The Jester and Elios simultaneously turned their heads toward the voice, their eyes locking onto a woman approaching with the confident grace of a predatory cat.
Her movements were slow, elegant, and exceptionally precise — each step echoed through the stone floor of the laboratory thanks to the thin heels of her tall boots.
She wore a sophisticated, form-fitting outfit that combined style with practicality. The top consisted of a white shirt with a deep neckline, over which a dark corset with silvery fasteners was worn. The dominant accent color — a rich violet — stood in striking contrast to her slightly lighter-toned hair. The corset flowed seamlessly into a jacket that extended below the waist, adorned with refined embroidery and silver buckles. Her legs were clad in tight trousers crisscrossed with leather straps, and high boots that reached her thighs.
Her figure was feminine, toned, and refined. Her violet hair was long, tied back, with a few loose strands falling over her shoulders and framing her face. Her eyes — bright, radiant, and slightly shimmering — looked on with curious, almost playful mockery. Her expression was elegant, seductive, yet carried a hidden hint of superiority. Bright violet lipstick emphasized her already sensual lips.
As soon as the woman saw the Jester, her eyes lit up with amusement and she clapped her hands theatrically.
"Wow, look who it is! And here I was thinking you were holed up in your estate again, busy with those financial machinations of yours that always make my head spin."
The Jester laughed, throwing his head back.
"As I've said many, many times — there's nothing complicated about it if—"
"If you know the basic principles," she interrupted with a meaningful smile. "I know, I know. I've heard it so many times, I stopped counting."
She turned her gaze to Elios and, folding her hands lightly behind her back, leaned forward slightly.
"So, how's my baby doing? Did you finish fixing him?"
Elios silently took a pistol from the table and handed it to her. The metallic-violet casing gleamed in the dim light of the laboratory, as if freshly assembled.
"This is the last time I'm doing it for free," he said dryly. "Next time I'll start charging you so much that you'll think twenty times before pouring that much mana into it again."
The woman exhaled dramatically, widening her eyes in mock outrage.
"Are you really that cruel that you'd charge an old friend?"
"If you can't understand normal speech," Elios grumbled, "I'll have to resort to alternative methods."
She immediately turned a pleading gaze to the Jester, as if expecting support.
"This will definitely motivate you to treat your things with more care," he shrugged with a smile. "So I have to side with Elios on this one."
She sighed heavily, casting an annoyed glance at both of them.
"I was hoping at least you'd take my side…"
She twirled the pistol in her hands, then turned back to both men, her voice suddenly sweet as sugar.
"Since we're all here, how about a little dungeon run? You know, like old times! Nothing brings people closer like monster hunting! Or, if you prefer, we could hunt people. That's way more fun." Her eyes sparkled with dangerous excitement.
Elios grimaced.
"I'd love to, but I still have a mountain of work. And it just keeps growing…"
"Booooring…" she drawled with a pout.
Then she shifted her gaze solely to the Jester, waiting for his response.
"Unfortunately, I've got things to take care of too," he sighed. "But once I sort everything out — I promise, we'll hit a nice little dungeon together."
"Really?!" Her face lit up instantly, like a child promised candy.
"Have I ever lied to you?" the Jester smiled.
Her expression returned to its usual composed, slightly superior look.
"I'll hold you to that," she said, turning toward the exit. "But sadly, I also have… work." She let the last word out with a long sigh, rolling her eyes in disappointment.
Her heels clicked on the floor for a few more seconds… and then silence fell, leaving only the faint scent of violet in the air.
Elios and the Jester exchanged glances. A trace of weariness mixed with irony flickered in the engineer's eyes. He was the first to break the silence.
"You should be thinking about how to deal with the duke, not signing up for more of Mirael's adventures."
The Jester's face turned serious for a moment. His smile faded, replaced by a calm, composed expression.
"I'll settle everything with Lorenzo as soon as possible. I understand why you're pressing me," he said firmly.
"Good," Elios replied with a frown. "But I'll say it again — if you need help, I'm ready to step in personally."
"Better focus on your own work," the Jester replied with a faint smile. "You never know when Mirael will ask you to fix something again."
A smile flickered across Elios's face as well. He turned back to his desk, picked up some papers, and waved a hand in farewell.
"Good luck with Lorenzo."
"And to you — patience," said the Jester.
A magical circle flared beneath his feet, wrapped in shadows and flickering symbols. In an instant, the Jester's figure vanished from the laboratory, leaving behind only a faint tremor in the air.
In the spacious training hall where Alex and Aria usually held their sessions, the sound of footsteps, slicing air, and the pulse of magical energy rang out once more.
Now three combatants had gathered — Alex, Celia, and Rogan.
The floor was already littered with marks from previous duels — cracks, scorched scars, and embedded impressions. The training area was protected by barriers, allowing the participants to go all out.
Alex stood with his blood-forged sword pointed down. His gaze was calm, his body relaxed yet brimming with readiness. A light smile played on his lips. His opponents — Celia, her eyes burning with fiery sparks, and Rogan, whose arms had transformed into massive beastly limbs — had already taken their fighting stances.
"Begin," Alex said briefly.
Without waiting for a second invitation, Celia launched a fiery projectile forward — not to strike, but to obscure his field of vision. Simultaneously, Rogan stomped the ground, sending a line of stone spikes racing toward Alex.
The boy dissolved his sword, morphing it into a long whip of blood. With a few swift strikes, he shattered both the spikes and Celia's blast, then surged forward, trying to close the distance.
Celia didn't let him: she summoned a wall of scorching flame between Alex and Rogan, then hurled several fireballs at his feet, forcing him to alter his trajectory. At the same time, Rogan, circling around, charged in for close combat. His arms were once again beastly, claws long and sharp as blades.
Alex dodged, deflected the blows, parried the claws with a blade of blood that had taken the shape of a sword again.
And although Rogan's attacks grew increasingly aggressive, Alex adjusted his defense every time, as if he knew exactly where the next strike would come.
"Now!" Celia shouted to warn Rogan, and two powerful streams of flame burst from her hands, aimed directly at Alex.
He managed to shield himself with a compressed blood barrier, but even through the protection, the scorching blast forced him to slide back. Without wasting a second, Rogan lunged forward again, using earth magic to accelerate. Stone armor covered his chest and shoulders, giving additional force to his strike.
Celia covered his advance, bombarding Alex from the sides with waves of fire to keep him from dodging or counterattacking. They worked like a well-tuned mechanism: when one attacked, the other created space and provided cover.
For the first time during the duel, Alex frowned darkly. He didn't have time to form new blood constructs—so he dashed forward between two waves of flame and slashed Rogan's leg with his blade, cutting through the armor. The blow made the beastkin stagger—at that moment, Alex clenched his fist, causing blood shards scattered across the field to rise into the air.
"I yield!" Rogan shouted, feeling the cold blade press against his back.
Alex barely had time to exhale when flames approached from behind again. Celia launched a final assault, forming two fiery whips and attempting to knock Alex off his feet. But he threw his sword straight at her. Celia deflected it with one of her whips—only to realize, too late, that Alex had vanished from his spot. She hesitated for just a moment, and that was her downfall.
A single motion—and the blade stopped at her throat.
"I yield," Celia said calmly, lowering her hands.
Alex lowered the sword and exhaled deeply. His body was drenched in sweat, and his breathing was slightly unsteady—not because it was too hard, but because he had to constantly adapt to their tactics.
"Well done. You both coordinated nicely," he said.
Celia winked at Rogan. "I told you we'd sync up over time. Even our commander had to break a sweat."
"But we still couldn't beat him," Rogan muttered with a grin.
"You will, soon enough," Alex smiled. "Now, let's see how the others are doing," he added, turning his gaze toward where Lilith, Kaelis, and Lianel were fighting.
Kaelis surged forward, his sword gleaming with every move, as if it were slicing through space itself. He struck first—a wide horizontal slash followed instantly by a vertical one. Lianel dodged skillfully, blocking with his spear while seeking weaknesses in the offense.
But it was only a distraction. Meanwhile, Lilith had begun forming dark spears, which appeared one after another around her, hovering in the air. When Kaelis briefly retreated, she launched three at once—from different directions.
Lianel spun his spear, creating a shield of light around himself that shattered the projectiles into fragments. But at that very moment, Kaelis was already rising into the air—lifted by his own wind magic—and descending from above, sword aimed straight down. Lianel barely managed to dodge to the side, and the air exploded where he had just stood.
Lilith gave him no rest: several tendrils of dark energy shot from her palm, twisting through the air like lightning, grasping at the space around them as if seeking a target. Lianel conjured a thin barrier of light that flared up before him, blocking the attack, but one dark bolt slipped past and burned his shoulder.
"Got you!" Lilith shouted.
"I'm just getting started," Lianel replied through gritted teeth.
Kaelis attacked again, this time in tandem with Lilith. They moved with pinpoint timing—while one attacked at close range, the other launched ranged assaults, forcing Lianel to dodge and defend simultaneously.
When he tried to break through to Lilith, Kaelis stopped him with a flurry of strikes. When he tried to push Kaelis back—Lilith's darkness caught up with him. It was a perfectly synchronized attack that gradually reduced his options for escape.
But Lianel was still Lianel. Slowly, he began to change his rhythm: instead of retreating, he acted boldly, seizing the initiative. He released several blinding flashes, disorienting Lilith just long enough for him to dash toward Kaelis.
Spear strike—block. Second—block. Third—an upward thrust. Kaelis reacted too late—a strike to the ribs knocked the air from his lungs and sent him flying. A moment later, a light projectile sliced the air just inches from his face.
"I yield," Kaelis muttered, lying on the ground.
"One down," Lianel whispered.
Immediately, Lilith cast a dome of darkness upon him, with blades of concentrated shadow spinning inside. Lianel vanished in a flash of light—seizing the moment, he appeared behind her. A spinning strike with the spear—and Lilith had only enough time to raise a magical barrier, which cracked and shattered into pieces. She tried to retreat—but Lianel was already there.
"I yield," she exhaled, barely suppressing a smile.
He lowered his spear and shook his head. "You were a great team. One day you'll defeat me."
"Yeah, in about a hundred years," Kaelis snorted.
"Less," Lilith replied. "Much less."
Lianel simply smiled, twirling his spear, which slowly disintegrated into luminous dust.
Eliria ran up to him. Without wasting time, she activated healing magic. Her hands glowed with soft light as she touched the boy's shoulder, where traces of Lilith's dark magic still lingered.
"Thank you," Lianel said, gratitude in his voice.
"Always happy to help," the girl replied with a gentle smile, then turned to Lilith and Kaelis.
"Do you two need any help?"
"I'm fine," Lilith answered first, a little tired but confident.
"I'm good too," Kaelis responded, brushing dust from his sleeve.
"Glad to hear it," Eliria nodded.
At that moment, Alex, Rogan, and Celia approached. Lianel sighed lightly and clicked his tongue skeptically.
"So, Alex finished first again," he muttered with a sly grin.
Alex clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Maybe you should focus less on finishing quickly and more on not getting injured," he said with a smile.
"Exactly!" Celia chimed in. "Alex is right."
Then she turned to Lilith. "You did great. If you managed to wound Lianel, that means you gave it your all."
"Thanks," Lilith replied. "But I couldn't have done it without Kaelis."
"And where are my applause?" Lianel exclaimed with mock offense. "One against two, by the way!"
Suddenly, a loud clap echoed nearby, followed by a warm, familiar voice.
"Well done, well done."
Everyone turned. Fenrix was approaching them.
"You held your ground with honor, Lianel," he continued. "But you could benefit from listening to your friends now and then. They clearly mean you no harm."
"I know..." Lianel muttered, averting his gaze.
"You all did a great job today," the Director continued. "But that's it for now. Get some rest, and tomorrow we'll head into a new dungeon."
"Thank you, Director!" the students replied in unison.
Fenrix just smiled, nodded, and disappeared in a flash of teleportation.
"Well then," said Rogan, turning to the group. "Shall we head out?"
"After three rounds with Lianel, I'm definitely sleeping in till noon," Lilith sighed.
"Same here, after that fight with Alex," Celia added.
"How are you?" Rogan asked Kaelis.
"I'm fine. If I could, I'd go for another round," he replied with a smile.
Rogan just smiled back, and the boys started heading for the exit together.
Celia, Lilith, and Elіria followed at a leisurely pace, chatting amongst themselves. Alex was the last to leave but stopped when he noticed that Lianel had stayed behind, staring into a small pool of water.
He waited until the others had left, then approached his friend.
"Something wrong?"
"I'm fine," Lianel replied, trying to maintain his usual smile, though his voice betrayed a hint of sadness.
"Really?" Alex asked gently.
Lianel sighed silently. In the next moment, a spear of light appeared in his hand. He pointed it straight at Alex.
"Let's have one more fight."
"I figured it would come to this," Alex sighed, summoning a blade of blood. "Rules?"
"First blood. Do you agree?"
Alex nodded and raised his weapon.
"If you insist."
They took their stances. Half a second passed — then they lunged at each other simultaneously.
Their silhouettes collided — a flash of light and a crimson arc of blood. The clash of metal against magic echoed through the training hall. Alex parried the spear's first strike by sidestepping and immediately attempted a counter. Lianel leapt back, nearly slipping on the smooth floor, then rushed forward again, faster this time.
Every move they made was precise, calculated, like pre-planned moves in a chess match. Alex dodged attacks within fractions of a second, his blood blade shifting form — from spear to whip to classic sword. He attacked and defended simultaneously — spikes of blood erupted from the ground, forcing Lianel to retreat or reposition.
But Lianel didn't fall behind. His spear released waves of light that sliced through the air, deflecting the spikes and blinding Alex. One flash made the vampire shield his eyes, and in that instant, Lianel lunged — but Alex, as if expecting it, swung his blade sideways, halting his opponent a breath away from defeat.
"Whoa," Lianel gasped, "still relying on intuition?"
"Not exactly," Alex replied. "I'm just getting used to your fighting style."
They met again at the center of the room — both breathing heavily now. Sweat streamed down their temples, but neither of them intended to stop. This wasn't just a sparring session — it was a challenge. It had been a long time since they'd had a true duel, both fighting at full strength, holding nothing back.
Light and blood clashed once more in a lightning-fast battle. This time, Alex took the offensive — blood blades grew around Lianel, forcing him to dodge, jump, and parry, but he held firm. Then, in a swift burst, his spear surged forward, aiming to break through the vampire's guard.
But Alex wasn't just defending — he was luring.
At the precise moment Lianel lunged with all his might, Alex activated several blood spells at once. Spikes erupted from the floor, from the air, even from his own shadow, surrounding Lianel in an instant. The boy halted, inhaled — and only then saw Alex's blood blade frozen a mere millimeter from his chest.
A few drops of sweat rolled down his cheek. His heart pounded — not from fear, but from realization. He had lost.
"Not going to finish it?" Lianel asked between breaths.
"I don't want to spill a friend's blood," Alex replied with a smile, also breathing heavily.
"Fair enough..." Lianel exhaled. "I concede."
The spikes vanished. The blood blade dissolved. Alex stepped back and offered a hand.
"Thanks for a great fight. Feel better?"
Lianel sighed, then smiled sincerely — no mask, no arrogance — and took the hand.
"Yeah. Thanks."
They stood in the middle of the hall — sweaty, exhausted, but satisfied. Because today, they hadn't just fought — they had grown. Together.
Having caught his breath and returned to his usual self, Lianel rubbed his shoulder, still sore from the battle, and said with a grin:
"So, Commander, any comments after the duel?"
Alex paused, eyes drifting sideways as he mentally replayed their fight. He exhaled slowly.
"Not a comment... more of a recommendation. Use your light magic more offensively."
"Hm?" Lianel raised a curious brow.
"You're excellent with the spear — no question. But you mostly use your magic to disorient or slow down your opponent. If you start combining it with your spear in close combat, you'll become a much more dangerous fighter."
Lianel crossed his arms, thoughtful, and quietly repeated:
"Use light magic more for attacks..."
After a short pause, he smiled wider.
"Funny. Mister Raphael told me the same thing a few days ago. Looks like I really should start taking it seriously. Thanks, Alex."
"Always happy to help," Alex replied with a soft smile. "But now you should go rest. Tomorrow's the raid, and my second-in-command needs to be in shape — just in case he has to cover his commander's back."
Lianel laughed, then gave a playful bow.
"Yes, sir, Commander."
They both laughed. Lianel turned and walked slowly toward the exit. At the doorway, he crossed paths with Mira, who had just entered the hall. Nodding to her in greeting, he disappeared through the doors.
Alex approached Mira, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Hey. Something up?"
"Miss Elizabeth asked me to tell you she needs to see you," the girl said calmly.
"Got it. Thanks, Mira," Alex nodded.
A magic circle flared beneath his feet — and within seconds, he vanished from the training hall, leaving behind only a faint whisper of energy.
Alex appeared before a familiar door—massive, adorned with delicate carvings and a plaque that read "Director Elizabeth." He knocked lightly.
"Come in," came a calm voice from inside.
Alex carefully opened the door and stepped into the spacious office. The air smelled of fresh paper, ink, and a hint of lavender perfume. Elizabeth, as always tastefully elegant, sat at her desk. Upon seeing her nephew, she stood and gestured for him to take the chair opposite her.
"I'm glad to see you, Alex," she said warmly. "Make yourself comfortable."
As the young man sat down, she walked over to one of the cabinets, opened it, and took out an elegant bottle of red wine and two glasses. Alex watched her with a light, almost teasing smile, and catching his glance, Elizabeth sighed with mock sternness.
"Your body needs to relax before tomorrow's raid," she explained, pouring the wine. "And what better way than with a sweet red wine?"
"If someone saw the Academy Director getting a student drunk..." Alex drawled, "you might lose your position."
Elizabeth pouted slightly as she poured the drinks.
"First of all, I'm not drinking with just any student, but with my nephew. Second, I know very well that you're no child. Therefore, nothing illegal is happening. And third—you could've just said, 'Thank you, dear aunt,' instead of sitting there showing off."
Alex took the glass and said with a playful grin, "Thank you, dear aunt."
"Oh, that's much better," Elizabeth replied with a satisfied smile.
The glasses clinked together, and both took a few sips. A soft, warm silence followed, broken by her gentle question.
"So, how did today's training with Fenrix go?"
"Good," Alex replied, placing his glass on the table. "It was another round of one-against-two duels."
"And who were your opponents today?"
"Rogan and Celia."
"And what's your verdict after the matches?"
Alex grew slightly more serious.
"They're improving with each session. What really stands out is how much their teamwork has progressed. In battle—especially real battle—teamwork means far more than just strength or technique. I learned that during the war. I saw firsthand what happens when there's no coordination... and what kind of advantage it brings when there is."
Elizabeth spoke with a soft but sincere warmth in her voice.
"I'm glad to hear that each student is becoming stronger after training with one of the Directors. But I also see your personal impact on their growth, Alex. You're not just their commander—you're a true friend to each of them. Your advice and support mean far more to them than you might realize."
Alex gave a modest shrug and replied, "All I can do is offer guidance and be a worthy sparring partner. The rest is up to them."
Elizabeth smiled, took a few more sips of wine, and added with quiet satisfaction,
"Every day, you speak more and more like a real commander. It's... inspiring."
Her wine glass touched her lips again, but this time her gaze grew more focused.
"And now—onto something more serious. Astarion managed to dig up some information about Duke Lorenzo de Carvalho. Not as much as we'd hoped, but..."
Alex, noticeably more serious, leaned forward slightly.
"I'll be glad to learn whatever we've got."
"According to what Astarion found, all the orphanages under the 'Ray of Hope' foundation across the continent have indeed come under the duke's control. But… not entirely. There's another contender—Duke Gornorax Brungard. Rogan's father."
A look of genuine surprise immediately appeared on Alex's face. "Wow..." he breathed out.
Elizabeth nodded.
"Yes. However, Gornorax's chances are quite slim. All the official documents list Lorenzo as the legal owner of 'Ray of Hope.'"
"Then what is Gornorax trying to achieve?" Alex asked, pensively squeezing his glass.
"The previous owner was a close friend of his," Elizabeth explained. "And, if Gornorax is to be believed, he would never have willingly handed over the rights to those institutions... especially to someone like Lorenzo. The man has... let's just say, quite a tainted reputation."
Alex fell silent for a moment, letting the information sink in. Then he looked his aunt straight in the eyes.
"What exactly did you mean by 'tainted reputation'?"
Elizabeth set her glass down and answered in an even, but cool tone.
"There are rumors that Duke Lorenzo is involved in slave trading. Humans, elves, spirits, beastfolk—they're the easiest to capture, and they make up the bulk of his 'merchandise.'"
Alex frowned slightly, gripping his glass a bit tighter.
"If I remember correctly, slavery has long been banned, hasn't it?"
"Your memory serves you well," Elizabeth confirmed. "Slave trading is officially outlawed across the entire continent. Which only makes slaves more valuable. Black markets, underground auctions—they still exist. And believe me, many are willing to pay insane sums to obtain even a single slave."
Alex grimaced, lowered his gaze, and quietly but firmly said, "You don't need to continue. I get it..."
He lifted his eyes, now burning with fury.
"So that's why he wants 'Ray of Hope'... He plans to start trafficking children."
His magical aura suddenly began to expand, becoming dense and oppressive. The space around them seemed to grow heavier, and the glasses on the table trembled softly.
"I'll kill that bastard myself!" Alex growled in anger.
"Alex!" Elizabeth's voice rang out.
The young man flinched, turning his gaze to her. He saw her slightly leaning forward under the pressure of his aura. Alex immediately regained control, stabilizing his mana, and with noticeable regret said, "Sorry, Aunt..."
"It's all right," she replied gently, straightening up fully. "Your anger is entirely justified. But... you'll have your chance to deal with Lorenzo. Perhaps even very soon."
Alex looked at her intently, his voice focused. "I'm listening closely."
"In two weeks, on Wednesday, there will be a grand celebration at Lorenzo's gaming house for his birthday," Elizabeth began. "Entry is open, but there's a condition: a 'small' contribution — just two hundred gold coins. It will be a masquerade. All the guests will be wearing masks."
"A two-hundred-gold entry fee and a mask..." Alex repeated, crossing his arms over his chest. "That won't be a problem. Is there anything else I should know?"
"According to Astarion's intel, there's likely an underground chamber beneath Lorenzo's gaming house where the slaves are being held. If you manage to catch him red-handed and expose everything — believe me, no one will ask questions if he… dies under mysterious circumstances."
Alex smiled grimly. "I see where this is going."
Elizabeth gave him a serious look. "How many people do you need for this mission?"
Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"People? I can handle it on my own. You yourself said just a few minutes ago that I'm not a child anymore."
"This is a different situation," she replied firmly. "And even knowing the strength you possess, I won't let you go alone."
Alex sighed heavily and smirked. "Then maybe you'd like to join me on this little escapade?"
"Gladly," Elizabeth replied without hesitation.
Alex's mouth fell open. "Wow… That's not what I expected to hear."
Elizabeth smiled slyly. "It's been a while since I've taken part in something quite so… thrilling. Besides, this will be my first mission alongside my nephew. I'll get to see how you handle obstacles outside of the dungeons."
Alex raised his glass with a smile.
"I won't disappoint."
"I have no doubt," she replied, clinking her glass against his.
They both took a sip, after which Elizabeth refilled their glasses.
Alex, setting his glass on the table, turned his gaze to Elizabeth. "How did your talk with Father go?"
Elizabeth paused in thought, then her face lit up with a warm smile. "It went quite well. I'd even say… perfectly." She took a sip of wine and sighed with relief. "It'll take a long time before we can truly call ourselves a family again… but the foundation is laid."
Alex nodded with a smile, and Elizabeth continued:
"And thank you, Alex. For inviting me to your celebration. You knew the risks — and still, you did it."
"Oh, come on," Alex replied lightly. "I couldn't not invite you. I knew I was making the right choice. And I'm glad it all went just as I hoped."
Elizabeth smiled gently, watching him with clear pride.
"Did he… tell you anything? After our conversation?"
Alex shook his head slightly. "No, he didn't. But to be fair… I didn't ask either. It was enough for me to see that after meeting with you, he looked… a little happier."
Elizabeth fell silent for a moment, staring into the glass in her hands. Then she looked up and said:
"I'm glad to hear that."