{Melisa}
The square was pandemonium, a blur of screaming voices, stomping feet, and the occasional crash of overturned carts as the crowd scrambled to flee.
Melisa barely registered the chaos. Her focus was locked entirely on Lady Belstadt, whose violet eyes gleamed with malicious intent.
"Well... so much for keeping things civil," Melisa muttered, raising her wand.
Behind her, Isabella, Javir, Raven, and Armia sprang into action, their own Essence flaring as other Shadow Mages stepped out from the crowd.
"Melisa!" Isabella called, her voice sharp. "We'll handle the goons. You take care of her!"
"Goons?" one of the Shadow Mages sneered, a whip of dark energy coiling from his hand. "We're a lot more than that, little fox!"
[... Are you really, though?]
Isabella responded with a smirk, her wand moving in a blur.
"Inferni, ortis, stria!" A streak of flame surged forward, forcing the Shadow Mage to leap aside.
