The students all had their hands behind their heads, frozen in fear. Yet despite the silence, several of them couldn’t stop glancing toward one person, Raze.
He was the one who’d brought them all here. This entire mission inside Alterian… it was his plan. A mission to take down the Grand Magus. Every one of them knew it, and none of them wanted to act without his signal.
Even earlier, when they saved the students from the beasts, it had been a desperate move. They’d only stepped in when things reached the point of no return. And even then, Dame, Beatrix, and Safa had made sure to use their powers in a way that passed off as regular magic.
This situation, though, it was different.
Everyone had already assessed the threat. The enemy mages were strong, numerous, and their elemental spells varied. If it came to a real battle, the only way to avoid casualties would be to go all out.
But that came with a price.
To truly fight, Raze and the others would have to use their Qi, not just magic. And that would raise more questions, questions they couldn’t afford right now, not with teachers and students alike watching. The entire plan revolving around the Central Academy would collapse.
So, Raze held back. Watching. Listening.
The Underfang clearly wanted something. And he intended to find out how they planned to achieve it.
“You!” one of the cloaked mages barked, pointing at a random student near the front of the group. “Is what your teacher said true?”
“Y-Yes! Yes, sir!” the boy stammered, his voice trembling. Even in this horrifying situation, he understood what the teachers were trying to do. And he was brave enough to lie for them.
The mage flicked his wrist, and a sharp burst of wind magic slammed into the boy’s leg. His body flipped in the air before crashing hard onto the stone floor.
“ARGHHH!” he screamed.
“What are you doing?!” Luka shouted. “The boy told you the truth!”
“Maybe he did,” the man sneered. “But I hit him because I could. Do we, the Dark Guild, need to explain our actions?”
He laughed loudly, and a few of the others joined in, their laughter twisted and hollow. Raze narrowed his eyes. It was such poor acting, so forced. They kept repeating the Dark Guild’s name in every sentence like they were trying too hard to sell it. And judging by the pulsing vein rising on Londo’s temple, he wasn’t buying it either.
“Alright, I suppose what happened with the beasts isn’t that important,” the cloaked leader continued, pacing back and forth. “But listen up, because this next part is.”
He raised his voice so it echoed across the temple.
“We, the Dark Guild, will be taking all of these power crystals!”
He waved his hand, gesturing toward the large pile of harvested stones. Then he turned, facing the students directly.
“Unfortunately for all of you… that won’t be the only thing we’re taking.”
His eyes gleamed from beneath the hood. “Since you’re all students, I should try to help you understand our motives. Let me ask you something. How does a mage increase their dark affinity? Hmm? Anyone?”
The room was deathly still. Every student had their hands clasped behind their heads. No one dared to speak. Some thought about answering… but none wanted to be the next target.
“No one?” the man smirked. “If no one speaks, then someone’s getting zapped.”
A nervous voice suddenly rang out. “T-Taking lives… If a mage takes lives, they can increase their affinity…”
“Correct,” the mage said, and then, without hesitation, raised his hand.
A bolt of lightning magic erupted, slamming into the student’s arm. The boy shrieked and collapsed, his body convulsing from the pain.
He wasn’t dead, the attack had been calibrated to hurt, not kill.
“For those wondering,” the man said with a casual shrug, “I didn’t attack him because he was right. I attacked him because he moved his arm. We told you not to move.”
The students were realizing it now, there were no rules. Not really. And speaking up, even to follow orders, would only earn them pain.
“So yes,” the man said with a growing grin, “some of our members do need to raise their affinity. Which means, today, some of you will die.”
Several students gasped or whimpered. A few mages in black cloaks took threatening steps forward, and that was all it took for the noise to vanish. Even their fear was silent now.
“Now,” the cloaked man continued, “I want you to remember what I just said. Some of you will die. Not all. Which means others will be spared. And because I’m feeling generous…” he chuckled, “I’ll let you decide who goes first.”
His words sent chills down their spines.
“You can all agree on one volunteer to step onto this platform… or we’ll go with the student who gets the most votes. I’m sure you all know who’s least liked among your little groups. Or, if someone wants to offer up their life willingly, please… don’t be shy.”
He gestured mockingly toward the center of the room.
“Oh, and before any of you heroic teachers try to step forward, this offer is only for students.”
Raze remained silent, watching everything unfold. But in his mind, the pieces were clicking together fast.
‘This is how they plan to spin it… A few students will die. Then, just before things go too far, members of the Underfang Guild will arrive. They’ll save the rest, “defeating” the fake Dark Guild attackers. It’ll make them look like heroes. Their reputation will skyrocket. And the real Dark Guild? Their name will be dragged through the mud.’
It was an elaborate set-up. A political move disguised as a bloodbath. And the worst part?
The students were too terrified to do anything. Too stunned to even speak. They didn’t know whether this was real. Whether they were allowed to resist. Whether stepping forward would mean death… or mercy.
And then,
Someone moved.
Among the trembling bodies and blank stares, one person stood up.
Her long white robe shifted as she took a step forward, her voice ringing through the room like a clear bell.
“I will volunteer,” Safa said.
***
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