ShadowBound: The Need For Power

Galen sat upright in his seat, stretching his arms with a sigh. "Eastern District, huh? Almost forgot about that," he muttered in his usual bored drawl.

"Well, the kid and I split up to track the hybrids we detected—thanks to his little shadow pets tagging them."

"You had him use his dark magic in the open?" Lucy asked, her voice calm but laced with an undertone of disapproval.

"Yeah," Galen said with a shrug. "Let's be real—his identity's going to come out eventually. If you really want to make use of him, then he's got to start understanding the world firsthand. That includes learning to wield his magic in real-world situations."

Lucy was silent for a moment, eyes steady. Then she exhaled. "Just continue with the report."

"After we split, he contacted me saying he'd encountered a hybrid and that he had things under control. But after some time passed, I realized something was wrong. A section of the eastern district had gone dead silent. I circled the area but couldn't detect any heat signatures. Thought maybe the kid left, but turns out, an entire block had been hidden behind a spatial veil."

"A veil?" Lucy asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.

Galen nodded. "Yeah. Some kind of distortion layered across a hundred-meter radius—designed to make the area appear untouched. No sound, no heat. Like the entire block had been erased from existence. That's why I didn't pick up on Liam's earlier confrontation."

Mystica, who had been listening in silence, spoke up now. "That kind of veil takes a lot of spatial energy and precision to sustain. So whoever cast it wasn't just experimenting—they knew what they were doing."

"Exactly," Galen said, leaning forward a little. "And the hybrid who cast it? Went by the name Moan… or Mourne. Kid said he claimed to be sent by Sylvathar. Said his mission was to execute him."

Mystica tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "Why would Sylvathar target Liam now, all of a sudden?"

At that, Galen launched into the brief explanation of Liam's earlier encounter with the first hybrid of the night.

"So, Sylvathar caught a glimpse of him when Aesmirius slipped out for a moment?" Lucy asked slowly.

"Yeah. Looks like that brief exposure was all it took."

Lucy sighed and began to speak, "Then Liam's protection needs to be—"

"No," Galen cut in, his tone firmer than usual. "Stop treating him like some rare artifact made of gold. If you want him to grow, then stop coddling him and let him evolve through challenge."

Lucy fell quiet for a breath, then nodded once. "Alright, Galen. I hear you. Now, this hybrid—was he another one of the basic ones we've been seeing?"

"No," Galen replied. "He was a general. Strong enough to kill Liam, if the kid hadn't gotten smart."

Lucy's expression shifted, her gaze sharp. "A general hybrid?"

"Yeah. Not like the cannon fodder we've been cutting through. This one had serious regenerative capabilities. His mutation control was precise—definitely elite."

Mystica leaned forward. "So… did you finish him?"

"I would have," Galen replied. "But the kid wanted him kept alive. Said the hybrid mentioned something important—something about how power alone wasn't enough. That allies were needed."

Lucy arched a brow. "Allies?"

"Yeah. And here's where it gets interesting," Galen continued. "The hybrid claimed Sylvathar isn't even the one behind all these weak hybrids we've been finding. Called them sacrificial—pawns made by someone else. Apparently, they're just a means to a much larger end."

Lucy's face darkened. "To bring down Amthar."

Galen shook his head. "Nope. According to what Liam got out of him, Sylvathar doesn't give a damn about Amthar. But he really does want one thing —Sheila's divine light. To absorb it, grow strong enough, and return to the Demon Realm. Challenge a fellow demon lord."

"To challenge… who?" Mystica asked, though her expression already hinted she feared the answer.

"To challenge Lord Sanguis," Galen said plainly.

At that name, both Lucy and Mystica stiffened. Their jaws tightened and a heavy silence filled the room.

Galen shrugged. "Yeah. Even demons have ambition."

Mystica looked down, then back up. "If that's true… Sylvathar would need a new force of Gaia demons and a deeper well of power to face Sanguis. He's the most powerful Demon Lord to ever walk through the rifts."

Galen's voice didn't waver. "Which means his so-called conquest of Amthar was just a smokescreen. A cover-up for his real goal."

"Agreed. It all makes sense now," Lucy said. "And the hybrid—he's still in Liam's shadow?"

"Yeah. He's in there. Probably still alive. Probably," Galen said, stretching his arms. "Might want to pull him out before that changes."

Lucy gave a slight nod. "Good. Dove and Mystica will work on extracting whatever knowledge is still left in his brain."

"We'll begin right away," Mystica added.

Then Lucy turned back to Galen, her voice softening just a touch. "Thank you for bringing the boy back in one piece. Even if a little bruised."

Galen stood, rolling his shoulders with a lazy stretch. "He held his ground. Actually surprised me a couple times. Just… don't try to chain him down. He's not built for that. Let him forge his own path. You'll be glad you did."

He turned and walked toward the door, his footsteps echoing across the marble floor. Just as he reached the threshold, Lucy's voice called out behind him.

"Galen."

He stopped.

"Don't vanish with my asset again. Not without informing me."

He didn't look back, but there was a smug grin in his voice when he answered.

"No promises, Queen."

And then, he was gone.

"So those hybrids your Corps eliminated in Zone 9 weren't just weaklings—they were pawns," Mystica said, her voice thoughtful.

Lucy leaned back slightly, fingers drumming on the armrest of her seat. "Exactly. That's what has my mind spinning. Someone is using them, and Sylvathar may not even be the one pulling the strings anymore. We need to speak with Liam and get Mourne out of that shadow prison."

"Sure," Mystica replied. "But... shouldn't you be prepping for the public address first?"

Lucy blinked, then gave a soft groan as she stood. "Ugh, right. Almost forgot. You ready to be my eyes and arcane hands again?"

Mystica grinned as she rose as well. "Always. What else am I good for?"

Together, they exited the royal study and made their way down the polished hallways of the Tempest Palace. Servants and guards stepped aside with respectful bows, but the two women said nothing, their pace brisk.

Minutes later, they entered the grand announcement chamber. A space of silver and glass, its walls enchanted to pulse gently with ambient magic. At the center stood a high pulpit, where Lucy took her place with the effortless poise of royalty. Mystica stopped a few feet ahead, standing before a pedestal adorned with a radiant blue orb.

"You ready?" Mystica asked over her shoulder.

Lucy nodded, straightening her regal coat. "Always. Let's begin."

Mystica tapped the orb. The magic inside pulsed once, then shimmered out across the room—and the kingdom.

Across Tempest, from Zone 8 to Zone 14, large floating glyphs appeared in the sky, transforming into a crystal-clear projection of Queen Lucy. Streets slowed to a halt. Academy halls dimmed. Windows glowed softly as every citizen of Tempest turned to face the sudden image of their monarch, now hovering in the skies.

Lucy's voice rang out, calm yet powerful.

"Greetings, people of Tempest. This is your queen, Lucy Rature. I come before you with a message forged in unity and purpose—one shared between the three sovereign kingdoms of Amthar."

A pause, brief but intentional. Letting the weight settle in.

"Effective immediately, all magical academies across the continent will enter lockdown."

Whispers erupted in streets and courtyards. Students froze mid-spell in training halls. Merchants stopped mid-transaction, eyes widening. The air itself seemed to pause.

"This decision," Lucy continued, "follows a series of security reviews and recent concerns regarding magical facility standards. It is not a reaction to fear—but a move of strength. A united front."

She glanced at Mystica briefly, who nodded silently, continuing to channel the projection.

"All academies will undergo enhancements to their shielding wards, updated security protocols, and internal inspections. This is a proactive measure—to ensure the long-term safety of our future mages and knights. Your children. Your legacies."

Lucy continued, her voice unwavering. "Instructors and staff will temporarily suspend academic duties and assist in nationwide safety operations. This is a time of reformation, not retreat. And we move forward, as always, together."

The camera slowly zoomed closer, focusing on her eyes—steely, resolute.

"Remain calm. Remain focused. And know that the Crown watches over you. Long live Tempest."

She gave a slight nod to Mystica, who tapped the orb again, causing the image to fade from the skies, leaving only the rising sun and murmurs in its wake.

The room was quiet for a moment.

"That should buy us a little time," Lucy said, stepping away from the pulpit.

"And a lot of questions," Mystica added. "But you gave them assurance. That matters."

Lucy's expression turned serious again. "Let's not waste the momentum. Let's go find Liam. I want to see this Mourne creature before he dies in that shadow of his."

Mystica gave a short nod. "Agreed."