The sun slowly sank on the western horizon, replacing the orange twilight sky with a night sky studded with stars.
The promised time had arrived, a grand journey to Lazavis was about to begin.
In the living room of the mansion, the atmosphere felt busy yet organized. Elisa, Alvin, Allen, and Arken stood neatly before Kazien.
"Is everyone ready?" asked Kazien, looking at the faces of his closest ones one by one.
"We are ready, Brother!" exclaimed Arken enthusiastically, holding Allen's hand beside him.
"Then, let's pick up the others. Close your eyes." Kazien said calmly.
Elisa followed her nephew's instructions, though inwardly she wondered what method would be used. As soon as their eyes were closed, Kazien began channeling mana.
Magic activated!
A glowing white magic circle appeared beneath their feet, illuminating the living room. Magical energy swirled gently yet rapidly, enveloping their bodies in a cocoon of light.
Zap!
A soft whirring sound was heard, and in the blink of an eye, their presence vanished from the mansion.
"We have arrived! Please open your eyes." Kazien said.
They began to open their eyes. But when Elisa opened hers, she gasped in shock. The luxurious view of the mansion's living room had been completely replaced. Now, they were standing in a simple wooden room.
"Kazien..." Elisa stared around in amazement, then shifted her gaze to her nephew. "Did you use teleportation magic?"
Kazien nodded slowly, confirming his aunt's suspicion without arrogance. "That's right, Aunt Elisa. This is the fastest way."
Elisa swallowed hard, still trying to digest the fact that they had just crossed a great distance in seconds. "S-So, we are going to Lazavis using teleportation as well?"
"Yes, we will all go there using teleportation magic to avoid the attention of many people in the capital." Kazien answered convincingly.
Before Elisa could ask further, the sound of heavy footsteps was heard approaching from outside.
Creak!
The wooden door opened. The night wind blew in, bringing along a group of people dressed in dark clothes. It was Zeto, the leader of the assassin group, along with several other Shadow Hand members.
Zeto's steps halted abruptly at the threshold. His eyes widened in shock seeing the living room of Borris's house, which was supposed to be empty, now filled with Kazien and his family.
"Young Master?!" Zeto stammered for a moment, bowing respectfully yet awkwardly. "Y-You are all already here? Since when?"
"Just now!" Kazien replied casually, as if he had just come from the next room. "Once everyone is gathered, we will leave immediately for Lazavis. I don't want to waste time."
Zeto nodded quickly, immediately signaling his members to enter.
They waited in the living room calmly and patiently. One by one, the assassin group members and their families began arriving, filling the simple living room.
The living room now felt crowded, but there was one thing that made Kazien frown in confusion.
He observed the assassins and their families. Not a single one of them carried suitcases, chests, or large bundles like people about to move houses. Their hands were empty.
"We are moving to Lazavis, not just visiting. Why didn't you bring any luggage?" asked Kazien, confused.
Zeto smiled faintly, then patted a small leather pouch tied to his waist.
"Everything is in here, Young Master!" answered Zeto proudly while holding the bag at his waist.
Kazien observed the waists of the other members. Sure enough, the other assassins also had similar bags at their waists.
"Magic bags, huh?" Kazien mumbled, then sighed in relief. "Good. I was worried we would have trouble transporting piles of luggage. Since you already have magic bags, our mobility will be much easier."
After a few minutes passed and no one else arrived, Kazien took command of the room again.
"Has everyone gathered?" asked Kazien to confirm, his voice sounding authoritative amidst the crowd.
"Everyone is here, Young Master! We are ready to leave anytime!" reported Zeto firmly.
"Alright. Now, everyone must come closer and hold hands. Create an unbroken human chain. After that, close your eyes immediately if you want to arrive there safely!"
Zeto and his members immediately obeyed the order. They huddled together, holding the hands of their comrades and families tightly. Alvin, Allen, Arken, and Elisa also joined the large circle, shutting their eyes tight.
Kazien focused his concentration. Moving dozens of people at once required precise mana calculation.
Magic activated!
A giant bright white magic circle appeared on the floor of Borris's house, expanding to encompass everyone standing there. Ancient runes spun rapidly, creating a hum of energy that vibrated the air.
Zap!
A blinding light swallowed them, and in an instant, Borris's house was empty and silent again.
It took only a second for Kazien to transport them across the kingdom's territory. The cool and chilly night wind immediately greeted their skin.
"We have arrived! Just open your eyes!" exclaimed Kazien.
Slowly, they opened their eyes. Gasps of admiration and surprised breaths were heard simultaneously. Before them stood a sturdy mansion, much larger and grander than the one in the capital, standing gracefully under the moonlight.
"Kazien, where are we?" asked Elisa, her voice trembling slightly. This view was so familiar yet felt foreign after the years she had left it behind.
"We are already in Lazavis, Aunt Elisa! In front of us right now is the main residence of the Altavis family!" answered Kazien with a faint smile.
Elisa looked at the magnificent building with mixed feelings.
Ba-thump! Ba-thump! Ba-thump!
Her heart beat fast, pounding against her ribs mercilessly. The reality that she was already in front of her childhood home, her brother's home, made her knees weak.
Suddenly, Elisa felt hesitant. Fear and doubt crept in. She felt unprepared to meet her biological brother, Elgard Altavis.
Elisa's mind became anxious, and unconsciously she crumbled the hem of her clothes. I'm confused about what to say to Brother Elgard. We haven't met in such a long time. Especially... if the conversation turns to Allen and Kazien's relationship. How will he react knowing a cousin is marrying a cousin? I hope he won't be angry with me.
Unaware of his aunt's turmoil, Kazien walked confidently toward the main door of the mansion in front of him.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The sound of knocking echoed in the silence of the night. Kazien waited for a moment. However, there was silence. No sound of footsteps from inside, no answer, and the door remained shut tight.
Kazien frowned. "It seems they are having dinner in the main dining room located deep inside, or maybe the sound outside can't be heard inside. I must announce my presence here in a more effective way."
Kazien turned around, walking back to the middle of the vast courtyard, away from the door. He looked up at the night sky illuminated by moonlight, then raised one hand high into the air.
"Sorry if this is a bit noisy." he mumbled.
Mana gathered at his fingertips, condensing into a hot orange ball of light.
Swoosh! Whoosh!
A small fireball was shot into the sky, rocketing up at high speed piercing the clouds, going higher until it looked like a barely visible point of light.
And then...
Boom!
A massive explosion occurred in the sky of Lazavis. It was a blast of pure mana that created a thunderous sound wave, roaring like thunder right overhead.
The dark night sky instantly turned bright, radiating a blinding white light that illuminated the entire city of Lazavis like daylight for a few seconds.
All the residents living in Lazavis City gasped in shock. They rushed out of their houses, staring at the sky with pale faces, thinking there was an enemy attack or a natural disaster. The inhabitants of the mansion were no exception.
Inside the dining room, the sound of the explosion made plates and glasses vibrate. Duke Elgard, Duchess Larina, and their other children immediately stood up from their chairs in panic.
"What was that?! Everyone out! Check the front yard!" shouted Elgard, his fighting instincts instantly flaring up.
Slam!
The main door of the mansion was thrown open with a loud bang. Duke Elgard ran at the front, prepared to fight. Then, followed by Duchess Larina and Kazien's other siblings. Their faces were tense, ready to face any threat that dared to disturb the Altavis territory.
However, their footsteps stopped abruptly as soon as they reached the veranda.
The tension on Duke Elgard's face slowly faded, replaced by an expression of disbelief. In the middle of the courtyard now illuminated by moonlight again, standing there was a group of people he didn't know. And in the very front, stood his son with a calm smile on his face.
Kazien waved his hand, looking at his family who were still transfixed in silence.
"Father, Mother, Brothers and Sisters, are you all okay?" greeted Kazien with a loud yet warm voice.