Vryndall II

We gathered in the hotel lobby, where a gentle hum of conversation and the occasional clink of glasses filled the air. The students were in high spirits, eager for a rare day to themselves without the usual academic pressures. I spotted the professors near the entrance, each one looking relaxed—a rare sight.

Professor Nero raised a hand, signaling for attention. "Listen up, everyone! We've decided that your assignment will be given tomorrow morning. So for today, consider it a free day to explore Vyrndall. Just remember the usual rules—no wandering off into restricted areas or leaving the main city bounds."

A cheer went up from the group, and even the professors couldn't help but smile at the students' excitement. With a few final instructions about curfew and emergency contacts, we were set loose upon the city.

Rachel elbowed me lightly, a smirk on her face. "Ready to see what this fortress of a city has to offer?"

"I've got a few ideas," I replied, trying to match her enthusiasm. Though I'd been here recently, this was a chance to explore beyond the usual visits, and Vyrndall held more than its share of intriguing places.

Seraphina, appearing by my other side, gave a cheerful nod. "They have an entire sector dedicated to art installations. I've read it's a mix of historical relics and modern tech displays. We should check it out!"

Rachel chuckled, already pulling out her phone to map out a route. "Art and history it is, then. And if we get bored, there's always the infamous Vyrndall market."

Cecilia caught up with us as we made our way out of the hotel, her crimson eyes bright. "Let's see if this city's market has anything worthy of us."

Our first stop was the art sector, where modern technology met history in unexpected ways. Vyrndall had crafted a space that preserved relics from past wars with the black magic races but augmented them with holographic guides, interactive displays, and immersive audio. Each piece told a story, sometimes brutal, sometimes inspiring, but always significant.

In one exhibit, we watched the holographic reenactment of a battle, with shimmering knights and ogres locked in fierce combat. Seraphina's eyes were alight with fascination as she watched, her fingers tracing invisible patterns in the air as if she could reach out and join them.

Further along, we found an interactive map of the Western continent's battles, showing every strategic location, each move Valen Ashbluff made in his campaigns. Cecilia hovered beside me, her gaze fixed on the animated battlefield. "It's a reminder of what's at stake, isn't it?"

I nodded, taking in the sight of Valen's forces driving back the enemy lines. It was one thing to read about these events in books, but to see them projected before us brought a new layer of reality.

After the museum, we wandered to the bustling heart of Vyrndall's market district. Vendors shouted from their stalls, showcasing everything from gleaming weaponry and rare herbs to intricate charms and mysterious trinkets. The energy was contagious, and soon we were weaving through the crowd, stopping at any stall that caught our eye.

Rachel picked up a small, carved stone that was said to bring good fortune, examining it with interest. "Think it'll help with the assignment tomorrow?"

"Doubtful," I replied with a grin, "but it might look good on your desk."

As we moved on, a vendor selling enchanted jewelry caught Seraphina's eye. She held up a delicate necklace with a pendant shaped like a crescent moon, its surface shimmering faintly. "It's beautiful," she murmured, tracing a finger over the cool metal.

As we strolled through the bustling market, I subtly tapped into Luna's senses, hoping to catch any hint of foul play within Vyrndall's walls. However, her detection was muted—crippled, no doubt, by the seal placed upon her. It was frustratingly quiet, and if anything, the stillness left me feeling even more uneasy.

If Nero was accompanying us, it meant any adversary lurking in the shadows would need strength equal to Immortal-rank to even consider a challenge. Anything less would be committing itself to a swift, brutal demise. So, for the moment, Luna's silence was logical, albeit foreboding.

Then, the crowd shifted. People parted in waves, murmurs rippling through them like whispers on the wind. Instinctively, the girls closed ranks around me, and we moved to the side, our eyes following the focus of everyone's attention.

A sleek, luxurious black car glided down the street, glinting with embedded jewels that sparkled like stars against midnight. And then I felt it—a powerful aura radiating from within the car, formidable and unyielding. Ascendant-rank, and not a mere novice; this one was close to Immortal-rank, a force far beyond the norm.

"That must be the mayor," I murmured.

As if in answer to my words, a chill ran down my spine, and every instinct screamed at me to move. Before I had time to fully comprehend, I conjured a swift 6-circle spell, encasing us in a bubble of protective mana as I propelled us sideways. An explosion shattered the air, the force of it ringing in my ears, leaving behind a haze of acrid smoke and shimmering debris.

I staggered slightly as Rachel's healing light enveloped us, mending whatever wounds we might have sustained. "What was that?" Cecilia hissed, a hand pressed to her temple as if trying to shake off the shock.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw the air crackle with astral energy as the mayor clashed with a dark figure. Both were locked in combat, powerful strikes radiating sparks that illuminated the gathering dusk.

"We need to move," I said, urgency pressing each word. "This place is about to become a battlefield."

Seraphina nodded, her eyes wide but steady. "The hotel might be safest. It's where the professors are."

"No," I replied, shaking my head. "If they're targeting the Academy, they'll be throwing everything they have at the professors. We'd be heading straight into the storm."

Rachel's eyes flickered with realization, and she gestured to a nearby alley. "Then we need somewhere quiet, away from the main roads. There's an old district nearby, mostly abandoned but with solid buildings."

We hurried into the narrow alleyways, the echoes of the clash behind us dimming as we wove through the winding paths. The sound of shouts and heavy footsteps drifted from all directions as the city guards struggled to maintain order. Up ahead, the low, crumbling buildings of the old district loomed, their shadows offering some semblance of refuge.

"We'll wait here," I said, guiding us into a small, enclosed courtyard nestled between two forgotten buildings. "At least until we know the coast is clear."

Cecilia scanned our surroundings, her crimson eyes vigilant. "And if it doesn't clear up?"

I met her gaze, a grim smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "Then we fight our way out. But only as a last resort."

As we caught our breaths, I closed my eyes, focusing inward. I reached for Luna's presence again, hoping this time her senses would reveal something we could use—some sign of what we were up against.

Luna's warning echoed in my mind, the sheer numbers she sensed making my heart pound harder. Six Ascendant-rankers, an Immortal-ranker, several White-rankers, and a small army of Silver-rankers—enough to overwhelm even Mythos Academy's defenses.

Nero was formidable, surely capable of holding his own against the Immortal-ranker, but the overwhelming number of Ascendant-rankers tipped the scales. The mayor and our professors would be stretched thin, and there was no guarantee they'd hold the line for long.

I turned to the girls, my voice low and steady. "We can't stay here. They're combing the area, and these ranks are far too sharp. We'll need to keep moving, stay unpredictable."

Rachel's face was pale, her eyes darting around as she quickly assessed the situation. "Do we have any safe zones within the city?" she asked, her hand flexing, ready to call upon her light magic.

Seraphina shook her head, "Not within the range of an Ascendant-ranker's reach. They'll pick up on any unusual mana fluctuations."

Cecilia took a deep breath, determination sparking in her eyes. "Then we need to rely on stealth over confrontation. No magic unless absolutely necessary."

I nodded. "Exactly. We'll have to blend in, keep to the backstreets, and avoid any open mana use."

We slipped back through the alleys, our steps careful, keeping our presence hidden within the natural flow of the city. The clash of powerful auras and the distant sounds of fighting urged us on. I reached out to Luna's senses again, and she guided us through quieter paths, each turn chosen to avoid detection.

The old district sprawled out in winding lanes, its shadows an unlikely refuge. I focused on keeping my mana dampened, feeling the others do the same. Every instinct urged caution; one misstep and we'd be right in the path of those who would show no mercy.

Rachel whispered, "If we keep moving like this, we'll avoid the worst of it. But if they corner us..."

"They won't," I assured her, forcing confidence into my tone. "We'll stick to the shadows and outmaneuver them."

For now, survival was the only priority.