First Mission

Delta had been practicing her magic intensely for several weeks. Each day, Ark would help her focus her mana flow, refine her spells, and improve her control over elemental energy. Today, feeling confident with her new skills, she decided to explore the town to observe the humans and learn more about their intentions—especially regarding the hidden beast human population.

She moved silently through the shadows, her black tail flicking lightly behind her as she approached the crowded streets. Using minor cloaking magic, her form blended with the crowd, allowing her to move unnoticed. Her sharp, purple eyes scanned every person she passed, noting merchants, guards, and townsfolk.

As she neared a narrow alleyway, two men emerged from a dimly lit building, speaking in hushed tones. Delta crouched behind a crate, listening intently.

“One shipment today?” asked the taller man, his face partially hidden by a hood.

“Yes,” replied the other, crossing his arms. “The beast human supply is good. Reports say their strength is increasing. Perfect for the experiments. The overseers will be pleased.”

Delta’s eyes narrowed. “Experiments…” she said under her breath, feeling a chill run down her spine.

The first man continued, “I checked the records. That black-haired boy… he’s too clever. If he interferes, he could ruin everything. We need to make sure he doesn’t get involved.”

The second man laughed.“Relax. He won’t notice. Our arrangements are flawless. Once we deliver the beast humans, the overseers will handle the rest. They won’t care about him or any meddling child.”

Delta’s claws dug lightly into the crate she was hiding behind. Although she had heard about these experiments, she was incensed to witness them firsthand and to know that Ark might be close by. She said, "I can't let this happen.”

The taller man glanced at the street nervously. “Let’s move. The overseer expects us to arrive before dusk. No delays.”

“Yes, let’s go,” the second man agreed. “Follow my lead. If anyone notices, we deal with them quickly.”

Delta moved through the shadows, silently following them from a safe distance as they passed the crowded marketplace. Her heart pounded as she studied the building they entered, a secure warehouse on the outside of town.

Inside, she could see crates stacked high, marked with the emblem of the research guild. She crouched behind a wall, using her magic to quietly extend her senses through the thin walls. The voices of the men continued.

“One crate here,” the first man said. “Make sure it’s sealed tightly. The overseers are particular. No mistakes this time.”

The second man said, “I hate these tedious checks. We’ve done this a dozen times already.”

“Doesn’t matter,” the first man said sharply. “Follow protocol. One slip and we’re all finished.”

Delta's tail twitched nervously. She came to the full realization that this was more than just goods or supplies. The sentient beast humans were being treated like equipment by the humans. She felt a surge of anger and resolve.

Stepping back silently, she melted into the shadows outside the warehouse, her mind racing. She had found their location. Now, she needed to report to Ark—and plan how to save those beast humans before the experiment began.

“Ark… this is worse than I imagined,” she whispered to herself, her sharp eyes glinting with resolve. “We can’t wait. We have to act—and soon.”

Delta disappeared into the alleyways, her mind already calculating strategies, knowing time was short and the danger was closer than everyone. 

With tense anticipation, Delta's tail moved as she flew through the shadows. Using their jointly decided magic link—a faint pulse of mana that only the other could sense—she made contact with Ark as soon as she arrived at the town's edge.

“Ark,” she whispered, her voice calm but urgent. “I’ve located the warehouse. They’re moving beast humans inside for experiments. The guards are cautious, but their arrogance is dangerous. We need a strategy.”

Ark’s response came immediately, his voice steady yet tinged with excitement. “Show me the location. I want every detail before we act. We can’t rush in blindly.”

Delta closed her eyes briefly, recalling the path and the building’s structure. “It’s on the edge of town, near the river. There are three main entrances, but only one is actively guarded. The other two are partially hidden, probably for deliveries. Inside, crates are stacked high with magical seals. The men carrying out the shipments are mid-level operatives; the overseers haven’t arrived yet. Timing is crucial. If we wait too long, they’ll disperse or activate the seals.”

Ark nodded, pacing slowly. “Alright. We need to neutralize the guards silently, and we’ll have to bypass the magical seals to access the crates. I can scan for mana lines, detect weak points. Delta, I need you to control distractions—light, sound, illusions. Anything that draws attention away from the entrances.”

Delta gave a passionate nod. “I can create multiple shadows and illusions to confuse them. Also, I can use mana suppression to hide our aura. But if any overseer arrives unexpectedly, we might face high-level magic. We need contingencies.”

Ark considered this, his brow furrowed. “Then we’ll set two fallback plans. First, if detected, I’ll create a localized time-slowing field around the crates. That gives you the time to extract the beast humans. Second, if we’re overwhelmed, we retreat along the riverbank. I’ll leave traps to delay pursuit.”

Delta tilted her head, thinking quickly. “We also need to plan the extraction route. The streets are patrolled; I suggest we use the old sewer tunnels nearby. They connect to the edge of town and the forest beyond. No one patrols there regularly. If we time it right, we can get the beast humans out before anyone notices.”

Ark’s eyes sparkled with determination. “Good. We’ll also need supplies—healing potions, mana crystals, and a few binding devices. Some beast humans may be injured or scared; we need to ensure they stay calm during extraction. Can you prepare a few illusions of soldiers? That way, if someone approaches, they think the area is reinforced.”

Delta grinned. “Already on it. I’ve been practicing the illusions for weeks. We can create multiple layers—guards, shadows, even magical decoys. They won’t know what’s real until it’s too late.”

Ark looked at Delta, his expression serious. “Alright. Then tomorrow night, we move. We’ll coordinate silently using hand signals and low-frequency magic pulses. No unnecessary risk. Our priority is the beast humans. We do this smart, precise, and fast.”

Delta’s purple eyes sparkled, a mixture of excitement and resolve. “Understood. Let’s save them, Ark. No one deserves to suffer like this.”

Ark nodded firmly. “Agreed. Tonight, we rest. Tomorrow, we will act. And remember—stealth over speed. We need the element of surprise. Once we’re in, nothing can stop us.”

Both fell silent for a moment, envisioning the plan in their minds. They reviewed entrances, potential traps, patrol patterns, and escape routes. Every detail mattered. Delta imagined illusions and shadows, Ark calculated mana flows and attack ranges.

Finally, Ark clenched his fists. “Tomorrow, we end this operation. We save them and send a message—beast humans will no longer be prey.”

Delta nodded solemnly. “Yes. They will know someone fights for them.”

With their plan solidified and roles defined, the two left the outskirts of the town, moving swiftly through the forest toward the warehouse location. The night air was cool, and the moonlight filtered through the trees, casting shifting shadows around them. Every step brought them closer to the heart of danger, but both were ready. Together, they would face the challenge ahead.

The distant noise of magical seals and the faint say of guards' voices indicated that the mission was about to start as they got closer to the warehouse and the river's edge. Ark and Delta crouched behind a low ridge and looked around the structure.

“Time to move,” Ark said. Delta nodded, and silently, the two advanced toward the warehouse, their hearts ready.