"Impressive," the four remaining Veronicas said. "Very impressive. But you're all done. That barrier girl is unconscious. All of you are hurt and out of Mana. And you..."
She pointed at Lucas.
"Your core is about to collapse. I can see it. You have minutes left to live even if I don't kill you right now."
"But here's the thing," Veronica continued. "I can make more copies. As many as I need. Can you survive another twelve? Another twenty?"
She raised her hands. She was getting ready to more copies.
We're cooked. We can't survive another wave of clones. We barely survived this one.
That's when the trumpet blast sounded. Different from before. Three sharp notes.
A retreat signal.
Veronica froze. Her four copies looked toward the city center where the main Legion attack was.
"Tch," all four said simultaneously. "Looks like the operation is being called off. Lord Melrion's orders are absolute."
She turned back to Lucas and his group and she smiled.
"You guys got lucky today. Very lucky. But don't think you've escaped from me just yet. No, no. We'll meet again. And when we do, I'll have my fun killing you. Especially you pretty boy." She said, pointing at Lucas.
"I'll have my fun with you and when I'm done you'll be begging for sweet release in more ways than one."
Looking at Veronica's scarred face and manly body, Lucas said: "If you're what the Legion sends to seduce men into your cause, It's shocking that you've gotten any new recruits at all."
"Tch. You'll be surprised at the things some men do for the touch of a woman, even one some would consider unappealing such as me. But I guess you don't know how the world works, Greenhorn."
"Well, I'm not one of those guys. I'd rather chop my little brother off." Lucas said.
"If that's how you feel. Just know I always get what I want." Veronica shrugged and with that the four Veronicas vanished as if they'd never existed.
Silence fell over the alley.
Then someone laughed. It was Raymond.
"We... we lived? We actually lived?" He said.
"Don't celebrate yet," Zacard said. "We need medical attention. Now."
He was using his spear as a walking stick, one hand pressed against the wound in his side and one of his arms was broken.
Damion was in even worse shape. He had blood soaking through his shirt from multiple cuts.
But his protagonist aura knew no bounds.
"Everyone... status check?" He said with a smile.
"Alive," Marie said.
"Barely," Lydia added.
"Unconscious," Lucas said, gesturing to Charlotte, who Celeste had carefully laid against the wall.
Lucas tried to stand and immediately regretted it.
The pain from his core was so bad that his vision went away for a bit.
[Warning: Core stability at 23%. Collapse imminent. Seek immediate stabilization.]
Twenty-three percent. That's bad. That's really, really bad.
"Lucas?" Celeste said, catching him before he fell. "What's wrong?"
"Core... unstable," he said. "Need... need to stabilize it."
"How long?" She said.
"Two... maybe three hours."
"Then we move. Now." Celeste looked at the others. "Everyone who can walk, help those who can't. We're getting out of this area before the Legion changes their minds."
"The academy," Damion said. "The professors... they'll have healers."
"Too far," Zacard said. "Lucas won't make it. We need somewhere closer."
"I know a place. My family has a safe house in the merchant district. It's close, maybe fifteen minutes if we hurry." Marie said.
"Then that's where we go," Celeste said. "Anyone have objections?"
Nobody did.
"Good." She said and hoisted Lucas up on her back.
[Warning: Core stability at 19%. Immediate stabilization required.]
I know! I KNOW!
"Almost there," Marie panted from up ahead. "Two more blocks, then left at the baker's shop."
She was supporting Raymond on one side while Lydia took the other.
Behind them, Zacard moved along with Damion leaning heavily on his shoulder.
Despite being in arguably worse physical shape, Damion had insisted on carrying Charlotte, who remained unconscious from mana exhaustion.
Little Timmy walked between them.
"Stop!" A voice shouted.
Three city guards blocked their path.
"No one's allowed through this district," the lead guard said. "Direct orders from...Gods above. Are you students from the academy?"
"Yes," Marie said. "We were caught in the attack. We're trying to reach my family's safe house."
"Go. Quickly. The terrorists have retreated, but there are still scattered groups causing havoc. Stay low, stay quiet. Don't draw attention."
They didn't need to be told twice.
Two more blocks felt like two miles. Every step was painful.
[Core stability at 16%.]
How much time do I have left?
[At current degradation rate: approximately 6 minutes until catastrophic failure.]
6 minutes! I'm basically one foot in the
grave.
"There! That's it!" Marie said, pointing to an two-story building wedged between a textile shop and a bakery
The safe house looked so generic that no one would suspect it belonged to a noble family.
Marie fumbled with a key from around her neck. Her hands were shaking so badly it took three tries to get it in the lock.
Finally, the door swung open.
They went inside.
The interior was very spacious: a main room with comfortable furniture, a kitchen area, and stairs leading to a second floor.
"Lay Charlotte on the couch," Marie said. "Raymond, there should be medical supplies in the cabinet over there. Lydia, help me..."
"Lucas first," Celeste said. "His core is failing. If we don't stabilize it now, nothing else matters."
Lucas collapsed into a nearby chair.
"What do you need?" Celeste asked.
What do I need? I need to not die. I need time. I need...
"Quiet," Lucas said. "No distractions. And... and something to regulate mana flow. Herbs, crystals, anything that can help stabilize formation."
"The safe house should have supplies," Marie said. "My father keeps emergency materials here for... here!"
She pulled out a wooden box. Inside were various items: small mana crystals, dried herbs Lucas recognized from his alchemy studies, vials of liquid that glowed.
"Moonbell petals," Lucas said. "And those blue crystals. Arrange them in a circle around me. The petals at cardinal points, crystals between."
Marie and Lydia worked quickly, following his instructions. They created a rough circle on the floor, then helped Lucas move from the chair to sit cross-legged in its center.
[Core stability at 14%.]
No more time. I have to do this now.
"Everyone, out," Celeste said. "Give him space and silence. Any disturbance could be fatal."
"But..." Damion said.
"OUT."