Knock-knock-knock.
Cale sat up at the sound of someone rapping on the door. The time had come for this VIP room, reserved in Flynn Merchant Fleets’ name, to open its door once again.
“Come in.”
Choi Han entered, followed by the others. Cale turned to look out the window, where the plaza glowed crimson in the dwindling rays of sunset. With that, he rose to his feet.
“Looks like it’s time.”
The street vendors gradually closed up shop as soldiers cleared the grounds. A large wooden post was propped up in the center of the plaza.
“Do they burn that post while they dance, Mr. Cale?”
“They do.”
The moment the wooden post was set on fire, people would sing and dance until midnight, some even playing instruments they’d brought with them. When the clock struck twelve, they would mark the end of the celebration by dousing the fire with water.
Boom. Boooom. Boom.
The wooden post went up in flames to the pounding of drums.
“Let’s burn this night into our memories!” someone shouted, voice reverberating through the plaza. A chorus of cheers rose up in response.
Booooom. Boom. Boom, boom, boom!
The drums grew louder as other instruments and voices joined in.
Tap, tap.
Bit by bit, Cale looked down to see Raon, Ohn, and Hong awkwardly dancing in sync with Faern’s people. He watched this fascinating performance until night fell, then removed his outer robe to reveal a black outfit beneath.
“Let’s go.”
Without waiting for a response, Cale gathered wind at the tips of his shoes. He slipped onto the terrace and hopped effortlessly up to the roof.
Tap, tap.
‹Human, let’s go together!›
Cale felt Raon’s magic boosting his speed as he vaulted over the roof. He and his allies sped away from the plaza’s blazing light to the darkest and quietest spot in Bago.
When they arrived, Choi Han approached to give Cale a brief report. “I determined the patrol route earlier. Please follow me.” He adjusted his scabbard with a click, then took the lead.
Rosalyn fell into step with Cale. “There were no magic devices near the lake. Based on what I read in the library, Faern doesn’t have many mages. They’re weak when it comes to spellcasting.” With full confidence, she added, “There’s no need to worry about magic.”
Despite the festivities, Cale’s allies hadn’t been playing around all day. Next, he glanced at the two whales standing guard behind him.
On cue, Faseton made note of his observations during the day’s celebrations. “Many nobles reserved restaurants with good views. I think the reaction will be bigger than we expected.”
“The Seca manor was quiet,” Archie said. “It’s confirmed that Clope is at the royal castle.”
Just as Archie finished, Cale came to a stop at the forest east of the lake. He then slipped inside the most discreet point of entry. Only a handful of lamps dotted the basin; he didn’t see any people.
He looked to the north, picking out the shapes of the temple and soldiers. After he’d instructed Choi Han and Archie to bury the catalyst in the center of the lake early this morning, they’d used the entire amount taken from Myple Castle.
“Should we light it with a magic bomb, Lord Cale?”
“No.” Cale understood Rosalyn’s confusion. They hadn’t brought the timed magic bomb, so they needed an explosion to destroy the orb.
“Then how—”
“I’ll do it.”
“You will?”
Ignoring the bewildered looks coming from Rosalyn and the whales, Cale resumed walking. They needed to act before the patrol got here.
Noticing Cale’s movements, Choi Han called out, “Mr. Cale…” He remembered that one of Cale’s abilities resembled a magic bomb: the thunderbolt that had bathed the entire valley in the Ten Finger Mountains in red light. While Rosalyn and the whales hadn’t seen it, Choi Han had witnessed its power—as well as Cale losing consciousness afterward.
“Choi Han,” Cale said, stopping Choi Han from drawing near. Relaxed as ever, he went on, “Once I use my power, take Ohn, Hong, Raon, and me to the Seca manor immediately, no matter what. Got it?”
Choi Han bit his lip, then eventually nodded. “Understood… I know the plan.”
Between his response and Cale’s directions, Rosalyn couldn’t make sense of things. Isn’t that the obvious course of action? Why is he going over it with Choi Han again?
No one had an answer for her.
With both hands stretching out toward the lake, Cale turned to look at the burning wooden post in the plaza. His face scrunched up in a frown. “It’s brighter than I expected.”
The flaming post was both taller and more vibrant than he’d anticipated. A small thunderbolt might not be visible from the plaza.
Oh well.
Cale decided to use a pinch more power than originally planned—just under the threshold that would make him faint.
Then Choi Han will carry me to Seca manor.
Thinking no more of it, Cale gathered the Fire of Destruction into his fingertips.
“So you are destroying it after all,” said the Scary Stone’s owner.
At that moment, Choi Han raised his head.
Rumble, rumble.
Thunder rolled through the night sky, clearly audible amid the utter stillness of the lake.
“Is he…?”
Like Choi Han had before her, Rosalyn looked up. It sounded like the heavens were crying. When she dropped her gaze, she saw Choi Han moving up behind Cale while Ohn’s mist enveloped the group.
‹Take out a potion, Little Rosalyn,› Raon said directly into her mind. ‹I’ll create a shield.›
That instant, the thunder grew more aggressive. Rumble, rumble! The priests and soldiers at the temple emerged to look skyward.
“Soon.”
Cale’s allies heard Raon’s quiet voice. The black dragon rarely spoke aloud while invisible; this was one occasion among few.
“It’s coming.”
What is? As one, their gazes darted up to the sky before shifting down toward Cale.
“Oh.”
Red light exploded before their eyes, leaving them momentarily blinded by its rose-gold flare. For the space of a heartbeat, the entire sky was suffused in scarlet. Then an earsplitting sound cracked through the air.
Bang!
One word was lodged in everyone’s mind: thunderbolt. After a spell of blindness that felt like an eternity, Rosalyn regained her sight. A giant column surged into the sky.
“My goodness…”
The pillar of flame had shot up from where the red thunderbolt struck. She could hardly catch her breath, still reeling at the colossal natural power that had burst out of Cale just now.
A shout—almost a shriek—tore from her throat. “L-Lord Cale!”
“Rosalyn,” Choi Han said, surprisingly calm. He lifted the staggering Cale onto his back with ease, then faced the dazed Rosalyn and the whales. “What should we do?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Cale replied, his voice weak but still clear. Though his exhaustion was plain for everyone to see, he croaked out, “Follow the plan.”
His response snapped Rosalyn and the whales back to their senses.
“Understood, sir.” Choi Han set off for the Seca manor with Cale on his back. Raon, Ohn, and Hong followed behind him. After watching them for a moment, the others moved out as well.
During their return to Bago, Cale noticed that the city was utterly still, without a peep of music or laughter. The red thunderbolt had struck the capital silent. Yet the only thought running through Cale’s head in that moment was I’m starving. Beyond that, he felt fine; he could even walk unassisted if he wanted to. This just wasn’t the time to stop for a snack.
It was then that Raon, Ohn, and Hong crept toward him.
“What’s up with you?” Cale asked feebly. “Shouldn’t you get a move on?”
Far from being offended, Raon retrieved something from his subspace and handed it to Cale. The three children had pooled their money to buy ten slices of apple pie. “You’re hungry, aren’t you, human? That’s what you said as soon as you opened your eyes last time!”
Cale opened his mouth, and Raon fed him a bite of pie. Choi Han continued to chauffeur Cale about on his back. Munching away on the apple pie, Cale steadily made his way into the plaza, where the astonished people of Bago awaited.