Seven

At Little Barney's icy words, Naki muttered and lay down where he stood, while Cannon curled up and retreated into himself.

The others also went their separate ways, returning to the darkness behind their cells.

Semir stared at them in astonishment, unable to understand their indifference.

How...

"Little Barney, it's me!"

Semir took a step forward, the firelight catching up with Little Barney's retreating back.

Unable to control his emotions, he shouted anxiously, "Deputy Standard Bearer, Colin Semir!"

"Naki? Cannon? Belleti?"

But no one paid him any attention.

Semir stared blankly at the five cold cells, watching several figures disappear before his eyes.

Ricky coughed.

"Semir, our mission..."

But Semir clearly refused to give up. He suddenly gritted his teeth and rushed two steps to Little Barney's cell, gripping the metal bars indignantly.

"Hey! Little Barney, you little bas—"

However, Semir's words abruptly stopped!

Smack!

A loud crack rang out as a visible burst of fire erupted between his palm and the bars!

Semir cried out in pain, as if someone had struck him heavily. He flew backward, crashed to the ground, and groaned softly.

His torch fell to the floor, kicking up countless clouds of dust.

The sudden change startled everyone.

Clay caught up in two or three steps and, together with Sunny, helped up the grim-faced Semir. The latter tremblingly extended his palm, which bore burn marks.

"Careful!"

Ricky stared solemnly at the metal bars, looking at the clear handprint Semir had left on them. "This is the mages' trick. There's something strange about these bars. No one is to touch them."

Tales looked at the bars with lingering fear, wondering what they were.

Semir panted heavily. Supported by Clay, he gritted his teeth and stared at the darkness inside the cell ahead.

"Little Barney!" he roared.

But