Liam pushed through the busy festival streets, the noise of music and laughing crowds pressing in from all sides.
The slave girls stuck close behind him, their eyes wide with fear and a little hope.
They looked exhausted, still wearing the simple clothes from their captivity, but they kept moving.
Beatrix and Pyra took the front, using their size and steady presence to clear a path through the packed bodies.
Beatrix would bump shoulders with anyone who got too close, muttering quick excuses.
While Pyra flashed a sharp smile that made people step aside without even realizing why.
At the back, Olivia and Cyra watched everything. Olivia scanned the faces around them.
Her hand was never far from her side, while Cyra kept glancing over her shoulder, ready for any sign of trouble.
Liam wiped sweat from his brow and glanced back again.
The girls were still there, safe for now. This had to be the right move.
Dragging them straight to Director Elena at Ark Academy felt like the best choice he could make.
He couldn’t just leave them out here after what Simon had planned. No way.
They slipped out of the festival noise and into the quieter academy grounds.
The lights in the main building were still on even though it was late.
Liam led everyone inside, his boots echoing on the polished floors.
He left the girls in the hallway with the team and knocked on Elena’s office door.
"Come in," her voice called, tired but clear.
Liam stepped inside. Elena sat at her desk, papers and glowing screens spread out in front of her.
She looked like she had been working for hours, extra time, again. He closed the door behind him and got straight to it.
"Director, it’s about Simon," he said. "He’s not who we thought.
He planned to... eat those girls. The slave girls. He’s some kind of monster under all that charm."
Elena’s eyes flicked up to his. For the first time.
Liam felt it, like a mountain of pressure suddenly dropped onto his legs. His knees almost buckled.
He grit his teeth and forced himself to stay standing. So this is what an archmage feels like, he thought.
The air in the room seemed heavier, like the weight of her power was pressing down on him.
He tried to check her level out of habit, the way he always did. Nothing came up. Just question marks. The gap was too big. Way too big.
Elena stood up slowly. She didn’t look angry or surprised, just calm and sure.
"I’ll prepare a special place for those girls here at the academy. They’ll be safe, cared for.
As for Simon..." She paused, her voice steady. "I’ll take care of him. Even if it means confronting him directly."
Liam gulped. His mind raced. Did helping the girls just change everything?
Would Simon’s betrayal come out sooner now? He had no idea how this would ripple out.
He shook his head, pushing the thought away.
No. He couldn’t keep doing this, changing things around without enough strength to back it up.
If he stayed weak, he’d just get dragged along by events, like a leaf in a river. He needed to get stronger. Fast.
Elena rubbed the bridge of her nose and let out a long breath. "It’s good you brought them. Now you can go. Get some rest."
Liam nodded. "Thank you." He turned and left the office, closing the door quietly behind him.
Out in the hallway, Olivia, Beatrix, and Pyra were waiting with the girls.
The slave girls sat on a bench, looking a little less scared now that they were inside the academy walls.
"Where’s Cyra?" Liam asked, scanning the group.
Olivia rubbed the back of her head, looking uncomfortable.
"When she saw the girls... something in her face changed. She just turned and left without saying anything."
Liam cursed under his breath. "Great. That seems like a bad omen."
He opened his mouth to ask the others what they thought they should do next when his phone buzzed in his pocket.
He pulled it out and stared at the screen. Vanessa. His eyebrows shot up.
"You guys would never believe who’s calling us right now," he said, holding up the phone.
Beatrix tilted his head. "Who is it?"
"It’s Vanessa. You don’t know her. It was a family me and Olivia saved before from that plague outbreak. Remember?"
Liam answered the call and put it on speaker so the others could hear.
"Liam?" Vanessa’s voice came through, shaky and urgent. "Something’s happening to my daughter.
Little Rem. I need your help. Please. I’ll do everything for you, just save her.
I’m sending the location to your map right now. Hurry. Please."
The map pinged on his phone with the address. Liam’s stomach tightened.
He cursed again, louder this time. "We’re on our way. Hold on."
He looked at the group. "Follow me. Now."
They ran through the academy grounds and out into the streets, feet pounding the pavement.
The night air felt cooler after the stuffy office.
Liam’s heart hammered as they wove between buildings, following the map.
Vanessa’s house wasn’t far, but every second felt too long.
They reached the small house on the edge of town. Liam knocked hard on the door. It opened almost right away.
Vanessa stood there, her face tense, sweat beading on her forehead. Her eyes were red like she’d been crying.
She grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. "Follow me. Quick."
Liam stepped in, the girls right behind him. Vanessa led them down a short hallway to a bedroom. She pushed the door open.
Liam stopped cold. The girls filed in after him and clapped hands over their mouths.
Little Rem lay in the bed, small and pale. Her body twitched now and then, faint glowing lines tracing under her skin.
Signs of awakening. She was being chosen by an aeon.
Beatrix stepped closer and looked at Liam. "Isn’t awakening only supposed to happen at age eighteen?
Wouldn’t a little girl like her die if she goes through it this young?"
Liam nodded, his face heavy. "Yeah. The awakening takes a real toll on the soul.
It’s the price to make the link with the aeon."
Olivia tugged on his sleeve, her eyes wide and pleading. "Please, Liam. Can you help this little girl?"
He looked at her and felt something twist in his chest. Back in the wilderness, Olivia had gotten so attached to Rem.
They both loved those magical girls anime shows, would sit for hours talking about the episodes, laughing at the silly parts.
Olivia’s sad smile right now hit him hard.
And he remembered Rem’s cheerful little face, how she’d light up when she saw them.
Liam nodded. How could he leave Rem like this?
He walked over to the bed. His eyes widened as he realized what aeon had chosen her.