(Naked! Completely naked!) Alec's face flushed bright red when the invasive memory returned unbidden. Three weeks had passed since his shameful incident, yet the scene of him waking up on the scorched bed still haunted him relentlessly. By the time he had woken, the room was already empty—everyone had seen him bare, including the girls. He shuddered, the mortifying thought igniting his cheeks to burn even hotter.
Ever since that evening's meeting with Master Vego, their squad coordinator, none of his squadmates had brought up the incident, but the strange tension lingered—conversations had dwindled, and they avoided eye contact. This awkwardness was not just directed at him; it extended to their interactions within the group. They were supposed to be a tightly knit squad, bound for life, yet they acted like strangers, more distant with each other than with other adepts. It did not bode well for their future.
Alec sighed; his dreams of an exciting Academy life had soured with regret and embarrassment. (Is it my fate to be this unlucky? To bring misfortune wherever I go? Tarra, if you're listening, will this string of bad luck ever end? What did I do to deserve this? Have I somehow offended the god of fate?) he wondered, lifting his gaze to the heavens for answers.
But the sky offered no solace; the twin moons were hidden from view in the daylight. (Perhaps I should save my prayers for the night,) he mused.
Sitting on the bench, he diverted his attention to the park around him. His gaze drifted to the meticulously sculpted hedges weaving through the scenery like emerald serpents. Between them, winding paths lined with vibrant flowers released their fragrance into the late morning air, creating a soothing, aromatic ambience. Dotted among them were fountains, a marvel of engineering. He watched in fascination as water flowed from one fountain to another, forming mesmerizing shapes and patterns. The water danced in the air, arching and spiraling before cascading into the next fountain in an endless, fluid ballet.
For a moment, Alec lost himself in the spectacle, the park's enchantment lifting the weight from his shoulders. The beauty of the place—its magical fountains and serene landscape—offered a brief respite from his troubles. Yet as the water continued its graceful dance, his thoughts drifted inevitably back to his own predicament.
As another vision of his embarrassing exposure formed in his mind, a figure on the far side of the park distracted him. Despite the distance, he recognized the bobbing twintails right away. But what was Ria doing there? She moved with an odd, deliberate gait along the building's wall, each step placed with exaggerated care, barely touching the ground, as if tip-toeing. If she was aiming for stealth, it had the opposite effect, drawing even more attention to her.
Curious, Alec followed her trajectory, just in time to see two people vanish around the corner. Was Ria tailing them? Was that some sort of game?
Resolve welled up in Alec. They were meant to be a united squad, and it was high time someone addressed the awkwardness that had settled among them since the incident. Despite his reluctance, Alec knew he had to be the one to bridge the gap. With the branding ceremony approaching, he could no longer hope for the issue to resolve on its own. It was his responsibility, and he would start by reaching out to Ria. (I can do it. I must do it,) he reassured himself as he stood up from the bench.
Determined, he set off after Ria through the park. He passed the hedges he had admired earlier and the fountains that continued their graceful dance. As he neared the corner where he had last seen Ria, he quickened his pace, hoping to catch up.
But upon reaching the spot, Alec found himself at a loss—she was nowhere in sight. Unfazed, he pressed on along the solitary path that hugged the wall. As he passed an open doorway, a barely discernible figure in the dim interior caught his eye. He spared the entrance a fleeting glance, unable to determine the building's purpose. Ultimately, it was of little consequence, so he stepped inside.
In the shadowy interior, Alec made his way towards the figure, her silhouette confirming it was indeed Ria. She stood frozen at the top of a stairway that descended into darkness, her attention completely absorbed by the abyss below.
"Um, Ria?" he said, gently placing his hand on her shoulder.
Her reaction was instantaneous and dramatic. Startled, she let out a loud 'Waaaah' and lunged forward with cat-like reflexes. As she spun around to identify her assailant, her feet missed solid ground, already committed to the direction of the stairs. She flailed helplessly, plunging into the darkness, her wide eyes meeting Alec's in a flash of surprise before she vanished from view. The sounds of her descent—a mix of tumbling and distressed whimpers—echoed up the stairwell, growing fainter as she continued her fall. Alec stood frozen in shock, staring into the dark void as he realized the effect of his action. (Way to go, Alec. Perfect bridge building. You couldn't do it any better.)
He quickly conjured a glowing lightball and hurried down the stairs, his heart pounding with concern. "Ria? Are you all right?" he called into the darkness, his orb of light cutting through the shadows as he descended. Ahead, another lightball flickered to life, revealing Ria already standing upright and inspecting herself for injuries.
"You absolute moron! What have you done!?" Ria snapped at him as he reached the bottom of the stairwell.
"Uh, I'm sorry. Are you hurt?" Alec asked, sweeping his gaze over her figure.
Ria glowered at him, her hands briskly running over her body in a thorough self-examination. She patted down her arms and legs, pressed lightly on her torso, then twisted slightly to ensure no discomfort or injury was missed. "I'm fine. I've already learned how to reinforce my body. But seriously, what were you thinking, ambushing me like that?"
"I wasn't trying to ambush you. It's just I saw you, and wanted to…" Alec's voice trailed off, faltering under her intense gaze. "Uh, anyway, let's head back upstairs. I'll take you to the infirmary to make sure you're fine."
"Upstairs? What stairs?" Ria asked, her lips curling into a smirk.
"What do you mean? The ones you fell down to," Alec replied as he turned to point them out. But to his surprise, instead of a stairway, the corridor stretched out straight behind him. Confused, he sent his lightball further along the corridor and then back in the other direction. Both ways, the corridor remained unchanging, a straight path with no sign of stairs. "What?" he uttered, baffled. He sent the lightball farther down the corridor to search for the missing stairs, but the passage remained stubbornly flat and unbroken.
"Welcome to the undergrounds," Ria said casually, as if she were introducing Alec to a common room rather than a perplexing labyrinth beneath the Academy.
"How are we supposed to get back?" His voice quivered, the edge of panic creeping in.
Ria tilted her head, her eyes locked on his face. "We aren't going back just yet. There's a pair of spies working for necromancers that needs catching. Let's keep moving." She grabbed his hand and pulled him down the corridor with firm resolve.
At first, Alec had not resisted, but a few steps later, her words sank in. "Necromancers? Here?" he squeaked, his voice pitching higher in disbelief. "You're making this up," he accused, trying to plant his feet and slow them down.
Ria marched forward, her pace unwavering. "No, Ari and Kiran saw them too. We even reported it, but the Academy did nothing. They probably didn't believe us. So, we need concrete proof," she said.
Alec's anxiety spiked. "You're joking. I don't want to run into real necromancers. Tell me how to get out of this place."
"Oh?" Ria's tone hardened. "So you'd rather let them infiltrate the Academy and do as they please? Who knows what they are planning? Besides, I doubt they're actual necromancers—they just spy for them. Either way, I refuse to let them roam free. Are you really going to flee and leave your squadmate to face the necromantic spies alone?" She cast a challenging glance over her shoulder, her expression a mix of determination and a dare, as she pulled him forward.
Alec felt torn between fear and his sense of duty to their squad. The thought of facing necromancers terrified him, but Ria's conviction—and the idea of abandoning a squadmate—weighed heavily on him. He was still being pulled along; his steps were hesitant, but he gradually fell in line with Ria's determined stride.
(I can't leave her alone. What if something happens to her? And the whole reason I'm here right now is because I wanted us to act more like a squad,) he reasoned with himself, trying to justify his decision. But his gaze inevitably drifted to his hand, where Ria's fingers still firmly clasped his wrist. The softness of her touch, the warmth of her skin against his—it was all new to him. (A girl's touch! D-Does it count as hand-holding?) He felt the blood warm his cheeks.
Alec cleared his throat to regain some composure before addressing the subject weighing on his mind. "About our squad," he began hesitantly. "I'm sorry for the incident I caused. I couldn't control it, and it ended with me…" He paused, his voice trailing off as his cheeks burned even hotter with embarrassment. "What I want to say is that I know things have been awkward because of me, but we really need to come together as a squad. It's in our common interest. Could you help me mend this?"
"Ha?" Ria turned to him, releasing his wrist. Alec felt an instant pang of regret for speaking up. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"We hardly speak to each other," he explained as his gaze shifted away to hide his reddening face. "I figured it's all my fault. It must be weird after you all saw me in that… state."
Ria chuckled lightly. "I think you're misunderstanding something. Sure, it was awkward, but I don't care about your 'little' incident."
('Little'?) Alec's mortification deepened, and the corridor wall suddenly became the most fascinating thing in the world to look at.
"Kiran is naturally reserved," Ria continued, seemingly oblivious to Alec's discomfort. "He barely speaks, and it's usually Ari who gets a word out of him. As for the traitor, well, you've seen his attitude—he doesn't want to work with us, and I'd be lying if I said it makes me unhappy. It's not your fault. It's just the way things are."
Alec listened, absorbing her words. A fleeting sense of relief quickly gave way to a gnawing realization that their fundamental issue remained unsolved. "But we can't go on like this. We need to form a proper squad. I've waited for so long to join the Academy; failure isn't an option. There must be something we can do to make it work." He turned to face Ria. "Let's work together. I'm sure we can find a way to cooperate. We can't give up."
Ria's eyebrows arched in surprise at his earnest appeal. Then it was her turn to look away. "Without Ari, we're done for either way," she said.
Alec blinked. "Why? What do you mean? I don't remember exactly, but I believe the number of adepts in our year isn't a multiple of five. Can't we integrate someone else into our squad?"
Ria walked in silence for a few moments before responding. "I'm of the Healer class. Life Power is notoriously hard to convert into other types, and my affinity is strong, which means I'm unlikely to contribute to combat and will have to focus on my support role. You're of the Bulwark class. You have a strong source, but your control is weak and mages rarely improve their natural control skills. Therefore, your position is at the very front, attracting and eliminating the enemy in close combat, where your control skills don't matter. Kiran is your opposite. He's overly focused on himself, tightly controlling his Power. And because he's too focused, he won't be able to weave intricate multi-target attacks. He's a Scout class, or maybe a Duelist. Maybe both; I'm not sure yet. The traitor is of the Enchanter class. His area of control is much larger than ours, and he can evoke various effects within it, but it's also a supporting class."
"How do you know all this?" Alec seized the momentary pause to ask, impressed by Ria's accurate insight into his Power.
Ria lifted her shoulders in a casual shrug. "Years of home-schooling taught me what to look for. Plus, I have eyes. I simply had to observe your defensive practice sessions. Perhaps I also got a peek at some admission documents."
"I see." Alec nodded. "But I still don't understand why it's a problem if Ari can't make it."
"I checked every record in the library all the way back to the founding of the Empire, and my conclusion is that every squad ever formed has always had at least two people capable of mass destruction. After all, our primary role is to fight hordes of undead. A Duelist may be useful in a direct encounter against a necromancer, but most confrontations involve simply plowing through the masses of the dead. For that, we need substantial firepower, which our squad currently lacks entirely—we have exactly zero people meeting that requirement," Ria explained, her voice edged with frustration.
"This leads me to believe the Academy has classified Ari as an exceptionally powerful Artillery mage," she continued. "One strong enough to compensate for two. It's the only explanation I can think of. And if I'm right, finding a replacement for her is next to impossible. Ninety-seven adepts were admitted this year, which leaves two without a full squad. Both of them have fitting classes and might fill our vacant spot, but neither of them is strong enough to replace Ari's expected firepower. We must get rid of the traitor as quickly as possible and then integrate those two remaining adepts. Otherwise, it's a stalemate."
Alec sighed; the complexity of their situation and the fact Ria was so much further ahead in her analysis weighed on him. "I know you don't like Elathiel, but isn't it a bit unfair to treat him like this? We shouldn't abandon a squadmate. It's not our fault Ari can't make it. Perhaps we should let the Academy handle this, let them make the necessary adjustments."
"Sure," Ria said quietly. "Perhaps I should just find a new squad for myself already."
Alec watched Ria storm ahead, radiating anger. He had only wanted to bring their squad together, to build a sense of unity and mutual support. But his words seemed to have pushed Ria further away. He opened his mouth, intending to say something to ease the tension, but then hesitated, as the realization dawned on him. Ria was a Life mage—a healer—the most universally needed role. If the Academy adjusted their squad to include two destruction-based classes, it would be Ria who was the most likely to be reassigned, as she would have the highest chance to find a fit somewhere else. By trying to be neutral, he had inadvertently suggested that he wanted her to be the one to leave.
"Put down your lightball before you roast us to a crisp. Mine is enough," came an irritated growl from ahead.
Alec glanced at his orb, ablaze with red flames licking its surface and radiating intense heat. As Ria had pointed out earlier, his control skills were indeed subpar; he could not prevent his fire affinity from leaking into the lightball. Ideally, it would emit pure light, but instead, it was engulfed in short, lazy flames that cloaked the entire orb. Observing Ria's lightball, he noted its gentle white glow, subtly infused with a hint of light green. Unlike his, hers exuded a comforting aura that made Alec's skin tingle pleasantly, as if caressed by warm dew. It appeared Ria too could not completely contain her affinity.
He dispelled his lightball and quickened his pace to stay within the safe glow of Ria's orb. They walked side by side in a prolonged silence, each absorbed in their own thoughts. The corridor stretched straight like an arrow, never turning, never forking.
Alec's anxiety mounted as the time passed. How far had they traveled? Were they still beneath the Academy, or had they ventured beyond, under the city itself? Before he could muster the courage to voice his concerns, the confining walls vanished. They stepped into a chamber so vast that their lone source of light rendered them a solitary island lost amidst the endless sea of darkness.
They both stopped, taken aback by the sudden openness. Ria reached out towards her lightball, her fist clenching tight. In a swift motion, she unfurled her fingers, and the orb responded by splitting into a dozen duplicates. Their light intensity amplified, and just as she prepared to dispatch them to explore, the chamber was suddenly bathed in a brilliant light.
Alec instinctively shielded his eyes from the blinding onslaught. Gradually, as his vision adapted, he surveyed their surroundings. The chamber was immense, yet starkly plain. In the center stood a large, circular formation, reminiscent of the basin of a grand fountain. Yet, instead of water, its core was an extraordinary structure. At its heart lay a sprawling expanse of convex surfaces, like a mosaic of uneven tiles. Each segment caught the light from countless lightstones embedded in the ceiling differently, shimmering with a prismatic glow that revealed the depth and complexity of the crystalline composition. The surfaces rose and dipped subtly, creating a landscape of geometric hills and valleys. The entire formation glittered—a spectacle of refracted light, its myriad facets casting reflections across the chamber's barren walls.
"Could it be…?" Alec began, mesmerized, his eyes wide with wonder.
"Yes," Ria replied right away, equally captivated. "I've seen recordstones of this place."
"But how? Shouldn't it be protected?"
"It is protected. By the undergrounds. We should have never been able to find this place. I don't understand," Ria said, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Together, they approached the low stone barrier encircling the crystal, stopping at its very brink.
"So this is Tramiria," Alec mumbled under his breath, recalling the energy source powering the entire Academy and the city's most advanced defense system, the Arcane Sentinel Array. This massive crystal was the final destination for all the Power siphoned from the adepts through the Horns.
As he gazed at the captivating display, a flicker of movement registered in the corner of his eye. He flinched and stepped back, only to see a silvery cat land gracefully on the stone fence. The cat, seemingly oblivious to their presence, fixated on the crystal's refractive dance, just as they had moments before.
"What's this damned cat doing here?" Ria started. "Has it been following us all the way here?" She eyed the cat with suspicion. "Maybe it's also a spy sent by the necromancers."
Alec swallowed, his nerves tightening as he remembered the mysterious presence that spoke to him during his explosive outburst. The exact words were lost to him, but the profound, mystical connection he had felt still lingered in his heart. Despite his squadmates' reluctance to discuss that night, he had learned from them that this silver cat was likely the only reason they had all survived. Apparently, it could absorb vast amounts of the Power—enough to quell Alec's outburst. And now, Ria decided to insult that very cat.
"The cat isn't a spy. You told me it helped us that night. It's a good cat," Alec insisted, keeping his eyes on the feline and hoping for some sign of acknowledgment.
"Maybe it helped us so we would lead it here." Ria was not giving up on her dangerous game.
"How could it have known we would find the Tramiria crystal? You yourself said finding this place should be impossible."
Ria tilted her head in thought. "Fair point. But it's still weird. I don't like this creepy cat."
Alec swallowed again. "I think it's a magnificent cat. Look at its majestic mane and how regally it carries itself. It's like nobility among cats. We're lucky it chooses to stay with us."
"Lucky?" Ria snorted. "This cat is lucky I haven't kicked it out through our dorm window yet."
Alec froze as the cat turned its head toward them. For a few heartbeats, time seemed to pause; they watched the cat, and the cat watched them in return. Then, the cat simply hopped off the stone fence and began its stroll around the chamber.
A breath of relief escaped Alec's lips. Hopefully, the cat was not offended by Ria's harsh words. Or perhaps it was a completely normal cat and it could not understand them at all. But he would rather not take any chances. "What now? Shouldn't we leave? We'll be in trouble if anyone finds us here. First you report seeing necromantic spies searching for the Tramiria crystal, and then they find us standing right by it, with no spies in sight," he said.
"You're right, we should get out of here," Ria nodded, her gaze lingering on the wandering cat. "However, I'm not sure what to do next. If the undergrounds' protection is malfunctioning, the Academy needs to know. But how will they react? Access to this chamber is meant for a select few. They might neuter us just on principle alone. What are two adepts compared to the security of the entire Empire? And since we've found our way here once, we can do it again. We now know this destination, so the undergrounds could guide us straight back here."
Alec did not like where this was heading. Every moment in this chamber felt increasingly perilous. "We'll figure that out later. First, we need to leave. Do we backtrack, or use that other exit?" He nodded towards an alternate path.
"In the undergrounds, always move forward, never back," Ria stated and headed toward the new exit.
Just as they were about to leave the chamber, Alec paused and looked back. "I don't see the cat," he said as his gaze scanned the vast space.
"If it followed us all the way here, it can do it again. Let's go; I'm not searching for that freak of a cat."
Alec, though reluctant, agreed. Lingering near the Tramiria crystal seemed unwise, and if the animal was as extraordinary as he suspected, it would not be lost. The two of them resumed their journey, Ria's lightball once again guiding them through the cramped corridor, leaving the chamber—and the Empire's most strategic crystal—behind.
As they advanced down the new path, it unfolded before them with the same unwavering straightness as the previous corridor. The walls stretched endlessly ahead, a monotonous tunnel carved from bare stone. The only respite from the dullness was the gentle illumination from Ria's lightball. The orb, with its delicate fusion of white and subtle green hues, cast an ethereal light, softening the harshness of the rough surfaces. Its luminescence ebbed like a heartbeat, harmonizing with their steps and creating a tranquil ambiance.
They pushed forward in silence, each absorbed in thought, when an abrupt change in the corridor's sameness caught their attention. A solitary metal door interrupted the unbroken line of stone, standing out like an anomaly in the featureless tunnel. The door, crafted from dark, lustrous metal and embossed with patterns scattered around its frame, shimmered under the lightball's glow. Rust clung to its edges, lending it an ancient, almost mystical appearance.
"Let's keep moving. It's getting late. I still have lectures to attend," Alec said, noticing Ria's interest in the door.
"We should take a look. The undergrounds are keen on revealing their secrets today. It would be a waste to ignore such an opportunity. We may never get another chance to uncover a forgotten room down here," Ria argued.
"I could live without such a chance, and it's probably locked anyway."
"That's easy to find out," Ria said, her curiosity getting the better of her. She reached out, her hand confidently pressing down on the door handle.
The door opened with surprising ease, silent despite its apparent age, and led them into a room engulfed in pitch darkness. Ria dispatched her lightball ahead, its soft glow revealing the room's contents as they stepped inside. Immediately, their eyes were drawn to two imposing steel cages located in opposite corners. The cages were not empty.
As they edged closer to the cages, they took in the details of the room. A thick layer of dust coated everything, suggesting years of neglect. Wooden desks and tables, laden with an assortment of glassware in various shapes and sizes, hinted at experimental endeavors—flasks, beakers, and retorts all lay scattered in disarray. Along the walls, shelves and cabinets stood crammed with leather-bound books, their spines cracked and faded.
Nearing the steel enclosures, they discerned dark forms sprawled on the floor. The light revealed more details, and Alec's eyes widened in shock as the figures resolved into shriveled bodies. Dressed in tattered rags, they lay lifeless behind the bars.
"What is this place?" Alec asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't know," Ria replied. She crouched at the cage's edge to inspect it more closely. "A prison, perhaps? Or maybe a torture chamber?" She directed her lightball to glide among the bodies; its glow cast eerie shadows over the withered, desiccated skins of the corpses.
"I don't see any torture instruments. And these seem more like cages than prison cells."
Ria straightened. "Maybe the answers are over there," she said, gesturing toward a desk pressed against the wall, its surface hidden beneath a pile of papers and scrolls.
The instant they diverted their gaze from the cage, a chilling crackling sound emanated from beneath the corpses. It served as the only warning before a withered hand lunged at them. Alec, whirling back towards the commotion, could only watch as the bony fingers latched onto Ria's dress. For a brief, surreal moment, time seemed to freeze. The gnarled hand gripped the fabric, its skeletal fingers clutching tightly, while Ria stood motionless, disbelief etched on her face.
In the next heartbeat, a surge of dark emerald energy, mirroring the hue of Ria's dress, sparked across the material, scrambling toward the grasping hand. Upon impact, the hand's grip momentarily faltered, and Ria leaped back the instant she was freed.
Before Alec could fully process what had just happened, he realized he was now the one nearest to the cage. Hastily, he stepped away, joining Ria at a safer distance as more hands began to flail through the bars. A deep, guttural growl accompanied the chaotic limbs, intensifying as the once-still bodies came to life.
"Undead!" Alec exclaimed, terror etched all over his face.
"Undead!" Ria exclaimed, terror etched all over her face… not. Alec glanced at Ria, expecting to share the mutual horror of their discovery, but her expression showed no sign of fear. She gazed at the cage, her eyes alight with fascination, following all the writhing movements within.
"We need to inform the professors. There are real undead beneath the Academy," Alec said, his voice trembling despite his best efforts.
"What?" Ria spun toward him, a flicker of fear finally showing on her face, though seemingly for entirely wrong reasons. "No, absolutely not. It's common knowledge that the military keeps undead on Academy grounds. They even parade them through the city from time to time, showcasing our greatest enemy to the populace. This must be one of their storage sites, one they forgot about."
"But what if these undead break free? We can't just ignore the risk."
"Those things were locked here for Taro knows how long. They're not going anywhere," Ria said, her expression hardening. "Think, Alec. Lower-year adepts are barred from entering the undergrounds, and we're not even adepts yet. The administration would expel us in an instant for this. Remember Deputy Director Adele Silverlight's stern words in her opening speech? We must not speak to anyone about what we saw today. Absolutely no one. Not a soul. Not even our squadmates."
Ria's intense gaze was boring deep into Alec's mind. "But what if those necromantic spies find this place? Maybe that's what they're after?" he countered.
"We don't know if they are truly spies," Ria replied, her stare remaining relentless. "We've already agreed to keep quiet about the Tramiria crystal. This is just an abandoned undead storage, insignificant in comparison. Don't throw away our future. We'll act as if we never opened this door, all right?"
Alec met Ria's imploring gaze. She was right; they had already committed to secrecy about their earlier discovery. Deep inside, he was relieved at her insistence on keeping it all secret. He berated himself for being a coward, but the feeling of relief persisted. "All right," he finally said. Ria's expression brightened instantly, and Alec could not help but smile in response. There was a certain comfort in seeing her cheerful face and in the realization that the burdens of today's exploration had lifted from his shoulders.
"Perfect. Then we were never here," Ria said with a cheerful nod. "We weren't even in the undergrounds in the first place," she added.
They promptly exited the room, careful not to disturb anything further. Alec gave one final, uneasy glance at the restless undead before he pulled the door closed. With the door firmly shut, he exhaled a silent sigh of relief. The ordeal was over and he had no intention of venturing into the undergrounds ever again. The memories of today were best left buried deep in the recesses of his mind, to be forgotten as quickly as possible.
Ria picked up the pace, and Alec followed. (Why is she in such a good mood?) he wondered, noticing the lively sparkle in Ria's eyes every time she glanced his way. (Well, that's none of my concern. Just let me out of here.) Exhaustion was beginning to take its toll.
They walked through the endlessly straight corridor for another half hour; nothing happened, much to Alec's relief. When they finally emerged into the daylight, they found themselves at the very entrance they had initially used. Alec shook his head in disbelief. (It doesn't make sense. We moved in a straight line the entire time, yet here we are, back where we started. I swear, I'm never going back down there again. Not ever,) he promised himself.
Once outside, Alec blinked as his eyes adjusted to the sun's radiance. They took only a few steps before Ria suddenly stopped in her tracks, her attention caught by someone sitting on a bench nearby. The bench was on a path crossing theirs, so Alec could only see the stranger's back.
"Let's head the other way," Ria said, but before she could pivot away, the stranger glanced over his shoulder.
"Miss Sarelli," the stranger called, raising his hand in a casual greeting. "Could I have a moment of your time?"
Ria momentarily froze. "Y-Yes, of course," she stammered after a brief pause, then walked toward the stranger.
Alec trailed behind Ria, his curiosity piqued. He did not recognize the man, but as they approached, he noted the stranger's meticulously trimmed boxed beard and hard facial features. Alec could not pin the stranger's age—the man was neither old nor young. His expression was unreadable, but a faint hint of friendliness softened his gaze.
"Miss Sarelli, how are you? I trust your studies are sailing smoothly towards becoming an adept," the stranger began with a cordial smile.
The fearless Ria, who had faced the undead without flinching, now fidgeted nervously. "Y-Yes. We were just preparing for our classes. The lectures are about to start, Master Toaro, if you'd excuse us…"
"It will take only a moment," Master Toaro interrupted, then turned his attention to Alec. "And you must be Alec Tanner. It's a pleasure to meet you at last. I have high expectations for you and your integration into your squad," he said, another cordial smile touching his lips.
Alec's mind clicked as he connected the name. (The Shadow Guard's Superior! And he knows who I am!) His heartbeat quickened. "Yes, Master Toaro, I'm Alec," he responded and dipped his head respectfully. "Thank you for your kind words. I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations."
Master Toaro nodded in acknowledgment of Alec's words, then shifted his focus back to Ria. "Miss Sarelli, I recognize your potential and thus have decided to aid in accelerating your progress. After all, the squad of my little Ari must excel. It's only fitting that I support her teammates as well."
Alec suddenly understood. (Of course, he knows who I am! Ari is his disciple. I thought it's only a wild rumor, but if it's true, then it makes sense for a master to keep an eye on those close to his pupil, especially their squad.)
Ria visibly brightened upon hearing Master Toaro's words. Her initial nervousness melted away, replaced by her usual curiosity. "Aid in my progress? How?" she asked eagerly.
Master Toaro reached into his pocket and soon revealed a tiny seed resting in his palm. "There are no rewards without hard work," he stated as he extended his hand towards Ria. "Complete this assignment, and I will provide something tailored just for you."
"Just for me?" Ria echoed, accepting the seed, her eyes sparkling again. "What's the assignment?"
"The challenge is to cultivate this seed. However, you must do so with no direct help from faculty members. You can attend lectures and seek their knowledge as long as you don't reveal the seed to them. If they identify it or its nurturing method for you, you fail. Your task is to discover what this plant is, and how to grow it. On your own. Are those terms clear?"
"Clear," Ria confirmed with a nod. "I need to make this seed sprout."
"Not just sprout, it must thrive," Master Toaro clarified. "A word of advice: if you plant it like any other seed, it will sprout, but then wither after its first leaves appear. This is your only seed, so proceed with caution. You have a single opportunity."
"Understood," Ria said, nodding more vigorously as she turned the seed over in her fingers.
"Excellent. Then I am not stopping you here any longer. Good luck," Master Toaro said, before turning to Alec once more. "And you, Alec, I have yet to get to know you. Show me the mettle in your studies, and you too might earn an assignment. My rewards are always based on merit."
After bowing to Master Toaro, Alec and Ria quickly continued on their way. A short while later, Alec's stomach grumbled, but a glance at the sun told him that afternoon lectures were imminent. Grabbing lunch seemed unlikely—their adventure in the undergrounds had taken far too much time. Hungry and weary, Alec sighed, grateful at least that the ordeal was already in the past.
Naymila gracefully settled on the bench beside Cassem. She was confident in her stealthy approach, but he remained unfazed—not the tiniest flinch of a reaction to her sudden presence. Taro knew this man was infuriatingly hard to impress or surprise.
"Why did you give her the seed?" she asked, her gaze following the departing figures of the squad members under her supervision as they vanished into the park's dense hedges.
"I failed," came the simple answer. "I wasted all but that one, unable to decipher the mechanisms behind their growth. There's an artificial element to them; they can't be a result of purely natural processes. But I failed to glimpse even a sliver of answers hidden within them." Cassem's expression grew somber.
"Even if you've given up, why not pass it to the herbalists? I can understand you wanted to play with the seeds yourself, but why pass the last one to the Sarelli girl instead of them?"
"They're useless. The Empire has had access to these unique seeds from Ail Forest before and attempted studies, all fruitless. They are deemed impossible to cultivate. There's no evidence of these plants even living anywhere in today's world. Perhaps the environment has changed, and it's no longer possible for them to thrive."
"That still doesn't explain why you gave your last seed to the Sarelli girl."
"Sometimes you give a person an impossible task and they do it simply because they don't know it's impossible."
Naymila lapsed into silence, baffled. She had expected a more profound strategy or significant rationale behind Cassem's decision. This seemed nonsensical.
"How is Ari doing?" Cassem shifted the subject.
"She was discharged from the infirmary today," Naymila responded. "She has only one more week left before the branding ceremony. Do you really not have a plan to help her become an adept?"
Cassem shook his head. "No. Even my assessment of her source was speculative at best. Her ease of use is unlike anything I've seen in others, so I assumed she was strong. Besides, you were there that night…" His voice trailed off, and Naymila felt a chill of fear creeping within her. Cassem then looked directly at her. "If Ari's heritage is hampering her, there's nothing we can do," he finished.
Naymila paced her breathing to maintain her composure. (I am not afraid of that Bandawi girl. Nor any girl, for that matter,) she reassured herself, though the image of Ari morphed into the dark, ominous figure of Kia Sarelli in her mind. Despite her resolve, she could not suppress a shiver.