Chapter 351 Chapter 81.6 - Close [Interlude]
The academy was in an uproar as students gathered in small groups, their voices a cacophony of shock and disbelief.
"What is this?" one student exclaimed, their eyes wide with horror as they scrolled through the disturbing videos on their phone.
"What the hell?" another muttered, shaking their head in disbelief. "This is... this is disturbing..."
The academy was in an uproar as many students were talking amongst themselves. After all, how could they not be?
First, it was the post that showed that a group of seniors were bullying a bunch of juniors. Of course, it got a response, but that wasn't enough to stir that much of an effect.
Mostly, people found out the identities of the attackers and demanded an apology as well as a punishment.
Nobody had correlated their actions with seniors. But then something else happened.
There are a bunch of videos of sophomore-year students getting beaten by a masked assailant.
The assailants showed no mercy even though the sophomore students didn't even do anything. They didn't fight. They were just getting beaten.
And at the end of all of the videos, the attackers said the same thing.
"This is payback for what seniors were doing to us."
"I can't believe this is happening," a sophomore whispered, their voice trembling with emotion. "I saw so many students in the infirmary... they were badly injured..."
"Open the path!"
Suddenly, they saw a man rushing to the infirmary.
"Hey!"
"What are you doing?"
Some of the students who were getting shoulder-pushed by that student threw an annoyed look.
"Shut up."
But the student didn't seem to care as his eyes filled with anger turned to look at the students for a second. "Leave before I lose myself."
"Hick!"
Because of the pressure, none of the students could withstand what happened here as they left.
Dorian's heart pounded in his chest as he raced towards the infirmary, his mind filled with a jumble of emotions. Helia, running alongside him, reached out to grasp his arm, her voice urgent as she tried to calm him down.
"Dorian, please," she pleaded, her eyes wide with concern. "You need to stay calm. We don't know what's going on yet."
But Dorian shook his head, his eyes burning with anger and fear. "How can I stay calm after seeing that video?" he demanded, his voice choked with emotion. "You know Aria was there as well…."
"I know….Sigh….."
As they reached the infirmary, Dorian's worst fears were realized. The room was filled with injured students, their groans of pain echoing off the walls. Most of them had friends hovering anxiously beside them, their faces drawn with worry.
Scanning the crowd, Dorian's heart lurched in his chest as he spotted his sister among them. Without hesitation, he pushed through the crowd, his steps quickening as he rushed to her side.
"Aria!" he called out, his voice trembling with emotion as he knelt beside her. "Are you okay? What happened?"
Aria looked up at her brother, her eyes filled with pain and exhaustion but also fear. "Dorian..." she mumbled. "I am fine, don't worry…."
Her injuries were already stated to heal to some extent, but because she was found early in the morning after the video came up and didn't get the treatment for the whole night, it took a little longer for her to heal up.
But Dorian could see through her brave facade, the bruises and cuts that had yet to be healed marring her skin, telling a different story.
"How did this happen?"
He asked, though he inwardly knew the answer.
"I-I don't know…" Aria mumbled. "On the way to the library, I was attacked suddenly…And then…." Yet, Aria couldn't answer more. The corner of her eyes shook, and she lowered her head slightly, gambling with the tip of her middle finger.
She would do it when she was anxious; it had already become a habit.
Dorian, hearing his sister's words, wanted to urge her to talk more, but then suddenly, his hands were grabbed by something warm.
Turning his head, he saw Helia looking at him while shaking her head. He realized that Aria must have already been having a hard time and that what he was just about to do was something stupid.
CLENCH!
Anger boiled within him as he clenched his fists, his gaze sweeping the room as he vowed to himself that he would find whoever was responsible for hurting his sister and make them pay.
"If they want a war, we will let them have it. Nobody can get away after doing something."
His eyes met with the other seniors, and all of them had the same idea in their heads.
The academy was changing already...
*******
<Unknown Location>
DING! DING! In the heart of a grand chamber adorned with intricate golden ornaments and embellishments, a figure stood upon a raised platform. The room exuded an aura of solemnity and reverence, its pristine white walls gleaming under the soft glow of ethereal torches. Pillars adorned with intricate carvings reached towards the vaulted ceiling, their golden accents catching the light in a mesmerizing display.
As the figure stood in the center of the platform, bathed in the golden hue of the chamber, a hushed silence filled the air, echoing off the polished marble floors. Their presence seemed to command attention, their posture poised and dignified amidst the grandeur of their surroundings.
Suddenly, from a sleek device nestled within the folds of their robes, a flicker of light emerged, coalescing into the form of a holographic figure.
This apparition bore the likeness of another being, one with horns protruding from its head, a symbol of power and authority.
The holographic figure's expression was unreadable, their features obscured by shadows cast by the flickering torchlight.
Yet, there was an undeniable air of intensity and gravitas about them, as if they held secrets and knowledge beyond mortal comprehension.
As the hologram hovered before the figure on the platform, the atmosphere in the chamber seemed to shift as if the very air became sour and clashing.
The encounter between these two figures held the promise of profound significance, their meeting set against the backdrop of a sacred and holy place, where whispers of ancient mysteries lingered in the air.
"Villon," the man murmured, his gaze steady as he regarded the demon before him.
The man in the white robe's expression remained calm, his demeanor unwavering despite the demon's hostility.
"You should already know the answer," he replied, his tone measured yet firm as he met Villon's gaze.
Feigning ignorance, Villon shook his head, his holographic form shimmering in the golden glow of the chamber.
"I know nothing of what you speak," he retorted, his voice dripping with disdain.
A slight smile tugged at the corners of the man's lips, his expression gentle and soothing in contrast to the demon's hostility. It was as if he radiated an aura of purity and serenity amidst the tumultuous atmosphere of the chamber.
With a wave of his hand, the man in the white robe spoke with quiet authority, his words carrying a weight that seemed to resonate throughout the chamber.
"If you have no intention to fulfill your side of the deal, then do not expect us to uphold ours," he said, his voice echoing with finality. "The fate intertwining the kin of moon and us is still there."
With that, he turned away from the holographic figure of Villon as if this was a normal conversation. He reached for the engraving on the walls and the murals depicted in those engravings. He gently caressed the sun shining.
On the other side, Villon, one of the demon generals, couldn't help but frown.
'They already know it….Of course, the Lord had already warned us, but to think that it would be this fast.'
"From now on, the deal between our predecessors will be null; you shall convey this to "Him." You are dismissed." With a wave of his hand, the man released a surge of mana, and then the hologram dispersed, leaving the man alone.
"Leonard."
The white-robed man called, and in an instant, someone appeared from his side. It was a young man with yellow hair and yellow eyes.
His face was chiseled, his white robe excluding the same sense of holiness.
"Your Holiness." The newly appearing young man bowed his head.
"Prepare yourself. You are to head over to the Valerian Federation. Arcadia City. I sense the moon from there."
Leonard nodded, ready to carry out his orders without hesitation.
"And take this," the man continued, reaching into the folds of his robe and producing a small, intricately crafted necklace of silver color. In the middle of the necklace, there was a crescent moon with engravings similar to the ones on the murals.
"This artifact will shine in the presence of the 'Kin of the moon.' And it will converge to its other half. Use it to fulfill your mission."
With a sense of purpose, Leonard accepted the artifact, the weight of his task settling upon his shoulders as he prepared to embark on his journey to the Valerian Federation in search of the elusive 'Kin of the Moon.'
"However, this is not your only task," the white-robed man continued, his gaze fixed on Leonard with a solemn intensity.
"As the promise has been broken, the line of information connected to them regarding the Saintess no longer needs to be maintained. From now on, you are authorized to retrieve the Saintess and to interfere with her affairs as necessary," he declared, his voice carrying a weight of authority.
Leonard's eyes widened slightly at the revelation, the implications of the directive sinking in.
It was a significant departure from their previous protocols, indicating a shift in strategy and priorities.
"As you wish, Your Holiness," Leonard replied, his tone respectful but tinged with a hint of determination. He understood the gravity of his new assignment and was prepared to carry it out with unwavering resolve.
With a nod of acknowledgment, the white-robed man watched as Leonard prepared to depart on his mission.
As for Leonard, he couldn't help but smile.
'Finally, I wonder how my little sister is doing?'
After all, it had been years since he last visited his home and his sister.
--------------A/N---------------
Slowly but surely, we will start revealing the mysteries.
Hope you liked this small arc. I wanted to show how important the difference between the strengths was. Even though Astron had injured the master Assassin beforehand severely, he was still unable to deal with him as cleanly as he should have been.
In this world, strong people have their own trump cards, or else they can never be strong enough.
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