Farther back, Lusian advanced with his group. At his side, Isabella rode, maintaining a calm too perfect to be real.
— I know you were assigned here —Lusian said—, but why didn't you go with Caleb?
— Because I feel safer next to your magical beast —she replied with a faint smile—. Besides... it's a relief not having someone harassing me all the time.
Lusian was about to respond when Adela approached with a tense expression.
— Sir, Aureus is restless. Something is approaching. We should move away. Mount Umber; I will escort you.
Lusian nodded, although his gaze remained fixed ahead.
— I felt it too. But we can't run and leave the others behind. This... this never happened in the game. Something is wrong.
A burst of energy thundered in the distance. The sound of magical impact made the students instinctively stop. When they looked up toward the mountain, they saw a tide of grotesque figures descending, while more undead emerged from the houses.
One of them attacked Lusian with unnatural speed. He reacted instantly, intercepted the blow with his sword, and destroyed the enemy's mana core. But in doing so, an alarming sensation ran through his body.
His magic was also weakened.
— An area spell... —he murmured.
Then he heard Emily's scream.
— Lusian!
He did not hesitate. Mounted on Umber, he rushed toward her with the speed of an arrow released. Isabella ran after him, desperate.
— Wait, don't leave me alone! Let me go with you —she begged, eyes filled with fear.
When he reached her, Emily looked at him with anguish.
— What is happening? That mana... it's horrible. Don't you feel it?
— I can't feel it —Lusian replied calmly—. But tell me where you sense it. That spell weakens those within its range... and strengthens those who bear its seal.
Emily nodded, trembling. Adela made an immediate decision.
— Adel, mount Aureus with me. —Then she looked at Lusian firmly—. I will take my brother. You take Emily and Isabella. We will find the seal.
— Understood. —Lusian tightened the reins—. If it's nearby, it must be protected. We need the teachers.
Emily closed her eyes, breathing with difficulty.
— It's very close... that disgusting mana... —she whispered.— It's intensifying... with every step.
Lusian advanced with Umber between the ruined buildings, searching for the professors. The roar of battle echoed like a war drum. Then he saw her.
Kara.
She was surrounded, fighting like a cornered beast against more than a dozen undead. Dark mana filled the air, and the students with her were retreating in panic.
That moment was enough.
Lusian did not think. He acted.
— Umber!
The beast lunged like a living projectile, crushing with ferocity the enemy about to tear Kara apart from behind.
— Idiot! —Lusian roared as he intercepted another attack—. Fall back! Fighting alone is suicide!
— Shut up! —she spat, panting, refusing to step back—. What are you doing here?
— Return to the group! —he ordered with cold authority.
Kara looked at him with anger, eyes burning with pride... but she couldn't deny it: she was at her limit.
As Lusian moved away, she shouted after him:
— Where are you going?!
— Where you can't —he replied without looking back—. Go back!
Adela arrived at that moment. She stopped beside Kara, with that strange composure she kept even in the middle of chaos.
— If you stay here, you will die. —She extended her hand from Aureus—. Get on. I will take you.
Kara hesitated... but accepted.