Night before the festival...
The three already arrives at the Oakwood's closest town, Greengard Town. The moon were high in the sky and it's already silent and less festive then the time they arrived. All people were asleep in the town and only the town enforcer patrolling outside.
Codex were gazing at the star. Pondering about what happen to her and Black Blade at the stream before. She thinks again and again about it. She's already compressed the feeling she had for Black Blade for years but somehow the feeling just float up that easily by looking the interaction between him and Emerald.
She utterly confused by that because that was almost impossible to happen at all.
"I know...there is something wrong with this place... I know." She said as she look to the empty street in front of the inn.
She was at the third floor of the inn and the night wind was gentle yet enough to bring her shiver. The fact that winter was drawing near is evident here.
"I... Can't let that happen again. It was too dangerous." She shook her head and head back to bed.
Not long after, She fell asleep due to how tired she was for today. She just wish for tomorrow didn't be that bad.
The festival day, Early in the morning...
"Master! Can I buy that? and that too?" Emerald were walking around town, getting enchanted to the local foods that was sale during that time.
"You have your own money. Just use it." He said as he catch up to her who was standing in front of a shop.
"I want to safe that for later, Plus you have a few times more money then I did." She implies with a confident smile and her hand placed to her hips.
Black Blade sighing once before actually pay for the food. At that time, the dawn was not here yet. It still dark but townpeople here was energetic and very eager for the festival. Before the sunrise, almost all around the town already open their stall.
The two were enjoying their time there and while they do, Codex were collecting information in her room with her book. She check the trace of mana that changing around the area and nothing much worth noted.
"This is tiring. I think this time also... The letter was nothing but an empty threat. Or at least that what I think."
She pry into the book again and keep reading the changes. Words per words appear in the book and as it recording the changes of mana flowing there.
Also at the same time in the different area of the town, Ekiu and Equ were setting their shop for open after another hour. They were sorting the statue and wood carving on the shelves in front of their shop.
"Hey, Ekiu. Can you go to the blacksmith and take the forging that I order yesterday? Jonas must done it by now. He promise to do by morning."
"Okay sis. Just don't mess thing up like last year okay?" he said as he pick his bag.
"Will not!!!" She exclaim loudly to the tease from him.
He leave the shop and visited the blacksmith. In the shop, he saw a magician in blue magician robe and a green haired girl with a weird looking magician dress. The girl seems eager looking the smith craft there and the magician was facepalming himself a few times with nonsence that the girl spoken off.
He then deal with the blacksmith and return back to the shop. Then, he start to help with the shop preparation.
Meanwhile, at the outskirt of the town. There stands a group of assassin behind the bush. Preparing for their mission. An assassin in red was chacking the situation and he seems to be the person in command there.
"Madam. What is our next move?" one of the assassin behind the red one spoke.
"As the head said, We need to take down the Denials first. If we manage to do so, things with the main plan will be simple." The red assassin turn to the rest of the group.
She seems to be in the deep thought since taking down the Denials never be an easy task. Denials were known for their powerful members that never been took down so far. Her forehead wrinkles as she sweat drips down her cheek until a bard in green walks out from a bush. He was laughing like a madman.
"Oh, Madame.... You seems frustrated. Need any help?" He said as he drew closer to the red assassin called Madame.
"You gonna help me this time, Bard?" She snicker as the annoying bard step closer to her.
"It's Denial we talking about. Why not?" He laugh out loud again.
"Fine! Tell me what you need and just do it. we need the Denials fall before afternoon."
Madame look at the bard with distrust in her face as he tell all he need to took down those Denial. All the assassin listen to his word and they start the planning to fulfill all condition needed.
A few hours later, The sun almost up to the sky but the heat didn't really felted due to the dark clouds forming all around the Melloyern. Even it's a sign of bad omen to the townspeople, it wasn't dampen the spirit of them to enjoy the festival that already befallen upon them.
At that moment, a group of assassins start to make fuss at a main road of the festival. They kill people and tourist around the area and destroying the stall around. City enforcer start to fight them but one by one of them fallen to the assassin.
Codex was the closest to the scene. She cast a spell to send the news to Black Blade who was at the other side of the town. She quickly sprint there not long after.
"Stop... right there." She said with a low voice as she throw a wind spell to break all of the assassin ruckus.
"That's the Denial. Red Codex. It's seems she's alone." one of the assassin said.
"Maybe our job is just exaggeration after all." They start laughing and points their weapon to her.
"You all have chosen death." Codex said and start the offensive againts the assassin.
She throws many bolts with different element to the assassins. Some of them couldn't evade the bolts since it's moving at a very high speed. Some of them manage to block the attack and charged to her to make attempt for close up combat.
"You're done for it!" The assassin swings his kunai to her.
She create a small force field at her right hand and parried the strike effortlessly. Another assassin attack her from behind but a bolt come from her robe hits him out of the blue and sends him flying. She then cast a spell and directly hits the assassin in front of her. He reduces into dust as she make contact with the bolt.
After some of their comrade falls, They stop and seems pretty terrified looking at the power codex has.
"This is... impossible... What scale she is again..." one of the assassin ask and his voice shaken.
"I heard... she's just Catalyst(Third lowerst tier). This power is... impossible."
Codex walk towards them and preparing some spell.
"Leave." She said with her low and slightly hoarse voice.
Before the assassins respond, a gentle and soothing sound of lyre echoes and she felt a heavy thumping in her chest. She can't move.
"Bravo... You finally distracted... Codex." The bard earlier step out from an alleyway while playing his lyre.
"I see... You use those assassin to distract me so I didn't detect you. Well played." She said calmly.
"Well you're the sharpest among them. I need to take you on first and the rest... will be very very... Easy." he look at Codex's eye with a sinister and sharp glance.
To be continue...