AECAST Comic Chapter 3

This is the third chapter of the AECAST comic.

Cover art for Chapter 3.

## Official Description

> *Humanity is dying. Demons overrun the world, killing those who venture beyond the city walls. Two girls join a new mage squad formed under secretive conditions. Can their efforts turn the tide before it is too late?*
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## Full Summary

The chapter starts by jumping between the two groups of sisters inside the ruined citadel, with scenes interposed between each other. It ends with Paige channeling a spell and killing an abomination. This causes a large eruption that rumbles and echoes through the rest of the citadel. Itzel, Hannah, and Aytan feel the rumbling and realize that the combat is close by. Itzel orders the group to hurry. Hannah says that Aytan needs a moment to catch her breath to no avail. Aytan says not to worry, just that she hopes everyone is still alive by the time they reunite.

Aytan's words cause Hannah to stress over recent events; Valens of the 42nd squad is dead, the rest of the squad cannot be reached, nor that of the rest of their squad. From Hannah's point of view, it is entirely possible that the three of them are the only ones left alive in hostile territory. As she wonders internally how did things get this bad, the scene changes to a time prior to the group entering the citadel. A glissade portal is shown, with a bridge leading into a black void. Hannah asks about the void; Mina states that the void is there whenever a glissade lacks an end destination. This void is called Avidya, and is a place nobody returns from. Upon seeing Hannah's horrified face, Mina hastily explains that nobody is going in there today.

Anuchar activates the glissade via an orb placed onto a receptacle. The glissade archway lights up and creates a viable portal. Anuchar alerts the group that the citadel's end destination cannot keep an active portal alive for long, and that he will create a secondary return portal when possible. Aytan is shown to be nervous about going into the glissade. She feels something and looks to her side to see Hannah smiling at her. Aytan realizes that Hannah has offered her hand to hold, smiles, and clasps it warmly in turn.

The scene cuts back to the present, with Itzel trying to lead her group back. An abomination is shown in the way. As soon as it notices Itzel, it immediately takes out a scimitar and throws it at Itzel. The sword barely misses hitting Itzel (albeit with some damage to her ponytail). Itzel is enraged and yells that she is not going to be stopped. She charges the abomination, deflects its tentacle arm, and activates her shield staff. A large explosion occurs and disintegrates the creature. Itzel is shocked, as shield magic is not supposed to cause disintegration. While she ponders what could be the cause, Hannah and a severely winded Aytan catch up. Before the group can talk, a stray magic blast comes out of nowhere. Aytan barely manages to deflect the magic with her shield; the magic is deflected and instead explodes into the ceiling of the room. Itzel exclaims that the cast magic means someone must be alive, and orders Aytan to take point with her shield permanently activated.

Meanwhile, a dead abomination is shown on the floor, smoking from several wounds to the torso and face. A weary Paige is shown as the cause, with several more magic bolts at the ready. She collapses on the floor from tiredness and asks Mina to take over as lead. Paige complains that she would have asked Naomi instead, but Naomi was too busy farseeing. Naomi is surprised at first, but smiles and thanks Paige for providing cover. Paige grumpily says that this wasn't the response she wanted.

The Saadahk is shown to detect a new group. Naomi sighs and reads the signs - she states that a group of two to five is approaching their position. Paige demands Naomi finally contribute in combat, as Mina and Paige cannot take on a group of five alone. A hasty plan to create a killzone is made; in order to ensure no survivors, Mina decides to use a powerful spell known as an astra from one of her magical orbs. Naomi refuses to get into position, saying that she will continue to view the situation until the group arrives as something seems wrong to her. Right before the incoming group arrives, Naomi notices a magical shadow. She suddenly realizes that this means friendly mages are coming, and for everyone to hold their fire. Naomi is too late, and Mina fires her astra. The astra is so powerful that it explodes her orb into small pieces.

The incoming group is revealed to be Aytan, Hannah, and Itzel. Naomi yells for the group to get out of the way as a shield cannot withstand an astra's power, but there is not enough time. Fortunately, the spell is stopped at the last second by what appears to be magical tethers restraining it from traveling further. Paige comments that everyone is lucky that she is adept at gravity magic. Paige is able to use her gravity magic to repair Mina's orb and return the astra back into its shell.

The group is now finally reunited. Hannah tries to explain what happened, but is unable to speak further when the timeline of events turns to Valen's death. Mina comes over and comforts her with a hug. Mina in turn explains she was saved by Paige after communication was lost. The topic turns to what to do next; Itzel states that nothing has changed, and that they will follow Anuchar's orders to disengage and withdraw no matter what. Hannah protests, asking if they are going to simply leave the remainder of the 42nd to die. Itzel angrily calls her an idiot novice and states that it does not make tactical sense to begin a hunt for the other members of the 42nd when they have no idea what the enemy is capable of, where they are, or if the remaining members of the 42nd are even alive in the first place. Paige shrugs and says that they all have to simply hope for the best.

The scene then cuts to in front of the original glissade archway from which the girls entered the citadel. Aytan notes that it seems they are the first to return. Itzel orders Mina to create a glissade. Mina attempts to do so, but is unable to generate the portal multiple times. Just when Mina notices that it almost seems like her magic is being blocked, Naomi detects an incoming magical group of five. Aytan and Hannah exclaim with joy that it must be the surviving members of the 42nd.

However, when the 42nd arrives, it is clear that they are wounded and bleeding. Aytan tries to rush over to help, she is immediately stopped by Paige's outstretched hand. Aytan angrily asks what is going on - Paige tells her in a low voice to shut up, as something is wrong. Paige states that it is possible her mood is affected by Itzel, but the arrival of the 42nd is too conveniently timed. She presents a sigil and challenges the 42nd to provide the correct countersign. A member of the 42nd raises their staff and attempts to do so, but the sigil is distorted and eerie. Aytan recoils in disgust and asks why their sigil appears diseased.

Paige demands the 42nd explain what is wrong with their countersign. Instead of speaking, the same mage starts projecting words that orbit around his staff. Mina notices that this seems to be old script, dead languages from before the invasion. While Mina attempts to translate, Naomi wonders aloud if this is simply the 42nd's attempt to communicate. Aytan interrupts her and asks worriedly why the words seem to be speeding up. Mina continues to translate words. Hannah is nervous, wondering internally why the words sound like something very familiar.

The mage's spell is interrupted by Paige, who starts channeling her own spell and demands for them to stop. She is not able to finish her demands, and doubles over. Blood spews out of Paige's mouth onto the floor. Looking up confusedly, she quickly realizes that her pain is caused by the mysterious mage. Mina and Itzel quickly rush over to Paige to protect her.

Naomi suddenly deactivates the Saadahk, saying that she now understands what the mages are. She begins to charge a spell, saying that she will no longer need the Saadahk any further. As she charges the spell, she asks aloud if the group was going to invade their home via the glissade by following the 22nd, or if they were simply attempting to infest their bodies and control them like puppets. The chapter ends with Naomi say that she will kill the entirety of the 42nd as they are no longer mages, but creatures known as Shenmal.

## Major Events

* Paige, Mina, and Naomi are shown to be barely holding on while waiting for the return of Hannah, Aytan, and Itzel.
* Glissade portals are discussed in greater detail, including the existence of a null area called Avidya.
* Itzel's shield magic malfunctions, killing an enemy. Shield magic is shown to not normally work this way.
* Thinking they are an enemy group, Paige, Mina, and Naomi almost cause a friendly fire incident upon detecting the approach of Hannah, Aytan, and Itzel.
* Mina is shown to use a powerful spell called an astra. Use of an astra is so powerful that it shatters a magic orb into pieces.
* Paige is shown to be talented with gravity magic.
* The group decides to evacuate the citadel, but is unable to generate a glissade. The 42nd squad arrives almost immediately afterwards.
* Suspicious, Paige challenges the group to provide a countersign. The 42nd is unable to provide a successful sign and begins channeling magic.
* Paige is injured by the spell. Naomi realizes that the 42nd is no longer composed of mages, but of creatures known as Shenmal.