Orin Alpheratz (15 years old) Location: Solaris Date: Year 873 / Crow Cycle (3) / Blacksmith's Day (8)

  “Let's get straight to the point,” Altair said, his voice firm and commanding, cutting through the air of the hall. “Solaris is under siege. The knights of the Church of Luminia are pressing the Emperor to outlaw sorcery once and for all. And as you witnessed at the academy... every sorcerer they find is being dragged away in chains.”

  Orin bit down hard on his lip. He had expected the Church to move, but not so boldly... not so soon. The thought of his fellow students being hunted through the streets made his chest tighten.

  Before he could speak, the inn's door banged open. A boy in plain clothes stumbled in, his breath ragged, eyes wide with panic.

  “Lord Altair! Enemy soldiers, heading straight this way!”

  The messenger's voice cracked, but Orin recognized the look. An informant, most likely one of the Star Children hidden in Solaris.

  “Tch.” Altair clicked his tongue in disapproval, his brow furrowing. Aran and Mahasim exchanged tense glances, their expressions grim.

  “I didn't expect them here so quickly,” Altair muttered. “It seems Felis is having trouble delaying them.” His eyes swept the room, sharp and unyielding. “Understand this. The danger isn't only in moving a large group across a city under siege. Even staying here, in the outskirts, is no longer safe. We act now, or we'll be cornered.”

  Without another word, he strode to the far wall and lifted a massive spear that leaned there, the polished steel head glinting faintly in the dim light. The weight of his presence filled the room as he turned and walked to the door.

  Aran and Mahasim immediately followed, grim resolve etched on their faces.

  The silence they left behind was heavy, tense. Orin glanced at Eridus, whose large frame seemed unusually stiff.

  “I think... we'd better go after them,” Eridus muttered.

  Orin nodded. “Yeah. Let's move.”

  Together, they rushed after Altair and the others.

  Orin stepped out of the inn with Eridus at his side. And only then did the true scale of the disaster hit him. Beyond the suburban wall, thick plumes of smoke curled skyward, rising from between Solaris's proud towers. The faint glow of fire flickered in the distance.

  He had lived in the capital his whole life, but never had he seen it like this. The grand, invincible Solaris... drowning in chaos.

  “As you can see, the situation is far from favorable,” Altair said, striding over with spear in hand. His deep voice carried the weight of certainty. “Crossing the city now would be nothing short of suicide. I can assure you. None of those students would ever make it to the North Gate.”

  Orin clenched his fists. “Then what choice do we have?”

  “There is another way.” Altair's eyes sharpened. “It will take longer, but it's safer. I've already arranged for the younger sorcerers in the inn to be transported. Instead of cutting through the city, we'll skirt it from the outside. The journey through the woods will take nearly a full day, but compared to the bloodbath waiting in those streets... the danger is far less.”

  Orin hesitated. “And if there are guards hidden in the woods?”

  “There will be,” Altair admitted without flinching. “But I'll see to it myself that everyone arrives by dawn.” For a moment, his face hardened further, and Orin felt the weight behind his words. “...But this won't come without a price... you have to make a deal with me.”

  “A price?” Orin asked warily. “What kind of deal?”

  Altair met his eyes with unwavering seriousness. “You are one of the Church's primary targets. If you're captured, it will endanger everything. Felis may already have told you, but we need you in Dhamarr. That is why my condition is this: you will not participate in the escort operation. You will leave Solaris immediately, with Aran as your guide.”

  Orin's breath caught. The plan made sense, yet the thought of abandoning Eridus and the others tore at him. He looked at his friend, desperate for some sign.

  Eridus crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “It's your choice, Orin. No one here will blame you, no matter what you decide.”

  A few paces away, Mahasim was already loading carts with food and water, moving with frantic haste. Time was slipping away.

  But before Orin could answer, a metallic clang, clang, clang rang out across the street.

  Everyone froze.

  From the road ahead, five armored figures emerged, their polished steel reflecting the sunlight. Each bore the sun-emblazoned crest of the Church of Luminia. They advanced in steady formation.

  At their head marched a knight carrying a faintly glowing crystal in both hands.

  Orin's eyes narrowed. Whatever that artifact was, it pulsed with eerie light, and in that instant he understood: it wasn't a coincidence.

  The crystal was leading them straight to the inn.

  “Tch. They've already locked onto us,” Altair muttered, his expression hardening. He planted his spear against the ground and barked, “Aran, buff me. Then stay close to Orin. Don't let a single one of them reach him.”

  “Yes, Captain!” Aran answered without hesitation. She raised both hands toward Altair, her voice ringing like a hymn.

  “PRAYER: Morning Blessing!”

  A warm golden light spread from her palms, cascading over Altair like a second skin of sunlight. His already formidable frame seemed to radiate even more power, the very air around him vibrating with raw pressure.

  “Good,” Altair said, rolling his shoulders. “Now, go to Orin.”

  Aran obeyed, rushing to Orin's side. Her face was pale, but her conviction steady.

  “Can he really handle them alone?” Orin asked, his voice betraying unease as he watched the captain stride forward.

  Aran nodded firmly. “Captain Altair is one of our strongest warriors. He may even surpass Felis.”

  Orin swallowed hard. He had seen Felis carve through trained knights as though they were paper. The thought of someone even stronger sent a chill down his spine.

  The five soldiers marching toward them soon spotted Orin and Eridus. Their eyes sharpened when they noticed the academy uniforms.

  “There they are! The escaped prisoners!” the leader barked.

  Swords rang out as steel left their scabbards. The five men moved into formation: three in the front line with shields raised, two in the back with blades drawn.

  Altair's lips curved into a cold smile. He twirled his spear once, then sprinted forward like a thunderbolt.

  “ACTIVATE KNIGHT SKILL: Phantom Shield!” the three shield-bearers roared in unison. A translucent barrier flared to life before them, shimmering with ethereal light, locking their formation like a wall of steel and magic.

  “ACTIVATE SKILL: Longsword!” the rear soldiers shouted. Their blades ignited with a pale blue aura, elongating into radiant arcs of light, their killing intent spiking.

  But Altair didn't slow down. He halted just meters away, his voice booming like thunder.

  “COMBO SKILL: Desert's Wrath!”

  The ground trembled. His spear blazed with scorching light before he drove its tip into the earth.

  From beneath the enemy's feet, jagged replicas of his weapon burst forth like fangs of the earth itself. The formation shattered in an instant. Screams tore through the air as three soldiers were impaled outright, their bodies collapsing in sprays of blood and steel. The remaining two staggered backward, coughing and clutching at deep wounds, their glowing blades trembling in weakened hands.

  And yet, even on the brink of death, their eyes burned with fanatical resolve.

  But Altair wasn't about to waste another breath. Without stepping closer to the crippled soldiers, he simply raised a hand, his voice cold and precise.

  “SPELL: Bonfire.”

  Flames erupted instantly, devouring the men where they stood. Their anguished screams echoed through the buildings, sharp and short-lived, before the fire reduced their bodies to nothing but drifting ash.

  The smell of scorched steel and charred flesh lingered in the air.

  “It's done,” Altair said flatly. He strode forward, crouching to retrieve the faintly glowing crystal the soldiers had been guarding. Its light pulsed faintly in his hand, like a captured heartbeat.

  Orin stood frozen, unable to tear his eyes away. He had just seen Altair tear through trained knights with sheer strength... and also conjure magic powerful enough to incinerate foes in seconds.

  “Incredible...” he murmured. “I didn't even know warriors could use magic of that level.”

  Aran, who had just regained her composure, smiled faintly. “It's more common than you'd think. In Solaris, knights devote themselves almost entirely to divine power, like my prayers. But outside this borders... there are many who train in both blade and sorcery.”

  Eridus chuckled, shaking his head. “Considering you've lived your whole life in Solaris, always surrounded by knights and their rigid traditions, your surprise makes sense. Still... even among those who master both arts, Altair stands in a league of his own.”

  Orin lowered his gaze, unease tightening in his chest. “I wonder... if I could ever use magic myself...”

  “You can,” Altair's voice cut in firmly as he approached, the crystal glowing faintly in his palm. “But the nature of your power... it could be like anything we've seen before.” He stopped before Aran and handed her the crystal. “Now, What could this crystal be?”

  Orin barely heard him. The captain's words echoed in his mind. The nature of your power... unlike anything we've seen... Could it really have such great power within it? Could this have something to do with his red eyes?

  Aran held the crystal delicately, her brow furrowed in concentration. The gem's light shimmered in her hands, responding to her touch.

  “I see...” she whispered at last. “This is new to me, but... its power feels similar to my detection prayers. It can sense the presence of magic and divine energy. But the range is shallow... and any skilled sorcerer could mask themselves against it.”

  “Still,” Altair interjected, his tone sharp, “it is enough to identify these children.” His gaze slid to Mahasim, who was finishing her preparations nearby. His voice grew harder. “Which means time is running short.”

  He turned back to Orin, his expression unyielding, eyes like sharpened steel.

  “So, Orin... have you decided? What will you choose?”

  “I'll go,” Orin said at last, his voice firm, leaving no room for hesitation. His chest tightened, but his resolve was clear. If anyone could guide the others to safety, it was Altair. “Just... promise me they'll all reach the North Gate alive.”

  Altair gave a solemn nod. “I swear it.”

  From his belt, he drew a dagger forged of pale-blue metal that gleamed like frozen light under the sun. He offered it to Orin. “Take this. If enemies cross your path, it may prove useful.”

  Orin accepted the weapon with both hands, the chill of the metal seeping into his palms. He tightened his grip and gave a quiet nod of thanks.

  “Aran, Orin,” Altair said as he turned back toward the inn, his voice steady but edged with finality. “We will meet again in Dhamarr. Now, if you excuse me, I'll see to the rest of the boys who are still preparing.”

  Orin understood instantly, it was Altair's way of granting him and Eridus space for their farewell.

  “It seems this is where our paths divide,” Eridus said with a bittersweet smile, his tone half playfulness, half resignation.

  “Yes,” Orin admitted, his throat tightening. “But I believe we'll see each other again. The most important thing is surviving this moment.”

  “You're right,” Eridus replied. He extended his fist, eyes bright with determination. “Then, until the waves of time bring us together again.”

  Orin's lips curved into a faint smile despite the ache in his chest. He touched his fist to Eridus's. “Until then, my friend.”

  With that, he turned away. A heavy lump pressed against his throat, but he forced himself to walk forward, one step, then another, toward the academy, where the long road to the West Gate awaited. He didn't look back.

  Aran walked beside him in silence, matching his pace. She didn't need to speak, her quiet presence was enough to tell him she understood the weight he carried in his heart.