Frostfire Legacy

Thankfully, both Vanessa and Faeloria were "adults," so the discord between them was resolved through peaceful negotiations.

"Then, we'll have Aster for four hours each, alternating. This is final, alright?"

"Fufu, I have no problems with that arrangement either. Just make sure you follow the schedule properly."

"..."

And so, without hearing his input at all, the two women decided how they'd "share" Aster between them. Of course, Tina tried to object, insisting she come along too. However, given her current skill level, she'd just end up being a burden. She's too powerless to even come close to competing with them.

After their brief meeting, the trio made their way toward the Class Exchange Hall, heading to the top floor where Faeloria's office was located. The room had a much simpler design compared to Magnus' elaborate office, yet it had its own unique charm. As they stepped inside, they noticed someone else was already there.

"Welcome back, Director." The male elf greeted Faeloria respectfully, presenting a ring inside a jewelry box before her.

Aster almost thought the man was about to propose, but the situation wasn't quite right for that. Faeloria took the ring, slid it over her pinky finger, and infused it with mana, opening a small portal.

"Take one of these," Faeloria said, offering a pair of gas-mask-like devices to both Aster and Vanessa. "This is Anti-Brainwashing gear, crafted in Juviel City. Even if brainwashing doesn't normally work on us, it's better to be prepared."

By "us," Faeloria was referring to herself and Vanessa, unaware that Aster was also immune to such mental attacks. Still, he accepted the mask without hesitation and put it on.

Once Aster had it on, he realized the mask wasn't as simple as it seemed. The lenses displayed information similar to Augmented Reality, providing details like distance, height, and even status indicators.

"This might come in handy later..." Aster muttered quietly, appreciating its utility.

After securing their Anti-Brainwashing gear, Faeloria turned back to the male elf. "Broly, teleport the three of us just outside Juviel City's walls. After that, you'll take over my responsibilities as Deputy Director of the Class Exchange Hall until I return."

"Yes, Director," Broly replied instantly, his professionalism evident.

Though their conversation seemed ordinary, there was more going on than Aster realized. Both Faeloria and Broly were members of a covert Hit Squad. Faeloria wasn't just the Director—she was also the Team Leader of one of the elite squads. Broly, her secretary, was also her vice-leader, responsible for taking over in her absence.

The three of them huddled close, preparing for teleportation. Broly raised his hand and cast the spell without a word, though Aster caught a flicker of concern in Broly's gaze as he looked at Faeloria.

A flash of light enveloped them, and when it faded, they found themselves in a different location.

"Ugh!"

Aster suddenly appeared a few meters above the ground and began to fall. Panic washed over him, but before he hit the ground, someone caught him mid-air.

"What a playful subordinate you have, Director Faeloria Shadowleaf," Vanessa smirked as she shifted Aster into a more comfortable hold.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Faeloria chuckled, albeit a little late, shaking her head with a wry smile. "I know. I'll have to scold him later. Apologies for the scare, Mr. Aster."

"N-No, it's fine. I wasn't hurt or anything..."

Even if Vanessa hadn't caught him, the fall wouldn't have caused him serious harm—just a minor bruise, at worst. It felt more like a harmless prank than anything malicious, so Aster decided to let it slide.

"Uhm, can you let me down already?"

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However, the situation was still embarrassing. His face flushed slightly as he made his request, but Vanessa's mischievous smile didn't fade.

"Nope. You're staying like this for a while."

Aster looked to Faeloria for help, hoping she would step in and stop Vanessa's antics. To his dismay, Faeloria agreed. "Right. You should stay like that for a bit. Be quiet, alright?"

As if they had planned it, both women took off at top speed, leaving Aster with blurred vision as they raced across the landscape. The wind pressure was intense, making it difficult for him to even catch his breath.

Thankfully, the sprint lasted only about thirty seconds before they came to a stop under the shade of a broken house. Their sharp gazes immediately scanned the area, searching for any sign of enemies.

After exchanging a series of silent hand signals—a language Aster didn't understand—they resumed their rapid movement. This pattern repeated five times before they finally reached a large, half-destroyed building, unnoticed by anyone nearby.

They slipped through the building's security and descended into an underground space, entering a concealed room.

"We're here."

At last, Vanessa set Aster down, his previous embarrassment fading as his curiosity took over. He looked around, wide-eyed. "What is this place?" he murmured.

The room, though small on the outside, was incredibly advanced inside—far more sophisticated than the 10th underground floor of his parents' lab. Various monitors displayed streams of data, while the walls were covered with maps marked with pins and strings. In the center stood a large holographic meeting table, the kind Aster had only ever seen in movies or TV dramas.

"This is Orinfeld City's Juviel City Information Outpost. It serves as the gathering spot and information exchange center for all our spies operating within Juviel City's territory," Faeloria explained with a calm smile. "I'll be reviewing the logs left by our agents. You two can relax; I'll only need about five minutes."

"Then, I..." Aster trailed off, his attention drawn to a monitor showing live video feeds from outside.

He walked closer, tapping the arrows to change the view. The hidden cameras provided surveillance over key locations like City Hall and the Adventurer's Guild.

"This is terrible..."

Each location the cameras displayed was in ruins, as if ravaged by an airstrike. Corpses were scattered everywhere, many dismembered or burned beyond recognition.

All of this destruction was the work of the Aracelli Race. The sight stirred a deep sense of anger within Aster's heart.

"Cassy..."

He whispered her name softly, wishing with all his might that they would soon find a clue to rescue her before it was too late.