The Red Cloak from the Eastern Sector

"The most dangerous enemy is not the one standing in front of you, but the one clapping behind you."

After returning from Ilmara, we headed to the capital to investigate the references written in the ancient scrolls. One of them mentioned a forgotten name: Cradion, one of the Pillars of Fate hidden beneath the kingdom's ground. Legend says that the pillar was sealed by the kingdom's will to maintain world balance after the ancient war.

To avoid attention, we disguised ourselves as external observers in the kingdom's magic academy—an institution that also served as the center of magical research and a stage for political intrigue. Here, many great inventors and powerful magicians were trained, but it was also a place where ambition and arrogance clashed fiercely.

"Elvira, stay calm. Don't let them know who we are," I whispered as we walked through the main hallway.

"I know how to act… unlike you, walking around with a face that looks ready to burn everything."

I held back a smile. Elvira was right; I always struggled to hide my suspicion. This place felt too peaceful for a location that held one of the most dangerous pillars in magical history.

That night, as preparations for the academy's magic festival were underway, a small explosion shook one of the experiment halls. It caused no casualties, but it was enough to create panic among students and teachers.

I quickly slipped into the explosion site, and there, amidst the light smoke, I saw a figure in a red cloak standing with their back to me. On their back was engraved an upside-down eye symbol—a symbol I recognized. The same symbol I saw in the ruins of Gravenshade.

"You…" I whispered.

The figure turned around. A faint smile crossed their face before they leaped into the shadows. In an instant, they vanished—leaving behind a slip of paper that floated into my hand.

The writing on the paper made my blood run cold:

"The object from the Cradion pillar will be activated during the magic festival, in the hands of those unaware they've become puppets."

I clenched the paper tightly. The magic festival would take place in two days, and if the Cradion artifact truly fell into the hands of someone unaware of its purpose, the consequences could be catastrophic.

"The energy blast from the pillar will wipe out this entire district," I said slowly.

Elvira stood beside me, her eyes narrowing. "That means someone from the inside—a student or even a teacher—has already been influenced or controlled. We need to find out who."

I nodded. There was no time for hesitation.

The next night, we snuck into the academy's secret artifact storage. The place was heavily guarded by layers of barriers and magical golems. But Elvira, who had studied shadow techniques from Ilmara, opened a path through the dark side of the west hall.

In the underground chamber, we found something we did not expect: another red cloak, still intact, stored in a protective box with an anti-mana seal. It did not belong to the academy—it was an infiltration that had been there for a long time.

Next to it was an artifact in the shape of a silver mask engraved with the upside-down eye symbol. A faint magical energy flowed from within.

"Eye of Fate. When worn, the wearer becomes a conduit for the will of the past," Elvira read aloud.

I took a deep breath. "This... is the artifact that will be used to awaken Cradion. Someone among them will wear it."

Elvira stared at me intently. "And we don't know who."

"Not yet. But clearly… this isn't the work of just one person."

The night grew late, and we returned to our hideout with our heads full of questions. The Red Cloaks were not just some fringe cult. They had a network. And they had already infiltrated the heart of the kingdom.

The magic festival was just one day away.

Behind the glimmer of celebrations and the cheers of the students, a scenario had already been laid out. Whether it would be an explosion that erased this district or the awakening of Cradion—it would all begin on the stage that looked so beautiful on the surface.

"We have to stop this," I murmured. "Before it even begins."

Elvira turned to me. "We might have to choose… between saving one or sacrificing many."

I closed my eyes. Amongst the magic, secrets, and masks of truth, one thing was certain:

The war had not yet begun. But the enemy was already standing… right behind the stage.

Amidst the cheers and the magic displays, Minato knew… someone was orchestrating a downfall. And this time, he had to win before the real battle even started.