Chapter 289: We will be ready

After the last of the potions bubbled and cooled in the grove, Lira carefully packed them into sturdy, sealed flasks. The giant tree’s old spirit hummed faintly, sending waves of encouragement through the roots. These will serve you well, young one. Handle them wisely, it whispered in her mind.

Fluffy rubbed against her legs, purring, as Serelyth hovered in humanoid form nearby. Renkai and Thalanir were ready, carrying satchels filled with additional ingredients and protective charms.

"Let’s move," Lira said. "We can’t stay in the grove forever, and the academy must be prepared. I need these potions placed strategically."

The group departed, flying and walking along the winding path toward the academy. Serelyth flew just above the treetops, scanning for danger, while Renkai and Thalanir jogged beside Lira, occasionally teasing her about the sheer weight of responsibility she carried.

As the academy came into view, the air shimmered with anticipation. Students and faculty alike paused, sensing the charged aura of the approaching multielement potions. Grandmaster Elion emerged from the main gates, staff in hand, eyes keen and assessing.

"You’ve completed them," he said, nodding toward the flasks in Lira’s arms. "Excellent. Now we distribute. The wards are nearly ready, but these will strengthen them—and buy time should the hunters return."

Lira handed over the potions to her closest friends, instructing where each one should be placed. Renkai took the perimeter gates, Thalanir the surrounding forests and gardens, and Serelyth the rooftops and high vantage points. Lira herself positioned the most delicate potions within the central courtyards and teaching halls, ensuring that the students themselves would remain safe.

As she worked, the students began to gather, curious and respectful. Whispers ran through the halls: Multielement user. Lira Elion herself. Some of the new recruits—those she had personally helped bring to the academy—looked at her with awe and gratitude.

Grandmaster Elion raised his hand, drawing silence. "Everyone," he said, voice calm but commanding, "you see before you the work of dedication and mastery. Lira Elion has prepared protective measures for the academy in light of threats that may come. She demonstrates not only skill, but leadership, courage, and foresight. Let her example guide you."

Applause rippled through the gathered students and staff. Lira felt her cheeks warm, but she kept focused—her mind on the potential return of the hunters.

As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the grounds, Lira took a moment to glance at her friends. Renkai’s tail flicked nervously, Thalanir’s brow furrowed in concentration, and Serelyth’s smirk held a playful edge—but all were clearly on high alert.

"This is just the beginning," Lira whispered to herself. "We prepare, we defend, and we protect. Together."

Fluffy purred in agreement, brushing against her leg as if to say: I’m with you, always.

And for the first time that day, Lira allowed herself a small, determined smile. The academy was safe—for now—but the hunters would come again. And next time, she and her friends would be ready.

The next morning, scouts returned to the academy, their faces grim and breathless.

"They approached from the northern ridge," one of them reported. "A small group, heavily armed, but... unusual. They moved like shadows, but we caught them."

Grandmaster Elion’s eyes darkened. "Show them to me."

Lira and her friends followed, carrying their freshly prepared potions for the defense wards. In the northern courtyard, the captured intruders were restrained, bound with elemental chains forged from the combined skills of Lira, Thalanir, and Renkai. Their eyes glinted with a strange light, their expressions unreadable, as if they already anticipated what was coming.

"Place them in the dungeons," Elion commanded, his voice calm but heavy. "Secure them with wards. No escape."

The intruders were silent, moving only when dragged by the guards. Lira felt a knot in her stomach—something about them seemed... wrong.

Hours later, the alarm bells rang. Lira, Serelyth, Renkai, and Thalanir rushed to the dungeons. What they saw made them stop in disbelief.

The intruders were dead. Not by any blade, not by any spell—they had taken their own lives. Dark, ancient curses pulsed faintly around them, leaving Lira with an icy dread. The air smelled faintly of ash and bitter herbs.

She staggered back, clutching Fluffy tightly. "No... how...?" she whispered, horrified. "Why?"

Renkai’s jaw tightened, his eyes stormy. "They must have... cursed themselves. They wanted no capture, no trial. Only... destruction before defeat."

Thalanir’s expression was grim, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "This is what Elion feared. They are not like ordinary hunters. They are fanatical. They die before giving us any knowledge."

Serelyth’s wings flexed tensely. "This... this isn’t just an attack. It’s a warning. They want you—us—all multielement users—to live in fear."

Lira’s hands trembled. "I... I thought we caught them. I thought we could stop them, learn from them. Now... now they’re gone. And we know nothing."

Grandmaster Elion stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You’ve done all you could. Their fanaticism is beyond reason. But know this—their deaths will not stop us. You have prepared, you have defended, and you have the support of every elemental ally here. You are stronger than you realize."

Lira nodded slowly, swallowing back the shock and horror. She looked at her friends—Renkai’s fists were clenched, Thalanir’s eyes thoughtful, Serelyth’s wings half-spread as if ready to take flight at any threat. They had survived, and together they would continue to protect others.

The academy fell into tense silence, the weight of the intruders’ deaths settling over the courtyard. Lira whispered, almost to herself, "We must be ready... for the next time they come."

Fluffy rubbed against her arm, a small comfort in the grim aftermath, and Lira took a deep breath, centering herself. The battle may have been won, but the war—the war was only beginning.

...

Later that afternoon, Grandmaster Elion summoned Lira to his study. The sunlight filtered through tall windows, casting golden patterns on the polished floor. Lira entered, Fluffy weaving between her feet.

"Sit, Lira," Elion said, gesturing to a chair beside his grand desk. His face was serious, but not harsh. "We cannot only wait for them to strike again. These hunters... they are cunning, relentless. Perhaps it is time to go on the offense—learn their numbers, understand their structure, find who truly leads them."

Lira nodded, her eyes firm. "I want to do that, Grandmaster. I want to find them before they find anyone else."

Elion’s gaze softened slightly. "I expected nothing less. But remember—this is dangerous. You are strong, yes, but even you are not invincible. You will not go alone, correct?"

"I’ll ask my friends," Lira said. "Renkai, Thalanir, Serelyth... maybe Maelin and Patricia too, if they wish. Together, we have a better chance."

Elion’s hands rested on the desk, fingers laced. "Very well. But listen carefully—while you are away, the academy will be fully prepared. Defenses, wards, all students’ protection. If you encounter difficulties, send a message through the wards. I will send help, or come myself if possible."

Lira bowed slightly. "I understand. Thank you, Grandmaster. I won’t take this lightly."

Elion’s lips curved into a faint smile. "I know you won’t. But take your time. Plan carefully. These hunters are not ordinary enemies—they are organized, and their hatred for multielement users is... profound. Every precaution matters."

He reached into a drawer and pulled out a small crystal sphere, faintly glowing. "This will allow you to communicate directly with me from afar. Do not hesitate to use it, no matter how minor the problem seems."

Lira accepted it, feeling the warm pulse of magical energy through her hands. "I will be careful," she said again, more to herself than anyone else.

Elion leaned back, his eyes scanning her intently. "And remember, Lira... courage is important, but wisdom and patience are what will protect you and those with you. Go, prepare, and may the elements guide you."

Lira left the study with a renewed sense of purpose, her mind already calculating the supplies, strategies, and allies she would need. Outside, Serelyth hovered, wings partially unfurled.

"Ready for another adventure?" Serelyth asked, a playful glint in her eyes.

"I’ll ask the others if they join me," Lira replied, determination shining in her gaze. "This time, we seek the hunters—not just defend. We find their heart, and we stop them before more suffer."

Fluffy mewed softly at her side, and the grove behind the academy seemed to shimmer, as if sensing the weight of the journey that was about to begin.

Lira returned to the main hall, where her friends had gathered, waiting expectantly. Renkai was leaning casually against a pillar, his fox tail flicking impatiently. Thalanir sat cross-legged on the floor, reviewing maps and old scrolls. Serelyth stood near the window, wings partially spread, as though sensing the shift in tension around the academy. Maelin and Patricia lingered near the doorway, curious yet cautious.

"I’ve spoken with Grandmaster Elion," Lira began, holding the glowing crystal sphere in one hand. "We’re going on a scouting mission. These hunters... they are organized, dangerous, and they won’t stop with just one attack. We need to find their numbers, their leaders, and their methods before more multielement users are endangered."