Cossay City was no longer entirely on the defensive. Instead, there was a palpable sense of internal tension amid the outward appearance of calm.
"Stay close to me once we head out," Lucian reminded Carrie in a hushed tone. After a pause, he added another warning: "Unless it's absolutely necessary, avoid using your bloodline abilities."
Carrie, her distinctive features concealed by a rudimentary shapeshifting spell, nodded earnestly. The disguise was essential. Outwardly, she no longer appeared to have the hallmarks of a half-fae, reducing the risk of drawing unwanted attention.
The truth was, a living half-fae—or even their corpse—was immensely valuable. Carrie's implanted bloodline, a rare strain of pure Lunar Fae lineage, made her worth far more than the common half-fae roaming the depths of Cossay Island. With the existence of a fae ruin on the island, her presence could stir envy or provoke hostility, even from temporary allies like Bennett or Lillia.
"Got it, Lucian Mentor." Carrie adjusted her Origin Bow and gripped it tightly.
Her gaze strayed to three second-tier apprentices who had been assigned to spearhead the group's exploration. These "bait units" were the ones who would be tasked with rushing headlong into the mist to test the waters and potentially draw enemy fire.
Among them was Phila, a defensive specialist and someone who had once sought an alliance with Carrie for mutual survival. Selected by Bennett for this dangerous task, Phila now stood rigidly at attention, sweat glistening on her brow.
"Phila, it's up to you now." Bennett offered a warm smile, patting her shoulder.
Sweat trickled down Phila's nose as she recalled the conversation with Lady Fia (T/N: Bennett's head maid and also a Tier-3 Wizard Apprentice) just a few days prior:
"Go out there, and the Moonlight Praise will be yours when you return. Refuse, and I'll end you here and now."
Phila swallowed hard, her gaze shifting to the other two unlucky apprentices.
"You two better charge in with me," she growled, her tone commanding as they prepared to step into the mist.
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Meanwhile, outside the gates of Cossay City, a group of half-fae launched yet another probing attack under the cover of mist.
"Hurry it up—just injure them enough to slow them down," Lillia said coldly, tightening her grip on the ragdoll known as Edlyn.
"Charge!" Phila bellowed, rallying the other apprentices as they plunged into the swirling mist.
"Follow them," Lillia commanded after a moment. She smeared a drop of blood onto Edlyn's stitched lips.
"Edlyn has friends to meet! Let's go!" chirped the doll in its eerie, childlike voice as it floated into the air and led the way.
Lucian watched the scene unfold with narrowed eyes. Edlyn, despite its diminutive form, was unnerving. Previous attempts to appraise the doll had revealed nothing, but the aura it exuded hinted at ties to a formal sorcerer—a matter that deserved caution.
"Its abilities require blood as a medium to activate. Note this weakness," Lucian mused, I should formulate contingency plans for dealing with the doll if necessary.
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"Edlyn has found its friends! Oh no, how rude—they're napping here all by themselves!" the doll declared.
As the group followed, they stumbled upon a half-fae with a massive hole in their chest lying lifeless on the ground.
Ahead, Phila and another apprentice were locked in a desperate battle against three half-fae, their defences barely holding thanks to enchanted items and hastily cast protective spells.
"Attack!" Lillia charged forward, Edlyn at her side.
Simultaneously, a flurry of vine arrows and wooden spears rained down from the left flank. The half-fae had anticipated their arrival, exploiting their mastery over the mist and terrain to launch a devastating ambush.
The battle was about to erupt in full force.