Jing was walking along the cobbled pavement, rain striking her black coat. Droplets dripped from her suitcase as she passed a group of ladies wearing kimono and holding fiery red wagasa umbrellas.
Small shops were closing due to the downpour, and houses were being shut tight, from doors to windows. Water slid down the slanted roofs of tall pagodas, flowing from one tier to another until it seeped into narrow canals designed for drainage.
Jing reached an alley where the rooftops shielded her from the rain. She opened her suitcase, revealing a beautiful wand with a white handle and an intricately curved design.
She picked up the wand from the suitcase, admiring its beauty before shaking her head and pointing the other end at her neck as she chanted:
"Chuánsòng, Dài wô qù dútè dì dìfāng."
Suddenly, an oval-shaped portal appeared, its edges undefined, adorned with intricate patterns that faded into the air.
"Finally, for the first time in my life, I'll get to see a new dimension!"
...
Robert was wondering what to do next. He carefully walked toward his own reflection, realizing it was a mirror.
He moved cautiously along the path, dim lights flickering overhead.
What if I cast Bombardo? ,he thought. No, that would shatter everything, and the shards might hit me…
He doubted whether he could even cast a Protego spell to shield himself if he did use Bombardo.
...
A man in flashy clothes stood in front of another man with a killer aura, there were both standing in a beautiful arena white a fog that was sitting on ground.
"Where did you send the others?" he asked.
"To the dimension I created for this special occasion!" Raven replied, his voice tinged with excitement.
Hans knew he wasn't strong enough to defeat Raven, but he might be able to land a hit.
"I have a request—if I land a hit on you," Hans said.
Raven's expression turned serious.
"Accepted," he confirmed.
"Well then, let's begin," Hans declared.
He raised his wand into the air and chanted:
"Telumo!"
His wand suddenly transformed into a rhomphaia.
"Nice weapon you've got there," Raven commented.
"Enough chatting," Hans replied, swinging the sharp curved blade in an arc toward Raven.
But instead of slicing through air or flesh, the blade struck something solid.
"Wood," Hans realized.
"Indeed," Raven confirmed standing behind Hans.
Hans quickly jumped back and kicked but sharp pain shot through his foot—he had kicked a streetlight with intricate patterns.
"This wasn't here," he muttered.
Raven laughed mockingly. "I expected better moves. What a disappointment. Guess I'll have to toughen you up in the camps."
Hans said nothing, struggling to stay upright as he supported most of his weight on one leg.
"I'll always be on your back," Hans said calmly.
Raven's eyes widened. He spun around just in time to see the rhomphaia spinning through the air toward him. He ducked and dodged, watching the spinning rhomphaia going towards the direction of Hand, but the handle struck his back, knocking the wind from his lungs as he fell to the ground. He stared at the real rhomphaia lying nearby.
"That rhomphaia was an illusion? Impressive. You win," Raven admitted.
He snapped his fingers, and the grim, dark surroundings transformed. The sky brightened—sunlight peeked over the horizon, and a shallow layer of water covered the ground. They stood atop the water.
Hans looked at Raven, now lying on the water, gazing at the clouds.
"I have a series of questions," Hans said firmly, not waiting for permission. "Where are the others? Are they safe? What did you do to them?"
Raven replied, "This was all planned by the Count to recruit new members for the Alchemy Division of the army."
He sighed. "As for those losers—every one of them failed. Except one."
"Who?" Hans asked.
"The newbie. Robert Smith."