Ch 2.65: Den

Ch 2.65: Den

The building was nondescript enough that Elaina hadn’t even realized they were at the right place, still wasn’t quite certain. In face, none of the wooden buildings around had any sign or marker to indicate what was inside. “You’re sure this is right?” she asked Tira.

“Mmhm.”

“Alright...” Elaina had no idea how any of them could tell where something was in a town as huge as this, but the general area they were in did seem like it would house a place like Mirage. It was lit with what looked like red crystal light similar to the Red Order crystals, but she’d been assured they were just normal crystals housed in red glass. Despite that revelation, the red light still dripped with an ominous air, bathed the girls in crimson shade as they maneuvered their way through the nightlife crowd.

The stares back at school had been pretty intense, even for Elaina, but by the standards of the people around her she was pretty averagely covered up, she found. Flora, having shed her cover-up dress in the carriage ride over, still was drawing the gaze of passersby, but she was the only outlier. Not that that bothered Elaina, of course. She didn’t really want to be stared at, after all.

She was brought back out of her thoughts as they approached a door with two large men standing outside, both wearing all black, both very intimidating, even to Elaina now with all her power.

“Here for the event,” Tira said.

“Hmm,” one of the men said, looking them over.

“Eyes forward, Elaina,” Tira said.

“Come on, Iron Whip,” Flora said, coming in from behind with Carly. “This stuff’s going to be entirely new; she’s never been to the capital before!”

“This is what it’s like in the capital?” Elaina asked, still unable to contain her amazement as she looked around the area. It was large, larger than it seemed when she first saw the entrance. She could tell that was the idea, how the wall behind her would’ve overtaken what she thought were different buildings from outside.

There were various games going on, some she vaguely recognized like cards and dice, but others as new as the strange crystal instrument, like a giant spinning wheel with numbers on it, standing tables with pegs in them that metal balls were bouncing down, the sound of them adding to the cacophony of the hall.

Tira was right though; Elaina had to focus. Tira had assured them they’d be relatively safe, in the public areas of Mirage anyway, but they were in the wolves’ den, even if the wolves were hosting guests. “Is this where we play?” Elaina asked, gesturing to the small set of table with cards.

“No,” Carly said. “When he took my portrait the guard said we go to the very back.”

“Alright,” Tira said. “Remember, this is a trap for us specifically in all likelihood. Stay with your partner at all times, no matter what. And stick to the plan, got it?”

“Yes ma’am,” Flora said as she grabbed onto Tira’s arm, looking down into her eyes with faux-enamorment. “Why would I want to leave you anyway, my dear?”

“Off,” Tira said, pushing the girl away as Elaina and Carly giggled. It was a needed moment of levity, something Flora was always good at providing, but even Flora herself became serious afterwards. They were all in agreement that getting the missing subcore was the most important thing tonight, second only to their own safety, and they knew the danger they were in.

Stick to the plan, Elaina told herself. She still wasn’t sold that she could pull it off, but Carly needed her, and they all trusted her. Further into the wolves’ den she would go, and she’d make sure the plan succeeded, no matter what.

AnnouncementAs of today, ENF Academy will be changing its update schedule to Wednesday, Friday, Sunday at 3 PM EST, instead of the old Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat schedule. There is a very good reason for this that I will explain in full on the next chapter of Academy coming out Sunday, but if you pay attention to my author profile age or the SH "Latest Series" tab tomorrow afternoon, you may be able to figure it out sooner.