Chapter 290: Out scouting

Renkai’s ears twitched. "So we’re not just hiding this time. We’re going looking for trouble?"

Lira nodded. "We’ll need stealth, strategy, and careful use of our abilities. Everyone agrees?"

Thalanir’s eyes sparkled with determination. "I am ready. This is our chance to protect not only ourselves but everyone else like us."

Serelyth chuckled softly. "And you can’t stop me from flying circles above, keeping an eye out. I’ll also carry extra supplies in case the worst happens."

Maelin and Patricia exchanged glances. "We... we want to help," Maelin said quietly. "Even if we aren’t as strong as you, we can provide support."

Lira smiled, feeling the familiar warmth of teamwork and trust. "Good. Then we prepare. Renkai, you and Thalanir help me gather supplies and potions from the grove. Serelyth, you’ll handle transport and recon if needed. Maelin and Patricia, you’ll manage communication wards and alert systems around the academy while we’re away."

Fluffy leapt onto Lira’s shoulder, tail curling around her neck. "Don’t worry, Fluffy," she murmured. "We’ll bring everyone back safely."

The group moved toward the grove. Rows of plants, herbs, and the seedlings Lira had carefully nurtured swayed gently in the breeze. Here, Lira’s potions and essences were stored, and she quickly packed several vials into a specially prepared satchel. Each potion was labeled for defensive, healing, or elemental enhancement purposes.

The old giant tree, sensing the urgency, shimmered faintly. Its deep voice resonated in Lira’s mind alone: Use what you’ve learned, young one. Your mastery is your shield. Trust your friends, but trust yourself most of all.

Renkai handed Lira a bundle of herbs while Thalanir secured small enchanted pouches for their journey. Serelyth, shifting into her humanoid form for maneuverability, practiced brief bursts of flight near the clearing, ensuring she could quickly lift the group if danger appeared.

By twilight, they were ready. The crystal sphere glowed faintly in Lira’s hand, a direct link to Grandmaster Elion should anything go wrong. The academy, quiet behind them, seemed almost to hold its breath.

"Alright," Lira said, tightening her satchel straps. "We move in pairs when necessary, but stay close. Watch for traps, false signals, and anything unusual. Remember, we’re scouting—not starting a fight... unless we have no choice."

Renkai’s tail swished with a mix of excitement and anxiety. "You’re sure we’re ready?"

Lira looked at each of them: Serelyth’s steady gaze, Thalanir’s calm confidence, Maelin and Patricia’s nervous determination, and Renkai’s alert energy. "We are. Let’s go."

Serelyth’s wings extended, catching the moonlight as she lifted into the air. One by one, they followed, gliding silently over the academy grounds, heading toward the forests and valleys beyond.

Below, shadows moved—careful, observant, and dangerous. The hunters were near.

But for now, Lira felt her heart steady. They were not just defending anymore—they were seeking answers, and this night marked the beginning of a long and critical journey.

...

The night was deep, the stars scattered like shards of silver across a velvet sky. A gentle wind whispered through the forest, carrying scents of pine, moss, and distant rivers. Serelyth stretched her massive wings, letting the cool night air ripple through her scales. Her eyes, golden and bright even in the dark, scanned the horizon.

Lira adjusted herself atop Serelyth’s back, feeling the dragon’s heartbeat beneath her. Beside her, Renkai and Thalanir held tightly, each lost in their own anticipation. Even Fluffy, crouched low, twitched his ears nervously, sensing the tension in the air.

"This feels... different," Lira murmured, her voice barely audible over the wind. "I can sense something moving below, but it’s not like the usual wild creatures we’ve seen. There’s... intelligence."

Renkai’s ears flicked back. "I’ve hunted clever foxes that were easier to spot than whatever is down there." He let out a soft growl of excitement. "And I love a good hunt."

Thalanir’s eyes, sharp and calm, scanned the treetops. "Stay focused. We are not hunting for sport. These are our enemies, and we do not yet know their strength."

Serelyth flexed her wings, lifting them higher. "We’ll see them soon enough. They won’t be able to hide from the four of us if we approach carefully."

As they glided silently over the dense forest, shadows flickered among the trees below. Lira’s senses prickled. These were no ordinary travelers, nor were they creatures of the wild. Something about their aura was dark, disciplined, and chillingly precise.

"Shadows," Lira whispered, feeling her elemental awareness sharpen. "They’re hiding, moving carefully... watching us."

"Let’s see how bold they are," Renkai muttered, shifting to a more aggressive stance on Serelyth’s back. His fox tail flicked, catching the moonlight.

Serelyth descended gently, her claws barely touching the forest floor as she landed in a clearing not far from the shadows. The moonlight streamed through the gaps in the canopy, illuminating a circle of scouts, crouched, cloaked in dark leather, eyes glinting with suspicion and malice.

"They don’t seem to notice us yet," Thalanir observed, drawing a slender arrow, its tip glowing faintly with elemental energy. "We must be careful. One wrong move..."

"They won’t speak," Lira said quietly. "I can feel it. They are trained. If captured, they will stay silent. We need to decide if we fight now or follow them to learn more."

Renkai’s grin widened, sharp and mischievous. "Why not both? Let’s see how good they really are."

Serelyth shifted into her dragon form, wings expanding to their full glory. Her scales reflected moonlight, shimmering silver-blue. The air around her vibrated as she exhaled a soft rumble, warning the scouts without revealing her full strength.

Suddenly, one of the scouts moved, perhaps sensing the subtle magic in the wind. Lira tensed, the hairs on her arms rising. The moment stretched, a delicate balance between silence and violence. Then, almost instinctively, the team sprang into action.

Renkai leapt forward, fox agility enhancing his strike, weaving through the shadows.

Thalanir released arrows imbued with wind and fire, precise and silent.

Lira raised her hands, weaving a shield of earth and wind, encasing the attackers in a temporary barrier.

Serelyth, in dragon form, circled above, ready to swoop and protect if anything went wrong.

The first scout lunged, dagger in hand, but Lira’s shield caught him mid-air, halting his momentum. Another tried to flank them, only to be caught by Renkai’s flames, startling him into retreat. Thalanir’s arrows struck with pinpoint accuracy, non-lethally disabling limbs to prevent any from escaping.

The clash was brief, chaotic, and precise. Despite their skill, the scouts were no match for the combined multielement mastery of Lira and her companions. One by one, they fell, some silenced in combat, others incapacitated.

When the dust settled, the forest returned to eerie quiet. Not a word had been spoken; the scouts had kept their mouths shut until the end. Lira looked at their still forms, feeling a mix of triumph and unease.

"They won’t talk," she murmured. "We learn nothing... yet this confirms they exist, and they are dangerous."

Serelyth landed softly beside her, tail curling protectively. "At least we know where they are moving. The question is—how many more, and who leads them?"

Thalanir knelt, examining tracks and subtle magical traces. "We follow. We must. If we wait, they could strike elsewhere first."

Renkai’s ears flicked back as he glanced at Lira. "Looks like the adventure is officially on. And I have a feeling this is going to be... complicated."

Lira exhaled, feeling the weight of responsibility and anticipation. "We follow them. Together. And we find the heart of their group. Whatever it takes."

Above them, Serelyth’s wings unfurled again, catching the moonlight. The team mounted, ready to continue their journey into the unknown. Shadows still danced below, but now the hunters knew they were being watched—and the hunt had truly begun.

...

The air was crisp as Serelyth carried them higher above the trees, her wings beating steadily in the pale wash of moonlight. Below them, the shadows moved—not aimlessly, but in a pattern. Lira’s sharp eyes caught faint glimmers of cold steel and the faint smoke trails of hidden fires.

"They’re gathering," Thalanir said, voice low but sure. "That’s not just a small scouting team. It looks like an entire camp."

Serelyth tilted her massive head down, golden eyes narrowing as she adjusted her flight to give them a clearer view. Nestled deep in a valley, half-hidden by dense pine and rock, was a camp built for speed and silence—rows of dark tents, scattered weapon racks, watch fires burning low to avoid attention. They had even covered some of their fires with metal plates to prevent light from leaking out.

Lira’s stomach tightened. "They’re well trained. This is no band of wandering hunters. This is organized."

Renkai crouched low, gripping the straps of Serelyth’s harness. His fox ears flicked in agitation. "I don’t like this. If they’re this many here, there are more elsewhere. This smells like a nest."

"We don’t strike head-on," Thalanir said. His elven eyes gleamed faintly, reflecting the moonlight. "We watch. Learn. If we attack now, we’ll alert whoever leads them."

Serelyth circled silently above the treeline. "There’s a clearing on the ridge to the west. We can land there without being seen."

They landed softly on the ridge, a stretch of moss-covered stone hidden beneath towering evergreens. From here, they had a perfect vantage point over the enemy camp. Lira crouched low with the others, the cool moss pressing against her palms as she focused her elemental senses outward.