The app couldn’t.

Niji and Rem had spent two hours circulating around the district, but still there was not a glimpse of the desired ‘Blue Cat’ pub sign. It went completely dark outside, and if not for her freshly bought hoodie, Niji would have certainly gone numb. Lively and bright downtown was left behind miles away, and the guys found themselves in a semi-abandoned zone of old apartment blocks which formed quite an unfriendly conglomerate. Street lighting was a luxury here; solitary lamps provided poor guidance in these back alleys, and there was no one to ask the way.

“Maybe they are disguised by some fancy magic?” Niji mused, taking the next turn. Everything seemed pretty much similar in such darkness, but the app suggested they hadn’t been on this road before.

“Quite possible. Shame that my arcane sensitivity had gone zero after the shopping mall. I need some time to recover.”

“I feel nothing too.”

“Let’s reach the end of this street. If there’s nothing, we can continue tomorrow.” Rem tried to keep up with Niji’s fast pace. “It’s so cold here, maybe you’ll take my scarf?”

“No need,” she answered… and felt some sharp wind blow pushing her forward. Her right arm burnt, and a light blue aura covered the guys from the outside world. Niji stumbled and almost fell down from the impact of the energy wave.

“Holy sh—!” Rem screamed, covering his head instinctively. He saw a pile of heavy stones bouncing off the arcane barrier. Someone must have thrown it at their backs with telekinesis or elemental power. Niji hurried to roll up the sleeve and found out that her intricate tattoo was vigorously glowing on the back side of her right forearm. The protective aura was fast to vanish.

The guys looked back and noticed two female silhouettes, dressed in gray hooded capes. Their faces were half-closed with masks, but the possible attackers stood right under the streetlamp, like it was their intention to be seen as clearly as possible.

“What the hell?” Rem went forward, trying to cover his friend.

“Impressive, Niji Murasaki,” said one of the strangers. “That’s exactly what our Mistress needs.”