37 City of Ravens 23 (1/2)

The rain stopped and froze, creating a cage around the two of us the size of a room.

”What are you doing?! This is not the time for this!”

”Surrender now.”

”You will be arrested for using your power like this in public! The MCA will intervene and when they do you will rot in prison for life!”

”Don't worry yourself with me getting arrested. I won't. And don't think that someone will help you. Ice Prison is a spell I used three Rank 7 Instaurare Cores to cast, no one in the Algonquin town can break it. When the MCA realizes it and sends for someone from the Capital, it will be too late.”

”… You don't understand. There is AN ARMY of monsters under the Hunting Grounds! I need to inform them, they need to prepare!”

”You should've thought of something more believable.”

”I will fight you if I have to!”

”You can try, but I won't go easy on you this time.”

Ice gathered around his body, and in his hand, a spear formed. Armour and a spear of ice. With my Soul Essence at an extremely low level… I can't risk it. I summoned black feathers with all my remaining Soul Essence!

The Ice Cage shook with hundreds of black feathers like a tornado moving inside of it. Exhausted and with no more strength I felt my consciousness slipping away.

---

The rain was purring down from the sky since morning, it was cold and windy, the atmosphere of gods lamenting. A sad day. But while I sat inside working on the symbols, it couldn't affect me. After getting the photo from Dominque, the translation was like going downhill.

Soon I had the general idea of what they meant. I wanted to tell him about the progress, but he was still in the Hunting Grounds. He spent all his free time there, even killing a Leshy... that itself is an amazing feat.

I didn't know when he will be coming back, but I didn't expect a phone call. Especially to that old flip phone. But I picked up. ”Hello?” I answered.

”Emily, it's me. Did you translate it?” the quality of the sound was terrible, but I still could recognize Dominque's voice.

”Mostly. Some minor details are still missing, but I got the important parts done.”

”That's good. Bring the translation and the phone to the MCA I will tell someone to bring you to me.”

”Are you sure? Did something happen?” he sounded, distressed. His breathing was quick and deep, and voice exhausted.

”Not yet, I will explain everything when I see you. I just arrived at the MCA building, come here as fast as you can.”

Before I could say anything more, he ended the call. One thing I could say for sure, he was deadly serious. I put on some clothes, took the laptop and the flip phone and packed them. With a backpack on, I went into the rain.

The town slowed down a lot during rain. At least on the surface. People that would've been in the hunting grounds were spending their time in pubs, restaurants, clubs.

I wasn't expecting many people to be outside but right outside of the MCA building there was dozens of people gathered. In front of the MCA, a giant cube made of ice around the MCA's Sentinels set a cordon around it.

It was the first time I saw Sentinels in real life. They only acted under the direct order of the MCA, if they are here… then there must be Artists fighting inside the city! These people only act on two occasions, monster attack, and artist fights.

Form people's conversations I heard that people were fighting inside the Ice. I tried calling Dominique, but he wasn't picking up. I was about to ask one of the Sentinels if he can bring me inside the building when the ground started shaking and the Ice crack.

Everyone shut up and was watched as the ice slowly cracked. The Sentinels gathered and got ready to engage in a fight.

The ice fell apart, and thousands of feathers emerged forming a tornado, in the middle of it… Dominque was floating with black wings on his back and the symbols on his arm burning with a black flame. Like a deity looking down on humans, he only glanced over the crowd before his wings flapped and carried him away with a speed that was hard to follow.

In less than a few seconds, he was out of sight. Everyone was shocked. It took everyone a while to notice the body lying on the ground bleeding from every inch of his body. Medical team quickly moved to surround him.

My mind blanked out for a while before I fully realized what happened. I took the flip phone out and called the only number that was saved on it. After two signals the call went through, and someone picked up.

”What's going on kid?”

”Hello?”