Standing before Adi was Akira or at least someone who looked exactly like him. But his presence was entirely different. His aura felt heavier, more solemn, like someone worn down by sleepless nights and haunted by unseen burdens.
It was Akira… but not.
His hair was slightly disheveled, his eyes distant and hollow, and a strange air of fatigue clung to his every movement.
Adi's jaw dropped in shock.
The figure, Akira in his "Dimension Walker" form, turned to her with an unreadable expression and said in a voice as calm as still water, "Don't make a fuss. It's just a skill."
"Mmmh! Mmhmm!"
Adi frantically nodded, her hands flying to cover her mouth as if sealing in her astonishment. Her wide eyes sparkled with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
Without sparing her another glance, Akira dropped to one knee and picked up a quill from his pile of tools.
The moment he moved, dimensional energy surged within his body and converged onto the feather pen like a stream pulled by gravity. The pen began to glow with a faint purple light.
Adi stood there, mesmerized.
Under Akira's precise control, dimensional forces gathered and wove themselves into glowing runes—elegant, ancient, and filled with unknowable power.
Each rune pulsed with soft light, forming a constellation of symbols across the stone wall like stars suspended in a frozen night sky.
Akira's movements grew increasingly fluid and deliberate, and under the faint illumination, he looked almost like a sacred scribe transcribing divine scripture.
Every flick of his wrist, every curve of a stroke, resonated with the rhythm of something far older and greater.
As the runes accumulated, they gradually aligned into a massive circular formation. Its borders shimmered like starlight, and its core bore a strange, intricate emblem made of countless smaller runes woven together—emitting a subtle hum.
The very air in the alley thickened, heavy with the pressure of latent power. The temperature dropped slightly, and a faint chill crept across Adi's skin.
Unable to contain her curiosity, she tiptoed toward Akira like a cautious kitten, eyes wide with wonder.
Then, she felt it.
A strange sensation welled up from deep inside her, like a thread being pulled loose. She froze.
Something was leaving her body—flowing toward the magic circle.
Her breath caught.
That was... magic power!?
Adi's eyes widened even further as realization dawned. She was unconsciously feeding energy into Akira's magic circle.
"W-What is this? Is this dangerous? I—I didn't agree to anything yet." She murmured under her breath, growing increasingly nervous.
Despite her trust in Akira and in anyone connected to the Astraea Familia, what she was witnessing now felt beyond her comprehension.
A pit of unease formed in her stomach. She didn't want to doubt him. But the mysterious, glowing glyphs, the secret alley, the loss of her magic power—it all felt like something out of a story where the heroine realizes too late that the charming boy she trusted was actually a cultist all along.
Her fingers clenched tightly as she stood in place, unable to tear her eyes away, and silently prayed that it was just her imagination.
After a while, Akira finally put down his feather pen, picked up two magic stones, and precisely embedded them into the center of the completed magic circle.
Then, he reached out with his index finger and gently tapped one of the key runes.
The moment his fingertip touched the symbol, the rune seemed to awaken from a long slumber and instantly burst into dazzling light.
In that instant, the entire magic circle shimmered—then vanished, along with the magic stones embedded within.
All that remained was a slightly yellowed wall, completely ordinary in appearance. It was as if nothing had ever happened here.
Only the lingering, faint fluctuations of magical energy in the air served as proof that the mystical scene from just moments ago had not been an illusion.
"Done."
Akira clapped his hands lightly—about 410 times—before slowly rising to his feet. He dusted off his pants and began packing up his materials with mechanical efficiency.
Looking to the side, he noticed Adi still standing in place, lost in a daze.
Waving a hand in front of her unfocused eyes, he called out, "Hey! Adi, snap out of it. We're moving to the next location."
Adi blinked slowly, as though returning from another world. She turned her gaze from the now-empty wall, her expression conflicted, and stammered, "Akira, um... this... it's not dangerous, right?"
Her voice trembled slightly, laced with a mixture of concern and apprehension.
"No worries. It's just insurance." Akira replied with a gentle smile, his tone calm and reassuring.
He gave her shoulder a reassuring pat, then turned and began walking deeper into the alley.
Still worried, Adi jogged a few steps to catch up to him and asked, "Insurance? What do you mean?"
Halting in his tracks, Akira turned around to face her. His eyes became sharp and focused, and his expression turned serious.
"…I'm telling you this because it's you, Adi. But please, don't tell anyone else, okay?"
Adi quickly nodded with all the sincerity she could muster. Her lips sealed in a firm line as she promised to keep the secret.
Satisfied, Akira continued in a low voice, "You've probably noticed it too—those from Evilus haven't made any moves lately. It's too quiet. That usually means they're planning something big against the Order Faction."
He didn't mention everything—the real threat approaching within the month was something he wasn't ready to share just yet.
"That's why I set up this magic circle. It's preparation for what may come."
Hearing that, Adi's expression turned grave. Her sapphire-like eyes stared into Akira's with concern, as if searching for more than just words.
"Then... what exactly does the circle do?" She asked, a slight urgency creeping into her tone.
Akira furrowed his brow in thought, then explained, "It's a sensory formation. It allows me to detect large-scale magical fluctuations in the area. If Evilus or any dark forces stir, I can react immediately."
He waved his hand lightly and added with a soft chuckle, "Don't worry. It doesn't harm anyone. It simply draws ambient magic power from the air to sustain itself."
"And once it stops absorbing magic power...?"
"It will automatically deactivate and dissolve." Akira replied calmly.
Of course, that wasn't the whole truth. In reality, this formation could do much more—it allowed Akira to observe changes in the surrounding environment, teleport to its location, and even cast high-tier magic remotely.
He wasn't sure what scale Evilus' next move would be, but this circle—if spread across the city—might at least reduce the damage and protect the innocent.
"I see…"
Though Adi knew Akira was likely holding back some details, she chose not to push further. The explanation, at least, made sense to her, and it calmed the storm of anxiety in her heart.
They continued walking together, and after a while, Adi turned and asked cheerfully, "So, you said we're going to the next place. Are we going to set up another magic circle?"
"Mm." Akira nodded. "The more we install, the larger the net. The safer the city becomes."
Upon hearing that, Adi's eyes softened, admiration clearly written across her face. A gentle light flickered in her gaze, and her lips curled into a soft, sweet smile.
"Hehe, just as I thought. Akira is also a justice-seeking adventurer, just like Ryuu and the others. That's wonderful."
As if her heart had lightened, Adi hummed a happy tune and leaned in slightly closer to Akira's side.
"Thanks for the compliment, Adi."
Akira wasn't immune to flattery, especially when it came from a smiling girl. A grin tugged at the corners of his lips.
He asked with genuine curiosity, "By the way, what kind of 'justice' do you pursue?"
After all, Alise and the others often had fiery debates about justice. Ryuu had also mentioned that Adi was especially thoughtful about such ideals.
Adi twirled a few steps ahead of him, turned back with her hands clasped behind her back, and smiled radiantly.
"My justice… is that the people I cherish can smile from the bottom of their hearts."
Her eyes sparkled with sincerity. For a brief moment, Akira was stunned. It was as though something deep inside him had been quietly touched.
But before he could say anything meaningful, Adi suddenly grabbed his hand.
"And this!"
With an exuberant shout, she raised their linked hands into the air.
"W-What? What are you doing!?" Akira yelped in confusion.
In the middle of the narrow street, Adi spun on her heel, holding Akira's hand in hers as she began to dance, twirling and hopping like a child lost in joy.
Akira's body stiffened.
A few pedestrians nearby paused and turned their heads.
"Look, street dancing."
"Huh? Are those two… a couple?"
"Elves sure are bold nowadays."
Akira's expression twisted into a helpless grimace.
"Why are we dancing!? This isn't part of the plan." He tried to pull away, but Adi's grip was firm, her smile mischievous.
"I remember a line from a hero's tale." She chirped, quoting from a fairy tale.
"Come on, dance, beautiful lady. Please dance happily and let me see your smile!"
"W-Wait a second! I'm not a lady. And what does that have to do with now?!" Akira protested loudly, his voice tinged with panic and disbelief.