Weeks had passed since the chaotic moose encounter in the forest.
Life at Avaloria Academy returned to its rhythm—lectures humming with magical theory, elemental duels echoing in open-air arenas, and the constant whoosh of airships above the floating city. But some things never quite settled.
Vladislav Viktorovich Volkov leaned back in his seat during Practical Defence class, eyes drifting out the glass-paneled wall toward the horizon. Beyond the protective sky dome, clouds moved lazily, unaware of the tension in his chest.
Selene nudged him with her elbow. "You're thinking about going camp again, aren't you?"
He smirked faintly. "Guilty."
She sighed, already knowing. "You've been itching for another adventure ever since that forest camp ended in chaos. We barely survived a mother moose ambush, remember?"
Vladislav shrugged. "Yeah, but... it was kinda fun, wasn't it? With everyone there? Like... a real squad."
"You mean getting chased by the mother mad moose through the woods was your idea of fun?" she deadpanned, then softened. "Okay, yeah. It was kinda fun. Except the part where I thought we were all gonna die."
He chuckled. "Exactly."
From behind them, Asher sighed. "Please tell me you two aren't planning another field trip."
But that's exactly what Vladislav was planning.
The sun dipped behind Avaloria Academy's distant towers, casting golden streaks over the enchanted sky dome that protected the floating school.
Vladislav Viktorovich Volkov paced outside the lecture hall, his brows furrowed, chewing on his inner cheek. Selene and Asher caught up to him, their expressions already guessing what he had in mind.
"You're thinking about your dad again, aren't you?" Selene asked gently.
Vladislav nodded. "He's working overtime. There's unrest in Flamoria, and he's trying to suppress a rebel group near the borders. But he's got too much on his plate. I just... I want to do something to help. If we can find any traces, maybe it'll save him time."
Asher paled. "You want us to leave the island? That's against protocol!"
Selene placed a hand on Asher's arm. "We won't get caught. If we move right after class, the guards will still be busy with the dinner shift."
So they did.
By nightfall, the trio had already slipped past Avaloria's protective gates using one of the ancient secret exits—Selene found it weeks ago while researching old academy maps. They descended into the dense mystical forest of the mainland, where the last report of rebel activity had been tracked by Flamorian scouts.
The woods were alive with unknown whispers. Even with Selene's calming presence and Asher's cautious observations, the tension was thick.
They stumbled upon a small campsite and a lone figure crouched beside a map under a lantern's glow.
"Hey!" Vladislav called out, stepping forward protectively. "Who are you?"
The guy turned, startled but smiling.
"Whoa, easy. Name's John. I'm just a traveller. Came here from France to explore Avaloria—rumor is the floating city's got a secret history."
His accent was definitely foreign—French, maybe—and something about him felt odd... but harmless.
They exchanged introductions, and John was eager to tag along. The group moved carefully, and as they explored deeper into the woods, Selene and Vladislav took turns explaining elemental houses, the four nations, and Avaloria's legacy.
John was fascinated, asking curious questions. But when he referred to Avaloria as part of Flamoria, Asher corrected him.
"Floating City's not in Flamoria," Asher said, frowning slightly. "It's located above the Aetherian Nation—the land of air. The floating city's enchanted to hover between the clouds, far from any one nation's control."
John blinked. "Ah. That makes sense. That explains the wind patterns."
By sunset, they stopped at a clearing. Selene was quietly preparing food over a fire while Asher went to collect water from a nearby stream. John sat beside Vladislav, laughing over a story about training mishaps.
Then suddenly—thwip.
John's body jolted. He reached for his neck, pulling out a tiny needle. His eyes rolled back.
He collapsed.
"JOHN!" Vladislav shouted, catching him.
From the treeline—movement.
Figures emerged, masked and armed. Rebel scouts.
The leader, a tall man with black hair, snarled, "You shouldn't have come here, little cubs."
The group was surrounded.
One rebel lunged at Selene. Vladislav moved on pure instinct—a punch to the stomach, a sweep of the leg. Selene, heart pounding, summoned a blast of water that slammed another rebel backwards into a tree.
"Asher! RUN!" Vladislav shouted.
Without hesitation, Asher bolted through the trees, tripping over roots but never stopping, clutching the location in his memory. His heart thundered. He had to find someone. Anyone.
Back at the fight, Selene and Vladislav were tiring. There were too many.
Then—a howl.
BOOM.
Flames exploded behind the rebels as Sofia burst into the clearing, yelling, "BACK UP'S HERE, BABYYYY!"
Leo tumbled in after her, fire flickering in both hands. "I heard 'danger' and ran full speed, didn't even tie my boots!"
Ami appeared like a phantom, cutting down one of the rebels with a blade made of compressed air. Wei followed calmly, eyes calculating, lips tight, sending slicing gales that disarmed another fighter.
Then came Vyacheslav—like a storm in human form—slamming his way through, efficient and brutal. Beside him, Akio dashed toward a rebel like an animal uncaged, growling as he tackled him to the dirt.
Vladislav caught his breath in the chaos until he noticed a shadow slipping through the trees.
A figure—masked, tall, cloaked in dark air. One of the leaders?
He broke into a sprint, but before he could give chase—Akio grabbed his arm.
"Let him go."
"What?! He's getting away!"
"Focus. We need to secure this place first," Akio said coldly. "Don't act on impulse."
Vladislav's heart screamed in protest, but he stopped.
They turned their attention to the remaining rebels. The combined force of students overwhelmed the attackers. Soon after, the military arrived—led by Captain Rina from Flamoria. She barked orders and began cuffing the surviving rebels. John was found and treated; apparently, the poison on the needle was non-lethal—just enough to knock him out for interrogation.
Some rebels escaped. Including the masked one.
Later that night, back at the academy, the group was lined up before the Headmaster's desk. The man's face was unreadable.
"You left the island without permission. You interfered with a military investigation. You fought rebels. You risked your lives."
He paused.
"And you helped bring down a rebel camp and saved a civilian."
Everyone braced for what came next.
"Still. Rules are rules. You're on punishment for two weeks. You'll be assisting professors with ground maintenance, potion sorting, and historical document restoration."
Leo groaned dramatically. "Manual ? I'd rather be stabbed."
Sofia smacked his shoulder. "We already were stabbed, dumbo."
Vladislav, meanwhile, caught Vyacheslav outside the office.
"How did you guys find us?" he asked.
Vyacheslav tilted his head slightly. "You weren't in the academy. I had a feeling you'd go poking around the border zone. I told the others to gear up."
"...Of course you did." Vladislav smiled, heart swelling with pride for his brother.
Vyacheslav gave him a sideways look. "Mo will definitely be worried. She'll scold you again."
Then, almost too casually: "But Dad? He'd be proud. Happy, even."
Vladislav looked down, his voice quieter. "Do you think I can ever be like both of them? Like... be both proud and careful?".
Vyacheslav folded his arms, expression unreadable. "If you pass the military test and complete the training... maybe."
Then, after a long pause, he added, "But don't do it trying to be someone else. You'll burn out."
Vladislav blinked. It wasn't warmth, exactly. But from Vyacheslav, it might as well have been a hug.
He nodded slowly. "Right... I won't forget."
But even as he turned to leave, the memory of that masked figure lingered.
That dark air… that impossible pressure…
Why did Akio stop him?
And why did Akio's eyes darken just a little when he asked about it?
But Vladislav didn't press it.