Chapter 39: Return of the Shadow
Late afternoon shadows stretched across the ground as Raiden and his subordinates stood before the house, their gazes drawn upward with confusion and mounting dread, an unnatural chill creeping through the air around them.
"We are in very big trouble," Leo said, his voice tight as he swallowed nervously and sweat beaded on his forehead.
"How is this possible?" Freya asked in Noorian, her words edged with uncertainty.
Raiden fixed his gaze on the transparent white cube materializing around them, its walls extending from the forest’s edge to the mansion’s far end, trapping the entire estate within its confines. Like being sealed inside a twenty-foot-tall box. He felt no panic, no fear—only the methodical need to understand what confronted them.
"Let me check if Free can fly beyond it," Freya said, motioning to her familiar. But as Free prepared to take off, Leo’s voice cut through the air, sharp and terrified. "Stop!"
He couldn’t understand what Freya had said, but he clearly understood what was about to happen. Freya realized it too and quickly stopped Free from flying.
Raiden took a confused glance at them both. "What’s going on? Do you know something, Leo?"
Leo swallowed hard and stared at the cube once more. "Yes, this is the marked barrier," he whispered, terror evident in his trembling voice.
He gestured toward the barrier’s edge where it met the forest. All eyes turned to follow his direction. Three birds fluttered frantically against the transparent wall, unable to break through. As they watched, another bird flew in from the trees—only to find itself immediately trapped with the others, all of them now caught in the same invisible cage.
"Only white crest bearers can create the marked barrier. But casting one this size, the person would have to be sixth realm or higher."
He turned to Raiden. "Once cast, the caster marks someone inside as the target. The barrier can only be broken when that person fulfills whatever command was given.