Chapter 26: Shadow’s hunt

With the sun slowly lowering, Steven lay down on his bed, minimizing his mana, acting like he was sleeping already. Waiting patiently for his prey.

He had to find him before midnight, or else his plans might get much more complicated; the fingers wouldn’t like him being late.

Scanning his surroundings for any presence, he could find none, just earlier quietness. As the sun finally set, he still hadn’t been attacked.

He could feel his time slowly running away. Should he have used a different student as a target? No, he couldn’t do that; he also doubted that he wouldn’t be noticed if it came down to hiding.

But time only continued to pass; his instinct started to scream at him that something was wrong, maybe his trap had been too obvious, but he had been sure to not give away the extent of his power to anyone.

As finally something happened and one of his alarm golems activated, Steven froze, realizing the problem. It wasn’t one of those he had in the villa; no, it was the one he gave the waitress.

Focusing himself on it, a blurry image formed in his head. He was sitting on a desk in the main room and could hear two people yelling loudly.

His main body was already moving, but it would take at least a minute to get there.

’’Didn’t you hear it? Everyone was evacuated to the great hall. Why do we have to still work?’’ The waitress was yelling toward an older man.

’’Just think about the profit we will make tomorrow.’’ Suddenly the lights began to flicker unnaturally. ’’What’s going on?’’She asked, fear visible in her voice.

As the light disappeared completely just a moment later, Steven could watch something break through the giant glass window; no, it wasn’t just one, it was a dozen.

He wasn’t going to make it in time as he watched one of the shadows reform its arm, sending it towards the two workers.

But the attack never reached its target, as a stream of fire dissolved the arm temporarily; somebody jumped through the window, standing and positioning himself in front of the workers.

As Lumiel’s laugh echoed through the room. ’’All you guys against some poor workers? You should really find somebody on your level.’’ As another stream of fire flew forward, it was easily dodged.

Lumiels’ face darkened as he missed just another attack after. The shadow stared at the young man, not moving, as if they were trying to evaluate the situation.

As the first one started moving, he could see Lumiel trying to avoid the attack from the deformed arm, but mid-dodge, he stopped and instead summoned a stone wall from the ground, protecting the workers behind him.

Not only was he trapped in a hopeless battle, but he also had to protect people on top. Lumiel didn’t know if he could do that; after all, one of them had made the top students struggle. What were his chances against a dozen?

As three more sharp arms flew towards him, one pierced his shoulder, but Lumiel didn’t stop; instead, he grabbed the arm, pulling it up, making the shadow lose its ground, as she slammed it to the side against the rest of them.

But nearly half of them simply dissolved before the attack could land and reformed themselves after.

His possibilities were slowly running dry; even if he could somehow call for help, it wouldn’t arrive in time to save them all.

Edward had told him how to deal with those things, but he hadn’t learned any light magic ever, let alone enough to kill something.

Hearing his own thoughts, Lumiel could only laugh. I truly learned nothing. You two find an exit; I will hold them off.As he created a giant firewall behind him, it separated him from the workers.

As sweat dropped down his body, he was once more not fast enough to dodge an attack that opened a giant cut on his left side. Spitting out blood, he finally got an idea.

Taking a few steps back, he summoned a simple ball of fire in his hands while only two shadows approached him, but he wasn’t finished as he pressed his palms together, forcing the fireball to condense together.

As the burning flames slowly disappeared, a small bright ball formed in front of him, radiating unimaginable heat.

Finally catching the full attention of the group as every single shadow took a cautious step back. Lumiel’s vision began to blur as he tried to fire the new fireball but instead just tumbled on the ground.

Feeling blood filling his throat, he moved a single finger as the small sun flew forward directly towards a shadow, burning a hole through it.

But this time it didn’t regenerate; instead, its body collapsed permanently.

’’Only a few more to go.’’ He whispered as he collapsed, finally watching them all attack together.

’’You did good.’’ Steven spoke out as he caught the young brave man who was already unconscious. But the shadows didn’t stop their approach with his sudden appearance.

’’You chose the wrong target for tonight.’’ As he readied himself to fight.

But it never came to it, as all of them except for one started shaking, dissolving into nothingness.

The last one just continued to stare at him as it seemed to be pulled away.

’’They have really done it.’’

The kids have found and destroyed the ritual table.

That meant all the students’ shadows could return to their bodies and finally die.

And the shadow still lingering was the only alive one.

Franklin’s shadow, and it would be forced to return to his owner.

’’Time to see the real you finally.’’

While following the escpaing Shadow.