~ Mirror Reality 34, Third Academy ~

*Knock knock*

Someone knocked on the door of the headmaster’s office.

“Come in” Norgrim called, not looking away from his mana plant until the door closed again.

“Ah, William, I was -“

“I found him! I finally found him!” William grinned.

“Good! Tell Lannister so he can draft a portal. We need to bring him in as fast as -” Norgrim pulled out his communication crystal, but before he could channel it, Will interrupted him again.

“I already did. He’s already laid the portal frame.” William grinned.

“Well, excellent work, Will! Excellent work.” Norgrim smiled, “I tell you, things are going to change. Once he joins our side, we may not even have to live in a fake reality anymore… the day will come.” Norgrim said, turning to a framed letter on the wall.

“What is that?”

“A prophecy, written by an elder of the first academy. It says, ‘Our realities collapse, liberated by those we stole them from; they will take their time back, sending us forward. The dead will stand, we may scatter, may the dead lead us back together.'”

“Do you mind if I copy that down?”

“Ah, sure. Most people ignored it, thinking it will never happen in their lifetime… but now, with a necromancer, well. I think it’s just a matter of time.”

~ Losla ~

The forests around Losla were being ravaged, filling with bounty hunters and adventurers from far-off cities, all chasing Jay’s enormous gold bounty.

After the Sorah protocol activated, causing the self-destruct mechanism of a mage hunter armor, many felt the powerful mana signature and had ventured off into the southern forests, searching around the mountain range as they connected it to Jay. They were closed in only by the mushroom desert.

Even the sky had many adventurers flying around, scanning the ground and reporting back to their various teams. Each was like flies drawn to shit.

They had carved a path through the forest because of the varying forms of transport of the adventurers. A giant mud golem cleared away trees, a magic rolling house crushed rocks, and a coating of ice covered most of the ground, which certain adventurers skated across.

A division of mage hunters had arrived in Losla, and without pause, they sent half south to search for Jay, while the other half cut down every tree and made buildings in their place.

Some buildings were simply wood, temporary shelters, while others being constructed were made using fort and stone magic. A network of bunkers and fortified strongholds sprang up around Losla. Some were mage towers, others were strongholds built into the ground, surrounded by thick metals, elaborate rune tapestries, and various magic defenses.

Some were simply large floating spheres, ready to crush anything that challenged them, and a few were simply giant obelisks which pointed into the sky, threatening to piece whatever may attack from above.

The mage hunters were quickly transforming Losla and its surrounding lands into a military fortress.

It was hard to tell it was ever a quiet, lowly village on the edge of Astrata. Yet the mage hunters were just beginning.

Lieutenant Marsh was the commander of the first troop to enter Losla, and he knew he would be relieved of his command soon. He smoked a Valuvian cigar, patiently waiting in his makeshift office as a higher authority finally arrived.

Yet he didn’t even sense them coming, and neither did they knock. As the door creaked open, Marsh’s eyes widened.

“Arch mage….” He whispered, and immediately adverted his eyes, lowering them to the ground.

He jumped from his chair and fell to his knees.

“Arch mage. Forgive me. I was not expecting someone of your position to -“

“Shh.” A whisper sounded, coming from everywhere in the room.

Marsh held his face to the floor, trying not to breathe in his presence.

Suddenly then the door creaked shut again as they left the room without the sounds of footsteps.

The arch mage left.

Marsh gasped for air for a moment as a cold sweat went across his forehead.

Checking his desk, he noticed there were no files, no records, nothing. The arch mage had taken every file and document, including his cigars.

“It’s out of my hands… I had my chance.” Marsh thought, clenching his jaw.

~ Mirror Reality 34, Shrew Box Dungeon – Level 3 ~

“I wonder how they link the dungeon portal to the real world.” Smiley thought, entering the dungeon with a small group of third academy adventurers.

As an experienced swordsman, he was a babysitter of some of the lower-level adventurers having trouble with their physical weapons. At least, that was what the staff did with him, to get some use out of him.

Because of his harsh tactics, he was not one of the most favored trainers among the pupils, and as a prisoner, he wasn’t allowed to do much else, so they wanted to keep him busy. To keep him out of trouble.

Smiley, formerly known as Matheson, had made a few enemies because of his harsh training style, but also because he punished anyone who called him Matheson.

He saw Anya a few times, but so far, she had not noticed him.

Anya was still reeling from the death of her father.

Like Matheson, they gave her the opportunity to guide and help other ranged students at the academy. Of course, unlike Matheson, they did not force her to do anything. Many appreciated her guidance, but she didn’t connect with anyone.

Anya mostly kept to herself. She was not comfortable at all., having restless nights with little sleep. She still needed time, though she couldn’t help but wonder why she hadn’t seen Jay yet.

“Where is Jay? Why is he avoiding me…” she thought.

No one had told her he didn’t make it through the portal to the third academy.

Anya wanted to leave, as something felt wrong about this place, not about the school, but about the entire mirror reality.

Sometimes, the skies cracked open, wisps of chaotic darkness peeked through. The clouds would reverse as if going back in time, rain would fall upwards.

She often heard deep quaking and screeching sounds, echoing from somewhere far away. The world groaned against them.

Anya knew she didn’t belong here; no one did. This was not their reality, they were outsiders. Invaders.

~ Losla, Southern Forests ~

Three young bounty hunters were sitting on a large mossy boulder in the forest.

“… Quiet.” Esra whispered.

“But I was just saying, maybe we can go back, the bed’s still there, you can still use your ability and -“

“Quiet! Please, just be quiet for one second. I hear something…” Esra raised her finger.

Vanderby shut his mouth as Linc narrowed his eyes as his lips curled. They waited, staring at Esra.

“I hear it, I can hear him!” she grinned.

“Keep it down.” Linc waved his hand, scanning the surrounding forest.

“Right… okay. Well, finding a bounty in the city is one thing, but a fugitive of the entire kingdom is something else… are we ready?” Vanderby looked around, and Linc and Esra nodded.

“Okay, start your heart trace and lead the way Esra… and try to make it look like you’re guessing about where to go. I don’t want other following us.” He added.

Esra checked her skill and began listening to the rhythmic, gentle beating of Jay’s heart.

< [Heart Trace] >

[- You miss your beloved; listen for their heartbeats. You can hear their heartbeats no matter where they are in the world.]

[- Requirements met]