"Do you feel it?" Meg asked.
Theo closed his eyes and reached out with his Levia as Meg had just taught him. It was like casting a net made out of his power, using it to snare anything of interest nearby.
At first he only felt the soft pulsing of his dawn light. But then a ripple ran through his Levia. The net had caught something.
Theo opened his eyes. "I feel...there's something to the northeast? About a block or two. Maybe?"
Meg nodded. "Very good. That's an enemy's arena."
"Sorry, I can't tell where it is exactly...."
"No worries. It's a sense you'll hone the more you practice. Now let's head over there, shall we?"
With that, Meg took off down the sidewalk, and Theo had to work to keep up with her long strides. Zenith was fast on his heels, followed by Lodovico and Darian.
Some part of Theo couldn't believe they were deliberately heading toward a waiting enemy, but Meg had explained that was how battles between wizards worked. You either set up an arena and waited for another wizard to stumble upon it, or you went actively looking for existing arenas. It seemed kind of inefficient to Theo, but he supposed wizards weren't the sort to call each other to set up friendly duels beforehand.
Though he was no longer casting the net, Theo remained tuned to his Levia. So he felt it when the other Levia resonated with his again. It jolted through him like a sudden chill, making him lurch mid-step.
Cold. Just like the arena Imago had created. Or Victor.
Meg stopped too, glancing back over her shoulder. "I'm guessing we're about to pay a Legion demon a little visit."
"Fine by me." Darian lifted her chin. "It's better to take the fight to them. Maybe we'll get some answers that way."
"I am always ready, my liege," Zenith said. Then, expression softening, he turned toward Theo. "Theo?"
For some reason, Theo blushed. "It's okay. I'm ready too," he said quickly.
As he spoke, he realized that he meant it. Sure, he wouldn't lie and say the prospect of possibly facing Victor again so soon didn't make his heart clench, but he'd set out this afternoon prepared to fight in the first place.
Besides, he already sensed this enemy wasn't Victor. The Levia felt cold, but not nearly as heavy as Victor's. Even from this distance, he should have been able to feel that crushing pressure. Instead, all he detected was a cold prickle. Whoever this Infernal Legion soldier was, their level was far closer to Imago's. And Theo felt confident that he could trounce Imago now.
"Let's go," Darian said with a firm nod.
Theo's heart pounded harder as they headed closer toward the enemy Levia. The few other people out and about were hurrying with their heads down, probably intent on avoiding the coming rain. The wind blew a few icy raindrops onto Theo's face, but he barely felt it through the Levia.
The group crossed a street and entered – Theo blinked – a large covered shopping center, the sort that hosted bustling markets on the holidays and in summer. On this weekday afternoon, most of the stalls were empty and only a few people ambled about, giving Theo a perfect view of the diagram blazing in the middle of the floor.
He took in the surreal sight of the shoppers wandering about without so much as a glance at the giant black circle in their midst, but they didn't interest him as much as the diagram itself. It reminded him of the one Imago had used, made of cold, pulsing darkness instead of light.
Step by step they approached. The world fell aside until only the arena spell existed, drawing them in with its evil presence.
Without thinking, Theo reached for Zenith's hand. Zenith started, but then squeezed back just as tight.
A familiar crackle ran through Theo's head when he stepped onto the diagram, followed by darkness swallowing his vision. If it weren't for Zenith's firm grip, he'd have feared his body had vanished.
But the darkness faded quickly, and Theo stumbled as he entered the arena. Zenith tugged on his arm to help him back upright.
"Thanks," Theo gasped.
Once again Zenith had become a proud knight, his armor gleaming like a beacon. Like the one where they'd fought Imago, this arena was a dark mirror of the shopping center. Instead of gray storm clouds, solid blackness loomed beyond the ceiling skylight.
Another change: the stalls had multiplied so there were now dozens of them, arranged in rows that divided the floor up into a labyrinth. Draped in black sheets, they loomed around him like walls.
"Well, that's different," Darian said, glancing around. "Now where could the enemy be?"
Aside from their group, the arena seemed deserted. Not that Theo could see much through the wall of stalls. When he reached out with his Levia, he only sensed the chill of the arena, nothing more concentrated.
"They're hiding their presence, hm?" Meg shook her head. "Making us work to find them, how rude."
"Let's split up and search," Darian said. "I'll go with Meg and Lodo."
"Are you certain, my liege?" Zenith looked alarmed.
"Now, now, do you doubt my ability to support our dear prince?" Meg declared, mock-offended. "Try to have a little more faith, Sir Zenith."
"My duty is to protect you, my liege," Zenith said tightly, addressing Darian as if Meg hadn't spoken.
"And I'm ever grateful you take your duty so seriously, Sir," Darian said. "But your duty isn't just to be my bodyguard, it's to fight for me. And to do that to the best of your ability, you need your wizard with you. Theo can't support you and me at the same time, so I'll have to go with Meg."
Zenith inclined his head. "By your will, my liege."
"Uh, what do you mean by support?" Theo blurted. "I thought Meg didn't have a contract with you."
"I don't, but I can still cast spells on our prince," Meg said, winking. "They're just weaker than if we had a contract. You've seen me do it before, haven't you?
"Then, maybe I could – "
"No, my liege is right," Zenith cut in. "Lady Meg is the more experienced wizard. I need you to give me all of your strength, Theo. Shall we?"
He nodded at Theo before marching down the hall, cape flapping after him. Theo hurried to catch up. From behind, he heard the others walking away in the opposite direction.
Gradually their footsteps faded, leaving only the click-clack of his and Zenith's steps. "Um, is it okay like this?" Theo asked.
"Of course it is," Zenith said, his voice firm. "I trust my liege, and I trust you. If we encounter the enemy, I've no doubt the two of us will be able to handle it."
His confidence reassured Theo. Through all their battles, he'd never seen Zenith express the slightest doubt in his own abilities. Theo hadn't realized until now how badly he needed that certainty. Even if he was an inexperienced wizard, he could always rely on his familiar.
They kept walking in silence. Theo glanced around the stalls, looking for any sign of movement, but the arena remained still. After a little while, the path ended in a crossroads, one way branching to the left, the other to the right.
Zenith gave Theo a questioning glance, making Theo start. How was he supposed to know which way to pick?
Suddenly his Levia rippled, and he felt a prickle between his shoulder blades.
Theo whirled around. Just in time to see a beam of darkness shooting down the corridor like an arrow.