The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 54: Dancing in palms. (Part 2)

**

"This is it?" I faced Vanter as we stood outside the on the cliff's edge. We were looking down at a remote island in the Mediterranean Sea. A large compound was built on the shoreline and for all purposes seemed like an island resort. What marked it as different however was the security that patrolled the grounds. They were fully armoured and armed.

"Facts point to yes," Vanter nodded. "I see a similar structure beneath the main resort that resembled the festival grounds we saw in America. Looks like it goes down deeper. Agent Lasley, are we clear to head inside?"

The pink haired women snorted, "Of course. This place is privately owned. No government is touching it. Works both ways."

Zen smiled, "So no matter what havoc we insight here, we'll be fine?"

"Well, legally you wouldn't be bound to any nation."

"Great."

Vanter looked at Zen as I did, glad she was on our side. He then eyed me, "So what's the plan?"

"Plan?" I eyed him back. "You were second in command to Ardy, not me. You should have the plan."

"You had the higher rank."

"You and I both know that was just for show."

"Ha," Vanter huffed. "Fine. From what I can see there are people about, children included. They may not be related. We stealth into the main building. Aria covers us with a shroud, we get to the way down and take it straight. Once we get a better distance, we can feel out the area. Regardless, be ready for a fight to break out. Don't let your guard down. Is that decent enough of a plan?"

"It's pretty basic," Ana smirked. "But basic is good."

I didn't react but internally raised a brow. Ana's smirk at the end there had turned a bit too endearing. It was the same look that Erin gave me sometimes when we teased each other. I put the thought away. Now wasn't the time and it was very unlikely that Ana and Vanter were doing anything together. Ana was an Elven knight, she wasn't capable of crossing that line with royalty.

"Thanks Ana," Vanter glared at the rest of us. "Now let's head in. Quietly."

We made our way down the cliff and to where the resort truly started. While there weren't many guests, the number of staff was significant enough to spot them at every turn. Had we tried to sneak in without magic, it would have never worked and that was ignoring the cameras all over the place. To put it simply, the entire resort was decadent and glamourous. It was the type of resort you would expect to see celebrities and high end 'influencers'. Judging from what we knew however, this was a secret and an invite only location.

"How does this work?" Agent Lasley asked in a whisper as she stared at the shimmering barrier around us."

"It's a three-fold spell," I began to explain. "The first is to bend the light around us, making us basically invisible. The second effects the mind of anyone nearby, making them less likely to approach us. The third is a dampening effect to remove any vibrations we might cause. Also, you don't need to whisper. The dampening effect works on sound as well."

"I see," Agent Lasley pondered the spell in wonder. "While it is magic, you are still countering the basic laws of the world."

"That's how it works. The two are very linked. Mana is almost like a type of particle you can't see or feel normally. What I'm actually doing is taking mana into my body, linking the different types together and altering those types. By doing that we create what's known as magic, a response in the real physical world. It's kind of like chemistry really. Though I will admit there are some more non-sensical things we can do as well."