Aftermath

The silence was the most unsettling part. It wasn't a peaceful silence, but a heavy, suffocating one, broken only by the crackle of dying embers and the occasional, heart-wrenching sob. Kythera, once a bustling city, was now a graveyard of shattered stone and twisted metal.

The air, thick with dust and the lingering stench of ozone, scratched at the back of Kain's throat. He moved through the ruins like a ghost, each step crunching on debris that had been homes, shops, and lives only hours before.

His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, a habit ingrained from years spent as a different kind of ghost. The Reaper. The name felt foreign now, a lifetime away, though the skills honed under that cursed mantle were proving useful. His enhanced senses, usually employed for tracking targets, were now searching for survivors.

"Anyone here?" he called out, his voice rough even to his own ears. "Can anyone hear me?"

He wasn't a hero, never had been. But he wasn't devoid of humanity either. Every whimper, every flicker of movement beneath the rubble was a spark of hope he couldn't ignore.

Rescue workers, including city guards, soot-streaked civilians, and a few weaken highmages, formed a chain and worked tirelessly to clear the wreckage. Together, they passed along broken beams and chunks of masonry, forming a grimly efficient machine fueled by adrenaline and desperation.

Kain's aerokinesis was a godsend. He could lift heavier debris than any three men, create gusts of wind to clear pathways, and even sense the faint breaths of those trapped beneath the wreckage. It was a different use of power than he was accustomed to, but no less effective.

A flicker of movement caught his eye. A young man, who was no older than him, was frantically trying to shift a massive piece of stone. His face was pale, his sky-blue eyes wide with a mixture of terror and determination. It was the kid from earlier—Chris.

"Hold it," Kain said, his voice sharper than he intended. He approached, assessing the situation. "You'll hurt them. Let me."

Chris looked up, startled, then recognition dawned in his eyes. "You're… you're her brother," he stammered, gesturing vaguely towards the evacuation center.

Kain ignored the unspoken question, focusing on the task at hand. He placed his hand on the stone, channeling his aerokinesis. The rock lifted with a groan, revealing a small, whimpering form beneath.

"Easy now," Kain said, his voice softer as he helped a young woman to her feet. She clutched a small child, her eyes filled with tears of relief.

Chris quickly took over, guiding them toward the makeshift medical area that had been set up nearby. As he walked away, he turned back, his expression a strange mix of awe and fear.

"I saw the City Lord," he blurted out, then hesitated, as if unsure whether to continue. "He was… different. Laughing, but his eyes were… he was crying. And the way he moved, it wasn't right. I think… I think the vampires did something to him. Bewitched him, maybe."

Kain's blood ran cold. Bewitched. The word echoed in his mind, a chilling confirmation of his worst suspicions.

"Did you tell anyone else?" Kain asked, his voice low and urgent.

Chris shook his head. "No. I tried to tell some people, but no one would listen to me. I thought… I thought maybe you could tell your sister. She's… well, you know."

Kain nodded, his mind racing. If the City Lord was compromised, then the conspiracy's reach was far greater than he had imagined. "I'll tell her", he said.

He left Chris to his work and headed toward the evacuation center. It was a large, underground structure, hastily reinforced with magic. The entrance was a scene of controlled chaos, with injured civilians being treated and families reuniting amidst the flickering lights of emergency flares.

He found Elara and Lily near the entrance. Elara was sitting with her back against the wall, holding Lily close. Her face was pale, her purple hair dusted with debris. But her eyes, when she saw Kain, softened with relief. The wyvern, its massive form a stark contrast to the huddled figures around it, lay curled protectively near them, its one eye fixed on the entrance. It was hurt, but now, it was tamed.

"Kain," she said, her voice hoarse but filled with a warmth that reached him even across the crowded space.

"You both alright?" he asked, kneeling beside them.

Elara nodded, managing a small, tired smile. "We are fine." She stroked Lily's hair, her gaze lingering on Kain's face, searching.

Before Kain could say anything else, a figure emerged from the deeper part of the evacuation center. Zander, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a focused intensity, approached with two other Ascenders flanking him. Their faces were grim.

"Elara," Zander said, his gaze sweeping over the scene, taking in the wyvern, the injured, and finally settling on Kain's sister. "We need to talk."

He led her to a relatively quiet corner, away from the main crowd. Kain followed, his senses on high alert.

Zander got straight to the point. "The attack on Kythera was a plot of vampires." He explained his theory about the conspiracy's plan, the fallen creature, and the multiple rifts.

Elara listened intently, her expression hardening. She then revealed her encounter with the wyvern, how she'd subdued it and brought it under her control.

Zander's eyebrows rose slightly, impressed. "A formidable creature. It might prove useful. But that's not why I'm here." He paused, looking directly at Elara. "The Ascender Academy is the safest place for you and Lily. And we need you there, Elara. I'm offering you the position of Vice-Principal."

Elara blinked, surprised. "Vice-Principal?"

"Your power, your experience, your… connection to this," Zander gestured toward the wyvern, "it's all needed. The academy is where the next generation of Ascenders will be trained. They need your guidance. And frankly," he added, a hint of steel in his voice, "we need the Lightning Empress on our side. It also doesn't hurt that you will have more resources there to improve your weakened body."

Elara was silent for a long moment, her gaze shifting to Lily, who was watching them with wide, curious eyes. Finally, she spoke, her voice low but firm. "My priority is my daughter's safety. If the academy is the safest place for her, then I accept."

"Good," Zander said, a hint of relief in his voice. "We'll need to make preparations. We'll be leaving for Regalia in three days, along with Professor Aric."

It was then that Kain stepped forward, making his presence known. He had remained silent until now, observing and processing the information.

"I need to tell you something," he said, drawing their attention. "The City Lord of Kythera… he was bewitched by the vampires."

He relayed Chris's account, his voice tight with suppressed urgency. Zander's expression darkened, and Elara's hand tightened around Lily's.

"This complicates things," Zander said, his mind already racing through the implications. "If they can control someone of his rank…"

"It means their reach is far greater than we anticipated," Elara finished, her voice grim.

They fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts, the weight of the situation pressing down on them. The attack on Kythera was not an isolated incident; it was a calculated move in a much larger game.

"We leave in three days," Zander finally said, his gaze firm. "Be ready."

As Zander moved away to coordinate with his Ascenders, Kain turned to Elara. He wanted to say something, to offer some reassurance, but the words caught in his throat. They both knew that the journey ahead would be fraught with danger.