The forest remained cloaked in heavy mist even after Lucas and Nyxian returned with Adonis. The weight of the rescue still lingered in the air, making every breath feel heavier. The group regrouped near the central campfire the academy staff had set up earlier for the Hunting Event. Although they were surrounded by other students, the air around them was tense, quiet—something had shifted.
Adonis was now resting on a conjured cot, her skin pale and her aura flickering faintly. Despite the bracelet's activation, her magic had been forcefully suppressed by the Collector's cursed restraints. Though she was out of danger for the moment, the strain on her mana core was severe.
Tower Mage Lucas sat a short distance away, his eyes closed, meditating while recovering his own mana. Nyxian lay curled protectively near Adonis, eyes half-lidded but alert—always watching.
Crown Prince Zavier paced back and forth, fingers tapping against the hilt of his sword. "That thing—the Collector—it's far stronger than we anticipated. And if it's truly working to release the devil, then we are drastically running out of time."
Cassius, standing near the magical wards Lucas had set up, added grimly, "We barely managed this time. Had Lucas not gotten that protection spell on her in advance, we might have lost Adonis. We need to reconsider our strategy. These attacks aren't just going to keep coming—they're escalating."
Asher nodded, visibly anxious. "And the Hunting Event was meant to lure the devil out, right? What if the abduction was the real plan—to test the waters, or worse, to provoke Adonis's latent power?"
Princess Elizabeth glanced between them. "Headmaster Zinaida needs to know everything that happened. If we were able to retrieve Adonis, the Collector will likely retreat... but not for long."
Just then, a rustle of branches interrupted them.
A silver falcon—one of the Headmaster's magical invention for the annoucements—descended from the sky and landed near Zavier. Its eyes glowed, and from its mouth came a voice projection.
"Crown Prince Zavier. Tower Mage Lucas. Report to the Grand Pavilion immediately. The seal preparations are nearing completion. We must talk."
The falcon vanished in a flash of light.
Lucas rose slowly, fatigue still evident, but determination burning behind his eyes. "You all stay with Adonis. Keep her protected. Do not let her out of your sight for even a second."
Cassius stood. "I'll remain close. No one gets near her without going through me."
Zavier placed a hand on Adonis's shoulder briefly. She stirred faintly, her eyelids fluttering. "We'll be back. Get some rest, Dona."
At the Grand Pavilion...
The chamber was aglow with dozens of arcane circles layered atop each other—each a piece of the enormous, intricate seal being prepared to imprison the devil once again.
Headmaster Zinaida stood in the center with the remaining three original sealers. The air crackled with power.
"Good. You've arrived," Zinaida said without looking. "I heard Adonis was abducted."
Lucas nodded. "She was. I got her back. But her magical core was suppressed. The enemy is getting smarter."
Headmaster Zinaida turned to face them, his expression grim. "The Collector is not just some underling. He was once a scholar of ancient dark arts... until the devil consumed his soul. He's no longer human—just a vessel of corrupted will."
One of the elders stepped forward, an old man with sunken eyes and silver hair. "The devil is nearly free. The final layer of the original seal is cracking. We estimate a full breach in less than seven days."
Headmaster Zinaida looked at Lucas and Zavier. "Then we must act before that. Adonis is not just a target—she is the key. Her presence is both a weapon and a weakness."
"We're hosting the final phase of the Hunting Event in three days," Zinaida continued. "But this time, the forest will be under complete surveillance. And you two—" he pointed at Lucas and Zavier, "—will serve as the central commanders of the inner protection ring."
Zavier nodded. "Understood."
Lucas added, "What about Adonis?"
The old man spoke again. "She must recover before then. But on the final day... she will have to stand at the center of the seal. Her presence is needed to fully restore and trigger it."
Lucas's fists clenched. "You're saying we're putting her in danger again?"
"No," Headmaster Zinaida replied firmly. "We're giving her the strength to end it—once and for all."
Back at the forest camp...
Adonis stirred more fully, slowly sitting up. Her eyes, usually so full of calm, shimmered with distant stardust and unease. Cassius was instantly at her side.
"You're awake," he said gently.
She looked around, slightly confused. "What... happened?"
"You were taken," Cassius replied, his voice tight with barely-contained fury. "Lucas saved you. He brought you back."
Adonis's hand drifted to the bracelet. It was warm—pulsing gently with protective energy. "He really did come for me..."
Cassius gave her a slight smile. "Of course he did. We all would have. But he was the fastest."
Adonis's expression shifted to determination. "Then I have to get stronger too. I can't be the weakness in this fight."
"You're not," Cassius assured. "You're the reason we're all still standing."
Far away, deep in the crumbling ruins beyond the darkened veil, the Collector stood in silence before an ancient altar.
Blood marked the floor.
A whisper in a voice that didn't belong to him escaped his lips.
"She resisted... but not for long. The time is near."
The devil's awakening had begun.