Noting Jim's reaction, he banishes the illusion with a flick of his fingers. His hand remains outstretched, however, fingers curling slightly around an unseen spell. The mage's eyes are half-closed for a second, but he swiftly turns, finding his direction like a compass and striding ahead.

"This way." He weaves through the Nexus-goers in the plaza, taking little notice of landmarks like fountains or sofas or vending machines: he cuts through them all and heads down a gloomy alleyway with no guide but the invisible trail he's following.

One has to hope it's a reliable spell, because the alley seems to go on forever. Brick walls stretch ahead either side, lined with unassuming door after dripping airlock after unassuming door. But when the plaza itself is lost to view behind them Stratos suddenly speeds his pace, running the last few yards to the destination his spell marks.

Glass crunches under his boot as he stops in front of the plain brick wall. There's a strange burning smell in the air. What chemicals were burned he couldn't guess, but the meaning of the glass shards spread before them is plainer to see. The shattered hazard symbol stares up at them. Stratos takes a slow, deliberate breath before he looks at the man beside him.