The group waited by a food booth, the smell of grilled meat and spices wafting through the air as they placed their orders.
The sun had begun to set, painting the sky in shades of amber and violet while the crowd's chatter filled the busy street.
In the middle of ordering, Jayden felt a twinge of unease. Nadia had been gone for quite some time.
"Ren, can you check on her?" he asked, glancing toward the restroom.
"I've been thinking the same thing. Stay here with the others—I'll go," Ren replied, slipping through the bustling crowd.
The noise faded as he reached the dimly lit restroom corridor. He knocked once—then twice—before pushing the door open.
The sight made his heart stop.
Nadia lay slumped on the cold tiled floor, unconscious.
"Nadia!" he whispered urgently, rushing to her side. He lifted her gently, his pulse quickening. "Are you alright?"
Her eyelids fluttered open, and she smiled weakly. "What are you doing in the girls' restroom, you pervert?" she murmured, her voice drowsy.
Ren exhaled in relief. "What happened?"
"Oh—sorry for worrying you. I just slipped… I think I'm exhausted," Nadia replied, trying to stand, but her knees gave way.
Ren caught her before she fell, scooping her effortlessly into his arms.
"It's my fault for stressing you out today," he said softly. Their eyes met briefly, the moment lingering between them. "I'll carry you home."
Ren stepped outside and, spawning brown wings, took to the sky.
The wind rippled around them as he soared toward Jayden and Shaley, who gasped when they saw Nadia in his arms.
After a quick explanation, Ren decided to take Nadia home.
Jayden and Shaley followed behind in a separate carriage, the rhythmic clatter of hooves echoing through the twilight streets.
Along the ride, Jayden pulled a small, neatly wrapped box from his satchel and handed it to Shaley. "Happy birthday," he said with a smile.
Her face lit up. They chatted about school, the upcoming competition, and other lighthearted topics until they arrived at her home.
"I really enjoyed today," Shaley said, her cheeks faintly pink. "Even though we had to cut it short because of Nadia, it was still wonderful. Thank you, Jayden." She rose on her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
Jayden froze for a heartbeat before managing a smile.
"No problem. I'm always here—just call me."
"Goodnight, Jayden. See you on Monday."
Shaley waved as she disappeared inside.
Jayden turned to leave, muttering with a grin, "Phase one of today's plan—overly successful. Now… phase two."
When he reached home, he spotted his father, Luke, and his sister, Myra, chatting on the porch.
Both turned toward him, identical mischievous grins spreading across their faces like predators spotting prey.
"Oh no…" Jayden sighed. "Why is Mom the only sane person in this family?"
As they advanced, he smirked and cracked his knuckles. "Fine, let's dance."
In a flash, glowing lines traced across his body, and he dashed past them with supernatural speed—but Luke appeared in front of him instantly. Jayden skidded to a stop, sending dust swirling into the air.
Using wind magic, he whipped up a blinding gust to block their view, but before he could escape, Myra's wall of fire erupted, trapping him.
"Guess I'll have to bring out the big guns," he muttered. "Xelvicar—come to me!"
A flaming blue sword streaked through the air and landed in his hand. Leaping onto it, he soared upward.
Luke laughed below. "You're not the only one who can fly, boyo! Just tell us about your date, and we'll let you go!"
"Even you, Myra? You're supposed to be a lady!" Jayden groaned.
But they were relentless. With a grin, Jayden used light magic to blur their vision, then formed a water blade and hurled it toward Myra. "Let's see you dodge this!"
Moments later, Xelvicar was ripped from his grasp and hovered beside Luke.
"Did you forget?" Luke grinned. "I can command the sword too!"
Jayden sighed, landing back on the porch. "Fine, fine. I'll talk."
In the end, he gave in, recounting every detail of his "date," much to their amusement.
Laughter filled the night.
"I didn't know Sarah made a reservation," Luke mused. "Is it even possible."
"That's why Mom's better than you," Jayden teased, slipping into the house and heading upstairs.
Later that night...
The house was silent. Moonlight spilled through Jayden's window as he stood before his mirror, eyes gleaming with determination.
"Time for phase two—Operation Midnight Vigilante."
Cracks of glowing energy appeared across his skin as his body transformed. His hair turned black, his eyes deepened into a royal purple, and his complexion darkened.
His reflection grinned back—a stranger cloaked in mystery.
Throwing on a black cape and gripping Xelvicar, Jayden leapt out of the window.
The cold night air whipped past as he soared toward an abandoned district at the city's edge.
The decrepit house loomed ahead, its windows shattered, the air heavy with dust and decay. He landed silently, pressed a palm against the rusted latch, and slipped inside.
Faint voices echoed through the hall. Five men huddled around a table stacked with small crystalline vials.
"Illegal mana pills," Jayden muttered.
"Freeze," he ordered, stepping out from the shadows. His voice came out distorted, deeper.
The men turned sharply.
"Who squealed?" barked the leader.
No one answered. Instead, they each pulled small capsules from their pockets and swallowed them whole.
Jayden felt their mana surge wildly. "Well… this'll be interesting," he said under his breath.
The leader lunged forward, fist glowing with raw power, but Jayden blocked it easily.
Electricity crackled around his arm as he countered with a lightning-charged punch that sent the man sprawling.
A boulder shot toward him from the side, but before it struck, it shattered midair. Xelvicar hovered protectively behind him.
"Oh, you've got my back, huh? Let's finish this!"
He unleashed a flurry of wind slashes, each cutting through the darkness. One of the enemies conjured a wave of water, but it froze solid before reaching Jayden.
"Pathetic," he said coldly. "Even Nadia's control is better."
His eyes glowed as he whispered, "Eyes of the Gods."
The sky darkened until even the stars vanished. A heavy, unseen pressure filled the room.
'The power of the strongest one presses down upon you,' a demonic voice thundered.
"Still have no idea where that voice comes from," Jayden muttered.
Xelvicar moved on its own, pressing its blade against the leader's throat. The others trembled, struggling to remain standing under the crushing aura.
"Let's finish this before Mom notices I'm gone," Jayden said and vanished.
In a blur, he appeared beside one man, grabbed his neck, and kneed him in the gut.
Another swung a water-imbued punch—Jayden caught his arm and unleashed a storm of rapid strikes until the man collapsed.
The last fled. Jayden sighed. "Ten-Step Destruction."
With each count, the escaping smuggler was slammed down by invisible force.
"First step."
"Second step." At this point, the air started to distort.
"Third step."
"Fourth step."
The air stilled. The last person had fainted and Jayden cancelled the move.
Jayden then turned to the one man who hadn't moved since the beginning—watching him silently.
"Now, you."
He attacked, lightning fist ready, but his blow was casually deflected.
The man struck once with his palm, sending Jayden flying backward.
Once again, Jayden closed the distance and aimed a roundhouse kick but it was caught, held and thrown back sending Jayden down on the ground.
Jayden rose, anger flashing in his eyes.
"This guy's toying with me," he muttered, drawing on deeper power.
Just as he reached for the seal on his hand, the man smiled, turned.and started to walk away.
Before Jayden could react, another figure entered the room—a man in a fox mask, holding a black katana gleaming under the moonlight.
Jayden barely had time to blink before the masked man vanished and reappeared behind him, inspecting the cargo of mana pills.
"Who are—" Jayden began, but the man was already beside the unconscious smugglers.
He turned to Jayden, voice soft yet chilling.
"Now… to clear all the evidence."
Moonlight caught on the edge of his blade as he advanced, step by step, toward Jayden.