Back at Avarice, the evening sun bathed the tall marble buildings in hues of gold and orange.
Inside one of the offices, Sarah Reginald was finishing her day's work — neatly filing the last batch of documents before closing time.
She worked for the Avarice Educational Bureau, the governing body responsible for crafting academic rules, assigning aspiring teachers to schools, and managing curricular activities. She had just completed screening a long line of applicants and was more than ready to go home.
"We can finally go home, Sylph," Sarah said with a sigh of relief to a small, green fairy perched on her shoulder.
The fairy's wings shimmered faintly in the dim light as Sarah stretched, trying to ease the tension in her back.
Just then, a sudden knock on the door broke her calm, pulling her out of her brief moment of peace. Her expression darkened.
She thought about ignoring the visitor, hoping they'd assume she had already closed for the day. But Sylph, ever mischievous, anticipated her plan and began tugging sharply at her cheek.
"Ugh, you're not the one doing the work," Sarah grumbled telepathically to the fairy. "You little nuisance."
"Come in," she said aloud, forcing a polite tone.
The door opened, revealing a tall woman in a sleek black gown. Her purple eyes glinted with mystery, and her light fair skin contrasted sharply with her dark attire. Her pink lips curved into an almost enchanting smile.
"Sorry for coming so late," the lady said with mock sympathy. "Am I disturbing you?"
"No, you're not," Sarah replied through clenched teeth. "But we were about to close. What do you want?"
"I'd like to apply for a teaching position at Avarice High," the woman said confidently.
Something about her unsettled Sarah. The woman exuded an odd aura, dark and heavy. Trusting her instincts, Sarah decided to postpone her application to observe her more closely.
"I'm afraid applications for Avarice High are closed for today," Sarah said. "Please return tomorrow. May I have your name to make a reservation?"
"My name is Sabrina Page," she replied with a sly grin. As she stood, her presence seemed to fill the room with quiet tension. "I'll be back tomorrow. Make sure you don't forget."
"Good night," Sarah said curtly, watching as Sabrina glided out of the room.
Once the door shut, Sarah's smile faded. "Kitsune, follow her and keep watch," she ordered softly. "She seems suspicious. My instincts tell me she isn't normal."
Outside, the streets of Avarice glimmered with magical lamplight. Sabrina walked with confidence through the empty plaza — until she felt something following her. Her sharp eyes darted toward the rooftops.
"A spirit fox, how cute," she thought coldly. "But I can't allow you to watch me."
Dark mana began to swirl around her hand, staining the air with shadows.
"Hehehe… You really were suspicious," came a mischievous voice. The spirit fox appeared atop Sabrina's head, its eyes gleaming. "Just an old fox's rambling… but wasn't the last dark mage exiled for dabbling in forbidden arts? We haven't recorded another dark mage since then.
Using such power means you're Veronica Stein—or am I mistaken?"
Sabrina froze, her expression hardening. "Damn it… I'll have to kill this fox — and that woman — or risk being exposed."
Compressing dark mana into her palm, she flung her hand upward, releasing a wave of destructive energy. But the fox vanished in an instant, leaving only its faint laughter echoing in the night.
"What the hell?" she hissed, turning sharply toward the bureau.
Her eyes widened.
Above the building, Sarah floated in midair, Kitsune perched proudly on her head. Around her, a dragon of ethereal flame coiled majestically, accompanied by a host of glowing spirits. Her body pulsed with magic, her eyes shining a radiant blue and a little smirk on her face.
"Who are you?" Sabrina shouted, her voice trembling between anger and awe.
"My name is Sarah Reginald," she declared, her voice echoing with authority. "In the name of the Avarice Bureau of Magic, I hereby arrest you. You will answer for your crimes against Avarice."
"Reginald…?" Sabrina's expression twisted. "So that's where this mana is coming from. The Reginalds are monsters—but I can handle at least the wife, right?"
Dark energy surged around her as she lunged forward.
"Do the thing, Sylph," Sarah commanded telepathically. The fairy nodded, glowing bright blue.
In an instant, a swirling blue vortex opened beneath them, consuming both women and all the spirits in a blinding flash.
They reappeared in a vast, endless blue plane, shimmering like liquid glass beneath their feet. The air hummed with raw mana, but the world itself felt eerily empty.
"You teleported us to an alternate plane," Sabrina said with a smirk. "Afraid I'd destroy something?"
Her dark aura flared. "Too bad—I've studied these realms. This one's weak."
Sarah's glow intensified. "You're right—it's a weak plane. But I didn't bring us here to protect the city."
Her eyes blazed with azure fire. "Aura Extension: Fairy Queen's Blessing. You'd better go all out… or you might die today."