Search

The fog rolled thick and unrelenting through the town square, muting the sounds of the knights who prowled below. Tonight, their forces were unusually dense, at least ten deep in one area—far more than typically needed. It was an unsettling sight for a mission that was supposed to be routine.

Above the square, Simon and Ivy perched on a web of wires, their figures blending into the dense mist. They were poised, ready to leap into action should a cultist reveal themselves. Ivy sat with her legs crossed, her eyes scanning the ground below, while Simon leaned precariously against a wire, occasionally yawning and trying to stay awake.

Above even them stood two imposing figures—Naro and Nora Sparkvenn, heirs to the Sparkvenn legacy. Naro stood on the air itself as though it were solid ground, while Nora condensed frost beneath her feet, her icy platform shimmering faintly in the moonlight.

"Hey, Sis," Naro said, breaking the silence. His tone was casual, almost lazy, as he flicked a small crystal into the air and caught it again. "What do you think Sin's up to? He and Nina should be done by now, right?"

Nora, her frosty demeanor unchanging, glanced at him briefly before responding. "He's strong…" she began.

"But not like us," Naro interrupted with a smirk, tossing the crystal one last time before letting it vanish into the shadows.

Nora sighed, her gaze returning to the foggy square below. "He'll be fine. He's got abilities now. Not that he'll need them." There was a quiet confidence in her voice, the kind that brooked no argument.

On the streets below, more knights prowled about, their movements efficient and silent. The most notable among them was Ratan, a legendary knight commander despite his youth. Barely older than his cadets, he carried himself with a gravity that made his presence unmistakable. Ratan had no flashy abilities like many knights. His power was simple—shadow travel. Yet, his skill with his oversized sniper rifle was unparalleled, the weapon almost comically large against his wiry frame.

As Ratan walked past an officer knight, he adjusted his glasses, the lenses catching the faint glow of a nearby streetlamp. The quick flash of light was enough to draw attention from a passing figure—Enzo, the legacy knight. Enzo carried a longsword that, while seemingly ordinary, exuded a subtle yet potent aura. Even Leonardo himself would have paused at its presence.

Enzo's expression twisted in annoyance as the silence of the patrol was shattered by a voice, sharp and commanding.

"Alright, everyone. The search has gone on long enough," declared Kuro Sanzu, her tone leaving no room for argument. "The sun will rise soon. We've gotta get back to the academy before these folks start waking up."

Kuro's presence was undeniable. Her black hair, streaked with vibrant pink, shifted slightly under her cloak as she spoke. Known as the flame princess and the blaze-kin monarch, she radiated confidence and intensity. Yet, beneath her commanding exterior, she was infamous for her stubbornness and competitive streak.

Enzo scoffed under his breath, rolling his eyes. "How is she the one leading this mission?" he muttered to himself. His grip on his sword tightened slightly as he watched her give orders.

Up on the wires, Simon had begun to doze off, his head bobbing forward every few seconds. Ivy, meanwhile, remained alert, her gaze sharp as she scanned the horizon for any signs of movement. She sighed softly, her expression flickering with a hint of disappointment.

"Still holding out hope?" Simon asked groggily, his voice breaking the silence.

Ivy didn't answer immediately. Her eyes lingered on the fog-shrouded streets below. "Yeah," she admitted finally. "I keep thinking Leo's just going to pop out and tell us this was all a joke."

Simon sat up slightly, his expression softening. Before he could respond, a sudden gust of wind swept through, unsettling the wires. Ivy barely flinched as the web beneath her retracted, carrying her gracefully to the ground. Simon, less fortunate, yelped as he tumbled face-first onto the cobblestones.

The sound of his impact drew every knight's attention. A few chuckles rippled through the group, and even Kuro's stern expression cracked into a smirk.

"Nice landing, genius," Enzo quipped from the shadows, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Simon groaned, picking himself up. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up," he muttered, brushing dirt off his cloak. He shot Enzo a look. "Let's see you take a fall like that and walk away without a scratch."

"Please," Enzo replied smoothly. "I don't fall. Ever."

"Sounds boring," Simon retorted, a grin spreading across his face.

Kuro cleared her throat, bringing the group's attention back to her. "Alright, enough. Let's wrap this up and move out. We've wasted enough time here." Her gaze lingered on Simon for a moment, her lips twitching as if suppressing a laugh.

Ivy stood nearby, her expression unreadable as she adjusted her cloak. "Let's just get back," she said quietly. Her eyes flicked toward the horizon, where the first hints of dawn began to creep through the fog.

Simon, now fully awake, straightened his posture. "Alright, team. Back to the academy we go. Don't all thank me at once for keeping things interesting."

"Oh, shut it," Ivy muttered, though there was a faint smile on her lips as the knights began their march back into the shadows.