The next day, the sun was warm and a cool breeze blew.
Roused from the darkness, Magnolia finally felt a little more alive.
Early in the morning, a crowd had already gathered outside Cardia Cathedral.
Several dozen Mages in matching robes clustered around a figure on horseback.
Today was Blue Skull Guildmaster Jofre's monthly hunt in the northern mountains.
Jofre loved pomp; even for a hunt he brought dozens of lackeys to attend him—though they had to follow on foot.
"Guildmaster Jofre, the road ahead has been cleared."
"Mm, understood."
Aboard his horse, Jofre gripped a staff and wore a crossbow on his back, ready to depart.
"Perfect weather—ideal for a hunt!"
"Let's move."
With that he jerked the reins and, heedless of the town street or whoever might be in the way, spurred his horse into a gallop.
The stallion neighed, hooves drumming, kicking up a three-foot cloud of dust.
"Guildmaster Jofre, wait for us!"
Seeing him charge off without a backward glance, the Mages quickened their pace.
Not out of loyalty—if Jofre later needed an errand-runner and found none, every last one of them would pay.
Jofre paid them no mind, eyes closed as he savored the wind on his face, exhilarated.
Just as he rode out of Magnolia—boom!!
A dull thud; his mount had collided with something and stopped dead.
"Whinnyyy…"
The horse shrieked in pain, blood dripping from its nostrils, rearing until it nearly stood upright.
Jofre lurched forward, lost his balance, then was slammed back by the horse's neck and flung from the saddle.
He landed head-first with a thud—brains rattled, backside wrecked!
The Mages caught up, saw the chaos, and froze in cold sweat.
"We're done for!"
They had just reported the road clear; now the guildmaster lay in the dirt—blame would fall squarely on them.
"G-Guildmaster, are you all right…?!"
"Damn it! What blocked my path?!"
Clutching his bruised backside, Jofre scrambled up, furious.
Whatever had caused the fall would pay—be it man, beast, or stone.
If human, he'd butcher it; if rock, he'd blast it to dust!
But when he raised his eyes and saw what stood in his way, he froze.
In mid-air before him, runes of mana hung motionless, warping the rules of the space—
[Mages of Blue Skull cannot leave this place]
"T-this… is a Spell Formula?!"
As guildmaster of Blue Skull, Jofre knew his craft; at once he recognized the binding enchantment.
"Exactly—a Spell Formula!"
Nearby, houses and grass that had been mere illusion melted away, revealing three figures who had waited in ambush.
Weston, Mavis, Zera!
From three sides they boxed Jofre and his dozens of Mages in, cutting off every retreat.
"Today, not a single Blue Skull member leaves here!"
Three unknown brats?!
They set this trap?
Hah… ridiculous!
Had they stayed hidden they might have been troublesome, but stepping out like this? Fools.
Jofre calmed at once. "Who are you? What do you want?!"
"Two things."
Weston raised two fingers.
"First: hand over every treasure you've extorted and all Blue Skull assets."
"Second: march your men out of Magnolia and the nearby Towns and surrender yourselves to the Council."
"Do it now and you live."
Predictably, the 'threat' accomplished nothing.
Jofre laughed instead. "A bunch of green brats think a Formula trap can stop me? Delusional!"
"Look whose ground you're on, whose numbers dwarf whose!"
"Kill them!"
Talk ended in an instant—
or had never begun.
Jofre waved; his men surged.
But Mavis flung her arms high, magic erupting as she chanted, seizing the initiative.
"Appear, guardian beast that descends from the Heavenly Stairs—"
"Tenrou!!"
With a roar, a colossal wolf burst onto the street!
Twice the height of the houses, each claw larger than a grown man, white-furred, cyan-eyed, wreathed in emerald flame-clouds, snarling with divine might.
The legendary guardian beast of Tenrou Island!
"We're doomed!!"
"W-what is that…?"
"Summoning Magic?!"
"It's enormous!"
The Blue Skull Mages paled, drenched in sweat, knees knocking, trembling.
"Impossible!"
"A kid that age can't wield such powerful Summoning Magic!"
"An illusion!"
"Has to be!"
Jofre grasped the truth at once.
The girl looked barely thirteen; she couldn't summon a beast that size.
Therefore—an illusion!
Reassured, he sneered. "Hear me! It's only an illusion—attack!"
"What? An illusion!"
Trusting their guildmaster, the members calmed.
"So it's just bluster—nothing to fear!"
"Grab them!"
Gleeful as Jackals among lambs, they raised weapons and charged Mavis.
Mavis only smiled.
"You think it's an illusion?"
"Naïve."
The heavenly wolf raised a forepaw high and slammed it down!
Boom!!!
One blow and the entire street lurched like an earthquake!
With a single strike, the whole street shook violently like an earthquake!