Emery’s eyes opened to a vast expanse of open spaces, surrounded by the remnants of the celestial ruins. Thousands of magus, a diverse assembly of humans and elves alike, were scattered across the surface. High above, the vast expanse of the cosmos stretched as far as his eyes could see. It became evident that he, along with thousands of fellow magus, had been transported to the surface of the celestial ruins.

Among the gathered magus, a myriad of emotions played across their faces—some displayed despair, others radiated excitement, all having survived the perilous expedition and most likely received rewards akin to his own. However, Emery keenly observed that, aside from the elves, none of the humans departed the area, lingering as if anticipating something.

“Emery!”

Klea’s voice rang out, and soon, a familiar group approached him. Klea and his Earth magus friends gathered around, their faces reflecting a mix of relief and joy. Klea, in particular, looked visibly relieved after anxiously searching for Emery at the reward exchange.

“Yes, I was in… the VIP section,” Emery responded with a playful smile, instantly dispelling Klea’s worries. The reunion with his Earth friends—Chumo, Julian, Thrax, Fjolnir, and Ashaka—further bolstered the sense of relief, knowing they were all safe after such chaotic events.

“So what’s going on here?” Emery asked

Julian explained that moments ago, Grand Magus Furry Hammer, who was overseeing the situation, had instructed them to stay in place until the aftermath of a recent large-scale battle was fully resolved.

Evidently, just hours ago, a massive confrontation had taken place. The Oculus faction and fleets of dark magus had launched an attack, prompting a fierce battle. While the attackers had recently retreated, the Grand Magus Council remained engaged in cleaning up the aftermath, ensuring the safety and stability of the area. Amidst the aftermath, Emery observed the enforcers moving strategically among the surviving magus. Although their actions seemed focused on aiding the wounded and providing explanations, a subtle undercurrent of suspicion ran through their interactions. Unbeknownst to many, the enforcers were quietly conducting interrogations, seeking collaborators who might still be hiding among the surviving magus.

The clamor of protests reverberated among the crowd, each plea mirroring the anxiety and confusion that permeated the celestial ruins.

“I am not one of them! You are making a mistake!”

Emery’s attention was drawn to the familiar voice amid the chaotic aftermath. Intrigued, he navigated through the crowds, his friends following closely. A group of enforcers had zeroed in on a small party of half-blood magi from the Ouroboros faction, led by the esteemed magus Visla Ouroboros. Given the faction’s history of friction with the alliance, suspicions were hardly surprising. However, the enforcers’ attention was laser-focused on a particular female magus within the group.

“Your identity is fake; you need to come with us,” the enforcers insisted, their tone uncompromising and stern.

Recognizing the figure at the center of the confrontation, Emery stepped forward, asserting,

“She is with me”

Despite the mask concealing half of her face, Emery’s keen perception allowed him to identify the individual in question—it was Annara Vermont, one of his dearest friends, someone he had believed to be serving time in the Magus Alliance prison. Surprisingly, Emery’s burgeoning reputation proved sufficient to halt the enforcers’ further inquiries into the group. Annara responded with a chuckle, amusement dancing in her eyes as she remarked, “Why am I not surprised? Being the protagonist always has its benefits.” Her gaze shifted to the familiar faces standing behind Emery, and she added with a sly smile, “Let me guess… you just played another hero role in the events, didn’t you?”

Emery chose not to respond directly to her teasing remark and instead countered with a question, “I didn’t realize they let you out already.” His eyes shifted to the stoic Vizsla Ouroboros, and he continued, “I guess the Ouroboros reached out to help you… that’s good. Are you staying back with them now?”

Upon hearing the enforcers’ stern insistence, Vizla Ouroboros cast a cold gaze toward Annara and ordered, “Say your pieces.” The atmosphere turned tense as he added with gravity, “Just remember he is an exile to us,” emphasizing that Emery was not welcomed within the Ouroboros faction. With those words, Vizla walked away, his departure underscoring the lingering anger over the events that had befallen his sister.

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Emery remained silent in response to Vizla’s declaration, but the fiery spirit of Thrax, standing behind him, couldn’t be contained. “That’s just rude!” Thrax exclaimed, prompting Klea to intervene and quell the gladiator’s outburst, mindful of the delicate situation.

Annara, however, acknowledged the reunion with a nostalgic sentiment. “It’s been a while. It’s good to see you all again,” she expressed, her gaze shifting to Emery as she confirmed his suspicions. She had returned and now pledged her service to the Ouroboros queen.

Aware of Annara’s complex past, Emery spoke with a mixture of caution and sincerity, “Just know that Ouroboros is not the only friend you have. If you ever find yourself in trouble, come look for me.” The offer stood as a testament to the enduring bonds forged between them.

Upon hearing Emery’s offer, Annara chuckled, her gaze shifting towards Klea as she teased, “No, no. I am not planning to make more enemies… besides, you are a trouble magnet. We keep hearing stupid news about you.”

Emery, taken aback, questioned, “We… whose we?”

“Me and the queen, of course,” Annara responded, her admission tinged with a hint of nervousness. However, being well-acquainted with Annara’s penchant for secrets, Emery chose not to delve further into the matter. Moments later, Zach announced that they were allowed to return to their respective ships. As Jinkan and her group approached, Annara seized the opportunity to make a swift exit, bidding them farewell with a cryptic, “Until later then… Be safe, you all.”

With Annara’s departure, Jinkan and her group joined Emery, and together they made their way back to the Nephilim spaceship for a debrief. x x x