In a town in the Western border of Dostani Kingdom.
"Have the scouts returned?" the Headmaster asked Sir Aegis, Knight-Commander of Kouzlo, as she stared grimly at the bodies lined up before them.
"Not yet," Sir Aegis replied.
A soldier gently laid the final corpse of a small child beside the others. He stepped back, face pale with horror.
"This is the last of them," the soldier said quietly. The weight of it all was evident in his voice. Nearly 3,000 civilians, dead.
"This can't be from a battle," Sir Aegis murmured, his voice shaking as he looked over the shriveled, mummified remains of the townspeople. "What kind of monster would do something like this to innocents?"
"Dark mages, Sir Aegis," the Headmaster said, her tone cold and certain. "And this is what awaits Kouzlo Duchy if we fail here."
A scout came running, panting heavily.
"What's the situation in the neighboring town?" Sir Aegis asked.
The scout, catching his breath, shook his head. "The same as here, Knight-Commander. No survivors."
Sir Aegis's expression darkened.
Just then, another scout arrived. This time he was carrying a child in his arms.
"Sir! I found a survivor!" he called out as he carefully lowered the boy in front of Sir Aegis.
The boy stood shakily, his wide eyes filled with terror. Sir Aegis knelt to meet him at eye level.
"You're safe now," Sir Aegis said gently. "What's your name?"
The boy didn't answer.
"He hasn't spoken since I found him," the scout explained. "He was hiding in a haystack."
The boy's gaze slowly shifted to the Headmaster. The moment he saw her, his face twisted in fear. Then he started wailing.
"Hey, it's okay," Sir Aegis said, panicking slightly. "You're alright now. No one's going to hurt you."
The Headmaster narrowed her eyes. Blood was seeping through the boy's tattered shirt.
"He's bleeding," she said.
The boy suddenly panicked, trying to break free and run. Sir Aegis held him gently but firmly.
"Easy now. Where are you going?" he asked.
"Lift his shirt," the Headmaster ordered.
The scout did as told, and they all recoiled in shock.
A message had been carved into the boy's skin.
"We'll meet again soon. I hope your wound has healed by then."
The Headmaster's fists clenched in fury.
"I'll make you pay for this, Azazel," she thought, her eyes burning with rage.
"Message from the border wall!" a knight shouted as he approached, an eagle perched on his shoulder.
He handed a small scroll to the Headmaster. She unfolded it.
Sir Aurex is dead. The North has fallen. The capital is in danger.
Her jaw tightened.
"We move to the capital. Now," the Headmaster ordered, her voice sharp and resolute. She turned to Sir Aegis. "Take the boy somewhere safe. Then follow me."
"But we haven't finished checking the other towns," Sir Aegis protested.
"They've most likely all ended up like this," the Headmaster said grimly, gesturing to the mummified corpses. "I'll take the mages with me. Smaller groups are easier to teleport. Once you're done here, follow us to the capital."
Sir Aegis nodded as the Headmaster and the mages disappeared through a teleportation spell.
"Princess!"
Lord Edric's voice echoed through the hall as he waved excitedly at Elery.
Feeling her face flush at the memory of their last encounter, Elery instantly turned and started walking the opposite way.
"Why did I have to cry in front of him..." she groaned internally, recalling the emotional breakdown in her room.
"Did you not hear me?" Edric called out as he caught up to her.
"Sorry. I didn't hear you," she said, avoiding his eyes.
"Have you thought about being my partner at the ball?" he asked without hesitation.
"I already told you. I'm not attending," she said firmly, trying to sound composed.
"Please, just this once?" Edric pleaded, leaning in with his face far too close. His puppy-dog eyes sparkled with hope. "I'm the only one without a partner."
"Too close!"
Flustered, Elery blurted, "A-Alright!"
"Yes!" Edric beamed. "Then I look forward to it. I'll see you later, Princess!"
He waved cheerfully and walked away, leaving Elery groaning internally.
"Ugh... I'm already exhausted," she muttered to herself.
She continued down the hall toward her classroom but was soon approached by the usher.
"Lady Elery," the usher said politely, "The Headmaster hasn't returned yet, so your class will be postponed for the time being."
"Oh," Elery said. "I see."
"Since you have some free time, would you care to join me for tea?" the usher offered with a gentle smile.
"Alright," Elery agreed, curious. This was the first time she'd spoken with the usher alone. Compared to the Headmaster, who was secretive and distant, the usher seemed far more open and warm.
They arrived at a secluded part of the Lyceum grounds. A hidden garden surrounded by glass walls unfolded before her eyes, brimming with flowers of all kinds. At the center was a gazebo built over a serene pond.
"I didn't know a place like this even existed here," Elery said, marveling at the scene. "How come no one's ever noticed it?"
"It's hidden with magic. Only the Headmaster and I can access it," the usher replied, pouring the tea with a graceful motion.
"Then... are there more places like this hidden around the Lyceum?" Elery asked, casually sipping her tea and trying to probe for information.
The usher chuckled. "Hmm... wouldn't it be strange if there weren't? After all, this is a place for learning magic."
"You've got a point." Elery smiled and took a sip from her cup.
But the moment the tea touched her lips again, her vision started to blur.
She blinked rapidly, but the haze only deepened. Her hand trembled. "What...?" she murmured, reaching for her head. The world tilted as she tried to stand, but her legs wobbled beneath her.
"Are you alright?" the usher asked, her voice distant.
Before Elery could respond, the world faded to black.
When she opened her eyes, it was already dark.
"You're finally awake," a familiar voice said.
As her vision adjusted to the dim garden, she recognized the man in front of her.
"Lord Rue?" she gasped, realizing she was lying on his lap.
Embarrassed, she immediately sat up.
"Do you remember what happened?" Rue asked gently.
"I was drinking tea with the usher when I suddenly felt dizzy. Why are you here?"
"I saw the usher running frantically down the hall," Rue explained.
"When I asked what was wrong, she said you had passed out and asked me to watch over you while she looked for a healer."
Elery turned her gaze to the glass walls surrounding the garden.
"It's already dark... we should go." She stood quickly, still a bit unsteady.
"That's... the thing." Rue rubbed the back of his neck. "We can't. I think the usher needs to open the door from the outside."
"What?!" Elery turned to him, alarmed. "When will she be back?"
"I'm not sure. She got a letter from the Headmaster and left in a hurry. Maybe she forgot we were still here," Rue said with a sigh.
"But don't worry, someone's bound to notice we're missing by morning. Why don't we take this time to look around? Might as well make the most of it."
Elery exhaled slowly, her panic subsiding. "Alright."
They wandered through the moonlit garden in silence, until Rue finally spoke.
"It's peaceful here," he said, gazing up at the star-filled sky.
"It is," Elery agreed, joining his gaze.
"It's strange... but whenever I'm here, all my worries seem to fade away. Don't you feel that, too?" he asked, turning to her.
His eyes were steady and hopeful, and Elery could see her own reflection in them. She felt a flutter in her chest at the way he looked at her.
"I do," she admitted, but quickly looked away. "But I can't keep living in a fantasy."
She began to walk again, but Rue caught her hand and gently stopped her.
"Aren't you tired of everything?" he asked, his voice low. "With the Headmaster and the strongest mages in the continent gathered here, this is the safest place in the world. No one can reach us."
Elery looked at him. His eyes were filled with concern.
"Why don't we forget everything and just stay here?" Rue said, reaching for her face gently.
But Elery didn't respond. She stared into his eyes until her own gaze hardened.
"Who are you?" she asked quietly, pushing his hand away.
"What?" he said, caught off guard.
"You're not Lord Rue," she said with conviction.
"Don't be ridiculous. Of course I am," his voice shifted, cracking with disbelief.
A small flame lit up in Elery's palm.
"The Rue I know would never abandon his people for a false sense of safety," she said firmly, recalling their conversation by the lake.
"This is your last chance. Tell me who you really are, or I'll burn you for pretending to be him."
The confusion on his face faded. Slowly, a wide grin curled his lips.
"Well, well... looks like I've been found out. That hasn't happened in a long time."
His form shimmered and changed. His eyes turned golden and glowed in the dark. His hair turned crimson and flowed down his back. His body shrank into the shape of a child, and a pair of fox ears sprouted on his head followed by nine long, swaying tails.
"A nine-tailed fox?!" Elery thought in shock.
"That's right!" the child declared proudly, having read her thoughts.
"Behold my greatness!"
"But... you look like a child." Elery eyed him skeptically. "Shouldn't you be older?"
His eye twitched. "I am older! I only look like this because those wretched humans drained my power!" He stomped his foot in frustration. "My true form is far more majestic!"
"You were captured?" Elery asked, surprised. "By who?"
"That cursed woman with the veil on her face!" he snarled. "Once I escape this prison, I'll tear her to pieces!"
"Is he talking about the Headmaster?" Elery thought.
"Why are you here?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
"We're inside the illusion I created," the fox child said, clearly annoyed. "I was forced to test you in exchange for mana. Can you believe that? After sealing me inside an orb like some trinket, they now make me work like a slave. The test was to see if you could tell illusion from reality."
"What for?"
The fox child shrugged. "Who knows. But you're the second person who's managed to see through it."
He circled her slowly, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Now that I take a closer look... you resemble her."
There was only one person Elery could think of.
Her sister.
Her heart skipped. "What happened to her?" she asked eagerly.
The fox child's lips curled into a sly smile. He had sensed her eagerness, the hunger for truth. "Hmm... why should I tell you? If you want something, then you need to give something in return."
"What do you want?"
His expression brightened instantly. "Form a contract with me."
Elery hesitated. "A contract with a fox spirit? It is a rare opportunity any mage would kill for. But something about him felt off."
"It sounds ideal," she thought. "But he was sealed here."
"Why were you sealed in the first place?" she asked cautiously.
The fox child frowned. "I played a few harmless pranks back in the day. Then that evil human decided I was too much of a nuisance and locked me in here."
"I doubt it was just harmless pranks if you ended up sealed."
He crossed his arms. "Enough about me. Will you form a contract or not?"
"No. I can't trust you."
"Wouldn't it be beneficial for you to have me as your familiar?"
"Even if I wanted to, it wouldn't be with you."
"Are you sure about that?" the fox child provoked. "Don't you want to know what happened to the last person who passed the test?"
She paused.
"This is my chance," the fox child cunningly thought.
"If we form a contract, I'll only appear when you summon me. You get information and power, and I finally get out of this miserable place. It's a win-win."
"Should I take it?" Elery hesitated.
Elery weighed the risk. "But the Headmaster will find out you've been released."
"There's nothing she can do once we're bonded," he said with a shrug. "Besides, after passing this trial, you're expected to summon a familiar anyway."
"What do you mean?"
But before he could answer, the sky above them cracked like glass.
"That cursed woman is calling you back," the fox child muttered. "Once you leave, my offer will no longer be valid. So, what's your decision?"
Elery stared at him.
"Fine"
Then, she reached out her hand.
"Here goes nothing," she thought as their surroundings began to disintegrate.
The fox child grinned, placing his small hand in hers.
"I, Velka, spirit of Mount Nivhara, choose Elery Van Altuis to be my master."
A red sigil formed on Elery's wrist, three teardrops interlocked in a trinity, glowing faintly before everything fell apart.
"You're awake now," the usher said with a sigh of relief.
Elery blinked and looked around. They were still in the same garden gazebo, as if nothing had happened.
"You passed," the usher said with a smile. "Seeing as you're awake, you were able to see through the fox spirit's illusion."
"What if I failed?" Elery asked quietly.
"Then your consciousness would have been trapped forever inside the illusion."
Elery narrowed her eyes. "Would you have left me there?"
The usher just looked at her.
"You'll face enemies far stronger and more deceptive than him. If you failed... then illusion or not, that would've been your fate."
"I thought she'd be different," Elery thought bitterly. "But in the end, she still follows the Headmaster."
Without another word, she turned and left the garden.
"You must grow stronger, Your Highness," the usher said behind her. "Strong enough to overcome the darkness."
Back in her room, Elery collapsed onto her bed, staring at the ceiling as the events played over in her mind. She turned her wrist over. The sigil was still there, three crimson teardrops forming a triangle.
"Would it work?" she wondered.
She sat up and stretched her arm forward.
"There's only one way to find out."
She took a breath.
"Velka. I summon you."