Jerius darted his eyes, taking in everything. The descending staircase hidden behind the wall of the strategy room was designed by someone different from that who built the Administrator's Hall. It seemed to be conceived elsewhere, and connected to the Administrator's Hall after an indeterminable period of time to facilitate easy access.

While the Administrator's Hall was well ordered, brightly lit and maintained, the hidden stairways plunged into the dark labyrinthine depths of an underground world beneath the Guild. After descending, they reached a small space that split up to multiple shadowy pathways. Kas was there to lead Mirayoung and Jerius. Otherwise, the shifting pathways would make it impossible for them to find the correct path as only those marked for entry by the administrator would know the right branch.

Carrying Gegak on his back, Jerius did his best to ignore the strong smell of the ocean. In his entire life, he had only rode out to the open sea once. That one-time expedition across the Sea of Great Beyond six years ago saw his distaste for the sea fester for a long time. It was on a Noxarian's ocean-going ship, which had the unfortunate fate of facing the wrath of a storm.

As he tailed behind Kas and Mirayoung in the shadowy pathway, his mind drifted deeper in his seafaring experience. He remembered the loud crack in the air as if a godly entity were striking an anvil in the sky, and the thunderous roar of the wind. He remembered the fleeing gulls drifting overhead in the yonder from the sudden storm, and the salty taste in the air. And most of all, he remembered laying stretched on the ship deck, overwhelmed with seasickness, while Zenvix and the other crews looked sympathetically.

He remembered he hated the open sea, and still hated it today. But despite that, he held Gegak firm behind his back, never faltering.

The end of the alley opened up to a meandering path of at least twenty metres with four doors at the end. Massive ponds flanked the path, in whose dark waters mysterious creatures swam.

Kas looked completely unperturbed, whistling as he ambled down the single path. Mirayoung followed suit without a word, while Jerius, being the only person among the trio to step foot here for the first time, trekked carefully. He eyed the water time and again, concerned about his balance while keeping an incantation at the front of his mind.

There was an ancient dampness that made him as uncomfortable as the open sea, and Jerius concluded he was someone who preferred dry land, especially given his ineptness at swimming as well.

Keen to distract himself, he said, "What's this place? An underground city beneath the Guild had escaped even my wildest imagination."

"You have much to learn about the Guild. Reyelor Parora, the founder of the Guild built this place," Mirayoung said. "A very wise man, he was known for his flawless and eerily accurate divinations. In one of those, he predicted a major calamity would befall Elaria long after his passing, threatening to destroy much of the world and the Guild. This shadowy city beneath the Guild was his answer...a place that houses and protects, so that we can live to fight another day."

Kas added on, "Aye. His brilliant mind oversaw the engineering marvels of this place. The shifting alleys, entirely by the will of the administrator, were one such example to defend it from being attacked. Going down the wrong path would trap them within a maze, where extrication becomes difficult. There are a total of six entrances, each of which is guarded by these shifting pathways."

"Most within the Guild know this place as Reyelor's Umbra or the dark land that hides those it seeks to protect," Mirayoung said. "There's more we can talk about but think of it as a gigantic rune that bends to the will of the Guild, in the protection of her people if such a need ever comes."

"Why are we here then?" Jerius asked.

"There's only one reason we come here," Mirayoung said. "The Lockdown Protocol. Am I right, Kas?"

"Yes, the administrator sought and received approval from the Cabal," Kas said, his voice exposing an uneasiness that his back view did well to hide. "We have had two more deaths linked to the wraith in the last few hours. She decided the protocol is timely enough."

"Lockdown Protocol?" Jerius asked. Every time he thought he understood the running of the Guild, more emerged into the open to fascinate him. He humbly came to admit that an apprenticeship in the Guild might accelerate his growth, much more than he initially predicted.

"The Guild is overlaid with powerful arrays and formations but many of them are dormant," Mirayoung said. "The protocol will activate them, turning it into a true fortress. We can then use the protocol's arrays to trap the wraith."

"There was almost a third victim—Liralla. But with the Guild's blessing, the wraith was drawn away short of the final death blow."

"Thankfully, I found and summoned Gegak," Mirayoung said. "Shadow Wraiths are drawn by an insatiable desire to finish off what they have started, in that order. This means Liralla is now terribly unsafe. See that she is kept somewhere well protected."

"Ah, a Shadow Wraith," Kas said, crossing to the second door behind which was their destination. "That is dire news you bring, Lady White Rose, but rest assured that Liralla is currently being nursed in the infirmary, with quite a garrison from both the Guild Guardians, Sen Guards and a few magi we trust. The defences are not inferior to the ones we give to Edeli and Linda."

"Edeli?" Jerius said, his voice betraying concern. "Is he okay?"

"You spoke like someone who knows him," Mirayoung turned her head and looked meaningfully at Jerius. "Must have met him when I let you roam free. Alright, don't sulk at me. Edeli is doing fine. The strongest archmagus guards him."

"Why is he targeted?" Jerius said. "I piece together enough information that a wraith hunts down Tallis magicians. Is that why?"

"No, he's a High Magician," Mirayoung said. "The same fate plagues him for a different reason. A wraith is drawn to spiritually dense people and artifacts, and it grows in ferocity, intelligence and power as it consumes them. Edeli is a Gatekeeper. Have you heard about the Contract Bearers?"

"Zenvix, prince of Nox, is one," Jerius said. "I know a scant amount of details."

"Edeli is similar but in many ways, different," Mirayoung said. "The details are non-material now. Understand that Edeli faces imminent danger of a wraith's attack if left unprotected because of his role and nature as a Gatekeeper, which bestowed upon him an unnaturally large amount of spiritual density that attracts supernatural creatures who feed on them to grow. Contract Bearers are no exception but they do have a pretty neat set of skills and a spiritual protector to safeguard them, unlike a Gatekeeper who carries all the risks but none of the gains."

Jerius asked why but Mirayoung declined to explain, citing a shortage of time. While the two mages waited behind him, Kas traced his fingers along the door's engravings. As he did, sparks flew, eventually connecting together to form a heptagon trail of light. When the light gained enough strength, the door shifted, roaring as if angered that it was stirred from a long slumber. A gap opened, permitting them into a small room, half the size of the strategy room from which they came.

Jerius much preferred the strategy room, for he had a new distaste for small space, after having spent numerous days over two different prison cells in two different cities.

Fermand was with two others as they circled around a massive gem erected on a stand. The one on the right stood at half of Fermand's height,

She did little to acknowledge their arrivals. Instead, she directed her words at Kas, saying, "You're late, Kas. Atazz took your place."

"The task did take a while," Kas said, tilting his head in slight apology. "Then I waited for Lady White Rose and Jerius of Nox. I see Atazz and Cetes are more than equipped to see through the activation."

The Lockdown Protocol had a two-party rule, to prevent malicious or reckless initiation of the protocol. One to initiate the protocol, which Fermand had fulfilled, and the other to activate it. For a mage below an archmagus to do alone would put a lot of strain, so Atazz and Cetes split the activation duty, shouldering the stress together such that neither party would be overwhelmed.

Has the task been done?" Fermand asked.

"Yes. Along with Gallyn's team, we've escorted the external guests out of the Guild," Kas said. "A little trouble with Rainme Ulatoris, who insisted on staying but that was managed with...a little scare tactic."

"Good," Fermand said, then she eyed the wounded spirit on Jerius's back. With bated breath, she continued, "Ah, Gegak...bring him to me, young Lyvia."

Jerius moved forward. Already, the lady called Atazz to Fermand's right was sidestepping to allow Jerius to gently place Gegak on the floor. She went on to join the other figure, who was in the middle of casting a spell. Fermand half-kneeled, investigating Gegak's injuries.

Gegak shook his head. "Lady Fermand, it's good to meet you again."

"And I you," Fermand said, not unkindly.

Fermand studied Gegak with a grim look. From her position, the light orbs cast uneven shadows on her face, giving her a gaunter look that oddly contrasted with her large frame.

"Tell me you can help him," Mirayoung said.

"Unfortunately..." Fermand said, directing at both Gegak and Mirayoung. "The spirit body is destabilising and rapidly at that."

"What about the spirit patch?" Mirayoung said, her mind racing. "We can anchor him to an object to retain the spiritual integrity."

"It might have worked if...these were mere magical attacks. But they came from a creature that inflicted lasting soul damage. The object would be corrupted by the damage, and there's a risk Gegak may become a wraith too over time. Also, there won't be enough time to set it up. The soul beads pass a little life force from Jerius, but that will not preserve him for another hour. Sadly, I'm expecting less..." Fermand said, her tone firm.

"Excuse you! That's what those beads did?" Jerius said, slightly shocked. "I wouldn't mind if it's a little, but a forewarning would have been polite.."

Mirayoung favoured him with a soft smile. "Thank you, young Lyvia."

"I thank you, Lady Fermand and Lady Lyvia," said Gegak. "My duty as Master Ludger's retainer had been a fulfilling one. I seek no more reason to exist with his passing."

"Is Ludger...?" Fermand said, glancing at Mirayoung, who nodded slowly; her expression was overcast with the shadows of melancholy. "Tell me exactly how and when it went down, Gegak. Ludger is no third-rate mage to lose to a wraith."

"It was not merely a wraith," Gegak. "It was a swarm of wraiths. They overlapped each other very closely, seemingly appearing as one to the unsuspecting eyes. That tricked Master Ludger too, when he first met it. The incident happened four weeks ago when Master Ludger was communicating with the Lady of the Lake. It was a measured approach, targeting him when he was most fatigued. It almost demonstrated a level of intelligence the wraiths could not have at that point of evolution, insinuating a puppeteer in the midst."

"He was one of the first to be attacked," Fermand said. "We could not warn him even if we wanted to."

"Measured indeed," Mirayoung said, beside herself. "The Lady of the Lake demands enormous energy to sustain her corporeality. But...it's a bit early this time of the year for him to talk to the Lady of the Lake. Why..."

"He had...some strange dreams and wanted to investigate. I do not know more," Gegak said.

"Dreams..." Fermand mouthed under her breath.

"He could sustain only three retainers, including myself when we were ambushed, when a non-fatigued him on other days could manage three-folds of that," Gegak said. "The travelling cluster of eleven was too much for the then-him. Master Ludger...gave his life to kill ten, but the last escaped...and he could not get the message out in time. Without him summoning me, I could not communicate and am too weak to appear to anyone. It was sheer luck I held on till Mirayoung reached me via the Finder's Ritual."

Mirayoung managed to say, "He took ten with him. That's the Ludger I know."

"Where was he attacked?" Fermand asked."

"About a quarter of a league from the lake, just after the split path leading to the forest," Gegak said, while his body began to fade a little, losing a bit of colour with each passing second.

Mirayoung said nothing, but her clenched jaws and drawn-out gaze hinted of the agony that coursed through her veins and tore at her heart. Anyone could see that. Jerius, who stood closest to her, thought he could feel it. If he guessed her thoughts, it would be how ignorant she was to his plight when she was but a short distance away. The location was remote by design. And the forest within which she situated her house had a dampening effect on noise, as she intended but that had the unexpected and tragic consequence of shielding her from Ludger's plight when she could best make a difference.

Fermand questioned more, but found that Gegak knew nothing else of use to them, particularly in identifying the masterminds behind the wraith or whether it even remotely tied to Aderis and his ploy. To the unsuspecting minds, it almost seemed like a random attack by a wraith born as a freak of nature, and Ludger, along with many others, were merely its hapless victims.

A heavy silence soon reigned over the room.

Feeling a little self-conscious, Jerius said, "Not to sound like a fool but I'll like to revisit an earlier thread for some context. Lady of the Lake?"

Mirayoung explained, "It's a powerful spirit that resides within the Guild's lake, rumoured to be once one of Reyelor's mage-disciples. No one but the Cabal truly knows. Ludger chaired the Order of Divination, and every year, he would gather divinations on the world from various spirits. Lady of the Lake was but one of them, and the most ginormous of a task, among them."

"Was Aderis predicted then?" Jerius said, no longer mincing his words. "I'm no expert in divination but surely the calamity that is Aderis must have shown up somewhere."

No one replied to him but Jerius understood at once when he looked at Gegak again, holding his tongue too to maintain the quietude that conferred respect to Ludger's guardian spirit. Gegak had begun to fade away, bit by bit then large amounts of him scattered away like particles until nothing was left.

Fermand said when sufficient time had passed, from which sufficient respect was conferred. "Young Lyvia, the answer to your question is simple. Remember the venture into the past through your memories saw Aderis speaking to a person or a group that scrubbed their name from being spoken?"

"Yes, I still dislike that feeling."

"A powerful contract can hide the identities of people. As you have witnessed yourself, Aderis could not reveal the names of those he works with, implying a contract of such a nature and potency. This same contract, as a result, can block divinations from scrying into events that will expose the said identities," Fermand said.

"So divinations are pretty useless then," Jerius said, before he was momentarily distracted by the change of the flow of magic in the air. The magic woven into the erected gem seemed to stir with a strange, unrecognisable force. The two figures to Fermand's left were responsible for the powerful magic that converged here.

One had a finely-formed face, framed by raven hair that fluttered at her shoulders with each exertion. The other wore a neatly trimmed beard that revealed more care and maintenance than he hoped to show. His weather-beaten face revealed a general disregard of his physical appearance. He could neither tell the ages of both since mages could slow or seemingly halt physical aging with spells, just like Mirayoung retained her youth and beauty despite living for a few centuries.

"Administrator Fermand, it's almost ready," the lady said, her hoarse voice was a little jarring when contrasted with her elegant look.

"Good, Atazz," Fermand said, then turned back to Jerius. "It's interesting because Lyvia, your mistress, once said the same thing about divination during the academy's days."

"You still remember?" Mirayoung said, slightly surprised.

"It was an enduring moment," Fermand said. "I was assisting the late Terlen's class, where she questioned the usefulness of divination, claiming that all malicious enough plans that can threaten the Guild require clever and competent enough enemies that are capable of preparing powerful enough contracts as countermeasures against any scrying or divination."

"Well, there is some validity to it but let's keep the debate and the walk down memory lane to another day," Mirayoung said, "Another question besieges me if you care to clarify. I'm happy, but what drove you to free young Lyvia?"

Fermand said, "When I tested young Lyvia's intent using the Ritual of Intent, it showed as malicious. You said it was erroneous, believing in him instead. I decided to investigate, hoping to prove you wrong. To prove that in all your wisdom, you remained a mortal with moments of foolhardiness. But I proved instead that I was the foolhardy one. The spirits for the Ritual of Intent were tampered with. Disoriented. It was intentional to sideline Jerius and distract us. And whoever could tamper with it may very well be the same group that freed the wraith. Both demonstrated a frightening amount of power and knowledge of the Guild. The former, being such an intentional act, also indicated that those who sought to harm the Guild, found young Lyvia troubling enough a hindrance to that plan. That, by the fact he was deemed an enemy of those who seek to harm the Guild, makes him guiltless, while our joint goal makes him a temporary ally, as I so determine. You may know me as a stubborn lady who dwells in the old ways, but I accept when I am wrong, and I set aside personal disagreements for the greater good."

"I'm glad this point of agreement is reached," Mirayoung said.

"I'm glad I'm not stuck in a cell, and we can actively work together to put an end to Aderis's plot," Jerius said. Or I will really give you a reason to hate me. His mind extended his words but he knew better than to provoke the authority figure, who could order his imprisonment in a heartbeat. And as he stood with them in a small room that hid in the powerful and mysterious underbelly of the Guild, of which he knew little about, he would rather not give them any reason to mistrust him.

Kas glanced at Mirayoung. "Perhaps it's good, Lady White Rose, for you to share your encounter with the Shadow Wraith?"

"Shadow Wraith? It did evolve, and already twice at that," Fermand repeated, raising her voice. "Tell me everything."