She walked forward through the rubble, the Governor and Commander following behind her.

They explained everything in detail again.

The moment the arrays failed. How the monsters came. The strange mana disturbance spreading through the city. The survivors reporting hooded figures before the attack.

Isabel listened without interrupting.

Every detail was absorbed behind her calm silver eyes.

She stepped over a shattered stone arch, crouched beside a deep claw mark in the ground, and touched its edge lightly with two fingers.

A faint ripple of mana shimmered.

Her eyes narrowed.

"This…" she whispered, "It seems they were planning this for a long time."

Cassian swallowed nervously. "Headmistress… do you know who was behind this? Who were they?"

Isabel slowly exhaled.

A cold breeze passed through the ruins.

Her cloak fluttered again.

"I have my suspicions," she said quietly. "But to confirm them… I must investigate further."

Governor Cassian hesitated. "We got information that the Academy airship which left this city today was ambushed over Greenveil Forest. There were also masked people. So I didn't expect you to come here, Headmistress."

Isabel's gaze turned sharper, colder.

"Well… I was going towards the Greenveil Forest, where my students were. The moment I heard what happened. But at the same time, I got news about this city, where students had stayed for a few days. Vice Headmaster Arthur was also on his way there. So I decided to check on this city first…" She paused for a while and then continued.

"…Students are safe. No one died… but this city… hah. We don't know much. Who they were. Maybe they are from the same side… or maybe both incidents and enemies have nothing to do with each other. But whoever orchestrated this… wanted to achieve something. And they succeeded—for now."

Cassian and Roderick listened to her carefully while nodding.

She looked toward the distant sky, in the direction where Greenveil Forest was.

Her eyes gleamed with resolve.

"We will uncover everything. And whoever dared to do this. Attacking my students, the people of this city—"

The air around her trembled faintly with power.

"They will regret it."

Both Cassian and Roderick tensed. They gulped down their saliva upon seeing her cold face.

She sighed and turned. Then her senses warned her. She instinctively turned back and looked at the sky.

Her silver eyes narrowed as she gazed upward with keen eyes.

"What happened?" Cassian asked with a worried tone.

Roderick's hand had already moved to his sword's hilt.

Then Isabel's shoulders relaxed… as she realized who was coming. "Didn't expect him to come here."

Cassian met Roderick's eyes in confusion.

Then a golden streak traveling through the sky was coming in the direction of Lunaris Haven. Too fast. As if it was a shooting star.

SWISSHHH!

The golden streak perfectly landed in front of them.

The warm golden light faded.

"Long time no see… Alistair Luminous."

"Oh, Headmistress. I guess it has been a long time since we last met."

In front of them stood a man with a quiet presence that drew the eye without demanding it. His hair was a soft golden-blonde, catching the evening light like threads of real gold. It fell neatly around his face, giving him a refined yet approachable look.

He appeared to be in his late twenties, but his eyes. Golden to match his hair held a depth far beyond his years. They carried the weight of experience, the calm of someone who had faced storms and learned to smile through them. Yet within that depth was a gentleness, a kindness so warm it felt almost tangible.

His expression was soft, reassuring. The kind of look that made people instinctively trust him, as if he would listen patiently to their worries and shoulder some of the burden himself.

There was no arrogance in his posture, no sharpness in his gaze only warmth. A quiet, steady aura surrounded him, like the comforting glow of a hearth on a cold night.

He didn't need to speak for others to feel it. He was kind. He was steady.

"Lord–Lord Alistair!" Cassian exclaimed in shock.

Roderick's eyes shone with admiration as he saw his ideal. His hero. "It's really Lord Alistair."

Both of them knelt respectfully to him. "We greet you with utmost respect, Lord Alistair."

"We greet you with utmost respect, Lord Alistair," they said in unison.

Alistair's expression didn't change. Still kind. "Get on your feet, you two. No need to kneel for me. A normal greeting would be enough."

Cassian and Roderick slowly rose at Alistair's gentle command, though both still looked a little stiff from the shock of his sudden arrival.

Isabel brushed dust from her cloak, her expression returning to calm neutrality.

Alistair turned to her quietly.

"…Headmistress. What happened here?"

His voice carried warmth, but also a quiet heaviness. As if he already suspected the answer would not be pleasant.

Isabel inhaled slowly, her silver eyes drifting over the ruined plaza once more.

"An orchestrated attack," she replied after a brief pause and continued.

After telling him everything.

Alistair's brows lowered slightly, his golden eyes dimming with concern. But he didn't interrupt her. He simply listened.

She also told him about the attack on students.

"Similar figures ambushed our academy airship above Greenveil Forest. The students survived… but the incident is too closely timed to be coincidence."

Alistair slowly nodded. "I see."

He glanced at the shattered buildings, the injured being carried away, the lingering fear in the air.

"This was no random attack."

"Indeed," Isabel agreed quietly.

Both of them then turned toward Cassian and Roderick.

Isabel spoke first. "Is there anything suspicious that happened here."

Isabel thought that there should be a reason to attack here. In Mistvale Town the cultists wanted sacrifices for the being they worship. But here there was no mass genocide or anything related to ritual. So she couldn't consider this incident being linked to those same cultists. So she believed that there should be an objective for them.

Roderick was the one who stepped forward, clearing his throat.

"There is… one more matter," he admitted.

---

[A/N: Guys I am sorry if you got bored. Not seeing Amon for so many chapters. But just hold it for next two chapters. The 1st volume will end in next two chapters. And 2nd volume is more focused on Amon. You will only see him...so endure little longer. Bye.]

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