Assaults and arrivals

Something felt off.

A prickle moved under Alisha’s skin, like a faint premonition, and wouldn’t go away.

It had started when she'd woken up. Within her body, from the tips of her toes to the very ends of her hair, the young woman sensed something akin to light electricity thrumming in the air. Even after dressing and making her way out of the student dormitory, the sensation persisted, gently stirring her fingertips every time she rubbed them together.

She wandered Weydan’s late-morning streets. Her first destination was the marketplace, where she'd bought herself a piece of pear bread. Munching on that, she'd ventured around the city a little, late morning slipping toward eleven. Eventually, she found herself standing near a medical ward, settled in the city's centre. The magnificent building had once been the main armory. Weydan had been little more than an armored outpost then, caught in the old wars between Etnal and Riverut. Since then, the Enforcers had set up a separate office, and the city forces moved their barracks to the western walls. All that was left was a reinforced building, used as a place of healing.

The blonde woman sighed before languidly making her way through the city. Yet, the tension in the air was only more palpable by the minute.

'Something strange is happening...' she thought, watching the people in the marketplace. Seeing the elves and humans intertwining as they went, the Rune Mage began paying more and more attention to certain groups in particular. And sooner rather than later, she started noticing a certain pattern.

'The Ureliar people seem strangely on edge today... especially toward elves.' she noted, seeing some people dressed in Ureliar-style clothes: mostly light, but clearly designed to minimize limits on movements, suitable for a leisure day or as padding under armor. Most of those who wore them had rather dark skin - a common denominator of people from the sun-drenched terrain of Ureliar - but not all of them. Those people would bicker rather vigorously with the pointy-eared folks going about their business. While some of those accounts could be explained as dissatisfaction with the prices or insults too quiet to be heard clearly, not every incident was accompanied by that.

'It feels like they're trying to spark some conflict... yesterday, too, it happened a few times, but today they appear to have shed all restraint...' she thought, reminding herself of some people openly stealing from a stall led by an elven merchant. The conflict quickly escalated to the point that even a few Enforcers had to come around. 'Perhaps Arand knows more...'

The faintly queasy feeling in her abdomen stirred, but the amber-eyed blonde didn't show it, humming her own personal melody to calm herself. After all, she could do little alone. The best she could do at the moment was simply not getting involved.

Or at least, that's what she told herself. Finding her way to her favorite bridge, she watched Cis, the river that cut through the city, for a long moment before she took her steps toward the Academy.

Pulling out a small watch from the robe's inner pocket, Alisha confirmed the time.

'A quarter to noon. I can easily make it to class as is.' she nodded to herself. As she watched the tall building, she sighed with defeat. 'Professor Schweizer knew nothing of the mana stones being placed all around the Academy. She mentioned it could've been a project she wasn't informed about, but at best she could tell me today. Well, Dory has some lessons with her, so I guess she'll tell her.'

However, as the main door came into her view, something stirred her fingers.

'I cannot help but feel like there are more Ureliar people on the streets than usual... and it feels like some of them are watching me...'

Her heart beat stronger. A sixth sense within her flared up, telling her of the stares aimed at her. They felt... strangely focused, in a way.

'Wait...'

Suddenly, she halted. The strange feeling surged as she looked at the entryway to the Academy.

The guards who usually stood by the door were gone.

'...In three years I've been here, I've never seen them leave their posts.' Alisha frowned, her delicate contours forming a suspicious expression. 'I should speak to some staff--'

"Excuse me," a woman's voice brought her out of her thoughts.

Alisha turned around, immediately locating the person. Standing at roughly the same height, the dark-eyed woman had a neutral expression on her sharp face. She was heavily layered for the heat, but the Rune Mage didn't ponder much, seeing no sweat beading on the woman's skin. Perhaps it was a part of the woman's religion. Her brown hair barely reached her chin.

"Yes?"

"You are Alisha Ferfesh, a Rune Mage, correct?" the woman asked, her thin lips barely moving.

Alisha felt her heart thump strangely. An alarm bell rang in the back of her mind, making the woman do a mental check on her state. A hand covertly rubbed against an inner pocket of her robe, feeling the cool mana stones she always carried for use.

'I don't keep my identity particularly hidden, but this feels off...'

"...yes," she answered carefully. She was alone with the woman at the moment, not a single soul for another dozen meters. "Who are you?"

"No one important," Minerva answered, her voice as emotionless as her stare. "I just wanted to confirm your identity."

???

Alisha frowned. However, her reaction instantly shifted to tension as she noticed that the high number of Ureliar people nearby, each of them watching them with strange interest.

The woman peeled her cloak back. In her hands, two poles of some metal shone, blunt but no doubt dangerous. She rushed, aiming a blow to Alisha's temple.

The Rune Mage found herself only barely able to avoid the blow. The question of why the woman attacked her was thrown out of her mind, her body immediately shuffling further away as her hand grasped one of the rune stones she had. With but a quick glance, she confirmed the small rune on it to be the barrier. Fueling her intent with mana, she felt the power course, the small sigil flaring up as she focused on the aggressor.

One of Minerva's poles struck her in her arm, a sting of pain erupting as the blow's **** nearly cracked her shoulder blade.

Then, the barrier magic formed, less than two meters in diameter, giving her just enough space to breathe.

Alisha gasped loudly, feeling her veins rush with blood. The pain flared in her right hand, numbness spreading as her fingers twitched. The sensations felt dulled slightly, but thankfully, she felt it was only temporary damage.

"W-What are you doing?!" she asked loudly, scanning the aggressor's posture.

'A random attack...? It doesn't feel like it.' she considered. Yet, nothing in the woman suggested tension or satisfaction, or any particular feeling, so to speak. The lack of any information threw her instincts off. 'But why is nobody reacting...?'

Alisha looked around, forgetting to breathe as she realized the situation.

'Not an Enforcer in sight, and everyone here is dressed in Ureliar clothing... what's going on...?'

Her heart thumped with uncertainty. Her instincts screamed at her to find a way out of the situation. The mana stone in her hand vibrated, informing her that the barrier would not hold for long.

'The barrier's strength is only about the 2nd circle, and I won't be able to write a rune with my hand like this... and no other mana stones I have have emergency spells on them.'

Minerva stepped closer, stopping about a meter from the barrier. Her scrutinizing gaze seemed to pierce Alisha's very essence as her hold on the weapons tightened.

"Everyone, inside," she called out, her eyes never leaving Alisha's form. "I will handle this."

The Rune Mage looked at her, brief confusion surging within her before she realized something about the surrounding people who started to move toward the Academy's entrance. About two dozen of them moved, disappearing within about half a minute.

'Everyone is armed. They're entering the Academy with weapons...'

"What is the meaning of this? What are you people doing? Why?" she asked, her tone shifting from wariness to defensive anger. The fingers of her left hand prepared, marking a simple rune under her palm.

But the dark-eyed woman didn't even open her mouth. Instead, she stepped even closer, her hands swinging her poles.

One swing. Two hits.

*CRACK!*

'It cracked already?!'

Alisha's heart sank as she saw the spiderweb of imperfections in the barrier spread from the impacts.

'Something about her is off.' she realized. 'A barrier like this, even if only powered by a 2nd-circle mana stone, should last a few 1st-circle attacks. A physical strike wouldn't break through this easily... just how strong is she?' the questioning thought appeared.

However, before Alisha could ponder any more, Minerva struck for the third time.

The mana stone in her palm shrieked and split with a crack, losing all its glow. Dropping it, the Rune Mage lifted her left hand, grasping the small rune of air she'd made.

"!" Minerva barely managed to dodge due to the distance, the powerful burst of air missing her and only stirring her clothes. She didn't stop her ****, her pole striking Alisha's hand, making the woman's magic fade away instantly.

"Ah!"

Alisha backpedaled, pained rasps leaving her mouth. Her left wrist screamed for help, barely not broken entirely, but most definitely strained by the impact. Her fingers twitched, numb and not responding to her commands properly. A fiery current ran up her entire hand, prompting slight muscle spasms.

However, before Minerva closed the distance again, a slash of green energy passed between the two. Visibly surprised, the aggressor backed off slightly, lifting her weapons defensively.

"What are you doing?" a manly voice pierced the air as a huge man approached.

Alisha looked at him quickly. The dark-skinned man's bald head shone in the sun's rays, and his weary yet focused expression spoke of his age. In his hand, a sword shone, with a green aura overlapping the steel edge. The man's outfit was not that of an Enforcer, but rather something akin to light leather armor with metal platings that covered him from head to toe. He was no doubt from Ureliar, judging by his looks alone. The Academy's emblem on his chest was easy to make out, and gave her an idea of the man's identity.

'Is that... a swordsmanship instructor?' Alisha questioned herself. 'But why is he here? The swordsmanship faculty is across the city...'

With a quick swipe, the edge of his sword made a half-circle, the aura around him swelling before creating a barrier that separated Minerva from them. Then, the man gazed upon Alisha. The gaze of his brown eyes conveyed a layer of care and confusion he no doubt felt.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Just a little hurt," the blonde answered, rubbing her hurt wrist. "What is happening?"

"That I don't know. I was on my way to the Academy when I received an emergency call from the headmaster a few minutes ago. Stay behind me," he commanded before turning to the armed woman who watched him with what could only be read as disinterest. "Who are you? You dare **** someone in broad daylight?"

Minerva swung her weapons, readying herself anew. "Deuce Hunber. I've heard of you," she stated, not an emotion in her tone. However, the momentary glint in her eyes bordered on recognition as she looked him over. With a quick motion, she undid her cloak and threw it to the side, exposing her light suit that covered her slim body from her neck to her feet, dark in color.

Deuce's brow furrowed deeply as he scanned the woman, visible surprise gracing his features. "You know me?"

Minerva didn't grace his inquiry with an answer. Instead, she spun on her heels, the metal poles in her hands striking the wall of aura. They only bounced off, barely marking a scratch.

Deuce sighed. "So be it. I'll be your opponent," he declared. "Young lady," he glanced at Alisha for but a moment. "I suggest you make your escape. This woman is after me."

Alisha nodded, immediately stepping away.

Almost instantly, the greenish wall of aura dissipated. Deuce raised his sword, aura pooling at its base before swelling and extending as he slashed. The blade became several times longer, aiming for Minerva's legs. However, the black-eyed woman was far faster than he anticipated, sidestepping before rushing in, striking his sword with one pole while the other aimed at his abdomen.

With a huff, Deuce's hands moved. Aura responded, forming defensive plating on his body.

But just as he expected the strikes to connect, Minerva halted. No, rather than halt, she shifted her trajectory. Sidestepping, she planted a kick in his armor, using the recoil to skitter past him before he managed to respond.

"Young lady, dodge!" he cried out, slashing with his hand, but the aura missed Minerva.

Turning around whilst running, Alisha saw the black-eyed woman rushing at her. She brought her two weapons together, the poles connecting and interlocking into a long, staff-like weapon.

A beat of panic rushed through her. But before the Rune Mage managed to do anything but place her foot on the ground mid-run, Minerva attacked, the weapon's blunt edge striking right in her forehead.

Alisha saw stars before darkness consumed everything.

-Meanwhile-

Lucas felt the faint shivers thread down his back. With every second he spent on the horse, he felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest. This was only amplified as he looked to his side, Lis'te riding on his steed, and in front, where Ophelia's expansive hair cascaded down her back. Aveline had ventured with some of the mansion's guards to do a sweep of the outer Weydan and to inform the Enforcers and Gareth of the situation, while Seraphina's remaining retinue was sent to the marketplace to search there first. That left him, Nimue, Ophelia, Lis'te, and Cileres to go to the Academy - the place where the Liveren Princess was most likely to be.

The reasoning was simple.

'If anywhere, she would obviously want to see the building founded by Ylla. That's where the search should start.'

Every moment was prolonged mercilessly as he only looked ahead, his hearing nearly completely dulled as he scanned the streets.

It was too empty. Most notably, Lucas couldn't notice a single person who could be said to come from Ureliar. That alone screamed at him to stay vigilant.

'Seraphina, where the hell are you...' he lamented in his spirit. A tight feeling squeezed his heart.

Feeling Nimue's dainty hands shift around his abdomen, he turned slightly to look at her.

"Are you alright?" Nimue almost whispered as she leaned in, almost resting her chin on his shoulder. "You look tense."

"I'll be better once we find Seraphina," Lucas sighed lightly, a pang of unease stirring his guts.

"Lucas, listen... I know what you feel, but this is not your fault. You couldn't have known she'd do this," the black-haired maid whispered reassuringly, her gentle touch like a healing salve. "We'll find her."

"...I hope so," he answered hesitantly. His gaze landed on Cileres sitting in his lap. "=Any signs of her yet, Cileres?="

"=Not yet,=" the cat answered. "=But her presence feels a little stronger. Seems we're getting closer.="

At the words, Lis'te's head turned. His wary stare betrayed the layers of disgust he harbored toward Lucas. Yet, his blue eyes quickly focused on Seraphina's familiar.

"=Are you certain?="

"=Nothing's certain, Lis'te,=" the cat almost snorted, his fur bristling against Lucas's hand slightly. "=I'm saying what I'm feeling.="

The elf's gaze ventured up, meeting Lucas's. The ire within was palpable, the air of subtle tension rising. Lucas felt a bead of nervous sweat trickle down his temple.

'He's been staring daggers at me all this time... I feel like he'd love to blame anything wrong that happens on me...'

Since he'd explained the situation to his sisters, things have become hectic. They immediately brought him upstairs to repeat his words to Ismeria and Seraphina's retinue. Although he spoke not a word of the deadline he'd revealed to Nimue, nobody tallied for so much as a split second. They skipped most parts of the preparation, only getting saddles on horses and setting off as quickly as they could. Now, at less than five minutes to noon, they were here, strutting through Weydan.

Something didn't play well with Lucas's intuition. A stinging feeling of bitterness bit his throat.

'Mother was a little strange about it all. I didn't expect she'd heed my words at all. And not just that, she told me to come with them and gave us half of the mansion's guard ****. Yet, she remained... I can understand a lot, but something felt like she was relieved to send us out...'

But all he could do was sigh. His mother was a territory he dreaded trying to understand. That icy-cold gaze, which was inherited by Ophelia, always sent chills down his spine. Something about her told him prying would end poorly for him.

But his ponderings soon ended. As the three horses made one of the final turns, a sound rang from the distance. It was distant, but its thunderous roar was unmistakable.

"...an explosion?" Ophelia's brows furrowed as she pulled the reins, forcing her horse to slow down. Shooting a glance at Lis'te, she continued, "It's in marketplace's direction."

The elf stiffened up slightly, a hint of palpable tension stirring in him. "Let us hurry up," he almost commanded, holding his steed's reins tighter.

"Yes," Ophelia nodded. Then, her long hair flailed, unbound, as she looked back. "Don't tarry, Lucas."

Lucas nodded before they sped up, just a few corners to turn before they reached the Academy.

'How strange.' a sudden thought entered his mind as he almost leveled his horse with the other two. 'Ophelia looked at me... approvingly, almost. Quite the difference from the 'freeze and die' stare she usually gives me.' his mind trailed off momentarily, and so did his eyes.

Ophelia's curves strained against her dress, as they normally did. Her body jolted with the saddle’s rhythm, most prominently visible in her massive chest. The succulent, bigger-than-melons masses bounced vividly with every motion up and down, the motions heavy and visibly pulling her dress. Every next second, Lucas could've sworn the neckline descended further, his sister's cleavage becoming more prominent. And every time Ophelia's breasts repeated the up-and-down movement, he could've sworn they were about to jump out of her garment.

But then, his eyes went up, meeting her gaze.

A cold shiver ran down his spine as he realized his silver-haired sister had been looking at him for at least a couple of seconds by now.

But contrary to anything he could've expected, she didn't scowl or groan or even say a word. Rather, as she turned forward, Lucas saw her lip distending as though she bit it, but the notion was impossible for him to see clearly.

But all ponders were thrown aside when they turned the final corner, the Academy's building standing proudly in the distance. However, that wasn't what piqued their attention.

First, it was a series of quiet sounds, echoing across the empty street and strong buildings. Using Keen Senses for a few seconds, Lucas listened deeply. As his senses amplified, he heard a specific combination of metal and a magic-esque jingle, one that he knew quite well. It always accompanied his training sessions on Friday, when he'd watch Aveline spar with Deuce.

"Metal against aura...?" he voiced aloud, prompting everyone to briefly halt.

Lis'te frowned, his eyes going in the direction where the sounds were coming from. "Someone's fighting...?"

Without a word spoken, they rushed forth. The brief gallop was accompanied by hurried clanks, all intermingling with the sounds up ahead. Every passing second was more tense, their heads running with millions of possibilities. Lucas felt Nimue hug him tighter.

Then, they approached the Academy. Looking to the side, they noticed two people fighting in front of the main entrance. The taller, dark-skinned man held a sword, aura pouring as he breathed heavily. In front of him stood a dark-eyed woman, a long staff in her hands. Her fair skin was deeply flushed, sweat beading down her cheeks, her breathing labored as well.

Of the quintet that arrived, Lucas was the first to recognize one of them.

"Deuce...?" he half-asked, half stated.

"The swordsmanship instructor?" Ophelia frowned, glancing at her brother.

"Who is he fighting?" asked Lis'te, his hand twitching by his side. Lucas caught a glimpse of a green aura forming on his fingertips.

'He looks ready to attack, but I don't know who...' Lucas looked again, suddenly noticing how the fight was going. The woman with the staff fought with a refined style that aimed to strike in every blind spot Deuce showed. Although her exact form was unknown to him, the white-haired man could almost instinctively tell by his teacher's response that it seemed to be Ureliar-derived at least.

'That's weird... Deuce is Rook rank, the second highest in swordsmanship... and he's being pushed back...?'

However, that's when something new caught his eye. It happened when the woman unexpectedly dashed sideways, seemingly as though trying to circle the man. But when Deuce followed her intent, Lucas couldn't help but notice he didn't put that much effort into defense, instead shifting his aura sideways. The woman immediately utilized the opening, her shaft striking his stomach. The dark-skinned man barely managed to avoid taking the blow's full strength head-on, but it most definitely left a mark, visible in his change of posture.

The sight made Lucas realize the situation to some extent.

"He's defending someone..." he commented.

"There," Ophelia pointed in the direction. "Someone is lying on the ground."

'Wait... is that...'

"...Alisha?" Lucas frowned. Almost subconsciously, he looked at Nimue, the silent request telling her to get off.

"Who?" Ophelia asked. As her gaze turned to her brother, she noticed him getting off his horse, the elven maid already on the ground, helping him. "What do you think you're doing?" a gentle frown graced her face.

"We need to help!" Lucas answered sharply.

Before either of the two managed to speak up, the white-haired Stormrider already bolted away. The distance to Deuce and the woman he fought was about seventy meters. But his destination was not that. Instead, he deviated sideways slightly, rushing by a nearby building's wall, to the person on the ground. And with every step he took closer, the knot of unease in his abdomen tightened.

Alisha's limp body lay by the wall, her hair ruffled and full of dirt. Her robes were intact, but the same could not be said about their wearer. Although it wasn't yet prominent, a large lump began forming on her forehead, no doubt from a strike that got her into this state. A streak of drying blood went from her nose and down her cheek, sinking into her hair.

But any further investigations were broken by Deuce's voice, "Lucas?"

He looked up, his gaze momentarily meeting his instructor's.

"What happened?" he asked. "Who is that?"

"I don't know. She just attacked," Deuce answered, forming a wall of aura to give them a moment of breath.

Lucas's gaze escaped to the aggressor. Scouring his memories, she didn't appear anywhere. The refined style she took with the staff in her hands told him of the experience she had, but the nigh-blank stare she gave made it impossible to tell what she thought or considered.

But when she looked at him briefly, something in her posture shifted, albeit slightly. It was almost like she recognized him somehow, from somewhere.

A manalamp in the back of Lucas's mind flared up.

'...was she in the marketplace back then...?' he considered for half a second before he noticed Nimue reaching them. Looking behind, he saw that Ophelia and Lis'te were also making their way over.

"We will take Alisha away," the white-haired man stated.

Deuce nodded lightly, a flash of relief and gratitude showing on his face.

'He was protecting her... no wonder he's so beaten up.'

Looking at Nimue, Lucas didn't have to say a word. Instantly, the woman helped him, the two lifting the **** woman and carrying her away, into a nearby building's shade. He didn't waste a second, immediately leaning in to listen to her breathing.

After just a moment, he sighed with relief.

"She's just ****," he said. Gently placing a hand on her forehead, he felt the heat she beamed, no doubt from being left in the sun all this time. "Possibly concussed. We should get her to a medical ward."

"Yes," Nimue nodded, kneeling by the Rune Mage as well. Her gaze was scrutinizing as she scanned Alisha's body piece by piece. "The nearest one is by the marketplace. That's ten minutes away."

Suddenly, the sounds of fighting resumed. Lucas briefly tore his attention from the lying woman, focusing on what was happening.

Deuce, no longer focused on defense, began the counteroffensive. The woman in front of him backpedaled, avoiding the initial strike, before rapidly spinning her staff, aiming to strike the man in his head. Her motion was quickly read, as Deuce lifted his sword to deflect. Despite that, Lucas could tell that the dark-skinned man was slightly at a disadvantage, most likely from the hits he'd taken so far.

But as a few seconds passed, another surge of aura appeared. A javelin of green energy passed by the Ureliar man, striking the ground right beneath the woman. Right after that, Lis'te approached, a polearm of aura in his hands. Barely sparing a look at Deuce, he said something that Lucas couldn't hear, no doubt aimed at the woman.

But as Ophelia entered his vision, he focused on her. The voluptuous woman quickly approached him and Nimue, her every curve bouncing lightly with the motions. Her gaze appeared aimed at Alisha, but Lucas could almost feel her eyes escaping to meet his a few times, and averted his gaze to Cileres by his side. The cat's bronze eyes stared back, a visible question stirring.

"=Will this human be well?="

"=It doesn't look like she's gravely injured,=" Nimue responded.

"=But we need to get her to a medical ward soon,=" Lucas answered, palpable relief in his voice. "=What about you? Anything?="

"=Still nothing.="

'This feels eerie. The explosion we heard, and now this... what is going on?'

"=Cileres, can you scout around? Search for any irregularities in the Academy's vicinity.="

"=Will do, human.="

Then, the black cat skittered, running to a nearby wall before scaling it. As it disappeared from his view, Lucas focused on Nimue.

"Why?" she asked, the question's anchor obvious as day.

"It's just... I'm having a bizarre feeling about this," he answered hesitantly, his eyes looking at the Academy building. "There were no Enforcers by the door, and Deuce is here... The swordsmanship faculty is a good distance away. Why is Deuce here, then?"

"What are you saying?" Ophelia chimed in.

"It's just a musing, but... we all know Ureliar people usually don't like elves. That and the war that's happening between them. What if the news spread here?"

"Are you suggesting it's Ureliar striking against Inallel, here?" the silver-haired woman frowned. "But she isn't an elf."

"Maybe Alisha was caught in a crossfire, I don't know. All I know is that the explosion and the lack of Enforcers are probably connected."

"Who is she, anyway?"

"She's the leader of the alchemy group I'm a part of," Lucas answered. "A Rune Mage."

Ophelia's eyes went a little wider, hearing the woman's class. However, beyond that, Lucas could notice something almost hidden stir in her gaze as she glanced at Alisha's unmoving form. It seemed almost like a pang of... envy, of sorts, if he were to say. But that quickly waned as his busty sister fixed up her dress, her gaze turning neutral.

"A Rune Mage...?" she asked, almost as if tasting the word. "But I still don't see how--"

Suddenly, a loud voice cut her off.

"=Human! I found Princess!="

"=What?!=" Lucas felt his heart pound stronger, his eyes immediately finding the source in the ball of dark fur that jumped down a nearby building. The tiniest bit of relief that surged within vanished the instant he recognized the tone. Cileres was panicked. "=Where? What happened?="

"=She went inside the Academy just now,=" the cat responded. "=I think she was chased there. Some people went after her.="

Lucas's heart skipped a beat. Glancing toward the Academy, he saw that Deuce and Lis'te still fought, the dark-eyed woman barely holding on yet refusing to be defeated.

"Princess is inside the Academy," he related to his sister.

Ophelia, recognizing that her own inquiry had to be pushed aside for now, nodded, her expression turning more serious. But as she took a step back, Lucas beckoned, "Keep Alisha safe, Ophelia. I'll tell them."

"You?" she frowned, her posture tensing up slightly.

"Someone has to stay with her, and you're the only Classed person here."

Ophelia's expression shifted to one of visible confusion, layered with suspicion. Lucas could tell she no doubt found the idea farcical at best, considering what had happened yesterday.

But before she spoke up, an echo of something approached them.

A distant explosion's sound rushed between the buildings, almost like a foreboding sign of things to come.

Before anyone could react, the sound repeated, now closer. And then again. Within seconds, Lucas, Nimue, Alisha, and no doubt the three fighters heard it repeat several times, sometimes louder, sometimes quieter. Once or twice, they even felt the vibrations of the disturbance reverberate in the pavement, rocking the walls and making the windows clatter in their frames.

The stunned silence that followed extended everywhere around. Lucas barely even took a breath before bolting, not intending to argue. Before Ophelia managed to so much as call out his name, he already cut the distance in half. The trio up front halted their fight momentarily, the two men looking around, confused, while the woman silently took a step back, not a tiniest bit of surprise crossing her emotionless stare.

"=Lis'te!=" he called out in Mins. "=Princess is in the Academy!="

The blonde elf looked at him, stunned, before his gaze shifted toward the door, more than fifty meters away.

But he didn't manage to say anything back. That was because another person had spoken, "Minerva, that's enough. Fallback."

The voice speaking was rugged and firm, full of authority that made everyone turn to look at the source coming from a nearby alley. A man walked forth, accompanied by a small group, every person bar himself armed and ready.

He was tall, probably around Aveline's height, with a smooth yet strangely aged appearance, making Lucas subconsciously place him around Deuce's age. The faintest of wrinkles on his ashy skin accompanied dark gray eyes that held wisdom befitting his age. His short, gray hair was licked back, making him appear even taller. His head contours were sharp, and the intelligent gaze that swept around appeared to analyze everything in an instant.

The man's frame was slender, more so than Lucas's. He appeared unfit among the men with shoulders broad as doorframes, but the calm way he walked spoke of the confidence he held. His attire was something Lucas had never seen before - a mix of a tightly fit, dark gray suit that covered him from neck to wrists and ankles, and layered on that were platings made of gleaming, silver-like material, almost like scale armor, but only on the man's torso and legs. The finish on every last piece - be it a faint outline of a gold color on the scales or the polished leather of his belt - gave him a bit of flourish that made the man appear almost a noble preparing for battle, except he held no visible weaponry.

With every other step, Lucas could faintly hear some kind of mechanical click coming from the man, almost like the gears of a watch ticking to move the seconds hand. That was accompanied by the slight tilting the man did with every step on his right leg, but the sleek boots didn't show any indication of why that was.

The shift in atmosphere was immediate.

The dark-eyed woman - Minerva, as he had called her - spun her staff lightly before stepping back, away from Deuce and Lis'te. Her combat-ready stance shifted to something bordering on neutral, her uninterested expression never shifting as she looked at the two momentarily. Stealing a glance at the taller man, she said something to him, but the words were too quiet.

Lucas didn't wait.

'Keen Senses.'

"--men have entered," she spoke, her voice measured.

The man nodded, looking back at her approvingly. "And the Rune Mage?"

"Knocked out."

"Good. The Liveren descendant is inside. Prepare to activate the field."

"...they're after Seraphina," Lucas muttered, just loud enough for Lis'te and Deuce to hear.

The blonde elf looked at him with bewilderment. "What? How do you know?"

"He just said that she's inside. And something about a field of sorts," he said, looking at Nimue, who approached right behind him. Her expression told him the volume of the concern she held, her emerald eyes shooting toward the group nervously.

The man who led the group looked over the four. His gaze, seemingly neutral and collected, shifted slightly when he met Lucas's. The white-haired man could tell; he was recognized.

'What...? I don't remember ever meeting this man...'

'[...Egis.]'

The faint voice spoke in the back of his mind. Taken off guard, Lucas subconsciously gazed sideways for a blink before deactivating his skill. However, the fact that the presence had returned barely registered as Deuce took a step forward.

"Who are you people? You dare to **** the Academy's student?" the anger in his voice simmered, reflected in his scowl and the aura brimming on his sword.

"We are the Classless people of Weydan," the man answered flatly. "And we bring a change."

"A change?" Deuce frowned, visibly confused.

"You wanted to silence us with your power. You wanted to squash us with laws favoring yourselves over us. We're done being your collateral," Egis spoke with a heavy tone, one almost unfitting for his frame. His eyes looked at the tall Ureliar man with decisiveness, yet also with a slight hint of another, untold emotion. Instantly, the men around him moved as though in a show of battle readiness.

"By attacking innocent people?"

"By making a statement. We cowered enough."

Lis'te's hand shifted. The spear of aura in his hand extended slightly before the man stepped forth.

"You are sick people. I will not let you lay a hand on Princess," he commented, disgust in his tone.

Before anyone could react, the blonde elf rushed forward. Aura rapidly formed an armor on his body as his spear stabilized. The distance of nearly fifteen meters was drastically cut, his polearm aimed straight at Egis's heart.

However, the man didn't dodge. Rather, he reached for something affixed to his belt. The strange construct of metal and wood fit nicely in his hand and was outfitted with a tube pointing straight ahead. Aiming it at the approaching elf, Egis did something with the machination. A metallic click sounded.

And then.

*Bang!*

The thunderous sound, like an explosion, echoed against the nearby walls. The volume was enough to make everyone wince, even the man aiming the device. A plume of white-gray smoke escaped the barrel.

Then, everyone saw it. Lis'te suddenly fell on the ground, screaming in agony. Blood poured from his leg where the aura armor was visibly pierced, but no arrow was visible around the spot his hands clutched. Rather, it was hard to notice anything from their standpoint. From their distance, it looked like sound itself felled him.

As a short second passed, the echo of the thunder dimmed, leaving behind ringing silence, only broken by Lis'te's gasps.

"What... was that...?" Deuce barely articulated, stunned like everyone else.

"A gift from the Classless to the Classed," sounded the firm answer. Egis looked at Lis'te, the elf man just a meter away. "You people have magic and aura. We have 'technology', and our own Magic Missile," he stated calmly before turning to his comrades. "Let us go. And you," his focus shifted to Deuce, Lucas, and Nimue, aiming the device at them briefly, eliciting a flinch from everyone gathered. "We have no need for unnecessary ****, nor a quarrel with Classless people. Take this man away while we let you."

And then, Egis turned, joining his men.

Suddenly, Deuce stepped forward. Aura around him surged, converging on his sword.

"You people... you think I will allow your entry into the Academy?"

But before he managed to take so much as a step, a low hum entered everyone's ears. The air, heated as it was, began vibrating, almost like a current ran between its molecules. Dust particles appeared to almost rise from the ground as faintly glowing, light blue lines were drawn on the ground, going between some slightly protruding stones in the walkway, and circling the Academy.

"What the hell..." Deuce muttered, looking all around. "...anti-magic?"

Lucas frowned.

'Anti-magic field...? Ways of making this is not something Classless could get their hands on... even we would have to put out a fortune to have access to it. How the hell...?'

However, that ponder stopped when Lis'te groaned again. Shuffling on the ground, it appeared like the elf was about to start crawling toward the door. Between his pained breaths escaped some of the vilest curses Lucas had ever heard. Yet, the man's aura couldn't stabilize despite his efforts; the green only faintly rose into the air before dissipating like dust in the wind.

Recognizing the situation, Deuce rushed toward Lis'te, followed closely by Lucas. They managed to get hold of the man, removing him from the affected area and letting him sit against a wall. Outside of the field, his aura crackled back to life, but it didn't appear to form any coherent shape for the moment; the man's focus dissipated.

"What happened?" Ophelia approached. Looking over the situation, she frowned. "Who were those people...?"

"Some kind of revolutionists," Deuce answered, giving her half a glance before returning to the elf. "I don't know exactly. We need to help him first."

Lis'te writhed, gasping with pain. One hand still clutched his leg, right where a small hole in his attire was visible, in the middle of his left hip. Blood gushed, staining his attire.

"He'll bleed out at this rate," Deuce commented grimly. Then, his gaze ventured to the silver-haired woman. "You're a Stormrider, correct? Do you know fire magic?"

Ophelia nodded. Visible confusion was drawn across her contours, but she quickly recognized what the man was getting at.

"=Princess...=" Lis'te lamented, his breathing slightly weaker, his gaze losing focus as the pain overwhelmed him.

Lucas watched the situation unfold, his heart heavy. That was not just because of what was happening, but because the situation began unraveling a certain understanding within him.

The missing Enforcers, the explosions, the anti-magic field... this was too clean. Too... precise.

'...was this staged?'

Suddenly, the all-too-familiar presence nudged. It slowly approached, much calmer than previously. Its nod served as a grim confirmation of his thoughts.

Just how much of all of this had been planned? How did those people know? What was their objective? What would happen to Seraphina?

Lucas gazed at Cileres. The cat sat right outside the magic field, closely studying the lines on the ground.

The grim realization formed, piece by piece.

'If someone doesn't intervene...'

The presence nodded again.

Lucas looked around. Lis'te was essentially down for the count. Deuce also didn't look capable of much fighting. And Ophelia wouldn't be able to cast any magic within the field.

This meant one thing.

'...If I don't intervene... Seraphina will die.'

His eyes looked at the ground within the field. Deuce's sword lay there, the steel gleaming in the sunlight like a piece of gold.

'[Go.]'

Lucas barely even registered the voice's command. His legs almost instantly started walking forward.

But before he took more than two steps, something suddenly grabbed his wrist. Perplexed, he turned, only to be met with Nimue's concerned gaze.

"Don't even think about it," she whispered, but it could've been mistaken for a hiss. "This isn't some training, Lucas."

"So what should I do? Just wait?" he asked, casting one more glance toward the trio by the wall. "How long will it take before anyone more comes?"

"And what will you do?"

"I... I don't know. But I have to do something."

"Lucas, don't try to play hero. You don't know what these people are capable of. You could die."

Lucas felt his heart skip a beat. Of course, he was aware of that possibility - he had just witnessed Egis's handheld machination render Lis'te unable to fight. If it were aimed not at his leg, but his chest, the elf would've definitely drawn his final breath by now.

But another feeling surged within him.

"And if I don't do something, Seraphina will," he said grimly.

"You don't know that."

"You know it as well as I do, Nimue. This whole thing... It's like it was planned. These people were aiming for her."

Nimue didn't answer. Faint recognition, like a glint of affirmation she didn't want to voice, stirred within her verdant orbs.

But she didn't let go. She knew better than that.

"I know... I know, Lucas. But this doesn't mean you have to put yourself on the line. Aveline will come with reinforcements soon. I'm sure of it."

Suddenly, another sound permeated the air. A whizz of sorts, punctuated by a jingle-like sound, the kind that mana stones would briefly emanate when breaking... or when a Magic Missile was shot.

Lucas instantly looked toward the Academy.

At first, nothing happened. It was almost like a false alarm of sorts, a calm before the storm. But then, translucent blue formed. It appeared to shimmer from the line on the ground, but in reality, it began up above the Academy, a shower of blue strands flowing down like water down the bowl's surface. A thin shell of magic lowered, sealing the grounds by the second.

Everyone halted what they were doing and looked as well. Immediately, they understood what this was.

"A barrier...?" Ophelia was the first to mutter the word. Her icy-blue eyes looked in bewilderment as the construct continued to form.

Lucas looked back at Nimue. Snapping his hand from her grasp, he felt the uncertainty fill his mind anew.

However.

'[Hurry.]'

The presence urged him again, more so than previously. Lucas could feel Adlin's emotions faintly, the dreadful sensation grasping at his heart.

"I have to," he said silently.

Nimue almost let her head down, understanding he wouldn't back down. "Let's go together, then."

"?" Lucas's brow raised right before he nodded.

Without a word more, the two began running. The distance to the still-forming barrier was about ten meters.

"What? Stop!" Deuce called out after them.

"Lucas!" Ophelia called out her brother's name.

They didn't listen. Rushing forth, they looked for the yet-unfilled spots in the blue barrier. Locating one, they sped up, intent on jumping inside.

But then, as they were about to pass the line on the ground.

"I'm sorry, Nimue."

"?"

The elf woman didn't manage to react. Lucas, still mid-stride, suddenly turned on his heels, his palm striking right into Nimue's sternum. The blow wasn't strong - he didn't intend to hurt her - but it was enough to make her stagger and lose balance.

As the black-haired maid fell to the ground, she saw it; Lucas stepped over the threshold. Right after that, the barrier finished forming.

"...L-Lucas...? What... w-why?" she asked, her voice cracking as tears welled up in her eyes. "You said..."

"I'm sorry, Nimue," Lucas repeated. His hand raised, his palm against the barrier. "I can't risk you."

Her knuckles turned white as her fists clenched against the cold barrier. "No... no, Lucas!" the elf maid suddenly shouted. She swung at the blue wall. However, all the barrier did was let out a magical jingle, as if telling her that her strength was too weak to break through. Yet, she hit it again. After two or three more strikes, she suddenly collapsed on her knees, leaning on the barrier. Tears dribbled down her cheeks as she looked at him with fearful concern. "Y-You can't..."

"Nimue," Lucas knelt as well. "I will be careful. I promise."

"No..."

"Please, help Lis'te and Alisha get to the medical ward. They need help. Please..." he trailed off before standing up. His violet eyes gazed upon the trio by the wall.

"Lucas..." Ophelia started, her voice uncharacteristically soft as she looked at him. Her silver hair and fair skin were covered in a light sheen of blue light. "What are you doing...?" she asked, looking at him strangely.

'She looks almost concerned for me.' Lucas thought, almost smirking grimly to himself.

"This is idiocy, Lucas!" Deuce roared, concern and anger alike in his voice. "You saw it! You can't win against that thing! One wrong move and you're done for!"

"...I know, Master Hunber. But if I don't do it, I won't forgive myself. I can't leave someone to die... not again," he added, a tinge of guilt in his tone.

Ophelia flinched, like a memory surfaced. Her fists clenched. "This isn't the same, Lucas!" she suddenly shouted.

'Maybe to you, it isn't.' he thought, an image of his father flashing in front of his eyes.

But he ignored her words.

"=Cileres.="

"=Human.="

The black cat immediately answered, looking at him attentively.

"=Please help them get to the medical ward. I will go get Seraphina.="

"=I'm sure you're aware what I'm going to say.="

"=I know.="

"=Very well. I will do as you ask.="

"=Thank you.="

Then, Lucas once again turned to Nimue.

"Nimue."

The elf woman didn't answer, her eyes closed shut as she turned away.

Lucas placed his hand on the barrier, only the thin magical surface separating their palms.

"I will definitely return. I promise. Until then, stay safe."

And then, he turned around. Taking in a deeper breath of air, he felt the nervousness stir his muscles, like an electric current about to paralyze him. Yet, despite that, he stepped closer and picked up Deuce's blade. Deciding against turning around lest he'd regret his decision, he picked up his pace.

'[Go.]'

He took another deep breath, almost like he was trying to take an entire Melidan hurricane into his lungs. The massive building of the Academy, usually a symbol of safety and peace, now felt like a foreign, unfamiliar territory. But that didn't stop his steps.

Lucas didn't know at the time. No, rather, nobody knew, nor could've known. The numerous people inside, uncountable like ants in an anthill, couldn't have ever predicted the amount of turbulence that was about to arrive in this place.

Lucas Stormrider.

Seraphina Liveren.

Illan Breshnaw.

Sienna Riven.

Elaine Schweizer.

Dorothea Lhur.

Arand Kresti.

Alisha Ferfesh.

Egis Treseleer.

Nimue.

Every one of those people was about to lose something. Few would gain anything. And nothing in the world could've prepared them for any of it.

It was only going to be an hour. But to many of them, it would feel like eternity.

The event that would become known as the Weydan Academy **** began.

---

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