Bab 9: Invasion
As nightfall set in, the market of Kazan was enveloped in a thick fog, its cobblestone streets glistening faintly under the dim light of scattered lanterns. The air was heavy with dampness, carrying a sense of unease that seemed to permeate the town. Ivy moved quietly through the fog, her dark cloak blending seamlessly with the night. Her sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, vigilant for any signs of trouble.
The market, usually bustling during the day, was eerily quiet now. Most booths were abandoned, their wares tucked away behind shutters and cloth coverings. Ivy's boots clicked softly against the stones as she swept through the town, her hand resting lightly at her side where a set of needles lay hidden in her palm. She wasn't expecting trouble, but she was always prepared.
As she passed a particularly cluttered booth, the sound of rustling broke the silence. Ivy froze, her body tensing as her sharp ears honed in on the source of the noise. Slowly, she spun around, her needles ready to fly. Her piercing gaze cut through the fog, searching for any movement.
What she saw caught her off guard.
A young blonde woman was moving boxes back and forth near the edge of the market. She was strong for her size, standing at about 5'9" with an athletic build. Her white dress shirt clung to her frame, hinting at the muscle beneath—the kind of strength that comes from hard, repetitive labor. Ivy tilted her head slightly, watching as the woman hauled a particularly heavy box with ease.
What's someone like her doing out this late? Ivy wondered. The woman didn't look like a simple vendor. Her movements were too deliberate, her posture too controlled. She wasn't just working; she was surveying.
The fog swirled as Ivy took a cautious step back, intending to slip away unnoticed. But just as she began to move, the woman's eyes lifted and locked onto hers.
Their gazes met, and Ivy felt a jolt of unease. The woman's expression wasn't one of surprise or fear but something more unnerving—curiosity. Her lips parted slightly, as though she was on the verge of saying something, but no words came. There was a glint in her pale blue eyes, a spark of recognition or perhaps understanding.
Ivy's heart quickened. She didn't like being seen, especially not by someone who seemed so composed. She took another step back, retreating into the veil of fog. The mist closed around her, obscuring her from the woman's view.
For a moment, Ivy stood motionless, her back pressed against a wooden post. She strained her ears, listening for any sound of pursuit. The rustling had stopped. The market was silent once more, but Ivy couldn't shake the feeling that the woman hadn't dismissed her presence.
From her concealed position, Ivy peered through the fog. The woman was no longer moving boxes. Instead, she stood still, her head tilted slightly as though listening to something Ivy couldn't hear. The lantern light cast long shadows across her face, emphasizing her sharp features. She didn't look threatening at first glance, but something about her set Ivy on edge.
The woman suddenly turned and walked toward a large wooden crate. She crouched beside it, lifting the lid just enough to slip something inside. Ivy narrowed her eyes. The way she moved, with calculated precision, was too practiced to be casual.
What's in the box? Ivy thought. Her fingers tightened around her needles, the cool metal reassuring against her skin. For a brief moment, she considered stepping forward, confronting the woman outright. But something in the pit of her stomach told her to wait.
The woman rose to her feet, brushing her hands against her pants. Her gaze swept the market, lingering for a fraction of a second too long where Ivy had stood moments before. Then, as if satisfied, she picked up another box and began walking toward a nearby alley.
Ivy's instincts screamed at her to follow. She moved silently, her steps muffled by the fog-dampened cobblestones. Keeping a safe distance, she watched as the woman disappeared into the alley. Ivy hesitated at the edge, her breath steady but her heart racing.
Who is she? The question gnawed at Ivy's mind. This wasn't just a random worker. The way she carried herself, the strength in her movements, the eerie calm—everything about her hinted at something more.
The fog thickened as Ivy stepped into the alley, her senses heightened. The woman was nowhere to be seen, but the faint sound of a box being set down echoed through the narrow passage. Ivy pressed herself against the wall, peering around the corner. The woman was kneeling again, her hands moving deftly as she opened another crate.
Ivy's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of its contents: vials filled with a strange, faintly glowing liquid. The sight sent a chill down her spine.
What the hell is she doing? Ivy thought. The liquid didn't look natural, and the secrecy surrounding it only made her more suspicious.
Before Ivy could decide her next move, the woman's head snapped up. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the alley, and for a terrifying moment, Ivy thought she'd been spotted again. But the woman didn't move toward her. Instead, she closed the crate and stood, her movements calm but purposeful.
She picked up a small, wrapped package and tucked it under her arm before walking deeper into the alley. Ivy stayed frozen, her mind racing. Whoever this woman was, she wasn't just a worker hauling boxes. There was something bigger at play, and Ivy was determined to find out what.
As the woman disappeared into the shadows, Ivy slipped back into the fog, her thoughts swirling as thickly as the mist around her. She'd been spotted, yes, but she had also spotted something—someone—worth investigating.
This isn't over, Ivy thought, her needles still clutched tightly in her hand. She melted back into the market, her figure vanishing as silently as it had appeared.
Around the fog-shrouded town, the band members moved alone, weaving through the chaos as they slayed beasts with ease. But as the night wore on, the grotesque forms of the Galco grew more insidious. Their gnarled limbs twisted unnaturally, and their monstrous visages seemed to reflect some deeper corruption.
Nina's sharp movements slowed, her breaths growing heavier as a wary tension settled over her. Though her blade still cut cleanly through the oncoming creatures, her instincts told her something was amiss. On the other hand, Naro and Nora continued to dispatch the beasts effortlessly, their powerful sparks illuminating the dark streets.
On the west end of town, Simon moved with an elegant ferocity. His short sword, enchanted by his flames, ignited the air as he swung. The flickering light cast dancing shadows across the walls, the heat of his strikes leaving trails of scorched cobblestone. Each Galco that lunged at him was met with a swift and silent retaliation, his blade cutting through them like a pyroclastic display.
But something gnawed at the edges of Simon's mind. A strange instinct flared within him, his gut tightening with unease. He noticed something peculiar about the creatures. The majority of the Galco he fought weren't targeting the houses or the terrified residents peeking out from behind curtains. Instead, they charged straight for him with singular focus.
It was as if they were under control.
After clearing his area, Simon prowled through the alleys, his senses on high alert. He swept through the narrow paths, checking for signs of cult activity. The night was silent except for the faint crackling of his sword's lingering embers. As he turned a corner, his eyes caught a faint glow on the ground.
Kneeling, Simon found a small vial, its contents shimmering with a strange luminescence. A single drop had leaked onto the cobblestones, leaving a faint, glowing residue. He reached out a finger to touch it.
Before he could, a hand grabbed his wrist firmly and yanked him back. Startled, Simon turned to see Ivy standing behind him, her face unusually tense. The strength with which she pulled him surprised him.
"Ivy? What the hell?" Simon said, his voice sharp.
"Don't touch that stuff," Ivy snapped, her voice uncharacteristically serious. The usual softness in her demeanor had vanished, replaced by something colder and more urgent. "Something's going on here, Simon. Stay on your toes."
Simon frowned, his confusion growing. "What is that stuff?"
"I don't… I don't know," Ivy stammered, her hands tightening into fists. "But I saw this shady woman earlier. She was hauling crates of it through the market."
"A woman?" Simon asked, his brows knitting together.
"Yes!" Ivy said, her voice rising slightly. "A blonde woman. She's still out here somewhere. I'm sure of it."
Simon's expression hardened, his playful demeanor replaced by focus. Before he could respond, the faint sound of footsteps drew their attention upward. On the rooftops above, a shadowy figure stood silently, watching them.
Sable.
Her mask gleamed faintly in the moonlight, her dark clothing concealing whatever weapons she carried. She studied the pair below, her presence exuding a quiet menace.
"Doesn't seem like there are too many knights around here," Sable muttered to herself. "Just those scrawny kids."
As she prepared to descend, a sudden chill ran through the air. A soft snowfall began to drift, the flakes glinting faintly as they settled on the rooftops. Sable stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she turned her gaze toward the sky.
"Oh? Reinforcements," she murmured, a hint of irritation in her tone. "Looks like I'm outnumbered for this one."
Without hesitation, Sable retreated, her figure vanishing into the shadows as swiftly as it had appeared.
High above the town, Naro and Nora hovered, their sparks crackling faintly in the cold air. The twins exchanged glances, their eyes narrowing as they spotted Sable before she disappeared.
"That person," Nora said, her voice sharp, "was definitely a cult member."
Naro glanced at the scene below. From his vantage point, he saw lights flicker on in the houses one by one. Ivy and Simon crouched in an alley, their attention fixed on something on the ground. A few streets away, Nina clung to the shadows, her figure barely visible in the dim light.
"They're done already?" Naro muttered. "Guess we better retreat for now."
But Nora's unease didn't waver. Her pale eyes scanned the rooftops where Sable had stood moments before. "You saw her too," she said firmly. "That wasn't just anyone. That was the cult. They knew our defenses were lowered."
Naro sighed, his usual levity absent. "Great timing, isn't it? Right when we're stretched thin over here."
Nora nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "We can't do anything now. Not with the residents out. We need to head back to the academy."
"Got it," Naro said, dipping low into a shadow and flying straight through it. He vanished before any civilians could notice him. Nora followed suit, her descent into the shadows graceful and deliberate.
Back on the streets, Nina stepped out of the shadows just as the residents began poking their heads out of their doors. A soft murmur spread through the town as families cautiously emerged, clutching coats and blankets over their pajamas. Nearby, an old grandmother held her grandchildren close as they stood on the porch, their faces etched with both fear and relief.
Nina, who had been mere inches from the grandmother, reared her head back slightly, startled by their proximity. Her gaze darted across the street and landed on Ivy and Simon, who signaled to her from the alley.
"Shit," Nina muttered under her breath. She stepped back into the shadows, her figure dissolving into the darkness. Ivy and Simon followed soon after, ensuring she had retreated safely before vanishing, themselves. The streets of Leipzig fell silent once more, the shadows swallowing the knights as they disappeared into the night.
Back at the academy, the band hurried through the hallways, their cloaks shifting back into their formal uniforms as they entered the band room. Inside, Sin sat alone, fiddling with his guitar. His fingers plucked a quiet tune while his mind seemed far away. Though his eyes had returned to normal, his teeth still lingered in an awkward transition between canine and fang.
Nina burst through the door first, her face flushed with urgency.
"Sin! You won't believe what's going on!" she exclaimed, her words rushing out in her thickening Scottish accent.
Sin glanced up, his fingers pausing on the strings. "Wouldn't believe what?" he asked, his tone calm but edged with curiosity.
Before Nina could answer, the rest of the band flooded into the room. Naro and Nora took their usual seats on the couch, while Simon flopped onto a light green beanbag with a theatrical sigh. Ivy perched on the arm of the couch, her expression more serious than usual.
Nora cut through the commotion, her icy voice commanding the room.
"The cult is back. We saw one of them in Leipzig," she said bluntly, skipping over Nina entirely.
"What?! You saw a cultist?" Nina's voice shot up, her surprise evident.
Nora raised an eyebrow. "Yea? Isn't that what you were going to talk about?"
Nina threw her hands up. "No! I was going to bring up the sudden flood of Galco! I killed at least fifty on my patrol," she said, her voice growing louder as her frustration slipped through.
Naro leaned forward, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe they're connected?" he suggested.
The room fell quiet as everyone exchanged uneasy glances. The weight of Naro's hypothesis settled over them like a heavy fog.
Simon broke the silence with his usual lack of decorum. "These guys took down Leo," he said, picking absentmindedly at his nose. "I don't know what kind of trick they pulled, but they got him. What do you think they'll do to a bunch of rookie knights?"
Ivy nodded, her voice low. "Simon's right. They're dangerous."
Sin's voice cut through the room with quiet authority. "So are we. Don't forget who trained us, who raised us. Even if we're outnumbered and outmatched for now, that doesn't mean we can't put up a fight."
Nora's gaze sharpened, and her words carried a biting edge. "Put up a fight? You can't even control those zaps of yours. Hell, the Shadow Mother didn't even send you to patrol with us just now."
Sin met her gaze evenly. "Don't worry about that," he said, his tone calm but firm. "The Shadow Mother needed to inform me of a few things." There was a subtle hint of something more in his words, an unspoken confidence that hinted at an ace up his sleeve.
Naro leaned back, stretching his arms. "Alright, at the end of the day, it's up to us to fight them. How do we strike first?"
Ivy's voice interrupted, her tone sharper than usual. "The blonde woman," she said, drawing everyone's attention.
The room collectively turned to face her. Even Simon sat up slightly, his casual demeanor momentarily replaced by curiosity.
"Oh yeah, you were saying something about her earlier," Simon said.
Ivy nodded, her expression darkening. "Her gaze. Her piercing blue eyes. She could sense me, even when I was using the shadows and fog as cover." She hesitated, her fingers clenching tightly against her thighs as she recalled the encounter. "Those crates she carried… if they were normal, she would've waited until morning like anyone else. But no. Everything about her—her demeanor, her movements—felt wrong."
Her voice faltered, and for a moment, Ivy looked lost in thought, her mind replaying the scene over and over.
"Snap out of it, lass!" Nina barked, snapping her fingers in Ivy's face.
Nora leaned forward, her icy tone breaking the tension. "Seems like this is starting to build into something. Let's stick with what Naro was talking about. How do we stop them?"
Ivy raised her head slowly, meeting Nora's gaze. "We need to be out there at daybreak," she said, her voice steadying. "Early enough to speak to a few families. Ask about the blonde woman. See if anyone knows who she is or where she lives." She paused, her confidence wavering slightly. "It's not much, but it's a start."
Sin tapped his guitar lightly, drawing the room's attention back to him. "I just thought of something," he said. His expression was calm but thoughtful.
"What is it?" Nina asked.
"Those vials," Sin began. "What if the cult has something to do with the extra Galco? The ones targeting us instead of normal humans. Like Naro said earlier. It's too coordinated to be random."
Everyone looked at Sin confused, no one had brought up vials.
For a moment, Simon shot Sin a glare. The others caught onto Simon's eyes but ignored it.
Nina frowned, her mind working through the possibilities which caused her to skim over Sin's statement. "I'm not sure how that connects yet. But before anything, we should inform the Shadow Mother."
Nora shook her head, her voice sharp. "No. Not during continuus impetus. If the Shadow Mother loses focus, we could all be thrown out of balance."
Nina's frustration flared. "She reached out to Sin while sending us on a mission at the same time. She'll hear us out when it comes to the cult. She loves Leo; there's no way she'd let us handle this alone."
Sin rose to his feet, setting his guitar carefully on its stand. "I'll go," he said decisively. "You guys work out the details of whatever plan we're going with. I'll talk to the Shadow Mother. Hopefully, we can get some reinforcements."
The others watched him, their concern palpable. But among them, Nina's faith in him shone through, unwavering.
Sin gave them a small nod before turning and heading toward the door, his figure disappearing into the dim hallway as the room fell into a contemplative silence.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone