"Ryan, you'll be keeping an eye on Volkner's condition while I catch some sleep. Everyone else is on standby. Just give them a call; they should be rested by now."
"Okay, rest well, Caius. I'll let you know if anything changes."
"Sounds good. See you in a bit."
Dr. Elveron exhaled deeply, the weight of his shift settling into his bones. The sterile glow of the medical ward amplified his exhaustion as he walked down the hall. He unclipped a canteen of warm water from his belt, taking a steady sip to calm his mind before entering his room. Inside, he grabbed a handful of vitamins and swallowed them; the warmth easing his weariness.
"Bland, but at least it won't upset my stomach," he muttered—a familiar part of his routine.
With his duties now in Ryan's hands, Caius cast one last glance at Volkner's vitals on the hologram by the door. His gaze lingered for a moment before he turned away, letting the door slide shut with a soft click.
Outside, the rustling of clothes broke the forest's silence. Two figures moved swiftly among the trees, their gray cloaks blending with the shadows. Ahead, the faint glow of the city's wall loomed, its magic shimmering in the distance.
"There's the wall," Riley said, his steps slowing. For him, it wasn't just a barrier—it was a reminder of every failed attempt to breach it. It always seemed impenetrable, unyielding.
I glanced at him. "Caelum Benedictio designed it to be unbreakable, but we're about to test that." I kept my voice steady. "I'm the only one who can phase through without setting off alarms. That's why we're doing this."
Riley nodded, though the weight of it all still pressed on him. "I've seen that wall stop the best of us. But you... I trust you. That's why I'm here."
He didn't hesitate, but the gravity of our mission hung between us. Riley had led us before, but now leadership was mine. He was here because he trusted me—Selene—no one else. I didn't take that confidence lightly.
As we approached, the barrier's hum grew louder, a testament to how far Caelum Benedictio had advanced. We moved closer, the shimmering magic casting faint light over the ground.
"I'll phase us through. This wall, their magic-tech—it won't stop us."
Riley stayed quiet, but I saw the tension ease from his posture. He trusted me to do what no one else could. And I intended to do just that.
"Hop on."
Without a word, he climbed onto my back, his weight familiar from so many missions together. I took a deep breath; the world around us flickered as I phased us out of existence. The wall, the barrier, the guards—they all dissolved as we slipped between worlds, unseen and untouchable.
The golden glow of the city greeted us as we reappeared on the other side. The streets were calm in the late afternoon, the academy not far ahead.
"We're in. We'll wait at the academy. Too risky to meet Volkner while he's still at the arena."
A soft chime from my phone broke the silence. I glanced at the message. "Samantha's waiting at the cafe."
Riley slid off my back, stretching his legs. "I'll walk from here."
I chuckled. He trusted me more than anyone, but there was still something I hadn't told him.
"By the way, it's Selene," I said, meeting his eyes.
He paused, then a smile spread across his face. "Selene, huh? Suits you."
"Yeah, yeah. Don't get used to it." I grinned. "Come on—Samantha's waiting."