City of Ars

  The leader of the mage squad walked through the small, deserted square, where absolute silence dominated the atmosphere. Sensing a presence behind him, he abruptly stopped and crossed his arms before turning around.

  — I didn’t expect to see you so soon — he said, fixing his gaze on the hooded man, who remained leaning against a wall with a calm expression.

  — So, what did you manage to find? — he continued, cutting straight to the point.

  The hooded man slowly lifted his eyes before responding.

  — The boys you’re looking for are named Erick and Louis. Cosmo is protecting them at his base.

  — I already know that! — the leader interrupted, visibly irritated. — Stop telling me the obvious!

  He stepped forward and grabbed the hooded man by the shoulder, his aura emanating an intimidating pressure. However, the other remained unfazed, keeping his serene expression.

  — However, I discovered their next moves... and their exact locations.

  The leader relaxed his posture, releasing the hooded man. He placed a hand on his chin, clearly impressed.

  — You’re more useful than I imagined.

  Without another word, the leader turned and began to walk away.

  — We’ll meet again when you have more information. Next time, I expect twice as much. — he said, disappearing through the door of a nearby bar.

  — As you wish... — the hooded man replied before vanishing without a trace.

  Two days had passed since Rose and Lilith joined the Paths. For the two sisters, everything was still very new. Lilith struggled to navigate the enormous headquarters, where everything seemed like a labyrinth. Rose, on the other hand, felt uncomfortable with the oppressive silence of the place, unable to call it home.

  The two were sitting near a small garden, enjoying a moment of rest, when they heard a voice calling them.

  — Hey, Lilith! Rose! — Erick waved excitedly as he approached.

  Rose rolled her eyes, standing up without saying a word and heading inside.

  — Hey, wait! — Erick exclaimed, surprised by her reaction.

  — Good morning! — said Cosmo, coming from the opposite direction, crossing paths with Rose as she entered the headquarters. He glanced at Erick, clearly amused by the situation.

  — Looks like someone here doesn’t like you, kid.

  Erick sighed, casting a tired look at Lilith, who was still sitting.

  — Is she always like that? — he asked.

  Lilith placed a hand on her chin, thoughtful.

  — Nee-sama acts like that sometimes... but this is the first time I’ve seen her react this way to someone, Erick-kun.

  Cosmo let out a short laugh, lightly patting Erick’s shoulder.

  — Seems like you’re a special case!

  — Ahh... I just wish I knew why she hates me so much... — Erick sighed, looking up at the sky.

  Later, Erick was walking through the long corridors of the headquarters, exhausted after an intense training session imposed by Cosmo. As he continued, he spotted Louis and Lilith talking and decided to observe them from a distance.

  — I see... so you don’t have feline traits? — Louis asked, curious.

  — Yes... unlike onee-sama, I was born without feline abilities or features... — Lilith responded, her tone sad.

  — I know how that feels... — Louis murmured, averting his gaze.

  Lilith looked at him, confused.

  — I was born without magic. — Louis explained, his voice trembling. — I can’t fight like the others and I’m always being saved by nii. He gets hurt because of me... Even if they say I’m strong, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m useless.

  — Louis-san...

  — But, even so, he believes in me, and the others support me so I won’t give up. That’s why I can’t let them down.

  Louis lifted his head with a determined smile.

  — You’re right... — Lilith said, returning the smile.

  Erick, watching the scene from afar, gave a small smile.

  — Don’t give up, Louis... — he murmured before turning to leave.

  However, he ended up bumping into someone on the way.

  — M-Mister Angel! I’m sorry! — Erick stammered, startled as he recognized the person.

  Angel stared at him coldly before grabbing his shoulder.

  — If you bump into me again, I’ll throw you out the window. — he said in a crushing tone.

  — Y-Yes! It won’t happen again, I promise! — Erick replied, almost panicking.

  Angel released the boy and walked to his room without looking back. Erick, now alone in the corridor, sighed deeply.

  — Why does nobody like me...? — he murmured before heading up the stairs toward the dormitory.

  — Today, you will be going to Cilvett. — announced Cosmo, firmly placing a map on the table.

  Erick raised his hand, his curiosity evident.

  — Captain, what kind of place is this...?

  Cosmo smiled confidently, crossing his arms.

  — Good thing you asked! Cilvett is a village famous for its imposing magical barriers, capable of repelling any impure beings for decades! However... — His expression suddenly turned serious.

  — Some time ago, there were more than ten disappearances. One of the villagers claimed to have seen an Inverse wandering through the village. So, I want you all to investigate and exorcise the creature. — he concluded, sitting back in his chair.

  Louis, hesitant, raised his hand.

  — But, Captain... isn't it too dangerous for us to go alone...?

  Cosmo let out a light laugh, shaking his head.

  — Of course it would be! That's why you’ll be going with Rose, Lilith, Mei, and Emily.— He grinned widely, seeming to enjoy the situation.

  Rose's eyes widened, and she leaned forward, incredulous.

  — Wait a minute! Why do I have to go with him?! — she asked, pointing at Erick with irritation.

  Cosmo laughed loudly and stood up, placing a hand on Erick's shoulder.

  — Because it’s going to be fun! — he replied, leaving a teasing tone in his voice.

  Rose huffed, turning sideways with her arms crossed, clearly embarrassed. Louis and Lilith, in turn, tried desperately to hold back their laughter at the scene.

  — And don’t worry! Mei and I will be protecting you! — Emily said, pulling Mei closer and nodding.

  With the mission assigned, the group set off north towards Cilvett village.

  Dark Forest

  The group walked through the dense, dark forest separating Cilvett from Selvitt. The atmosphere was suffocating, with a low mist covering the ground, and the branches above formed sinister silhouettes.

  — What a scary place... — Louis murmured, his voice trembling as he followed the group.

  Emily held a map in her hands, frowning as she tried to decipher it.

  — Cosmo-chan said the village is somewhere around here... — she commented, her tone slightly frustrated.

  Uneasy sounds echoed around them, as if the entire forest were alive. Louis stopped when he saw a small rabbit among the bushes. However, something about it seemed... off. Without thinking twice, he grabbed Erick, trembling with fear.

  — Nii! What is that?!

  Erick looked at the animal, confused.

  — It's just a little bunny, Louis. Nothing to worry about.

  Louis sighed with relief but kept his eyes fixed on the little animal, still suspicious.

  — Oh... o-okay...

  As they moved on, the darkness of the forest grew more oppressive. The cold penetrated their bones, and the dark aura thickened with every step.

  — This place gives me the creeps... — Rose murmured, swallowing hard.

  Feeling the weight of the atmosphere, Erick decided to act. He knelt to the ground, reciting his new magic with determination.

  — Electricity Magic: Electric Sense!

  Lightning dispersed from the ground in multiple directions, scanning the terrain. Erick sensed a higher concentration of energy coming from the south and, without hesitation, began to run in that direction. Mei sensed the same presence and immediately followed him.

  — Hey, wait for me! — Emily shouted, running after them.

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  In their haste, the trio ended up leaving Rose, Louis, and Lilith behind.

  — Seriously, they forgot about us?! — Rose shouted, indignant.

  Lilith clung to Louis's arm, trembling.

  — I’m scared...

  Louis tried to stay calm, but the feeling of being watched from all directions made him break into a cold sweat.

  — It'll be fine... I hope... — he replied, swallowing hard as his eyes scanned the darkness.

  Cilvett Village

  Erick finally emerged from the forest, breathless, stopping at the entrance of the village. Mei was already there, analyzing the situation.

  — Finally! — said Erick, taking a deep breath after the exhausting run.

  When he tried to enter the village, Mei stopped him with a serious expression.

  — Don’t be foolish. You’ll die if you try to pass. — she warned, closely observing the surroundings.

  — I’m here! — shouted Emily, emerging from the opposite side of the forest and walking straight towards the entrance of the village.

  Before she could be stopped, all the magical traps were triggered simultaneously. Beams of energy, flames, and invisible blades hit her directly. Erick ran toward her in panic.

  — Miss Emily!

  But he wasn’t fast enough. Emily fell to the ground, her body marked with severe burns and deep cuts. Erick stopped, paralyzed by shock, as the villagers came out of their homes armed.

  — Intruders!

  — Who are you?!

  Erick fell to his knees, still staring at Emily’s fallen body.

  — No...

  Suddenly, Emily stood up, brushing the dust off her clothes as if nothing had happened.

  — Ouch... that hurt! — she complained, massaging her shoulder.

  — M-Miss Emily...?! — murmured Erick, incredulous.

  The villagers recoiled, terrified.

  — She... she’s a witch! — they shouted, their voices echoing through the village.

  — Calm down, ladies. Let me handle this.

  Answered a large man wielding a blade.

  — Oh, it’s Mr. Sfritz! — one of the villagers responded with sparkling eyes.

  Sfritz charged at Emily and pierced her stomach with his blade, then pulled it out and pierced her heart.

  — See? All done.

  Emily looked at him, confused.

  — You tried to kill me?

  Sfritz screamed and stepped back, pointing the blade at her, his hands trembling.

  — H-how!? Y-you witch!!

  When he tried to attack again, he was stopped by the village chief.

  — That’s enough, Sfritz.

  — Yes, Mr. Krurs...

  Sfritz nodded and slowly retreated, still glaring at Emily.

  — M-Miss Mei... what just happened here? — Erick murmured to Mei, still in disbelief at what had happened.

  — Exactly what you saw. Miss Emily can't die no matter what. — she replied, her tone neutral.

  The leader walked over to them.

  — Apologies for the poor reception... — said the leader, kneeling.

  The villagers were stunned by the leader's actions. Emily walked over to him and helped him up.

  — Don’t worry, it’s fine. — Emily said with a smile.

  Krurs nodded and placed his hand on his long beard.

  — We haven't properly introduced ourselves yet... I am Krurs Yvens the 3rd, leader of Cilvett.

  — I am Emily Line, Path No. 2, and these are Mei and Erick-chan.

  — Chan?... — Erick murmured, slightly blushing.

  Krurs widened his eyes in astonishment.

  — Paths! You are the ones the cosmos spoke of... So, I suppose you already know why you've been summoned here... — Krurs asked, his expression turning somewhat serious.

  — Yes... — Emily replied.

  Erick and Mei exchanged serious glances.

  — I ask you to come with me... — Krurs began walking, with the trio following behind.

  After some time traveling, the group arrived at a small house. The walls were covered with posters of missing women. Erick couldn't look away — girls of all ages, kidnapped or, perhaps, something worse.

  — Three days ago, several women started disappearing, one after another... — Krurs said, stroking his beard with a serious expression. — From what the townspeople say, only attractive women are being taken. This is causing immense panic in Cilvett.

  Emily placed her hand on the table, deep in thought.

  — Cilvett is a place with a high concentration of runic energy... So why are only girls disappearing? This doesn’t make sense...

  Erick furrowed his brows, clearly worried. The situation seemed more serious than he had imagined. Mei, on the other hand, remained expressionless, as usual.

  — "How can Miss Mei stay so calm?" — Erick thought, sighing.

  — My daughter disappeared a day ago... But in her last letters, she mentioned seeing something, a shadow. — Krurs revealed, his voice filled with pain.

  — Shadow... — Erick murmured, lost in thought.

  — Well... — Mei stood up, walking toward Emily. — Maybe the rumors about this 'inverse' are connected to the disappearances.

  Emily nodded, looking at Krurs.

  — Don't worry, we will find it and put an end to this. — Her voice carried a confident tone, accompanied by a slight smile.

  — Thank you... again. — Krurs gave a small nod before leaving, leaving the trio alone.

  When night fell, the group gathered around the table, now covered with notes and posters. Emily was taking notes, while Mei sketched disappearance patterns. Erick, lost in thought, watched the two.

  — "Miss Mei and Miss Emily are so strange sometimes... But when things get serious, they completely change."

  — Hm, Erick-chan? — Emily’s voice brought him back to reality. She was right in front of him, staring intently.

  — M-Miss Emily?!

  — You've been watching us all this time. What were you thinking, huh? — Emily asked with a mischievous smile.

  — N-nothing! I was just thinking about how to finish this mission! — Erick replied, averting his gaze, his cheeks slightly flushed.

  — Hmm, sure... — Emily responded, clearly doubtful.

  Mei interrupted them by placing her notes on the table.

  — So far, we have this: an inverse called 'Shadow' is capturing attractive women every night. So, what’s the plan?

  — Any ideas, Erick-chan?— Emily and Mei stared at him, waiting for a response.

  — W-well... Since it only captures attractive women, why don’t we use one as bait? — Erick suggested hesitantly.

  The two exchanged glances before Emily broke into a smile.

  — What a great idea! — she exclaimed, hugging Erick. — Mei, you’d be perfect!

  — What?! Why me?! You’re attractive too! — Mei retorted, crossing her arms.

  The two started arguing until they stopped and simultaneously turned to Erick.

  — Which one of us is better for this?!

  — W-well... er...

  Before Erick could answer, the door burst open. Rose, Lilith, and Louis entered, covered in branches and leaves.

  — We finally got out of that forest! I'm exhausted! — Rose complained, leaning against the wall.

  Mei and Emily exchanged mischievous glances before smiling.

  — I think we found our solution.

  — W-why are you looking at me like that?! — Rose asked, stepping back, alarmed.

  Later, at midnight, in the center of the village, Rose was tied to the fountain. The pale moonlight illuminated the area, while a thin mist curled along the ground. The soft sound of flowing water echoed in the night’s silence, creating an unsettling contrast with the situation.

  — I can’t believe you did this to me! — Rose yelled, staring into the emptiness. — Ugh... At least it can’t get any worse...

  Before she could finish, a dense fog enveloped the area. A shadow began to form around her.

  — W-what is this...? — Her voice trembled with fear.

  — What a beauty you are...— a voice whispered in her ear, making Rose shudder.

  — W-who are you?! Stop touching me! — Rose struggled to break free, but it was useless.

  — I am what you call... Ah, yes, an inverse. — He smiled, holding her waist.

  — N-no way... Inverses are irrational monsters! How can you talk?!

  — It seems you still have much to learn about the world...— he replied, holding Rose’s face. — Now, you will be the most precious trophy in my collection...

  He leaned in toward her lips, but suddenly, his body froze. He tried to move, but he was paralyzed.

  — What is this?! — he shouted, furious.

  Rose smiled, now confident.

  — Looks like you fell right into our trap.

  — You...! What did you do to me?!

  Before he could continue, a surge of energy blasted him away. He tried to recover but was surrounded.

  — Rose, are you okay?! — Erick ran to untie her.

  — Tch... You guys will pay for this later. — Rose crossed her arms, clearly irritated.

  The shadow, now cornered, looked around, searching for an escape.

  — Give up. There's nowhere to run. — Mei pointed her dagger directly at him.

  An even denser mist began to form, and the figure climbed a wall, trying to escape upward.

  — Don't let him get away! — Emily shouted, her voice cutting through the silence of the night.

  Mei lunged forward, trying to grab him, but her hand passed through the enemy’s body — it was just an illusion. The real enemy was already in the air, leaping before landing on the rooftops and starting his escape.

  "Be useful, Erick!"

  Mei’s voice echoed in Erick’s mind like a call to action. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, sweat dripping from his forehead as he began to chant the incantation.

  — Lightning Magic: Electric Spear!

  A shining spear of electricity formed in his hands. With a swift motion, he hurled it toward the fleeing shadow. The attack was precise, striking the enemy head-on and sending him crashing to the ground with a resounding impact. However, Erick nearly lost his balance, his energy drained. Before he could collapse, Louis appeared just in time to catch him.

  — Are you okay, nii? — Louis asked, his concern evident.

  — Yeah... just... exhausted... — Erick replied, leaning on his brother while holding his head.

  On the ground, the shadow struggled to rise, its movements slow and unsteady. It stared at Emily and Mei, who were now cautiously approaching.

  The mist around them was beginning to dissipate. The moonlight now shone brightly, slowly revealing the face hidden in the darkness.

  — Damn it...

  — N-no way... — Erick murmured, his face turning pale. — M-Mr. Sfritz?!

  The man on the ground rose with difficulty, a twisted smile on his lips, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of insanity and pleasure.

  — Yes, it's me... — Sfritz responded, his voice carrying an eerie tone as he bared razor-sharp teeth. — Looks like I've been discovered...

  The atmosphere was heavy, the tension in the air almost tangible. No one could process what they were seeing. The mist, which had momentarily cleared, began to return, covering the ground in a thick layer of darkness. Sfritz's body, in turn, was being swallowed by black and purple shadows that twisted like ravenous serpents, wrapping around him in a menacing way. His transformation was undeniable — he was no longer human.

  The wind howled fiercely, shaking the trees and creating an unsettling sound, as if nature itself was reacting to the growing power of that being. The leaves rustled violently, as if the trees were trying to flee from Sfritz’s presence, but there was nowhere to run. Every movement only heightened the tension, keeping everyone on high alert.

  Moonlight filtered through the shadows, illuminating Sfritz’s distorted figure, now cloaked in a malevolent and unrecognizable aura. His eyes gleamed with an unnatural glow, and the black claws that had emerged from his hands reflected the light in a terrifying way. It was impossible to deny — this was no longer the man they once knew. He had become something far more dangerous, a creature of the shadows, imbued with supernatural power.

  The group was surrounded. Erick could feel the looming sense of danger intensifying with each passing second. The air was thick with the threat of an impending battle, one that could decide the fate of them all.