Over two dozen Magi on horseback rode through the ravaged streets of Ravenfell, heading south. At their head rode Councilor Ranzenberg, and the n behind continued to ride without stopping.
From ti to ti, they cut down scattered cultists who dared to cross their path. Behind them, the vestiges of the final clash between the Cult and the city’s forces were slowly fading into silence.
Crumbling buildings, bloody corpses, and devastating fires passed them by as they rode their horses. From ti to ti, they would receive updates on the battle happening in the Northern Quarter, as well as the forces’ status in the other districts.
These n learned that the Uptown, Downtown, and Market Quarter had been secured by the city’s forces, and that all the enemies in these districts had been dealt with. The naval battle had just recently concluded and the city’s forces had clutched a great victory.
The biggest piece of news they heard was regarding the Dark King taking down an enemy Mana Core Magus. They had heard reports of the young Magus taking the enemy with him to the spirit world, and then reurning alone and victorious.
Furthermore, they also learned about the second enemy, Mana Core Magus, being killed in the Northern Quarter. Once again, the Dark King was involved in this victory. anwhile, the remaining forces of the Cult were also being swiftly dealt with in that district.
Two enemy Mana Core Magi had been slain, and the Cult’s forces had been all but annihilated. Victory for Ravenfell was inevitable, yet it ca at a ruinous price - a city left in shambles, and countless civilians dead.
War was an ugly business. Given the hand Ravenfell had been dealt, its achievent was nothing short of impossible, yet the city and its people had seized it all the sa.
Now, the final judgnt hinged on the outco of the battle between the Mana Core Magi. With two of the enemy already slain, it seed like the Acadian experts would seize the victory... but these were necromancers they faced.
For now, the scales tipped toward the Acadian Mana Core Magi, unless...
Death itself had other plans.
Despite receiving a string of good news from the battlefield up north, Daniel, Raidon, and the others did not look all too happy. In fact, their faces were extrely ghastly. They had just learned about sothing truly sinister at play, after all.
They continued to ride south, galloping past the corpses of friends and foes alike. Raidon, who was riding beside the Counilor, glanced at him and asked, his tone laced with apprehension:
"My Lord... just what kind of magic are we dealing with?"
Everyone’s expression grew tense as they waited for the Councilor to answer. They had never co across such a devious type of magic before. They were all born in Ravenfell, they all grew up within these city walls, they all knew there were six districts in the city, yet... they couldn’t recall the na of the sixth district.
Daniel remained silent for a long ti. After turning a corner and guiding his horse over a wide stretch of rubble, he finally spoke:
"I believe it’s from the School of Enchantnt."
"...Enchantnt?" Raidon was taken aback.
He had so general knowledge about this School of Magic, of course. He knew that it focused on manipulating minds, influencing thoughts, and actions. A practitioner of this School of Magic was highly adept at reading the body language and emotions of others.
These Magi weren’t known for their raw, destructive power, however. Raidon, as well as the others in the group, were having difficulty understanding how a spell from this School could have such an effect on their minds. Such a large-scale spell was simply unbelievable.
Suddenly, he thought of sothing and said in a trembling voice, "...T-this... could it be... a Rank 4 Spell?"
Daniel silently nodded his head, his brows furrowing into a tight knot. He couldn’t help but think to himself:
Just what are these cultists planning? Why would they go so far as to warp our minds and alter our perception?
What has the Cult been hiding in Ravenfell’s forgotten sixth district? And how did they get away with concealing it for so long?
His hand subconsciously reached for the inner pocket of his robes, where he had secured a very crucial item. Daniel’s thoughts drifted to Sabrina’s lifeless face, which still haunted his mind. He found himself involuntarily gnashing his teeth in fury and... grief.
"M-my Lord?" Raidon called out.
Daniel snapped out of his thoughts, his eyes narrowing. Then, he looked at the burly Captain of the Black Legion, gesturing for him to continue.
Raidon thought for a few monts, then finally said:
"If... everyone in the city has forgotten about the sixth district, then... then how did you co to know about it?"
This was a question that, not just him, but every person in the group was curious about. If this phenonon were a result of a Rank 4 Spell, then how did Daniel, a Mana Vortex Magus, remain immune to its effects?
Daniel remained silent for a few monts, then succinctly said, "Because of Sabrina."
His answer caused Raidon and the rest to be even more confused. If the whole city was oblivious to the happenings in the sixth district, how did the late Lord Marshall of the city co to know about it?
More importantly, how was she able to convey the ssage to Councilor Ranzenberg? After all, by the ti the latter had t her... she had already passed away.
Despite his curiosity, Raidon refrained from asking any further questions. They had all seen how deeply the Councilor had reacted to Sabrina’s death earlier. Thus, he chose to keep to himself and silently follow behind Daniel.
If there was truly an even greater threat erging in the sixth district, then he and the others would do their best to deal with it. It was their duty. And so, the riders steeled their resolve and continued to ride southward.
Daniel, on the other hand, felt countless emotions swirl in his heart. Yet, his expression remained stoic as ever. He thought back to the scene that greeted him in the Benton Manor.
When he hugged Sabrina’s cold body and mourned her death, he had found sothing clasped tightly in her hand. It was a small, circular disk with complex runes carved on it. Additionally, there was a small note attached to it.
Daniel knew the purpose of the disk and knew what he had to do. It was also because of Sabrina’s note that Daniel was made aware of the forgotten sixth district. The note consisted of just a few simple words, but those few words changed everything.
The note read:
"Corvid Quarter - the true threat."
Sabrina... Daniel thought with overwhelming sadness.
Even in death, you continue to protect our ho...
After nearly an hour of riding, the Magi reached the Dell River, the waterway that split Corvid from the rest of the city. All that remained was to cross the bridge and pass through the walls that sealed the quarter.
And what awaited them on the other side...
Was nothing short of pure madness!
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