[KEN'S POV]
The colony was a mess.
As we stepped inside, I couldn't help but notice how rough and disorganized everything looked—like this place had been through hell. Buildings were worn, equipment rusted, and the air carried the weight of fatigue and fear. As I walked beside my team, I noticed the colonists watching us with wary eyes. Their gazes were sharp, cautious... a thin veil of hostility hidden beneath exhaustion.
Theo stepped closer to me and whispered, "Doesn't feel like they want us here."
So I wasn't the only one sensing it. Something was off.
We continued forward until a man approached us. He bowed slightly as he neared. He stood about six feet tall, wore a dusty mining outfit stained with ore and sweat, and had sharp green eyes set in a rugged face. His ID tag read Assistant Manager.
"I'm Jeremy," he said. "Assistant manager of this colony."
I opened my mouth to respond, but Calder cut me off.
"We were sent by the Inquisitors to investigate disturbances," Calder said bluntly. "Take us to the colony manager."
Jeremy gave a nod. "Of course. The manager sent me to receive you. Please follow me."
We were led to a small command building where the colony manager awaited us. The man was short, pudgy, with slick blonde hair and tired, dark eyes. He stood and offered a polite nod.
"Welcome. I'm Xavier, the manager of this colony. I requested assistance from the Inquisitors myself."
Again, I tried to speak, and again Calder interrupted.
"The reports mention disturbances," Calder said. "Be specific. What kind?"
Xavier leaned back in his chair, his tone suddenly condescending. "Assuming you kids are competent, you should already know that there are Mages on this planet."
I clenched my fists. So did Theo. The insult was clear, but none of us said anything.
Calder's eye twitched. "Yes. We've confirmed that Mages are involved."
"Three weeks ago," Xavier continued, "they began attacking the colony. At first, we assumed they were toying with us. No casualties, surprisingly. But then... something strange happened. While checking our inventory, I noticed a certain crystal we began mining last month had gone missing."
"What crystal?" Calder asked.
"Starnite," Xavier replied.
He opened a drawer and pulled out a radiant crystal that shimmered like the night sky, glimmering with star-like lights inside.
"This is Starnite."
Theo took it carefully, a red scanning light emerging from his suit.
"There's no official data on this," he muttered. "But the scanner's picking up something... unusual. Not psychic energy. Not magic either. Something else."
I frowned. What the hell would Mages want with this?
Before anyone could say more, a massive explosion shook the building.
Jeremy burst through the doors, panic on his face. "The Mages! They've returned! They destroyed the colony gate!"
A chill ran down my spine.
Calder regained his composure instantly. "Keep all colonists inside and away from the fighting," he ordered Xavier. "We'll handle this."
He turned to us. "Let's move!"
As we exited, Theo came up beside me. "Ken, try reaching Astrid. She needs to know."
I opened my comms. "Ken to Squad Leader Astrid, do you copy?"
Static.
I tried again. Still nothing.
"Any luck?" Theo asked.
I shook my head. "Nothing."
Theo scowled. "Looks like we're on our own."
Something's definitely wrong here.
We reached the remains of the gate—or what was left of it. Blackened steel. Craters. Smoke.
Then I noticed Theo stop mid-step. Without a word, he bolted left.
"Where are you going?!" I shouted.
He didn't respond. Just gave me a glance and kept running.
I had no idea what he was up to, but we had more immediate problems.
There were four figures standing at the breach, cloaked in dark robes.
One of them raised a hand.
FLAME MAGIC: Crematio Totale.
A massive, blazing sphere of concentrated fire exploded toward us.
"Shields!" Calder shouted.
I raised my hands and quickly channeled my psychic energy, forming a barrier just in time. A deafening explosion followed, shaking the ground and ripping through the terrain.
When the smoke cleared, everything in the flame's path had been annihilated. My heart pounded.
That... that much power from just one Mage?
"Everyone okay?!" Calder called out.
"Mira, Nyra, Juno, Vaelis, Helena, Ken and theo—status!"
"We're good!" I shouted back.
"Where's Theo?"
I grimaced. "He ran off before we got here."
Calder's voice tightened. "What do you mean 'ran off'?"
"I mean exactly that."
Before Calder could argue, the Mage that fired the first spell flashed forward and fired a spell point-blank into Calder's gut.
Boom!
Calder flew back, crashing through a tree and coughing blood.
"Calder!" I shouted.
Before I could reach him, everything erupted into chaos.
We'd been separated. Nyra and Juno faced off against one Mage. Vaelis and Helena with another. Mira rushed to Calder's side.
And me?
A figure stepped toward me alone, hood falling back to reveal a young man with long black hair and piercing purple eyes.
"Who are you people?" I asked.
No response.
I summoned my blade from digital storage, pointing it at him. "Fine. If you won't talk, I'll beat the answers out of you."
I cloaked myself in psychic energy and dashed forward. In a blink, I closed the distance and drove my sword straight into his stomach.
But something was wrong.
His body began to crack—splintering like fragile glass.
I jumped back instinctively, watching in disbelief as his form crumbled into glittering shards.
A whisper echoed.
MIRROR MAGIC: Self-Reflection.
Before I could react, the real Mage appeared behind me—then drove his foot into my back with crushing force.
I hit the ground hard, skidding across the dirt.
"Urgh... That kick…" I coughed. "He's enhanced his body with magic... just like a Paladin."
My eyes burned with fury. "just like a Paladin…"
The Mage stood in the distance, casting another spell.
MIRROR MAGIC: Doppelgänger.
An exact copy of me stepped out from a mirrored haze, perfect down to the detail.
The real Mage pointed at me and gave the order.
"Kill him."