Subaru was heading toward the Mage Association Tower with Übel, her steps light, her mood high. People on the streets recognized her, pointing and whispering, and she waved at them with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. She liked this kind of attention. The admiration, the awe, the way strangers looked at her like she was something special. It felt good. It felt like she had finally found a place where she belonged.
"Huh," she said to herself, her voice barely audible over the sounds of the city. "This is nice."
Übel walked beside her, her staff over her shoulder, her eyes fixed on Subaru with an expression that was hard to read. She looked bored, but there was something else beneath the surface, something that might have been amusement. She was watching Subaru the way a cat watches a mouse, waiting to see what it would do next.
"You are enjoying this too much," Übel said.
Subaru shrugged. "Can you blame me? After everything I have been through, I deserve a little praise."
Übel did not respond. She just kept watching, her eyes sharp, her smile faint.
Just then, a wiry, older man approached them. He had slicked-back gray hair, blue eyes that seemed to pierce through everything they looked at, and a straight mustache that framed his mouth. He was dressed in a long white robe over a navy-blue Continental Magic Association uniform, and he wielded a thick wooden staff tied with a large jewel. The staff hummed with power, and the jewel glowed with a soft, steady light.
He smiled. It was a polite smile, the kind of smile that said I am here to help you. "Greetings," he said. "I am Lernen, the Director of this organization."
Something is off.
Something is wrong.
But Subaru knew she couldn't let her guard down.
Subaru's grin widened. She struck her signature pose, one finger pointed up, one hand on her hip, her expression dramatic. "Hello! I am Subaru! Clueless and broke beyond your imagination."
Übel gave a small wave. "Hey there."
Lernen's smile did not waver. "I know you. You are the heroes who saved the Vorig City."
Subaru's chest swelled with pride. "Hehe. I guess my reputation precedes me. I did not think the boss himself would come to greet me."
Lernen nodded. "You are special. That is why." He gestured toward the tower. "Now let me take you to the special place for the exam documents. It is fine if you do not have any."
Subaru's eyes sparkled. "Really?"
"Indeed," Lernen said. "Follow me."
He turned and began walking toward the tower. Subaru followed, her steps eager, her heart light. Übel walked beside her, her expression unchanged.
As they entered the lobby, Übel nudged Subaru. "Something is shady," she said.
Subaru nodded. "Yeah, I noticed. This feels like a trap."
The lobby was oddly deserted. No guards, no receptionists, no mages rushing to and fro. The walls were bare, the furniture sparse, and the air was still and heavy. The doors behind them closed with a soft click.
"Huh—"
Before Übel could react, something struck her from the shadows, she clutched her neck. The next second, she crumpled to the ground, her staff clattering beside her, her eyes closing.
"Übel?!" Subaru leaped back, her hands reaching for her mana. She tried to summon something, a blade, a shield, anything. But her mana did not respond. It was there, she could feel it, but it was blocked, trapped, unable to flow.
Lernen smiled. "Incredible piece of work," he said. "My golems are immune because I infused them with a modified crystal that nullifies mana."
Subaru's eyes widened. "You know what I am?"
Lernen's smile did not waver. "Any decent mage would know. A demon cannot hide from those who understand mana."
Subaru looked at Übel. "Is she dead?"
"No," Lernen said. "Just a small golem I used to hit her nerve. She will wake up in a few hours."
Subaru's voice was flat, calm. "Am I going to die?"
Lernen studied her for a moment. His eyes narrowed, and his smile faded slightly. "Huh. That look on your face. You do not fear death. Or rather, you think you are unkillable. Both of which are wrong. You cannot possibly try to do anything without mana."
Two huge golems made of stone came up from the lower levels. They were massive, taller than Subaru, their bodies covered in glowing runes that pulsed with power. They moved with a heavy, grinding sound, their steps shaking the floor.
"Now let us take you elsewhere," Lernen said. "I do not want to ruin the beautiful place."
Subaru's eyes darted around the lobby. She spotted a pole used for flag hoisting, long and metal, resting against the wall. She grabbed it and threw it at one of the golems with all her strength.
The pole struck the golem's chest. It scratched the stone, leaving a faint mark, but nothing more. The golem did not even flinch.
Subaru's heart sank. "No demon can break them," Lernen said. "Not anymore."
Subaru turned and ran toward the door. She threw herself against it, pushing, pulling, trying to force it open. The wood did not budge. The door was sealed, locked by magic she could not use.
A golem's hand closed around her. Its fingers were cold and hard, like stone, and they wrapped around her torso with a grip that was impossible to break. She struggled, kicked, tried to squirm free. It was no use.
Another golem grabbed Übel, lifting her limp body as if she weighed nothing.
Lernen watched them with calm interest. "Take them downstairs," he said. "I have questions for our guest."
The golems turned and began walking toward the stairs. Subaru hung in the grip of the stone hand, her turban askew, her horns almost visible. She could not move. She could not fight. She could only wait, her heart pounding, her mind racing, searching for a way out.