(Luna's POV)
That afternoon, in the girls' dormitory, Luna stepped into her dorm room.
She placed several books on the neatly arranged table and sat down with a deep sigh. She was still thinking about the alchemy practical exam that day.
At first, the day seemed like a disaster. Their group of 14 was nearly expelled because they didn't bring the Igra Spider fangs, the main ingredient for the Anti-Toxic Venom potion. However, Wim overcame the situation by asking for the opportunity to create the potion with whatever materials were available, using Salamender skin.
In the end, they succeeded and Professor Syit avoided expulsion. But the most important thing of all was Wim.
Luna: "He's really weird," she muttered.
Deep down, Wim was a seemingly stupid and reckless student, but beneath all that was an intelligence that was rare.
He seemed able to predict, adapt, and even create solutions in completely unexpected situations. His strange ability to bring both good luck and bad luck made Luna even more curious.
But she thought of something she should never forget.
She opened her desk drawer and revealed a document. Luna held it, her heart pounding as she looked at it.
It revealed a text that read,
"The Vulpix Flower Incident."
An event that drastically changed Luna's life.
Her father, Morpho, disappeared and committed a major betrayal of the StarBlue Alliance.
[Author's Note: StarBlue has now been renamed the StarBlue Alliance, a region led by each of the Great Magical Families, including the Selene Family.]
Her family was then branded traitors by StarBlue, the Alliance of the Great Families, even though her father was one of their leaders. Her family, Selene, was expelled from the important delegation, forcing Luna to become independent in every way.
But a big question always haunted her mind.
What did Morpho actually do to be considered a betrayer of StarBlue?
Was what the council said true, or was there a deeper conspiracy?
Doubt and fear clouded her, but Luna pressed a determined expression onto her face. She gently patted her cheek, trying to calm her still-fluttering heart.
Luna: 'Be strong, Luna.'
Beside the document, she picked up a piece of paper containing a formula for "time magic."
This magic had been lost for hundreds of years, and only fragments of that history remained.
With this magic, Luna could travel back in time to the Vulpix Flower Incident to find the answers and the truth.
But to do that, Luna would have to find a way to complete the formula.
The room fell silent, except for the sound of the clock ticking slowly, as if marking the countdown to Luna's first step in this secret investigation. Outside the window, the shadows of the trees swayed in the night breeze, adding to the air of mystery and silence.
(Unio Academy Principal's Office, Sherman - Unio Academy)
That night, the atmosphere in the Unio Academy Principal's office was still filled with the scent of ink and freshly filled paper.
A crystal magic lamp in the corner of the room glowed softly, illuminating the large work desk covered in piles of documents.
THUD...
Sherman had just closed one of the thick folders and let out a long sigh. He stretched his arm back, a slight cracking sound coming from his joints.
Meanwhile, Fiona was still busy writing, the magic pen in her hand moving rapidly, the sound filling the silence of the night.
Scritch... Scritch...
Sherman: "I think that's enough for today..." he muttered as he stood up, trying to stretch his stiff back. With a blank expression, he grabbed his long coat, preparing to leave.
Sherman: "I'm going out for a bit, Fiona, to get some fresh air. I'll leave the rest to you."
Before he could reach the door, Fiona's hand deftly grabbed his shoulder. A light yet authoritative grip.
Sherman reflexively stopped, turned, and met Fiona's sharp gaze behind her glasses, which glistened in the crystal light.
Fiona: "Where are you going?" she asked firmly, coldly, but with a distinct hint of suspicion.
Sherman attempted an awkward smile, rubbing the back of his neck.
Sherman: "Just taking a walk. Besides, the Anchorage air is quite cool tonight. It wouldn't hurt to breathe in—"
Fiona: "No need for an excuse. I already knew you were going to that place again." Fiona interrupted, narrowing her eyes.
She knew Sherman kept some of his personal money in his pocket, the savings from his salary over the months, which almost always ended up on the gambling tables in the Anchorage district.
Even though Sherman never touched academy funds, it was still an embarrassing habit for the head of an educational institution as large as Unio. So Fiona tried her best to curb this addiction, even if it meant being harsh on her boss.
Sherman finally sat back down, his shoulders slumped, his face gloomy like a child who had just been reprimanded. But the sadness didn't last long.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock sounded on the door.
Sherman: "Come in."
The door opened, and Kryuger stepped in. His body was straight, his academy uniform neat, and he still had the air of a former soldier. In his hands was a thick folder containing documents that were likely crucial for this meeting.
Kryuger: "I have a report from the city security unit."
Kryuger placed the folder on the table, right between Fiona and Sherman. His face was serious, his eyes sharp.
Kryuger: "This is the list of people we suspect of being infiltrators from The Hive."
Sherman immediately changed from a whiny expression to a stern one. He opened the folder, examining each of the attached photos and notes. Fiona approached, listening intently.
Kryuger explained.
Kryuger: "Some of them are believed to be infiltrators from The Hive. The guards found them mingling among the civilians, using official passes to enter this floating island. Some also came through official agency channels, which means there's a high probability that another institution has been infiltrated by the Hive from within."
Sherman nodded slowly as he listened, then his eyes narrowed as he stopped at a photo.
Sherman: "I recognize this person… He resembles the one who attacked me a few weeks ago in a small district. That person committed suicide with a poison rune on his tongue before I could interrogate him."
Fiona: "That means The Hive has embedded people much deeper than we thought." Fiona tensed.
Then Sherman closed the folder with his palm.
Sherman: "Our suspicions were correct. Anchorage has been infiltrated. This is no small threat. I'll contact the heads of the other academies. They need to be on alert. If any of these faces are seen, we need an immediate report."
He said, his voice This time, it didn't sound childish at all. There was a leadership tone, reminiscent of his role as an Arcane Primaris.
But Kryuger wasn't finished. He pulled a photo from the folder and pointed at it with his index finger
Kryuger: "But before that, there's one person who's more dangerous than the others, and we must be wary."
The photo depicted a man in his fifties. He had wrinkled skin, graying hair, and a short, white beard and mustache. His eyes were blank, yet eerily eerie.
Kryuger: "He's an Arcane Mage specializing in Necromancers. He has the ability to bring the dead back to life."
Sherman and Fiona looked at each other. The air in the room suddenly became heavy, as if the walls were holding their breath.
Fiona: "They've really prepared this meticulously."
A tense silence enveloped the room, the only sound heard was the ticking of a crystal clock in the corner. That night, all three of them knew one thing:
The threat of the Hive was no longer a distant shadow. They were right in the heart of Anchorage, waiting for their moment to strike.