Web of Chaos - Chapter 23: The Coming Storm

Rain pounded against the loft’s windows, warping the skyline in a blur of hazy lights. A wall of storm clouds hid the morning sun to the east, dark gray with traces of bright blue mana around the edges.

Akari and her team stood in a loose semicircle around their TV. She didn’t normally waste her time on the news, but today was different. Storm’s Eye had just attacked New Sakai—a South Shokenese colony in the Inner Sea.

“How close is that?” she asked the others.

“Less than two hundred miles,” Arturo muttered into his coffee cup.

“—devastation across the entire island.” The reporter’s face filled the screen, rain-soaked and grim. Her auburn hair whipped in the wind as she shouted over the storm. “Officials are still assessing the damage, but early estimates suggest several thousand casualties.”

The camera shifted to a bird’s eye view of the island. The ocean had swallowed the beach, and familiar trenches ran through the center of town. Roads crumbled, and buildings collapsed like falling sand castles.

The screen cut to the Koreldon City Hall, where Mayor Stonecrest stood at a shiny black podium adorned with the city’s emblem. An Espirian flag filled the background behind him—dark blue with twenty-five golden stars arranged in a circle.

Stonecrest was a broad-shouldered Master with silver-streaked hair and a long scar that crossed his left eye like a lightning bolt. His booming voice could fill any room, even without a microphone. “In light of the growing threat, I am issuing Executive Order 742, effective immediately.” He held up a piece of white paper bearing the city seal. “All residents of Koreldon City must display the protective marks on their foreheads and palms.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd. He continued his speech with the usual bullshit and pseudoscience about how the marks would keep Storm’s Eye away. Or maybe just the storms themselves. That part was always vague.

“The marks will be provided free of charge at all public buildings,” the mayor said. “This order applies to all citizens of Koreldon City, regardless of rank”

“He can’t do that.” Akari spun to face Kalden and Arturo; unlike her and Zukan, those two actually kept up with politics on a daily basis. “Can he?”

“No,” Kalden said with a quick shake of his head. “The Senate passes laws. Not the mayor.”

“That’s true.” Arturo’s knuckles went white around his coffee cup. “But how many people know that?”

“They know,” Zukan rumbled. “They just don’t think.”

“Exactly,” Arturo said. “They saw it on TV. That’s all that really matters.”

Akari glared back at the screen. The courts would probably block this so-called order—they’d done the same with Moonfire’s surveillance and security mandates. But that could take months. She’d bet a mana core to a marble that people would start fighting long before then.

~~~

Akari and her team set out bright and early the next morning. Well, it would have been bright if not for all those storm clouds. Koreldon City was no stranger to grim weather, but this was worse than usual; almost like the sky was doing its best impression of midnight.

Some people carried umbrellas to keep off the morning rain, while others held glowing Constructs above their heads. As a result, the sidewalks resembled a field of glowing mushrooms.

The stronger mana artists had techniques that stretched all the way down to the sidewalk, drying the concrete beneath their feet. A few of them strode confidently through the deluge with seemingly no protection at all. Despite that, their clothes and bodies remained untouched, as if they’d made a non-aggression pact with the elements. Those could have been water artists with full-body Cloak techniques. Or, more likely, they wore some expensive equipment that mimicked the effects of water mana.

As for Akari’s team, they wore suits of dark armor from head to heel. They’d be joining Nightfang’s class in the Hollows, and a little rain was the least of their worries.

As usual, Zukan walked a few paces ahead of their group, looking even more intimidating than usual in his black armor. He’d also advanced to the Artisan realm last week, which was why Nightfang had agreed to let him join their excursion. Several of the third years were still stuck in the Apprentice realm, so the group was objectively safer with the dragonborn on their side.

Their teacher had also made an exception for Arturo. He might still be an Apprentice, but he already had two degrees from Koreldon University. More importantly, he’d agreed to fix any broken equipment along the way. Even a Master couldn’t do that without the proper training.

The streets seemed normal enough at first, with the shuffling crowds, and the cars splashing through puddles. Even the wailing sirens had become as constant as morning coffee these past few months.

Still, Akari could taste the tension in the air. Maybe it was all those closed shops along the sidewalk, staring out at them like empty eye sockets. Or maybe it was the way people rushed by with their bags and rolling luggage. Some held their children’s hands, while others clutched the hilts of their weapons.

“What are they so scared of?” Akari asked. “Storm’s Eye attacked us once, right?”

Arturo nodded from her left. “You’re right about that, shoka. They’re not running from him.”

A line stretched around the public library ahead, and people of all ages huddled under their umbrellas and Constructs. Akari glanced through the tall glass doors as they passed the front of the building. Dozens of workers sat at folding tables, applying those stupid blue marks on peoples’ hands and foreheads.

Two cops stood near the street corner toward the end of the line, their blue uniforms dark with rain. One man’s eyes drifted toward Akari’s team, and he almost looked ready to say something. She and the others all wore helmets, but their unmarked foreheads were clear through the visors.

For Talek’s sake. Were these guys planning to enforce the mayor’s bullshit ideas?

The man took a closer look at her team and seemed to think better of his plans.

Don’t wanna mess with Artisan’s, huh? But that still left a bad taste in Akari’s mouth. Power felt good, but what about all those unmarked Novices and Apprentices? Would the cops pick on them just because they couldn’t fight back?

Memories of the Archipelago cut through her mind like blades. Her blood boiled, and mana raced through her channels, threatening to burst from her palms.

“You okay?” Kalden asked.

“Yeah.” Akari drew in a deep breath and forced herself to stop cycling. “Just thinking how screwed up this is.”

She’d almost believed Espiria was better than Arkala or Creta. But Elend had known the truth all along; people were all the same, no matter where you went. Even if some of them pretended to be more civilized than others.

The rain calmed down by the time they reached campus, more of a light mist than a downpour. Akari yanked off her helmet and shook her hair free. A wave of humid air pressed against her face, and the scents of wet stone and damp earth filled her nostrils.

Arturo followed her lead a few seconds later, but Kalden and Zukan left their own helmets alone. Knowing them, it was probably some silent competition to see who could act more like a real soldier. Or maybe Kalden just didn’t want to deal with helmet hair.

Her team stepped into the Artegium Ring, but the mood didn’t improve. If anything, it got even worse. Several students were locked in fierce debates, and some looked ready to unleash their mana. Had things really gotten this bad overnight? All because the mayor made one stupid speech?

They made their way around the library toward the front of the Combat Arts Center. From there, they followed a narrow path through an alley on the west side of the building. This opened into a courtyard with a simple brick structure at its center. The entrance to the Hollows.

A cluster of third-years filled the alley, their armor slick with rainwater. Nightfang stood beyond the crowd with Raizen’s two assistants, Camila Warder and Sen Goto. Normally, the school would send even more teachers for this exam, but times were tough. Especially when they fired teachers for no reason.

“We’re going beyond the first level of the Hollows,” Nightfang had said in their last class. “The Artisan-level beasts could kill you with a single technique. There’s even a rare chance we’ll meet a Master. I’ll do my best to keep you safe, but I won’t sugarcoat this. For the first time in your academic career, the school can’t guarantee your safety.”

Akari had nodded along with the rest of her peers, but she couldn’t hold back her smirk. Guaranteed safety? People had been trying to kill her since her first semester.

Her team reached the edge of the courtyard, and several more students spun to face them.

“Seriously, Zeller?” Kohen Grandhall stomped forward with his hulking frame. The stone artist stood a few inches taller than Kalden, but he had nothing on Zukan. “You still don’t have a mark yet?”

His girlfriend, Tessa Greenleaf, stood beside him with her fists planted on her hips. These two had challenged Akari during the first week of school—two against one, and she’d still she'd still wiped the floor with them. Unfortunately, that didn’t earn her a single ounce of respect. They just accused her of abusing soulshine, or cheating in ways they couldn’t explain.

They were partially right, but they had outdated information. Akari didn’t need to cheat in duels anymore, and soulshine was far too slow to matter at this point.

Annoyingly enough, the pair never bothered Kalden. But Kalden actually liked arguing about politics. Akari just wanted to train and improve herself with minimal bullshit. Imagine that.

Tessa flashed them a satisfied smirk. “Didn’t you hear the new rule? Unmarked aren’t allowed on campus anymore.”

A few others stepped up beside the couple, including Jin Savang and Anita Cosra. They formed a wall around the mouth of the ally, blocking her team’s path.

Kalden and Zukan stepped forward, but no one spoke yet.

“Bullshit,” Akari said. “That’s not a rule.”

Tessa’s grin widened as she surveyed Akari’s team. “Really? None of you check your school email?”

The storm had knocked out their apartment’s internet access last night, but she didn’t bother telling them that.

“Move.” Akari met each of their eyes and cycled spacetime mana to her right hand. “Or I’ll move you.” She wasn’t bluffing, either. She’d made a portal outside their apartment, two miles from the Artegium. All it took was one Missile, and these four would take a trip across town.

Talek, but she loved her aspect sometimes. They couldn’t even defend themselves without attacking her outright. Her portal technique had gotten even faster since the recent upgrade—far too fast for an Artisan to block.

Kohen Grandhall let out a long, irritated sigh. “Come on, Zeller. How many more people need to die before you stop being selfish?”

Akari aimed her hand at the ground, gathering spacetime mana in her palm. “Not gonna tell you twice.”

“Fine.” He stepped aside and gestured her through the alley. “Take it up with Nightfang, then.”

Akari strode past him, but her blood froze an instant later. Nightfang had a blue sigil on her forehead. Nightfang, who’d been against the marks and pseudoscience from the very start.

The woman approached their group with an apologetic look. “It’s true. The board met last night after the mayor’s announcement. They voted to require marks on campus.”

Akari stared at her in stunned silence, and her hands clenched into fists. First the library restrictions and now this? Her fellow third years gathered around in a loose circle, and she felt Grandhall and his friends watching from behind.

“You have two options.” Nightfang gestured toward the Sigilcraft building on her right. “Student volunteers are applying the marks for free in the main lobby. I’ll wait for you if you head inside now.”

“Or you’ll leave without us?” Kalden asked.

Nightfang’s fingers brushed the mark on her forehead, a gesture almost like shame. “I fought this all night in the faculty meeting. That was the best I could do. These marks might not keep away the storms, but the side effects have been exaggerated.”

“That’s not the point.” Kalden’s voice was as sharp as his techniques. “The demands won’t stop just because you give in to them one time.”

Akari nodded. “What’s next? Curfews?”

“That won’t happen,” the older woman said in a calm voice.

Arturo stepped forward. “With all due respect, you’ve never been to Creta.”

Or Arkala, Akari thought. Either way, this whole thing felt like a nightmare she’d lived through before. First they divided society into groups, then they punished the ones who didn’t play along. Those games worked on almost everyone, from the weakest Novice to the strongest Grandmaster.

This trip would be valuable, no doubt about that. It was a chance to map out the Hollows and hunt more Artisan-level mana beasts. One step closer to reaching the Master realm and saving Relia.

But she remembered being a Bronze on Arkala, forbidden from learning mana arts. Even the Golds and Silvers hadn’t been happy in that world, but they’d still played along. They’d all been too scared to lose what power they had. Too scared to tell the truth. Worlds like that were shaped in moments like this, when mana artists chose whether to give in or fight back

‘Maybe we should consider this,’ Kalden said through their soulbond.

‘Why?’ Akari asked without meeting his eyes. ‘We don’t need this school anymore. We can find our own way through the Hollows.’

‘And what about this city?’ he retorted. ‘What about the rest of Espiria? We can’t stage a revolution and save Relia at the same time.’

Classic Kalden, always picking the most pragmatic choice. But at least he knew how to present a united front.

‘Everyone’s got their own excuses,’ she told him. ‘But if we don’t fight back now, then who will?’

‘Is that all?’ Kalden said. ‘Or are you looking for an excuse to justify your power?’

‘I’m looking for my Master revelation. And this feels right. What’s the point of saving Relia if a thousand more people suffer?’

‘I’ll stand with you,’ Kalden said. ‘But this might not be a battle we can win long-term.’

Good enough for now. Akari removed the third-year insignia from her chest plate and shot one last look at her teammates. When no one objected, she turned back to Nightfang. “Should have done this a long time ago.” The golden pin fell from her outstretched fingers, landing with a small splash in the puddle between the cobblestones.

Nightfang glanced down, and her lips made a thin line. “I respect your choice, but I have three kids to support.”

Kalden removed his own insignia and handed it over. “This school needs you more than you need them.”

“Agreed,” Zukan rumbled from inside his helmet. He passed Nightfang his own pin, and Arturo followed without comment.

Akari and the others turned away from the crowd, heading back through the narrow alley with their helmets tucked under their arms.

“Shit,” Arturo muttered once they were out of earshot. “Did that just happen?”

“Yeah,” Akari muttered. Her hands shook despite her words from a few seconds before. Koreldon University had been a constant in her life for the past year, and it seemed wrong just to walk away.

“What do we do now?” Arturo asked.

“We keep training,” Kalden said. “We don’t need the school’s permission for that.” His voice held a calm certainty which Akari appreciated.

“Other groups explore the Hollows,” she said. “Maybe we could hitch a ride with. . .” Her words died in her throat as they reached the end of the alley. Another third year stood on the main path, silhouetted against the pale clouds.

Relia.

Her friend wore a set of midnight blue armor trimmed with silver—the colors of Clan Moonfire. Two members of the Honor Guard flanked her, dressed in identical sets of armor. The man on the left was Eduardo Dain, one of the youngest Masters in Espiria. The other Guard was a red-haired woman Akari didn’t recognize. She had a similar build to Relia, and she could easily serve as a body double if it came to that.

But it wasn’t the guards that made Akari’s blood run cold. It was Relia herself.

The warm sparkle in her eyes had vanished, replaced with a glassy stare. Her posture was too rigid—like a puppet with invisible strings. When she smiled, the expression spread across her face with mechanical precision, never reaching her eyes.

‘Maybe it’s an act,’ Kalden said. ‘She doesn’t want to look too eager in front of her guards.’

‘You really think so?’ Akari asked. Because she sure as hell didn’t.

‘No,’ he admitted. ‘Something’s wrong here.’

“Relia?” Akari asked as the other girl closed the distance. “Are you . . .”

“I’m fine,” Relia said. “It’s good to see you again.” Her eyes flicked left and right. “All of you.” The words seemed rehearsed, lacking the warmth that had once defined her.

“What happened to you?” Akari asked before she could stop herself.

Relia’s mouth curved downward in the start of a frown, then sprang back up another  desolate smile. “I can’t talk about that here.”

“Then when?” Akari asked. “Where?” She didn’t really expect a straight answer—not when those guards would report everything back to Ashur Moonfire. Still . . . all these months apart, had she had nothing else to say?

Something flickered behind Relia’s eyes—a brief flash of her old self, struggling to claw its way back to the surface. “Come to the Palace Prime next week. We can talk then.”

Akari blinked “Just like that?”

“I’m allowed to have guests.”

They stared at each other for several heartbeats, with years of shared battles and memories hanging in the empty space between them. Then Dain cleared his throat. “We should join the others, Lady Moonfire.”

“Of course.” Relia turned back to her friends with the same shadow of a smile. “I hope I see you again soon.” Then she strode down the alley with the red-haired guard at her side. Dain lingered a moment longer, scanning Akari’s team as if he expected a surprise attack. Then he turned and followed the other two without comment.

“Talek,” Akari whispered as they left. “What the hell did Moonfire do to you?”