The forest clearing was finally calm.
The bodies of the defeated assassins and black mages lay scattered around the broken ritual circle.
June Astral and Lucas de Hein stood near the center of the clearing, examining the remains of the dark magic.
Lucas crouched slightly and looked at the shattered symbol on the ground.
His silver eyes narrowed.
"…This wasn't the main ritual."
June looked down at it too.
"What do you mean?"
Lucas touched one of the dark markings with his gloved hand.
"It's only a fragment."
He stood again.
"A smaller circle connected to something larger."
June's brown eyes sharpened immediately.
"So this wasn't the real base."
Lucas nodded.
"No."
June crossed her arms and looked around the forest.
"So we just destroyed one branch."
Lucas continued calmly.
"The real villains are still out there."
June tilted her head slightly.
"How many?"
Lucas spoke without hesitation.
"Two."
June raised an eyebrow.
"Two leaders?"
Lucas nodded again.
"Yes."
He looked toward the distant forest horizon.
"But they don't work alone."
June understood quickly.
She smiled faintly.
"They divided their forces."
Lucas continued.
"One controls the black mages."
"And the other commands the assassin network."
June rested one hand on her sword.
"So it's cooperation between two villains."
Lucas's voice became colder.
"A calculated alliance."
June thought for a moment.
Then her lips curved slightly.
"Well…"
She looked at him.
"If they can cooperate…"
Her eyes sparkled with confidence.
"…so can we."
Lucas met her gaze.
For a moment neither spoke.
Then Lucas answered quietly.
"Yes."
June stretched her shoulders and turned toward the horses.
"Good."
Her voice carried excitement now.
"Because if this was only the beginning…"
She glanced back at him with a mischievous smile.
"…things are about to get much more interesting."
Lucas followed her calmly.
The battle in the forest had only been the first move.
Somewhere in the shadows of the empire, two powerful villains were already preparing their next plan.