Delythena's POV
We had returned to the mansion and gathered in the living room to discuss what had happened. The members of the group seemed to be waiting for the next steps, and the atmosphere was filled with tension and anticipation.
"How can we know who is behind the trouble here in Frostbane Citadel?" Shamera asked.
"That's the problem" I replied. "Because the events caused by the one behind it are using an illusion, it's not easy to know who is responsible."
And I couldn't help but think that I'm still not very skilled in using my powers, and there's so much I still don't know about how to control them.
"We won't be able to return to the Obsidian Citadel if we don't complete our mission" Terrence said.
"And our mission is to find out and capture the one behind the chaos here," Haden added.
We all paused and thought about what to do next. "Do any of you know someone who can create illusions?" I asked.
They shook their heads. "We don't know, and illusion magic is a power that isn't easily possessed by an enchanter because it's meant for evil purposes only. Only one person can wield this power, but as of now, no one knows who possesses it. Since it's an illusion, we can't really tell what's real and what's not. But one thing's for sure, whoever has the power of illusion is definitely an enemy," Azmier explained.
Because of what Azmier said, I realized something. If only one person can possess this power, it means they were also the one who created the illusion that brought me into the mortal world.
What could their purpose be behind all of this? Shamera asked.
"Obviously, it's because they want to conquer the world and rule over it. That's the only possible reason" Crisella said.
Even though Crisella can be annoying, I agreed with what she said, because that's really the only possible reason why all of this is happening.
As we all sat in silence, processing the gravity of what Crisella said, the weight of our mission seemed even more intense. If the one behind all this truly wanted to conquer the world, we were up against something much larger than we initially thought.
"We need to be prepared for whatever's coming next" Azmier said, breaking the silence. "This isn't just about stopping chaos in Frostbane Citadel anymore. It's about stopping someone with the power to reshape everything."
Everyone nodded in agreement, the seriousness of the situation sinking in. There was no turning back now. The pieces were falling into place, and we had to move quickly.
"We should gather more information" Haden suggested. "We can't act blindly. We need to know everything about this person how they think, what they want, and how we can stop them."
I nodded, agreeing with his point. "And we need to be cautious. If they're using illusions, we can't trust everything we see or hear."
Azmier spoke up next. "The key will be finding out who they are. Once we know that, we can figure out how to neutralize them. We also need to be careful of any traps they might set."
The room fell into a heavy silence again, each of us thinking about the long road ahead. The mission had just become more complicated, and the stakes were higher than ever. But there was no turning back now—we had to see this through.
"We'll need to split up" Terrence suggested. "Some of us can gather more intel on the ground, while others stay behind to protect the mansion and look for any other signs of illusions or strange activity."
I thought about it for a moment. "That makes sense. We can't all be in one place, and we need eyes everywhere."
"Exactly" Terrence said. "If we all stay together, we might miss something important. We need to cover more ground."
"Then it's settled" I said, taking a deep breath. "We split up and gather as much information as we can. But stay alert. If this person really is using illusions, we can't trust anyone or anything completely."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and with that, we began making our preparations. Each of us had a specific role to play, but no matter where we went, we knew we had to stay united in purpose. The time to act was now.
"We need to pair up, Haden and I, then Terrence and—" Shamera began, but was cut off by Crisella.
"I'm telling you, don't pair me with Delythena," Crisella interrupted.
I turned to look at her, annoyed. "I don't want to be paired with you either" I complained.
"Guys, please don't fight" Shamera said, trying to calm us down. "But you're both strong, so it would be better if you two teamed up. Then Terrence and Azmier can pair up."
Her suggestion only made Crisella's face darken further. "I'd rather go alone, I'm strong enough anyway," Crisella complained.
"I agree, because we'll probably end up just shouting at each other" I added.
They all sighed, looking like they couldn't stop us from arguing. I really didn't want to be with Crisella because I knew I'd just get frustrated being around her; I didn't like her attitude.
"Fine, go ahead and go alone" Shamera said.
There was nothing they could do but let us be. We assigned ourselves to our tasks: Terrence and Azmier were assigned to the village, Haden and Shamera would patrol the entire Frostbane Citadel, Crisella chose to observe the mansion, and I would keep watch outside the mansion.
Even though we're in the same general area, I won't actually see or be with her, so it's fine. It was better this way, and at least I could focus on my task without any distractions.
While keeping watch outside the mansion, I found myself lingering near the garden. I could not help but gaze up at the Aetherbloom Arbor, and an unshakable curiosity stirred within me about what secrets it might hold.
"There could not be any harm in trying, right?" I asked myself. "Crisella had tried, and she failed. Perhaps the same fate awaited me." Yet I quickly countered my own thought.
"Whatever. I'll try anyway" I told myself, then focused on my energy and attempted to teleport there. To my astonishment, the moment I opened my eyes, I was already inside.
I stumbled in awe, the beauty of the place overwhelming me. It felt like I had stepped into paradise. The surroundings were vibrant and luminous, with a massive tree standing tall in shades of blue and white. Beneath it, a river flowed, with a waterfall cascading down gracefully. The entire area was breathtaking, with beautiful crystals surrounding it, sparkling as they reflected the light. Everything about this place felt magical and surreal.
I stood there for a moment, taking in the scenery, unsure of what to do next. The place felt so surreal, as if I had stepped into a dream. The crystal formations around the area reflected the light in mesmerizing patterns, creating an ethereal glow that seemed to hum with magic.
As I walked closer to the river, I could feel the peaceful energy of the place wash over me. The air was fresh, and the sound of the waterfall was calming, almost soothing to my mind. I couldn't help but wonder how this place was connected to the mission we were on, or if it was even real.
"Am I supposed to be here?" I muttered to myself, taking a cautious step forward.
"Yes." I froze, my heart racing as I heard a woman's voice speak so suddenly. It was soft but clear, echoing through the air as if it came from everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
I glanced around, trying to find where the voice came from, but there was no one in sight. "Who's there?" I called out, my voice trembling slightly.
"Thank you for coming, Lady Supreme."
My eyes widened in surprise at her words. "Lady Supreme?" I asked, confused.
Moments later, a woman appeared, glowing and floating near the waterfall. She was a beautiful figure, like a fairy, with long blue hair and white eyes that shimmered with an otherworldly light. Her presence seemed to command the entire space around her, adding to the enchantment of the place.
I stood frozen, unsure of what to say or do, completely captivated by her appearance. "Who are you?" I finally asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I am the Water Spirit, and I am honored to meet you, Lady Supreme" she said, bowing to me, which completely caught me off guard.
"Water Spirit?" I muttered, still in shock. "And why are you calling me Lady Supreme? I'm not a supreme" I replied, confused.
"Yes, you are, because you possess the Omni Power equivalent to the Supreme Ruler, Zadkiel" she said, making my eyes widen in shock.
"But... I don't even know if I'm suited for that position. I don't even know how to use it" I admitted, because it was true I had no idea if I could accept such a role.
"As a Water Spirit, I will help you master the power of water" she said, stepping slightly closer to me.
"How can I refine the abilities I have?" I asked.
"I can guide you in controlling water, but for your other powers, only the respective spirits can assist you. Each of us has different functions and methods" she explained, making me fall into thought.
"Does that mean I'll get to meet the other spirits?" I asked curiously.
She nodded, and a mix of excitement and nervousness stirred within me.
"But you do know that meeting the fire spirit comes with a price, right?" She asked, making me recall the agreement instantly.
I nodded.
"Be wise" she warned before shifting the topic. "So, what do you want to learn first?"
"I still struggle with controlling water. Sometimes, it just... fails" I admitted.
"You just need concentration" she explained. "Focus on your goal when using your power."
With a flick of their hand, they summoned a swirling water vortex before me. My eyes widened in awe.
"How do you even do that?" I asked, eager to learn. "I mean woah, of course you can do that" I added.
"Think from your heart about what you truly aim for" she explained. "Power doesn't just manifest because you want to show it off. You need motivation. If you summon it just for the sake of using it, the result could either be dangerous or completely ineffective. Your power is connected to both your heart and mind."
I nodded in understanding. "So that's how it works."
"Now, try to shape the water however you want" she encouraged.
Taking a deep breath, I focused on my goal. I closed my eyes and envisioned forming a water barrier, recalling how Crisella had done it for me before.
When I opened my eyes, I gasped. A shimmering water barrier had formed right before me.
"It worked" I whispered in amazement.
"It's easy as long as you know what you want to achieve" she said. "But you also need to master the strongest ability of water."
I tilted my head. "What is it?"
She gave me a serious look. "It's the water's main destructive force you can summon a disaster."
My eyes widened. "A disaster? Wouldn't that put everyone in danger?"
"It could" she admitted. "If you don't know how to control it. Mastery is crucial when summoning this kind of power. Water has different forms of disasters floods, tsunamis, storms. You just have to think about which one you want to create."
A sudden pressure settled over me. The responsibility of such immense power was overwhelming.
"Remember this, Delythena" she said. "Water must remain pure to protect its clarity, because once it is tainted, it will become dirty and lose its true form."
After our conversation and training session, I bid them farewell.
"Do not mention our meeting to anyone" she said before I could leave.
I nodded silently, acknowledging her warning. Without another word, I turned and walked away, my mind still processing everything I had learned.
As I made my way back, I couldn't shake off the feeling that this was only the beginning. If mastering my powers came with consequences, then I had to be prepared for whatever lay ahead.
The next day, we received news from the Obsidian Citadel that people in the village were being attacked by figures dressed in black, their hands marked with glowing green veins.
"What is happening now?" Shamera asked in disbelief.
"It's just one problem after another" Haden muttered.
"Who was assigned to the Obsidian Citadel?" Crisella asked.
"It looks like Savena's group" Azmier replied.
A sense of dread settled in my chest. What if something happened to Savena?
"We need to act fast" I said, trying to push down the growing unease in my chest.
Shamera nodded. "If Savena's team is in danger, we can't just stand by."
Crisella clenched her fists. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go."
Azmier hesitated. "We don't know how bad the situation is yet. Charging in blindly might put us at a disadvantage."
"But if we wait too long, it might be too late" Haden countered.
I took a deep breath, steadying my thoughts. "We split up. One group goes ahead to assess the situation, while the rest follow with reinforcements. We can't afford to lose anyone."
Everyone exchanged glances before nodding. Whatever was happening at Obsidian Citadel, we had no choice but to face it head-on.
"But who will stay behind to guard Frostbane Citadel?" Shamera asked. "We can't leave it unprotected."
Azmier crossed his arms. "We need to split up. Some of us should head to Obsidian Citadel to assist, while the rest stay here to defend Frostbane."
Crisella nodded. "Then we need to decide quickly. Every second we waste, more lives could be in danger."
I took a deep breath, my mind racing. Savena... please be safe.