I froze where I stood, eyes locked on the cloaked figure by the counter.
The air felt heavy—almost suffocating.
He slowly turned, and my instincts screamed at me to summon my weapon.
But then—
"Oh, sorry if I startled you," the man said, voice calm and a little nervous. "I just came to pick up my order. Miss Amanda stepped out back for a moment."
I blinked, trying to calm my racing heart. His face was plain, unthreatening—just an ordinary man.
I forced a smile, though my pulse still thundered in my ears.
"It's fine," I replied quietly, trying not to sound suspicious. "Did she say when she'd be back?"
He shook his head. "Said she wouldn't be long."
Then, as if sensing my unease, he gave a polite nod and returned to browsing the shelf near the window.
I exhaled slowly. Get a grip, Hunter.
Not every shadow is Zarin.
Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was… off.
The back door creaked, and Amanda stepped out, brushing dust off her apron.
"Hunter?" she blinked, surprised. "You're here early."
"Yeah," I muttered, trying to keep my tone steady. "Had to check if you were okay."
She tilted her head, sensing my unease. "I'm fine. Why?"
I hesitated, eyes darting toward the newspaper tucked under my arm. "The Purge Units have been deployed."
Her smile vanished. "What?"
"Yeah," I said quietly. "They've sensed something. It's spreading fast."
The customer cleared his throat softly, as if realizing he'd overheard more than he should.
"Why are you both so worried?" he asked with a light chuckle. "They're not after you, so give it a break."
I'd completely forgotten he was even there.
"Umm… well, magic is evil," I said quickly, covering up. "What if the users feel threatened and start attacking civilians to prove a point?"
I prayed Amanda would follow along.
"True," the man said, shrugging. "But relax. My cousin works for the Purge Units. Trust me—if there's anyone who can catch them, it's him. The guy's practically unstoppable."
He laughed it off, like he hadn't just unknowingly threatened my entire existence.
"Ha… well, that's reassuring, isn't it?" I turned to Amanda.
She sighed and nodded, catching on instantly. "Very reassuring."
"Here you go, sir. Have a lovely wedding anniversary," she said, handing him a huge bouquet with her best smile.
"Thanks," he replied cheerfully. "See you later, folks."
We both waved as he left. When the bell's chime finally faded, Amanda turned to me, her voice trembling.
"What's our next step?"
"We go into hiding—for now," I said. "Tell your father, but not in a letter. Go to him in person. Letters can be tracked."
She nodded quickly. "Understood. So… you'll be leaving town?"
She was already taking off her apron, ready to move.
"No," I said firmly. "That would draw suspicion. And Zarin might use it as an opportunity to get to you or your father. We lay low. Stay quiet. Watch everything."
"Thank you, Hunter. I didn't get the chance to read the news this morning. I'm really grateful you came."
She grabbed her bag and walked toward the door beside me.
"I made a promise," I said softly. "And I intend to keep it."
She gave me a warm smile before locking the door behind us.
Then we went our separate ways.
Hunter walked the streets cautiously, keeping his head low, his jacket pulled tighter around him. The town felt… different. The morning bustle seemed muted, as if everyone could sense the tension in the air.
Up ahead, two townsfolk conversed quietly near a corner shop. Hunter slowed, listening.
"…yeah, the Purge Unit's moving street to street," one whispered. "Planting Aetherytes, checking suspicious houses, making sure no magic slips through."
"Did you hear about the Dalton place?" the other murmured. "Rumor is… Dalton and his family were caught, I can only imagine what's going to happen to them."
"Already? Those guys are scary. Who would have thought Dalton was harbor such evil? I can only feel sorry for them".
Hunter's stomach tightened. Every move they made, the Purge Units were a step closer to detecting them.
He exhaled slowly and continued, forcing himself to act naturally, blending with the morning crowd.
When he arrived at the house, the living room was abuzz with frantic activity. Books, artifacts, and magical implements were being stashed or hidden. Zayn had already started packing items into chests, while Tyra inspected the shelves for traces of lingering enchantments.
"Hunter" I recognized the voice immediately
"Jace, how's it going?"
" Who would have thought we'd have this many stuff... My fear is even if we hide them they might still exude little magic." Jace was right, besides our auras could also be fueling them. " How'd it go for Amanda?"
" I was able to inform her unnoticed. " He nodded in response.
Master Xavier stood at the center, his calm presence slicing through the panic. "Enough," he said, his voice firm. "This won't be enough. If the Purge Units suspect the house, a simple cleanup won't save us. I'll teach you the Erasure Method."
Everyone paused, eyes wide.
"The Erasure Method?" Cody asked, frowning.
"Yes," Xavier continued, his gaze sweeping over them. "It's an advanced technique that completely suppresses your aura and hides all traces of magic. No Aetheryte, no minor enchantment detection spell will sense it. But it requires focus and precision. Any mistake, and you'll leave a trail."
I nodded, understanding the weight of the lesson. "So… if the house is suspected, we can still appear normal, undetected?"
"Exactly," Master Xavier replied. "Once you've learned this, the house will seem empty of magic, even if a dozen of you are inside."
As the team prepared to begin, Hunter felt a twinge of unease. The Purge Units were moving fast, planting Aetherytes, surveying every corner of Elton. They were determined, relentless.
He took a deep breath, trying to focus on the task ahead. It wouldn't be easy, but it was the only chance they had.
----
Amanda walked briskly, her bag swinging lightly by her side. Hunter's words echoed in her mind — the Purge Units had been deployed, and danger was spreading faster than they could prepare for. She couldn't waste a second.
When she reached her house, she unlocked the door and stepped inside, expecting the comforting sight of her father somewhere nearby. But the living room was empty. Silence pressed against her ears like a weight.
"Papa?" she called softly, her voice trembling slightly. No answer.
She set her bag down and moved cautiously through the house, checking each room — the kitchen was still, the study untouched, the basement silent. Her heartbeat quickened.
For a moment, she froze in the hallway, listening. A faint shift in the air brushed against her ear — nothing else.
Dropping her bag by the door, she tried to calm her racing thoughts. He has to be nearby… he has to be.
But something felt off. The quiet wasn't peaceful — it was watching.
A faint noise drifted from behind the house.
"Papa?..." she whispered, her fear tightening in her chest. She stepped toward the back door, her fingers trembling as they wrapped around the handle.
Slowly, she pulled it toward herself—
Her eyes widened.
The back door was already open.