Mystica moved toward the center of Sheila's room, her bare feet gliding across the polished floor as her glowing irises scanned every corner. With a single breath, she knelt gracefully, brushing her fingertips across the smooth surface.
A subtle hum filled the air as her magic began to thread itself into the room.
She whispered in an ancient tongue of the Primordials—words so old they vibrated through the very foundation of the room like a low, celestial pulse. Golden glyphs spun outward from her hand, like ink in water, crawling across the floor, walls, and ceiling in thin, intricate spirals of light.
First Array: Arcane Seal of Sovereign Access.
The glyphs pulsed, forming a circular sigil beneath her—eight points flaring into symbols as she spoke their names aloud:
"Sheila. Liam. Dylan. Max. Charlotte. Ariana. Asher."
As she spoke each name, a flicker of their unique Myst resonance was pulled into the circle from the room's ambient air. Threads of their essence wove into the array—Liam's shadow-like threads, Dylan's metallic whisper, Max's crackling energy, Charlotte's primal heat, Ariana's gentle magical current, Asher's burning blue flame, and Sheila's own serene light.
Golden runes tightened into an arcane weave, then embedded themselves into the walls with a subtle flash.
The spell settled like a second skin over the room—completely invisible now, but powerful and precise.
The purpose of this array was simple; only the chosen seven could activate or channel Myst within this room. Any attempt by another to use magic would be absorbed and nullified.
And more importantly...
Mystica raised a finger, tracing a delicate triangle in the air.
A thin thread of light shot upward from the center of the array and vanished into her chest—linking her to the array across all distances.
"No matter where I am," she whispered with a smile, "I'll know if anyone dares step through that door who doesn't belong."
She stood, pleased, and turned her attention to the dorm building itself.
Now came the second layer of protection.
She extended both arms, eyes glowing brighter, her voice echoing now with layered harmonics as she invoked a building-wide enchantment. The windows vibrated slightly as her voice carried through the structure, resonating with the bones of the building.
From the floor beneath her, a brilliant sigil spread outward like a web of glowing veins—expanding invisibly throughout the dormitory.
Second Array: All-Seeing Threshold Ward.
This one wasn't restricted by specific names—but by roles.
She configured it with sharp precision, her words embedding logic into the glyphs:
"Staff—allowed. Students—allowed. All others—detected."
She wove in a return channel—a sensory link that reported back to her any foreign essence not matching staff or student records. It would tell her if someone appeared within the building who didn't belong, no matter how hidden, cloaked, or disguised.
The moment it detected an unfamiliar Myst resonance, her mind would know. Instantly.
As the array stabilized, the last of the golden light sank into the walls, vanishing from view.
Mystica exhaled deeply, her eyes returning to their natural violet.
"Two nests secured," she murmured, brushing her hair back over her shoulder. "Now… let's see who dares disturb my little garden."
With a subtle smirk and a final glance at Sheila's sleeping form, Mystica turned and vanished into the portal she created, leaving the room cloaked in silence.
Tempest Palace — Queen's Chamber
The morning after their discussion, Mystica and Dove arrived at the Tempest Palace, two hours ahead of the scheduled Summit of the Three Kingdoms. Their purpose: to meet with Queen Lucy and present Dove's proposal for developing a sensing crystal capable of detecting hybrids while in human form.
As Mystica had predicted, Queen Lucy received the idea favorably. She saw the strategic value in it and expressed her support. However—also as Mystica had foreseen—her mood shifted the moment Dove mentioned that Liam would need to be studied as a base subject.
Though Queen Lucy lacked formal alchemical training, she was far from ignorant. She understood how alchemists worked—how discovery often came with sacrifice. And she wasn't about to let decades of anticipation for the reappearance of a dark magic user be undone by reckless experimentation.
At this point, even without meeting Liam, Lucy had already resolved: if it came down to adopting him to shield him from the Crescent and Solara Kingdoms, she would.
"You said you can create a crystal that can detect hybrids in human form, yes?" Lucy asked, her tone calm yet laced with scrutiny, her gaze sharp and thoughtful.
"Precisely, Your Majesty," Dove replied with her usual air of flirtation, especially toward women. "It would allow us to find hybrids discreetly. We could keep Liam's existence as a dark magic user a secret, letting him be known only for his fire magic."
Lucy regarded her for a long, silent moment. Then, she spoke.
"That's a valuable tactic, Dove. But I know how brilliant minds like yours work—driven by curiosity, experimentation, and, more often than not, destruction. Mystica may not have said it, but I've waited over half my life to see a dark magic user again. I will not have that dream shattered by a well-intentioned 'breakthrough.'"
She leaned forward slightly, her voice low, clear, and ice-edged.
"I'll permit this experiment… but if Liam so much as loses a strand of hair, shows even the faintest weight loss, or so much as flinches in discomfort—I'll have you beheaded. Personally."
Dove's eyes widened slightly—but not in fear. If anything, she was thrilled.
"Damn. My Empress was right about you," she said, a smirk tugging at her lips. 'This woman turns me on every damn time,' she thought. "Queen Lucy, you have my word. I won't let my passions cloud my restraint. Liam will be safe."
"I don't trust you," Lucy replied coolly, "but I have no better option."
"Thank you, my Queen."
Lucy leaned back in her seat. "Does the boy even know about this yet? Because without his consent, your research means nothing."
"No," Mystica, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "But I plan to bring him here in two days. It'll be your first meeting with him. We'll explain everything then."
"Meh, I'm sure he'll understand. And you'll see why he's so important." Dove said with a smug smirk.
"I see…" Lucy said, reaching for her teacup and taking a measured sip. "That would be a fitting time, then. Now—anything else I should be made aware of?"
"Yes," Mystica said, her voice turning serious. "With Liam's help, we've confirmed the presence of two hybrids within the academy. And based on Liam's words… their current duty for Sylvathar is known."
Lucy paused, lowering her teacup with measured grace. "And what exactly is their duty?"