The moonlight cast a pale glow over the ruins, making the broken stones look even older. A hooded man stepped out of the shadows, moving quietly toward a figure standing at the edge of the crumbled archway. He paused before a figure standing at the edge of the ruins, gazing out into the vast night."Master," the hooded man said, bowing slightly to the figure. His voice was deep, carrying an almost respectful tone.The figure did not turn but acknowledged him with a subtle tilt of the head."I bring news," the hooded man continued. "I saw Protector Rexar at the Memory Blossom Garden the other day."The figure stiffened, barely perceptible, but the tension in the air was unmistakable. "Rexar?" The voice was smooth but carried a note of restrained surprise."Yes," the man replied, his tone steady. "I suspect he was searching for something-i don't know, perhaps even a way to intervene. His presence wasn't coincidental."For a moment, the figure was silent, the weight of the revelation lin

Shiro and Korin had visited Zerix's house again as they were invited by him, the air heavy with the anticipation of Shuifeng's translation. Shiro just admired the wall as the designs lined with old tomes and relics, seemed to close in as everyone waited for her to speak.Zerix sat back, his brow furrowed as he watched his niece, who was staring at the words she'd just translated, her facial expression unreadable.They all stood beside the table, glancing between the wall and Shuifeng, unsure of what to expect.For a long moment, Shuifeng didn't say anything. She didn't even seem to be in a hurry to break the silence. Her eyes skimmed the ancient text in the book once more, almost as if she were savoring the suspense. Zerix's patience, always thin when it came to her, finally snapped."Are you going to talk or not?" he grumbled, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair. "You're giving me a headache already."Shuifeng glanced up, a slow smile spreading across her face. "Oh, I did

"Couple of days ago, we learnt how to form a mage," Yeuhan began, his commanding voice spreading across the training ground. "It was really simple. Now, I need you all to know..." His gaze swept over the students like a stormcloud ready to break. "...the easy stage has passed."Shiro swallowed hard, exchanging a nervous glance with Mei, who stood beside him. Mei's usual confidence seemed to flicker as she gulped silently, and Shiro couldn't help but do the same."Get into your runes, everyone!" Yeuhan commanded, his tone unchanged.The students scrambled to obey, rushing to their elemental circles etched into the ground. Shiro hesitated for a moment not knowing where to go but ended up in the fire rune. The fiery red circle beneath his feet glowed faintly as he stood still, trying to control his breathing. He felt the heat rise around him, though it wasn't enough to burn.Yeuhan moved to the center of the training ground, his staff tapping softly against the stone. His steps were meas

Rexar leaned back in his chair, his earthy green skin catching the orb's light. His sharp features betrayed his frustration, though he masked it with an air of indifference.“So,” he began casually, crossing his arms, “has anyone come across... anything unusual lately?”The other protectors exchanged glances at each other.“Something like what, Rexar??” Zerix asked.“I don't know, perhaps something left behind by Elro?” Cora, seated at the head of the table, raised a sharp brow. Her fiery aura flared faintly, “Why would Elro leave something behind without informing the council?”“ I don't know, it just came to mind, it's nothing serious” “Do you know something we don't know?”Cora questioned, her eyebrows squinting slightly. Rexar scoffed. “Trust me, Cora. You all know more than I do. It was just a harmless question.” Alaric tilted his head, his silver hair gleaming. His cool, composed demeanor remained unchanged as he spoke. “You seem unusually concerned about this, Rexar. I

Shiro sat on the edge of his bed, the weight of the past few days pressing on his chest. His thoughts kept circling back to what had happened back at the council—just like everyone, he wanted answers. And he also felt bad for Protector Liora. The air in his room felt heavy, suffocating. He couldn’t stay there any longer. He looked over at Korin who made faint sleep noises before leaving. Stepping out into the stillness of the area, Shiro moved toward a quiet corner where he often found peace. The training grounds had been eerily quiet since the council’s decision to pause all sessions due to what happened. Two days of restless waiting had done little to calm his nerves and his elements. As he sat on the stone bench, a prickling sensation ran down his spine. Someone was watching him. He stood abruptly, spinning around, his eyes scanning the shadows. “Who’s there?” His voice was firm, though his heart raced. No answer. He exhaled sharply, turning back to his seat—only to find hims