The air in Leeves carried an eerie stillness in the early morning, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves. After the previous day's skirmish at the Parm, Rean had barely managed a few hours of sleep. The fragments of clues they'd uncovered so far—sabotage, the use of a unique orbment and the chilling declaration from the Ghost Vanguard's leader—painted a grim picture.
Now, standing in the war room of the Branch Campus, Rean addressed the gathered members of the Class VII as Emma also joined them as well.
"The energy signatures we've detected thanks to the unique orbment that they are using," Rean began, gesturing to the holographic map projected by Tita's modified orbment, "are converging under Leeves. Specifically, beneath the campus itself."
"Beneath the campus?" Juna echoed, frowning. "Are you saying there's something underneath us that could be connected to all this?"
"It's possible," Altina said, her voice calm but her expression serious. "The skirmish we had at Parm yesterday are possibly only one part of their whole plan. Whatever orbment they are using, it looks like the destabilization is spreading, and the epicenter appears to be directly below the town."
Kurt crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "If they've been planning this for weeks, they could have set up an entire base down there."
Rean nodded. "That's what we're going to find out. We're splitting into two teams—one to investigate this underground base and another to patrol the campus and town to make sure the Vanguard doesn't try anything while we're down there."
Musse smiled, her voice light but laced with determination. "Ah, a covert excursion into the depths of Leeves. How thrilling."
"Thrilling?" Ash snorted, leaning back against the wall. "Sounds more like a pain in the ass to me. But whatever, let's get it done."
Soon the entire group discovered an entrance to the underground base concealed in an abandoned storage shed on the outskirts of the Branch Campus. The door had been hidden behind crates and old equipment, but Emma recognized the faint traces of magic surrounding it—a cleverly disguised illusion spell.
"Clever, they must have some arts users with them." Emma said as she dispelled the magic. The door groaned open, revealing a dark, spiraling staircase leading downward.
Rean turned to Juna, Kurt, and Altina, who would accompany him below. "Stay alert. If they're hiding something down there, they won't let us waltz in unopposed."
"Got it," Juna said, tightening her grip on her tonfas.
"Let's proceed cautiously," Kurt added, his blade at the ready.
Altina simply nodded, her combat shell floating silently behind her.
The staircase led them into a sprawling underground facility, its walls lined with glowing orbal conduits. The hum of machinery filled the air, and the faint symbols of the Ghost Vanguard adorned the walls.
"This place is massive," Juna muttered, her voice echoing slightly in the cavernous space.
Rean examined the area, his gaze sharp. "It's more than just a hideout. This is an operational base. They've been planning this for a long time."
As they ventured deeper, they came across strange devices embedded in the walls, smaller versions of the machinery the Ghost Vanguard had used in Parm. Altina knelt beside one, her eyes narrowing.
"These devices are amplifying the energy signatures I detected but why?" she said. "But they're also corrupting it. If left unchecked, this entire base could destabilize."
Kurt's expression darkened. "Which would explain why the campus and Leeves are being targeted. It's not just sabotage—it's groundwork for something bigger."
Suddenly, a sharp clanging sound echoed through the halls. The group tensed as a squad of Ghost Vanguard operatives emerged from the shadows, their weapons drawn.
"Well, well," one of them sneered. "The famous Ashen Chevalier and his little protégés. You're trespassing on sacred ground."
Rean stepped forward, his sword gleaming in the dim light. "If you think we're letting you get away with this, you're sorely mistaken."
Soon the battle erupted in a flurry of movement and light. Juna dashed forward, her tonfas crackling with orbal energy as she struck down one opponent with a swift combination. Kurt moved with precision, his blade parrying an incoming attack before countering with a series of rapid strikes.
Altina deployed her combat shell, its shimmering blades deflecting enemy projectiles as she provided support from the rear.
Rean faced the leader of the squad, their weapons clashing in a series of rapid exchanges. The enemy's movements were quick and calculated, but Rean's skill and experience shone through as he broke through their guard.
The last of the operatives fell, and the group took a moment to catch their breath.
"They were guarding something," Rean said, his gaze fixed on a large, reinforced door at the end of the hall.
The door led to a chamber unlike anything they'd seen before. At its center stood a massive device, pulsating with corrupted energy. The air around it was thick and oppressive, and the Ley Line's distortion was palpable.
"This is the source," Altina said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Juna stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "We need to shut it down. Now."
As Rean examined the device, he noticed something strange—inscriptions carved into its surface, similar to the runes used by ancient Zemurian civilizations.
"This isn't just modern technology," Rean said. "It's a fusion of ancient and modern designs. Whoever's behind this has access to resources far beyond what we've seen before."
Before they could act, the chamber began to tremble, and a holographic image of the masked leader they had encountered in Parm appeared above the device.
"Well done, Ashen Chevalier," the figure said, their voice distorted. "But you're too late. The seeds have already been sown, and soon, Erebonia will know the true power of the Vanguard."
The image vanished, and the device began to emit a high-pitched whine.
"They're trying to overload it!" Altina shouted.
"Not on my watch," Rean said, drawing his sword. "Altina, disable the device. Juna, Kurt, cover her. I'll hold off whatever comes next."
As the group moved into action, the room filled with enemies—mechanized constructs activated to protect the device.
With teamwork and determination, the group managed to fend off the constructs and disable the device. The orbal energy stabilized, and the oppressive atmosphere began to lift.
"We did it," Juna said, breathing heavily.
"For now," Rean replied, his gaze fixed on the now-silent device. "But this is only the beginning. Whatever the Vanguard is planning, this was just a piece of it."
As they made their way back to the surface, Rean's mind raced. The deeper they delved into this mystery, the clearer it became that the Ghost Vanguard wasn't acting alone. Someone—or something—was pulling the strings.
And Rean knew they'd have to uncover the truth before it was too late.