Dawnstar City.
Once a jewel of Sector Thirteen, now a festering wound in the Alpha Quadrant.
Unlike Centauri City—a shining monunt of order and light—Dawnstar was a stain of lawlessness. Crimson smog clung to its skyline like blood on glass, and the endless hum of machinery blended with the screams of street hawkers and the distant crackle of energy weapons. Here, chaos wasn’t an accident—it was tradition.
Governed, if one could call it that, by a fractured Grade Two faction, the city had devoured itself for centuries. Rival clans and criminal guilds carved their territories like wolves gnawing on the sa carcass. The only law that mattered was power.
And today, through the shimring portal at the city’s eastern gate, a group of five stepped into that chaos.
The teleportation platform flickered behind them as the distorted light gave way to Dawnstar’s crowded heart. Steam vents hissed. Vendors shouted. Holosigns blinked in alien scripts above narrow alleys. Yet amidst the filth and noise, the five figures drew every gaze.
Two of them radiated unmistakable authority—Grand Magus auras masked but not entirely hidden. One was a tall male that crown with antlers and calm, predatory eyes. The other, a striking woman with icy-golden hair that shimred faintly even in the polluted light. Behind them walked three others: a silver-haired beauty, and two seemingly unremarkable magus—seemingly as her guards.
To many they looked like a highborn noble entourage. But the wary gazes of Dawnstar’s denizens didn’t linger long. Around here, curiosity got people killed.
The group moved through the congested streets, boots echoing against grimy tal tiles. They passed neon-lit gambling dens, drug stalls, and temples where hooded priests whispered promises to forgotten gods. The deeper they went, the thicker the tension in the air beca.
They turned into a narrow street where even the light seed afraid to enter. Dozens of eyes watched from shadowed doorways—cutthroats, beggars, and informants sizing up prey. But none dared approach.
Their destination was a tavern wedged between two crumbling towers—a naless place with a flickering sign and doors scarred from countless fights. The group entered, drawing the attention of the few within before silence gradually returned to the room.
The sll of sweat, alcohol, and rust filled the air. A waitress approached with a practiced smile.
"Welco, honored guests. What do you need?"
To the waitress’s surprise, it wasn’t the golden-haired Grand Magus who spoke, but the silver-haired girl seated beside her. Her tone was calm.
"I heard about your black ale," she said lightly. "I’m looking to purchase one."
The simple phrase hung in the air for a beat, its hidden weight not lost on the waitress. His polite smile stiffened, eyes darting briefly to the others in the group.Then, recovering his composure, he bowed his head.
"Of course," he replied smoothly. "Please wait here. I’ll inform my master."
With that, she turned and slipped away behind the bar’s back door, leaving the group in the low hum of murmurs and clinking mugs.
The mont she was gone, the golden-haired Grand Magus raised her hand. A ripple of faint light spread across their corner, sealing them in a barrier. The noise of the tavern dulled into silence, as though the air itself had thickened.
Inside that bubble of privacy, the silver-haired girl turned to her companion with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"How was that, Father?" she asked with a proud smile. "Not bad, right?"
The man sitting opposite her let out a quiet sigh. "You did well," he said, though concern lined his voice. "But rember, this isn’t a ga, Shinta. You have to stay alert"
Shinta’s playful grin faltered, her silver eyes narrowing slightly. "I know," she said softly, a hint of defiance beneath her words. "I’m not that little girl anymore."
The concerned man was none other than Ery.
It had been a decade since he last laid eyes on his daughter—and now, sitting across from him, Shinta does appear more mature.
Just yesterday, they had reunited in Utopia City.
He had hoped their reunion would be a long-overdue embrace. Yet that long-awaited warmth had been stolen by chaos. Annara’s sudden crisis had shattered the mont, pulling them both into another dangerous pursuit.
Having always treated Annara like family, Shinta refused to remain behind. She insisted on joining the mission.
"To think they dare to do this to my aunt... They’ll pay for it. Every last one of them."
Ery took another deep sigh and reminded her to be extra careful.
Then, the other male magus spoke in her defense. "Don’t worry, sir. I’ll keep her safe."
Turning to the plain-looking young man stirred a pang in Ery’s already troubled mind.
This young man was called Vic, the ’friend’ Shinta had wanted Ery to et. Seeing how closely he followed her around made it obvious they were more than just friends. Yet Ery simply couldn’t see what there was to like about him. Aside from his serpent bloodline, the man possessed few redeeming qualities—neither in looks, personality, nor strength.
Even Shinta had already reached the Full Moon Realm in his absence, while this young man was still at Half Moon. How could he possibly claim that he would protect her?
Protect her? Ery thought bitterly. He can barely protect himself.
The only reason Ery allowed Shinta to act as she pleased was because of the two Grand Magus she had brought along.
"I’ll be depending on you two, then," he said finally.
The female Grand Magus spoke, "Your daughter is a fine fey warrior. You’ll be surprised by how much she’s improved."
This grand magus was no stranger—Kayelin Silverleaf, the fey priestess from the Tartarus Realm. The other was Fayenor, the deer halfblood who had accompanied her. The two had stayed close to Shinta all this ti, patiently waiting for Ery’s return.
Ery’s gaze swept over the group once more. In truth, he would have preferred to bring reinforcents from the Zodiac Halfbloods or the Academy, but unlike these two, such groups risked being recognized by the Brotherhood. At the sa ti, Ery would rather not involve either institution in this matter at all.
"Thank you for helping,"
"When this is all done, we need to have a discussion," said Kayelin in reply.
Before Ery could respond, the waitress returned, bowing slightly. "My master will see you now. Please, co with ."
All five of them rose from their seats, ready to follow. Yet, unnoticed by anyone, a faint shadow lingered behind.
It was not Ery who left with the group—but his dark avatar clone. His true body had already slipped into the void between shadows, hidden from sight and detection alike. While the others faced the Brotherhood directly, Ery would take a different path—one he hoped would lead him to the captured Nyx.
Gliding unseen through the dim corridors, his presence rged with the darkness itself. When he finally halted, Ery raised his hand and made a subtle flick of his wrist.
Within the beetle’s enchantnt, Annara’s consciousness stirred. She had been hiding safely within Ery’s domain, her physical body concealed to avoid detection by the Brotherhood. Now, through the beetle, she served as his eyes and ears.
"Alright lead the way"
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