Caius wandered toward the arcade, his sharp green eyes scanning the vibrant lights and sounds around him. As he stood quietly, a boy approached him with an energetic grin. “Hey! You wanna play some air hockey? We’re one player short!” the boy said, his eyes lighting up as he noticed Caius’ distinct features. “Whoa, green hair and green eyes? That’s so cool.”

  Caius, ever the stoic and reserved type, simply glanced down at the boy, chewing on his bottom lip in thought.

  Undeterred, the boy tilted his head with a friendly smile. “I’m Simon. C’mon, let’s play!” Without waiting for a response, Simon grabbed Caius by the arm and started leading him toward the air hockey table.

  Caius approached the air hockey table, where two other kids stood waiting, their excitement evident. One of them, a boy with tousled hair and freckles, waved enthusiastically. “You’re just in time! We need someone who can handle this game,” he said.

  Simon grinned and gestured toward the table. “Here in the wizarding city, we play air hockey a little differently. You don’t just use the sticks—you use your mind to control them! Even non-wizards can do it.” He nudged Caius. “You’ll catch on quick, I bet.”

  The other kids exchanged skeptical glances as Simon got on Caius’s side of the table. “Is he even good? He looks kind of serious,” one of them said, smirking.

  The game began, and Caius immediately took control. The puck glided across the table at lightning speed, driven by his intense concentration. Within moments, the score skyrocketed in their favor.

  “Whoa! He’s already scored 60 points!” Simon shouted, pumping his fist.

  One of the opposing kids groaned. “What is this? We’ve barely even touched the puck!”

  The other narrowed her eyes and muttered, “Are you sure he’s not a wizard or something? No one’s that good with just their mind.”

  Caius, as always, said nothing—just a small nod and a faint smirk as he prepared for the next round.

  Shenelle lined up for her next throw, pausing to take in the scene around her. Lumi was rolling the bowling ball with an innocent determination, her small figure almost comically focused. Sera was laughing, her face lit with genuine joy as Dontai playfully teased her, and Caius was locked in a heated air hockey game, his stoic expression giving way to a faint competitive smirk. Shenelle exhaled deeply, steadying her nerves as a flicker of doubt crept into her thoughts.

  “Was I wrong? Wizards have been divided for so long, mistrust festering since Merlin’s time. I thought the hate would never fade. But maybe… this new generation could be different. Maybe it doesn’t have to be like before.”

  With a resolute inhale, she stepped forward and rolled the ball. Another strike.

  Elsewhere, Medusa pushed open the creaky door of a dimly lit pawn shop, her silhouette framed by the flickering lights of the wizard city. She moved with unsettling grace, her hat tilted low to conceal the restless snakes writhing beneath. Her emerald eyes glinted dangerously as her fingers trailed along the shelves, humming a soft, eerie “la-la-la” tune under her breath.

  The shopkeeper, busy haggling with a customer, paused mid-sentence when he caught sight of her. “Hold on,” he muttered to the customer, stepping aside to address Medusa. His voice wavered. “Can I help you, miss?”

  Medusa tilted her head, her fanged teeth peeking out as she gave him a sharp smile. Scars laced her otherwise stunning face, giving her a beauty both captivating and terrifying. “I’m looking for something…” she began, her voice as smooth as velvet. “Something to really make my eyes pop when I take over the wizarding cities.” She sauntered closer to the counter, her fingers tapping rhythmically.

  The shopkeeper stiffened, his hand instinctively clutching his wand. “What do you mean, take over the cities?” he stammered, his tone a mix of confusion and fear.

  Medusa leaned in, her breath hot against his face, the menace in her emerald eyes sending a shiver down his spine. “There’s a woman in this town,” she whispered, her voice dripping with venom. “I can feel her power—terrifying, raw magic surging like a storm. She has to die.”

  The shopkeeper’s hand moved fast, his wand drawn in a flash as he prepared to fire off a spell. But Medusa was faster. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a Basalite—a glowing stone figure, its form grotesquely human, an echo of someone she had petrified. The Basalite’s crushing hand shattered the wand in a single strike and threw the shopkeeper to the ground like a ragdoll.

  Medusa stepped back, her snakes hissing in excitement beneath her hat. “Raise your terror, my darlings!” she commanded, her voice echoing with dark glee. With another wave of her hand, an army of Basalites erupted around her, each one glowing faintly as they took shape.

  The shop trembled as the creatures marched out into the city, spreading chaos with every step. Medusa watched with a satisfied grin as screams erupted in the distance. “Let the city know,” she murmured to herself, her voice almost melodic. “The age of Medusa has begun.”

  Back in Mossrock, Shenelle strolled through the cobbled streets, her eyes wide with nostalgia. The city was alive with vibrant energy, magic shimmering faintly in the air. She paused, taking in the bustling shops and enchanting architecture. “It’s so beautiful,” she murmured, her voice soft as a tear threatened to slip down her cheek. Quickly, she blinked it away, composing herself.

  “I always thought wizards were still extremely discriminated against,” she said, the weight of centuries of history heavy in her tone. She couldn’t forget the trials, the horrors, the years of fear and persecution.

  Aegis walked beside her, hands in his pockets, and let out a chuckle. “Yeah, you’re probably thinking about the witch trials and all that mess, huh? It was pretty bad back then. But a group of wizards, the Magisterium, got tired of all the hate. They decided only the strong wizards should bear the blame. The rest? They went into hiding.”

  Shenelle nodded slightly, even though she knew all of this already—how could she not? After all, she was Baba Yaga herself.

  Aegis continued, a glint of excitement in his eye. “Wizards like the infamous Baba Yaga. You know, the kid-eating legend with the moving house?” he said with a hint of admiration.

  Shenelle froze for a moment, her eyes widening slightly. “Oh?” she managed to respond, her voice careful.

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  Aegis sighed dreamily and glanced upward, as if picturing her. “They say Baba Yaga was the most powerful wizard in history. She could cut anything down with a single glance, create something out of nothing. An unstoppable force.” His tone shifted, becoming more speculative. “Nobody knows where she is now. But if she’s still alive, she’s probably some old, wrinkly hag out there eating children by the dozen.”

  Shenelle flinched, her face twitching at the insult. “Old? Wrinkly?” She caught her reflection in a nearby shop window and instinctively rubbed her curvaceous hips, a faint frown crossing her lips. She looked as youthful and radiant as someone in their prime, despite her centuries of life.

  “I am not old and wrinkly,” she muttered under her breath, her tone indignant. Then, more quietly, “And I definitely don’t eat kids.”

  The thought lingered as she straightened her posture, brushing off the comment. No need to let such nonsense bother her, even if it did sting a little.

  “Anyway, Caius, Lumi, and Sera—what a wild bunch, huh?” Aegis said with a chuckle, glancing at Shenelle.

  Shenelle let out a weary sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. “You have no idea. They’re a handful, and I’m constantly stressed trying to keep up with them. But… they saw Melanthius as their big brother. They always talked about him like he was larger than life. And now…” Her voice faltered as she clutched her chest, her gaze distant. “Now he’s gone.”

  Aegis tilted his head, his expression softening. “You seem to care about the boy a lot, don’t you?” he asked gently.

  Shenelle bit her bottom lip, her eyes flickering with a mixture of emotions. “Something like that,” she murmured, her thoughts drifting to another time. A man. Her student turned Overlord—Merlin.

  The memory of him lingered in her mind, a bitter mix of pride, regret, and sorrow. She shook it off with a deep breath, pulling herself back to the present.

  Back with the kids, Dontai led Sera, Lumi, and Caius through the bustling streets to a towering, grandiose building. “This is Vista Institute,” he said, gesturing proudly toward the school of wizardry. The intricate spires and shimmering enchantments adorning the structure made it feel alive with magic.

  “The time here is a little different from ours—they’re already well into their school year,” Dontai explained as the kids gazed up in awe.

  “Whoa, it looks amazing!” Lumi exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

  Dontai continued walking, gesturing for them to follow. “I don’t really have many friends here, so try to lay low. They’ll let us take a tour since they know me, but let’s not cause too much trouble, okay?”

  As they stepped inside, the magical energy practically hummed in the air. The interior was just as impressive—floating candles illuminated the halls, enchanted suits of armor lined the walls, and mystical paintings moved as though alive.

  “Whoa!” the kids gasped in unison, their voices echoing in the grand entryway.

  Sera’s attention was immediately caught by a gleaming knight statue standing in one corner. “It’s so fancy!” she said, walking up to it with fascination. Without hesitation, she reached out to touch it, but the enchanted knight sprang to life, nearly landing a punch as she darted out of the way.

  “This is so cool!” Sera grinned, her excitement growing. She struck back with a quick punch, and the knight responded with a flurry of counterattacks, moving like a skilled opponent. Sera effortlessly dodged, weaving and blocking as if the knight were her personal sparring dummy.

  “Are you seriously fighting a training dummy?” Dontai groaned, though he couldn’t help but crack a smile.

  “Better than what I used to spar with!” Sera retorted, her laughter ringing through the hall as she continued her playful duel.

  “Wait, is that the Spinning Top?” a voice called out from behind them. Dontai froze at the name, a shudder running down his spine. Turning, he saw them—his old bullies: Ted Hampton, Forge Ellis, and Brody Burton.

  Ted smirked, the familiar cruelty in his eyes as the trio sauntered toward Dontai, Sera, Lumi, and Caius. “Well, well, look who decided to crawl back after running off to that rich country with no wizards. Must be nice living with all those manascares, huh?” he sneered, his words dripping with mockery.

  Dontai clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he forced himself to stay calm. “I’m just showing my friends around,” he said evenly, though his voice wavered slightly. “We’ll be out of your way soon.”

  Ted let out a barking laugh. “Friends? The Spinning Top has friends? Oh, this is rich.” He turned to Lumi, Sera, and Caius with an exaggerated smirk. “Do you guys even know why we call him that? No? Allow me to explain.”

  Forge stepped forward, crossing his arms and giving Dontai a smug look. “See, Dontai’s magic—Torque—lets him spin anything. Sounds impressive, right? But when he was born, he was this grotesque spinning little thing. Like a demon or something. Well, a demon might be an exaggeration, but you get the idea.”

  The three boys laughed, and Dontai’s nails dug into his palms as he struggled to hold back his anger.

  Lumi yawned, stretching her arms lazily. “Dontai, you’re just gonna let these guys talk to you like that? This is so boring,” she said with a groan, turning away as if completely unimpressed. She strolled off, her disinterest palpable, and Caius and Sera followed her without a word.

  Brody’s smirk widened as he called after Dontai, his voice dripping with mockery. “Hey, I heard Melanthius Shadowbane died. And wasn’t your dad part of the fight, too? What about you, Dontai? Did you do anything to help? Or did you just stand there and watch while Melanthius got turned into an eraser with pencils sticking out—”

  His taunt died in his throat as he suddenly noticed Sera, Lumi, and Caius standing in front of him, their expressions cold and unwavering.

  “Don’t even dare use his name,” Sera said, her voice low but sharp as a blade. Her glare pinned him in place, and for the first time, Brody faltered.

  “They’re just… manascares,” he thought, trying to reassure himself. But as he looked into their eyes, the confidence he clung to wavered. Even though he towered over them physically, the sheer weight of their presence made it feel like they were the ones towering over him. Their auras were suffocating, as if the air itself bent to their will, and Brody couldn’t stop the instinctive step he took backward.

  “Fine, whatever. Just keep them away from our wizards.” The bullies slinked away, their bravado fading as they retreated, heads low. Dontai exhaled shakily, relief washing over him as he flinched back slightly. “Thanks, guys,” he murmured, his voice trembling.

  Lumi crossed her arms, glancing at him with a raised brow. “We didn’t do it for you,” she said with a shrug, a smirk teasing her lips. “But… you can be our friend, I guess.”

  Dontai nodded quickly, his expression brightening as he wiped at his eyes. “James and Alissa left Auroria after Goldman arrived. It’s been so lonely… Please, just be my friend,” he said, his voice cracking as he clenched his fists, fighting the emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

  Sera stepped forward, clapping a hand on Dontai’s shoulder. “We’re still on this tour, right? Come on, show us what else this place has to offer.”

  Dontai sniffled, nodding as he led them further down the hall, his steps growing lighter.

  In the principal’s office, the headmaster was hunched over a stack of paperwork, scribbling furiously as the clock ticked on. He yawned and stretched, the monotony of his tasks taking its toll.

  Suddenly, the door creaked open.

  “No walk-ins right now, please. I’m busy,” he said dismissively, his gaze still fixed on the parchment in front of him. The faint sound of footsteps drew closer, but he didn’t look up until an unnerving presence made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

  The headmaster glanced up, and his heart froze. A towering Basalite loomed over him, its glowing stone body radiating an eerie menace. The headmaster scrambled back, his hand darting toward his wand, but the Basalite was faster.

  With a crushing blow, it slammed him into the desk, the force knocking papers and quills to the floor. The headmaster groaned, trying to summon his magic, but the Basalite kneeled and pressed its cold, jagged fingers against his face. His body stiffened, his struggles ceased, and a stony gray hue spread across his skin until he was completely petrified.

  The transformation complete, the headmaster rose stiffly, his movements no longer his own. Now a Basalite soldier, he turned to follow the others as Medusa’s army quietly infiltrated the school.