The meeting proceeded in an orderly fashion.
With Professor Duncan and Elder Barnes assisting, the accumulated matters were properly arranged and put into motion, one by one.
The meeting was nearly over, and Ansu was about to adjourn it so everyone could return to their work.
Suddenly, everyone heard a commotion outside, followed by the urgent blare of an alarm.
"Is the Demon Army launching a surprise attack!?"
Elder Matthew had heard that alarm countless times before. He was the first to stand.
Vera gripped her weapon warily, and everyone else in the hall rose as well.
Yet Ansu's mental senses detected no sign of an invasion by the Demon Army. Puzzled, he called outside, "What's happening?"
A guard rushed in to report.
"A spellcaster is trying to force their way through our aerial defenses!"
"Aerial...?" Ansu frowned.
Vera glanced at her brother, then looked up at the sky. Her eyes widened in shock.
"No way!"
"She flew straight here? And this fast?"
Everyone looked up.
High in the sky, a speck of emerald light was rapidly approaching.
"Is that Altina?" Freya asked in surprise.
The crow radiated emerald magical energy as she darted back and forth through the dense antiaircraft barrage. Several spells exploded almost close enough to brush her wings, yet she showed no intention of slowing down.
Freya immediately turned to Ansu. "She was desperate to find you. She must have flown straight over the Demon Army's camp and risked forcing her way in."
"Stop firing!" Ansu hurriedly called out. "She's friendly! That's Altina!"
"Just how determined is she...?" Vera silently watched the black crow weaving through the barrage.
The guards outside hurried to relay the news, and orders swiftly passed down the line.
"Tell the mages to stop! She's friendly-!"
Soon, with the antiaircraft fire no