Chapter 39: The City of Humans
Morning never truly reached the deeper parts of the forest.
The light that filtered through the towering trees came in broken fragments, thin gold slipping through dark branches and drifting mist. The air smelled different now—less wild, less untouched.
Civilization was close.
And somehow…
That made everything feel more dangerous.
The group moved steadily through the woods, boots brushing over damp earth and tangled roots as the sound of distant waves slowly began creeping into the air.
The ocean.
They were getting close.
Unlike the day before, no one looked exhausted.
The rest Darius had forced them to take had done its job. Their movements were sharper again, cleaner. Even Kin wasn't dragging his feet anymore.
Well—
Mostly.
"So let me get this straight," Kin muttered as he adjusted the strap on his staff. "We're about to sneak through a city full of holy super soldiers that hate literally everything we are…"
A pause.
"…and somehow this still isn't the worst plan we've had?"
Mira glanced at him from the side.
"It's definitely in the top three."
Kin pointed at her immediately.
"See? That's growth. You're finally appreciating my decision making."
"You nearly blew yourself up three weeks ago."
"That happened once."
"Twice."
Kin opened his mouth—
Then stopped.
"…Okay, twice."
A quiet laugh escaped Rito.
Blue shook his head slightly, though even he looked more relaxed than before.
Only slightly.
Ahead of them, Darius slowed his pace before finally stopping altogether.
Everyone immediately followed suit.
Lirael looked toward him as he stepped forward, his eyes scanning the terrain ahead.
"I'll take point from here," he said calmly.
Lirael's expression barely changed.
"…You think you understand the city already?"
"No," Darius replied.
A pause.
"But I understand entrances."
Kin smirked.
"That sounded cooler in your head, didn't it?"
Darius ignored him completely.
"You lead us to the Veil entrance," he continued, looking directly at Lirael now. "Getting through the city is my responsibility."
For the first time in hours, Lirael looked genuinely thoughtful.
Then—
"…Let me guess," she said quietly.
"You're planning to use the southwest entrance."
Darius nodded once.
"One gate. Two guards. Less traffic."
Kin grinned immediately.
"See? Easy."
Lirael stopped walking so suddenly everyone nearly bumped into each other.
"Hide."
Her voice was low.
Sharp.
Immediate.
No one questioned it.
The group disappeared into cover almost instantly, ducking behind trees and thick brush.
Kin crouched beside Mira, confused.
"…What happened?"
Then—
A shadow passed overhead.
The sound hit a second later.
A massive rush of air thundered through the forest canopy as something enormous flew across the sky above them.
Blue looked up instinctively.
His eyes widened slightly.
A massive winged creature soared overhead, scales glinting faintly beneath the morning light as armored riders sat strapped along its back.
It moved fast.
Far too fast.
And it was heading directly toward the distant city.
Silence lingered after it disappeared.
Then—
Kin blinked.
"…Was that a freaking dragon?"
Mira immediately smacked the back of his head.
Not hard.
But enough.
"You idiot," she muttered.
"That was a wyvern."
Kin rubbed the back of his head.
"…Okay first of all, rude."
Mira crossed her arms.
"No human could tame a true dragon."
Her voice carried a strange certainty.
"As far as anyone knows," she continued, "the great dragons either died long ago… or entered deep slumber."
Rito looked upward thoughtfully.
"…So what's the difference?"
"A wyvern is smaller," Mira explained. "Weaker. Less intelligent."
A pause.
"…Still dangerous enough to tear most people apart."
Kin stared blankly for a moment.
"…Wow."
He rubbed his forehead dramatically.
"My head hurts now."
Gus smirked faintly.
"That's normal."
"See? This is why I'm everyone's favorite."
"You're nobody's favorite," Mira replied instantly.
Lirael glanced back toward them.
"…Quiet."
Her gaze lingered on the sky for another second before she turned back toward Darius.
"The southwest gate is the most dangerous entrance."
That caught everyone off guard.
Darius frowned slightly.
"…Why?"
"Because only the strongest soldiers guard it."
The forest quieted again.
Lirael stepped closer, her voice lowering slightly.
"One entrance means fewer blind spots. Fewer mistakes."
A pause.
"And fewer survivors if something goes wrong."
Kin's confidence vanished immediately.
"…Awesome."
Darius crossed his arms.
"…Then what's the better option?"
Lirael looked toward the distant horizon.
Toward where the white walls of Serrealla were barely beginning to appear through the trees.
"The front gate."
Everyone stared at her.
"…You cannot be serious," Mira said flatly.
"That's the most guarded place in the entire city," Blue added.
"Exactly," Lirael replied.
Kin blinked.
"…That explanation somehow made less sense."
Lirael ignored him.
"Their strongest attention is always directed outward. Large threats. Organized assaults."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"They don't expect infiltration directly beneath their sight."
Gus frowned thoughtfully.
"…Actually…"
Everyone looked toward him.
"I think it could work."
Lirael blinked once.
"…How?"
Gus lifted a hand slightly as faint traces of dark energy curled across his fingertips before fading.
"I can conceal us."
Blue immediately looked at him.
"…Your shadow magic?"
Gus nodded.
"For a short time."
But before anyone else could respond—
Lirael stepped forward sharply.
"No."
The force in her voice surprised even her.
Gus frowned.
"…No?"
"These humans are highly sensitive to shadow energy," she explained quickly.
"If you use your magic near the walls, they'll detect it immediately."
Her gaze hardened slightly.
"They won't question what they sensed."
A pause.
"They'll swarm the gate before we even reach it."
Kin let out a long sigh.
"…Cool. Love that for us."
Blue glanced toward Lirael.
"…Then what do you suggest?"
For the first time since they'd met her—
Lirael hesitated.
Only slightly.
Then she raised her hand.
The wind shifted softly around them.
Mist began gathering between the trees.
Thin at first.
Then thicker.
Rito's eyes widened faintly as pale silver-green energy drifted through the air like flowing smoke.
The mist wrapped around Lirael's fingers before spreading outward in soft spirals around the group.
And suddenly—
Blue couldn't see his own hand clearly anymore.
Kin blinked rapidly.
"…Okay that's creepy."
Lirael's voice echoed softly through the haze.
"Mistborn concealment magic."
The mist moved unnaturally.
Alive somehow.
Breathing with the forest itself.
"For a short period," she continued, "it bends perception."
Mira frowned slightly.
"…Illusions?"
"No."
Lirael looked toward her.
"Absence."
That word landed strangely.
"They will see what they expect to see," she explained quietly.
"As long as we keep moving."
Darius studied the mist carefully.
Then nodded once.
"…Good enough."
Lirael looked at him for a moment longer than necessary.
Almost surprised he trusted her so easily.
Then the mist slowly faded.
The ocean breeze hit stronger now.
Salt lingering faintly in the air.
They were close.
Very close.
As the forest finally began thinning, the world opened before them.
And for the first time—
They saw it.
Serrealla.
Massive white walls stretched across the coastline like a barrier against the world itself. Towering cathedral spires pierced the sky, gold banners flowing from their peaks as sunlight reflected off polished stone.
Far below, waves crashed violently against the cliffs beneath the city.
Holy bells echoed faintly through the wind.
It was beautiful.
In the same way a blade could be beautiful.
Rito stared quietly.
"…Humans built all of this?"
"Fear builds quickly," Mira said softly.
Blue's eyes moved across the walls.
The towers.
The soldiers patrolling the battlements.
Then—
His gaze shifted toward the massive cathedral at the city's center.
Something about it felt…
Wrong.
Beside him, Gus narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…You feel it too?"
Blue glanced at him.
"…Yeah."
The air around the city felt heavy.
Not dark.
Not evil.
Just…
Cold.
Lirael's expression darkened subtly as she stared toward the distant cathedral.
"…Don't trust their light," she said quietly.
No one answered.
Because suddenly—
None of them wanted to.
End Chapter 39🔥