“It’s a rather splendid notion,” Vd remarked with a grin, his fangs glinting in the light. “Not merely because ires enjoy a certain immunity to corrupted mana and curses, but also due to our notable prowess with mind spells.”

  “Stereotypes aside, we creatures of the night do seem to have a specific affinity with corruption, yes?” Bel quipped, her ughter ringing like chimes in the dark. “What say you, Your Majesty?”

  Turning to Onulph Sam, the Werewolf Alpha King, she found him nodding in agreement. “I shall lend my assistance. Let us carefully dissect the corrupted items in Princess Shorof’s room.”

  “Should nothing arming present itself, may I bother you to visit Soulnaught Pad i my father’s regalia?” Burn asked.

  “Eveer, I could dispatch my people to retrieve and quarahem he world tree. Surely, it’s safer here,” Onulph replied.

  “Do allow us the honor of assistance as well,” Aidyl Navarre, the Merfolk Monarch, said, floating closer with his amorphous blob of water. “We have historians and researchers of artifacts too. And much like yourselves, we possess a endable resistao corruption. After all, the o is a bigger cesspool of corruption pared to the nd.”

  Eos Kirmizi trotted forward, a chug neigh esg him. “But while you may bask in your resistance, you’re also more proo flirt with the dark side. I shall join in the purification efforts, lest you all succumb to the madness.”

  “Master Kirmizi, just as we Merfolk gracelessly pluo bee Sirens, you Unis do have the deteriorating option to bee Bis,” Aidyl quipped. “Do try not to get your sparkly horns caught in anything.”

  “Since we’re throwing ourselves into this war fest anyway, t us in,” Selen Btle decred, walking closer with her minotaur husband, Theor, and the ever-serious Adroros Borion, Chief of taurs.

  “Assuming he’s been using these corrupted items as little death traps for promi citizens worldwide, hunting them down will be quite the work vacation,” Man remarked.

  “And our kingdom, with its sanctuary led beh the world tree, shall aid in quarantining and disseg them,” Tashr Reyrie added. “We’ll learhing about them.”

  Wekkoun and Grumbletoe nodded sagely at Tashr and Man, a wry smile creeping onto Wekkoun’s face. “I must admit, I dread the thought of excavating our own tunnels. We might find a veritable treasure trove of such items—or, heaven forbid, they might just be our own artisan’s handiwork.”

  Ma out a resigned sigh, brow furrowing slightly. She turoward Burn and Isaiah, the weight of the impending journey evident. “It’s time we go to the moon.”

  ***

  “There was an i before?” Yvain shot up from his chair, his anticipation for the first day of school tomorrow now tinged with a hint of dread.

  He’d hoped for a smooth intro, but thanks to Burn’s bag, they were digging up information faster than a gopher in spring. Still, diving into the Vision Resonator was like navigating a dungeon system without a guide.

  “There was an i where a volunteer for a test awakened his vision a on a rampage. Thankfully, it didn’t kill him,” Finn Wilderwood disclosed, his tone grim.

  Yvain grimaced. “And the genius behind this ‘marvelous’ traption?”

  Finn shook his head, exasperation tugging at his lips. “The ior is more elusive than a shadow at midnight—protected like a royal heir and hidden like my st-minute cheat sheet. Eveent dots are locked tighter than a dragon’s vault. Whoever it was, they either have serious clout or a really good hiding spot.”

  “Then, the choice to use the academy grounds for this experiment? I’m really not fond of where this is headed…” Yvain murmured.

  “But if the headmaster of the academy, Princess Bianca Lumine, agreed to host this experiment, doesn't that imply…” Finn narrowed his eyes, the weight of the suggestion thiing the air around them.

  “For her to acquiesce, safety measures must have been installed,” Yvain sighed, the thought sinking in like a stone. “Which, sidering how this device operates… it’s worth nothing at all.”

  What could possibly g? A vision-awakening traption with ‘safety measures’—that sounded like a recipe for a delightful school experience, Finn thought dryly.

  Yvain pihe bridge of his nose, his preitive dread solidifying. Vulnerable souls like Bir Inkor—and, dare he admit, perhaps even himself—were at peril, perilously close to that traption. The likelihood of a rampage was ulingly high.

  Finn pted the situation, his fiapping a light rhythm oable. “As I said, we should sult His and Her Majesty, after all,” he suggested.

  “No,” Yvain replied, shaking his head with firm determination. “They’re far too occupied at the moment. Today, however, we shall wele reinforts from Soulnaught.”

  Just then, the door swung open, revealing a pair of knights strutting into the room with an air of fmboyahe notorious duo of the round table, known far and wide as the Morrois Forest Duo—Tristan and Yvolt.

  “Hello, Little Majesty!” Yvolt cheerily waved, resting her elbow on the hilt of her rapier as if it were a fashion accessory.

  Tristan followed suit with a grin. “Did you guys order a love potion?”

  Finn’s jaw dropped to the ground. “L-L-Love Potion Duo… Tristan and Ysolt…!”

  “Hey, it’s Yvolt now. You better not call me that name again,” Yvolt said, her head tilted, short bck hair framing her lovely face with a hint of danger.

  Yvain chuckled, eyebrow raised. “Of all the people, why did he send you two?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Tristan replied, smirking. “It’s because Yvolt and I excel at esissions.”

  “Escort?” Yvain blinked, skepticism dripping from his voice.

  “Well, let’s crify,” Tristan said, cog his head at Yvolt. “This time, it isn’t an esission, is it?”

  Yvolt beamed ily. “It’s a guarding mission instead.”

  Finn narrowed his eyes, suspi etched across his face. “Yhting style is far too chaotic to hahe finesse of escort uarding missions.”

  “e on, Wilderwood. Are we still dwelling on a grudges?” Tristan teased with a mogly hurt expression.

  “You’ve crossed paths before?” Yvain asked, intrigued.

  Finn grimaced, his tone heavy with rese. “They brutally killed an Inkian diplomat I’d just traded for some royal riches after he was detai Soulnaught on espionage charges.”

  “Oh! You figured out it was us?” Yvolt chirped, a fake surprise etg her face. “We were masked!”

  Finn shot an accusatory fi them. “Who wouldn’t reize you with that one-of-a-kind fighting style? You might as well have worn neon signs!”

  Yvain chuckled. Oh, it’s gonna be fun.

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  Tristan and Yvolt was based on Tristan and Ysolt (Isolde). Tistan en prose!

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