CHAPTER 29: ON MY OWN

TOWER 2

Jamil, Leona, and Deuce stepped out of the elevator, immediately feeling that the air had gotten colder. Deuce didn't mind it so much, but then again, his dorm uniform was the only one with long sleeves.

"Are you guys okay?" Deuce asked worriedly, seeing Jamil and Leona shiver and rub at their arms.

"I'm fine… I'm just not used to colder climates," Jamil said. "Leona, if you want, I could make you a jacket with magic—"

"Save your magic," Leona interrupted. "Nothing gets my blood pumping like exercise. Let's pick up the pace."

The trio quickened their walking, heading down the stairs while glancing in every direction just in case.

"So Idia said there would be Phantoms… wonder where they are?" Deuce asked.

"They'll likely be hiding in the shadows to ambush us," Jamil noted. "…I think I should be the one in front."

"Why, you want to try being leader?" Leona asked defensively.

"No, far from it," Jamil explained. "You're the Savanaclaw housewarden and a prince of the Sunset Savannah. Deuce is a first-year. As a second-year with no royal blood, I should be the one the Phantoms target first."

"Hey, don't just prop yourself up as a shield!" Deuce argued. "I might be a year behind you, but I can fight!"

"Enough. We're not gonna argue about this," Leona said. "Jamil, you'll take the rear and look out for threats that might take us from behind. I'll be in front. Deuce, you stay in the middle and be backup for both of us."

"Oh. Uh, sure!" Deuce stepped between Jamil and Leona, the former falling a few steps behind.

"I still think this is a bad idea," Jamil sighed. "What would happen if you came back to Savanaclaw gravely injured? Or if you didn't come back at all?"

"Savanaclaws know how to fend for themselves," Leona said. "And I may be a prince, but I ain't pampered."

There was an ominous clicking sound from below. While the stairs were darker the further the group went down, these oncoming steps seemed… too dark. Obscured by something.

"M-MaGiC…" gurgled a soft voice. "WaNt…"

Several small creatures crawled out from the depths. They resembled small crystal jars, the type that one would hold pens in, and they had slimy tentacles that pulled their unnatural bodies along. The air stank of something burning and sulfurous, and all three mages knew that it was blot.

"The Phantoms!" Deuce cried. He and Jamil tried to push past Leona, wanting to face the Phantoms first, but the Savanaclaw housewarden raised an arm to stop them. In his other arm, Leona held his dorm weapon—a long staff with multicolored feathers which had his magestone pen attached to it.

"Forest Rush!" Leona cried, and the wind blew around him. Green flashes of flora magic shot straight through the smaller Phantoms like arrows through paper. Their glass heads cracked open, spewing blot onto the ground, and they vanished while gurgling quietly.

Jamil and Deuce were amazed at this power, even knowing Leona's station. Leona just shrugged, lowering his arms.

"Those Phantoms were small-fry," he said. "The ones we encounter later are gonna be much tougher. You need to conserve your strength so I can rely on you two. Got it?"

"Understood!" Jamil and Deuce said together, following their leader down the stairs.

He's so different from Kalim, Jamil thought. Maybe I don't have to worry about him quite as much…

After all, the threat that the Shrouds posed now was the greatest worry of all. And as the stairs finally led to a large room, it seemed like the true challenges were just beginning.

Author's Note: The main reason why these couple of chapters are so short is because the next challenge, "Save the Researcher", will make a big chapter each for all three groups, so I tried to break them up. Though the Tower 3 one after this is gonna be a little longer than this...