NIGHT WATCH

*Chapter 29: New Shadows, New Armor*

By the time the group returned to Jade Spirit Academy, dawn was just painting the towers gold. Exhaustion tugged at every step, but the memory of masked attackers in the village hovered over them like a storm cloud. They slipped quietly through back halls, mud on their boots, nerves humming, each friend lost in thoughts of narrow escapes and the unknown danger stalking their world.

Headmistress Zhou summoned them before classes even began. Her office, usually serene, was filled with the scent of strong tea and crisp paper. "You did well," she said, eyes grave, "but now you see how sharp the world's teeth can be. There are enemies out there who know your names—even your faces. That can't happen again."

She opened a lacquered chest. Inside were compact bundles—sleek uniforms in midnight blue and matte silver, embroidered with runes to deflect stray spells and blur faces on cameras. Each came with a lightweight mask: angular, expressive, and just distinctive enough that no one would ever mistake them for ordinary students.

"From now on, you're not just Jade Spirit's secret protectors—you're the city's unseen guardians," Zhou declared. "You'll have new transport, custom to your talents. Drivers, follow Jin Ming to the garage. Riders, Mei Fen and Yan, you'll receive night-black bikes with runed exhausts. Bao Yu, your eco-van blends illusion magic with speed—perfect for cover. And Li Wei…" She handed him a simple, rune-inscribed token. "You're team captain, so your comms link runs through this—no magic shows unless absolutely needed."

Everyone suited up after classes. The moment Li Wei donned his mask, he felt less like the quiet star pupil and more like a legend from the tales his grandmother used to tell. The new uniforms hugged their bodies but moved like silk, the masks making their movements somehow bolder, their unity sharper.

In the private garage behind the academy, engines growled to life. Jin Ming revved a midnight-blue muscle car, spinning the wheels with a huge grin. Mei Fen and Yan examined their bikes—sleek, rune-lined, and silent as shadows. Bao Yu slipped into the eco-van, testing dashboard charms that let him mimic any vehicle on the road.

The team sparred late that night in the gym beneath the school, getting used to fighting in uniform, learning each other's rhythms. Blow by blow, partner by partner—they mixed martial arts with clever tricks. Yan feinted with a foot sweep, then spun her staff to block a strike meant for Mei Fen. Jin Ming used his strength to shatter an opponent's balance, then slid clear, letting Li Wei land a textbook over-the-shoulder throw. Chen Xiulan, nimble and precise, disarmed Rui with a wrist lock, then pivoted so Mei Fen could plant a solid punch to his chest.

Every clash ended with handshakes and quiet affirmations, confidence building in the group's eyes. The school above hummed as usual, but below, the city's new defenders were forging into something stronger and faster than they'd ever been alone.

Before they left for bed, Zhou gave them one last warning: "The next time you leave these halls, it may not be a drill. Be ready for anything—and trust each other with your lives."