In the Shadowland, Paul sat behind a large desk piled high with reports. Maps, notes, and intercepted messages covered every inch of its surface. Vanessa's group had gathered a great deal of intelligence from orc movements, yet no battles had occurred so far. There was also no sign of Mr. Sage returning with his people.
The orcs had established numerous camps throughout the Shadowland, each guarded by formidable warriors. Vanessa had reported observing two orcs who called themselves Chieftain. From her description, they were at least A4 in rank.
And then there was that one orc, far stronger than the rest. Vanessa had glimpsed him only once, and the memory still made her hair stand on end. Even in that brief moment, the aura of raw power he radiated was enough to unsettle the group.
Now, it was time for Paul's forces to act. Intelligence indicated that the orcs were preparing to march toward the Northern Kingdom. When that happened, it would be the perfect opportunity to strike a decisive blow against their enemy.
Paul stood and stepped out of his room, passing the guards stationed near the doors. He addressed the nearest one.
"Call Alina and Dave."
The guard saluted sharply. "Yes, sir." He dashed down the corridor, disappearing from sight.
Paul made his way down the stone stairs of the castle, his boots echoing against the cold walls, and entered the courtyard. Within minutes, Alina and Dave appeared, fully prepared for the mission.
"Are we going?" Alina asked, adjusting the straps of her armor.
"Yes," Paul replied. "It's time for us to act."
He handed the control of the city to Arlasan and others. With their mission clear, Paul led the group toward the southwest of the Shadowland, the winds carrying scent of smoke and iron as they moved into the enemy's territory.
...
It took several days to prepare the spell Leo required to enter Ethereon. In the meantime, he spent most of his time with Elna. Among other things, they trained together in Alexia's private training room. Between sparring and exercises, Leo explained everything about the maze, its traps, illusions, and dangers. Alexia listened intently, a magical pen floating before her, automatically transcribing every word he spoke.
Finally, the preparations were complete. They moved to one of the three towers at the center of the lower city. Inside, mages had prepared a massive magic circle connected to three enormous crystals. To activate it, Alexia and ten other A-rank mages were required.
Bernal and Oswald had already departed for the north with a large contingent of forces, trusting Leo's plan to finish the orc threat once and for all.
When they arrived, Alexia stepped forward and gently stopped Elna from approaching.
"Unfortunately, only an S-rank can enter Ethereon through this gate," Alexia said. "The mana pressure from the portal would crush anyone below S."
Elna's expression shifted, first surprise, then a quiet sadness.
Leo turned toward her and smiled. "Don't worry. Someday, we'll explore it together."
Elna returned his smile and nodded. She stayed to the side as Alexia approached the center of the magic circle. Her eyes closed, lips moving in whispered incantations. The other A-rank mages followed her lead.
Suddenly, the crystals blazed with light. A wave of raw mana shot outward, rippling through the room like a strong wind. The runes of the circle began to glow, and the tower trembled beneath the surge of magical energy.
After a tense minute, the mana coalesced, rising upward into a perfect circle. Within it, swirling hues of blue and green collided, forming a portal that shimmered with unstable energy.
Alexia turned to Leo, sweat glistening on her forehead. "It's ready," she said, her voice steady but urgent.
Leo nodded, leaning down to kiss Elna briefly before turning to the portal.
"We can't keep this open for long. Hurry," Alexia warned.
Taking a deep breath, Leo stepped forward, the swirling colors of Ethereon enveloping him as the portal crackled with power.
Leo's vision erupted into a riot of colors, swirling and merging in ways he had never seen. A massive pressure pressed down on him, yet the aura of his mana formed a protective barrier, holding him steady. He stepped forward, moving along the shifting path of light for several seconds, until the world around him suddenly changed.
He looked up and around. He was in a vast, endless field of green grass, perfectly smooth and stretching farther than the eye could see. The sky above was not a sky at all, it was a churning canvas of colors that shimmered, collided, and flowed in impossible patterns. Behind the chaos of hues, faint shapes hinted at massive rings, enormous structures curving around the world like planetary rings, but almost invisible, hidden behind the explosion of colors.
Leo began walking across the field, letting his thoughts wander as he moved. No matter how long he walked, the horizon never came closer. The field seemed to stretch infinitely, untouched by time or distance.
Finally, he stopped and gathered his thoughts. He was here for a purpose, to meet Alad, the guardian of Ethereon gate. He could have called Liam to summon him, but making a direct impression mattered. He also wanted to see Ethereon with his own eyes.
He took a single step forward, and the world shifted. Space seemed to bend itself around him. The edges of the grassy field suddenly appeared directly in front of him, connecting to a massive gate. Guarding it was a lion three times the size of the one he had seen in Flesa, lying as if sleeping, but radiating power even in stillness.
The field's edges seemed to fold into the same impossible space above him, colors colliding and mixing into chaos. Time and distance felt meaningless here.
Leo walked toward the lion, eyes fixed on the gate behind it. No amount of divination or vision spells could penetrate the barrier. The gate obscured everything beyond.
As he approached, the lion's eyes snapped open, and it rose effortlessly to its full, immense height. Its voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"You came."
A wave of pure mana pressure rolled off the creature, testing the limits of Leo's own power.
Leo bowed deeply. "I come with a request."
The lion's gaze softened slightly, head lowering toward him. "I know. You want me to fight alongside you against the God of Light. I have already decided to do that."
The weight of his words settled over Leo like the calm after a storm. The journey had just begun, but the first ally had been won.
His surprise was evident. He had prepared countless contingencies for today, but Alad had accepted his request without a word.
"Raise your hand," Alad commanded.
Leo complied, and the moment his hand lifted, the lion let out a deep, resonant howl. Golden mana surged from its mouth, spiraling around Leo's wrist. A sharp pain shot through his body, but it was a controlled, almost invigorating force, like holding a weapon of immense power.
"I bestow you my mark," Alad said, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. "While you bear it, you may use a portion of my power. When the time comes, you may summon me through this mark."
Leo bowed deeply. "Thank you."
He was about to turn and leave when Alad spoke again. With a graceful motion, the lion moved to the side, opening a path to the massive gate behind him.
"Are you sure you do not wish to enter?" Alad asked.
Leo shook his head. "Thank you for the offer. I am curious, truly, but I have much to do. Once these matters are resolved, I will return."
Alad gave a slow nod and settled back, silent.
Leo turned to leave. Ethereon responded to intent; by thinking of where he wished to go, he found himself moving almost instantly. A moment later, he was back in front of the portal. He walked through it and felt a strange echo of himself along the way, as if the portal reflected not only space but his presence in it.
A few steps later, he was back in the hall.
Alexia's eyes widened. "Did it fail? Why did you come back?"
"What?" Leo asked, genuinely surprised.
"You just stepped into the gate," she said, concern lacing her voice.
"I was there for a while," Leo replied, glancing back toward where the portal had been. "Time and space do not flow the same there as in our world."
Alexia murmured an incantation, and the magical circle stilled; the portal vanished completely. She approached him, her expression unreadable but calm.
Elna emerged from behind Alexia, walking toward them as well.
"What now?" Alexia asked.
Leo smiled faintly. "Now, I head south. After that… I will go to the Underworld."
Before anyone could respond, the doors burst open and a man rushed in.
"My lady! My lady!" the envoy burst into the hall, panting heavily.
"What is it?" Alexia demanded, alarm sharpening her voice.
"Raiwood has been attacked by an unknown enemy!"
"What?" A wave of shock passed through the room.
Everyone exchanged stunned glances. Raiwood was hidden behind the mountains; the enemy had no obvious way to reach it.
Leo's surprise ran deeper than most. Friends of his, people he trusted, were stationed there. The thought that they might be in immediate danger made his pulse quicken.
"Prepare a group to send there immediately," Alexia began issuing orders, her tone sharp with authority, until Elna's voice interrupted.
"No. We should go there ourselves."
Alexia raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you in a hurry?"
"We were," Elna said, her eyes shadowed with worry. "But I feel we need to be there."
Leo stared at Elna, struck by the intensity of her instinct. It made sense, friends in danger, a clear and present threat. But those were his friends, not hers. She had never met them before. Yet, despite that, there was something in her gaze, something deeper than mere concern, urging her forward. He had felt it before, back when Arthur insisted that he and Elna should take the lead in the Kingdom of Magic.
He forced himself to remain calm and act naturally. He simply nodded.
"We will," he said, "but first, let's go to Master's place. I need to grab something."
The envoy's eyes widened. "Sir, you must hurry!"
Leo smiled faintly. "It will take less than an hour."
Together, Leo, Elna, and Alexia moved into Alexia's domain. Once inside, Leo connected his mind to his master's.
"Master, place the most powerful barriers and illusions around your domain," he instructed.
Alexia didn't question him. She trusted her student's judgment and immediately wove the strongest illusions she could manage around her domain, hiding its presence from any external interference.
When she was done, Leo turned to Elna. Placing his finger lightly on her forehead, she closed her eyes as she felt herself drifting into a deep, peaceful sleep.
"What are you doing?" Alexia asked, her voice tense.
"There's some kind of spell affecting our thoughts," Leo explained as a portal quietly formed beside him. He gently placed Elna into it. The portal shimmered and then vanished, taking her out of sight.
"What kind of spell?" Alexia pressed.
"I don't know exactly," Leo replied, urgency threading his words. "But it's influencing thinking and decision-making."
Alexia frowned. "It's affecting your thoughts?"
Before she could react further, Leo raised his hand. His sphere of creation expanded explosively, sending a wave of energy outward, filling the space around them.
"Only the divination path has this ability," Alexia said, her voice a mix of awe and realization. "And only someone above S-rank can perform it."
"That's why I'm doing this," Leo said calmly, even as tension rippled through the air.
A phantom image of Elna appeared before them, lifelike in every detail.
Alexia's eyes narrowed. "If the person is that powerful, this illusion will not fool them."
Leo smiled faintly. "Not if the greatest illusionist puts enough power into it."