my defenses. must take advantage of that. That place is bound to have at least people, not counting the traps.>

At that thought, his excitement grew. "I can't wait!"

"What?" the man on his right on the bus asked, thinking he was talking to him.

Sebastian turned to the man with a flourish, his voice adopting a lyrical cadence.

"Good sir, fear not my mutterings, for I merely muse upon a venture most exhilarating. Anon, I sally forth to partake in jollity and jest, where spirits high shall meet their test."

The man, taken aback by the sudden and unexpected eloquence, eyed Sebastian with a blend of bewilderment and suspicion.

He couldn't help but stare at the weird guy who talked like he was in a play.

The guy shook his head a bit. He figured Sebastian was totally crazy, so he left him to his wild plans and promises of exciting adventures.

<If I play my cards right, can enter the Nightshades' lair undetected and strike at their heart without particular problems.>

With his plan in mind, Sebastian felt a surge of confidence as the bus neared its destination.

As the bus trundled into the heart of the slums, Sebastian prepared himself for the task ahead.

The vehicle came to a stop, its doors hissing open to release him into the chaos of the slums.

He stepped off the bus with a determined stride, his senses assaulted by the sights, sounds, and smells of the densely populated district.

Without hesitation, he began making his way toward the location he believed to be the stronghold of the Nightshades.

As Sebastian walked through the maze-like alleys and busy streets, he kept a lookout for any signs of the Nightshades.

After several minutes of brisk walking, he arrived at his destination.

From a safe distance, Sebastian surveyed the scene. To any ordinary passerby, the building before him would appear to be nothing more than a typical apartment complex, blending with the urban sprawl.

However, Sebastian's keen eyes detected subtle signs of the building's true occupants.

He noticed figures moving behind the curtains of the higher floors, their silhouettes fleeting yet unmistakable indicators of the vigilance within.

"This is it. The heart of the Nightshades." A sly grin spread across his face, a mixture of excitement and resolve lighting up his features.

His plan was daring, perhaps bordering on reckless, but Sebastian felt a thrill at the prospect of infiltrating the gang's headquarters.

With his grin still in place, Sebastian closed the distance, each step taking him closer while his excitement grew like a wildfire, unstoppable and spreading through his veins.