They were left without any considerable option, staking out and limiting their scope from doing any other things that might place them in danger.
Aran placed his hand on his chin, trying to reciprocate the situation by thinking of another way to fully save the whole academy. The others are trying their best to come up with a solution as well but it doesn't extract well within their contribution. Needless to say, the idea of protecting the academy from a deadly magician who's capable of killing everyone is pretty dangerous and there's a chance that they might die after encountering him.
(As of now, there is no evidence that outlines the idea of the masked magician being inside the academy. I wonder why they are so impulsive about monitoring us and the rest of the place? Oh, wait... Now that I think about the reason... I see! I understand now! The knights know that if the masked magician were to engage with the civils and masses, it would be executing intense havoc. They are trying to lure him into this place by thinking that it is vulnerable. I see how it works now.)
Aran opened his mouth and blurted out his idea.
"I think we may have something to offer..." Everyone looked at him and gathered close near the door. It has been fifteen minutes since the next class started. No one seemed to have found them skipping at this point. The only people in the hall right now are their group.
"Listen, there is still no evidence that the masked magician is coming here at this place. But the knights and the security department know that he might take the lead and infiltrate our place by night. I think we can be any of help if we try to scout the area as well around the facility of the whole academy. Without the other Masters and Facilitators knowing of course. We can warn them about the infiltration after we have confirmed that he enters the academy. What do you guys think?"
"You're right, we cannot just rush in. But what if one of us encountered it, what should we do?" Nikki asked.
"Of course, we are going to fight him, right? We need to stop him from coming over–" Eunice was abruptly stopped by Aran.
"No. There will be no one from us who will engage or fight that monster. I am not risking everyone's lives for dangerous matters like this. I want you guys to please contact every one and call the Masters immediately after you see him. Am I clear?" Aran's serious expression surprised them for a second. They can see how severe his worries are. Eunice was taken aback.
"Eunice... Am I clear?" He leaned his face near Eunice, she twitched and her cheeks fluttered for a second while averting her gaze from him.
"I-I got it..." She replied, somewhat embarrassingly. Everyone nodded their head in compliance with Aran's plan.
"Now then, we have skipped the class for this serious matter. We need to get back immediately. We have a dorm for us to stay, right?" Aran asked everyone. Nikki answered.
"Ah yes, the dorms and bedrooms are located on the third and fourth floor of the next building through the hall. What are we going to do there?" she asked.
"It is already set, we have the last subject to take for this time. After we finish, I want everyone to go to their rooms and prepare. Bring your weapons with you if possible. After that, we need to go to our assigned positions." He instructed them.
"Where do you think we should start?" Huck asked.
"Let's see... I do not think that there's a chance of him forcing his way through the main entrance, does he not? Eunice, I want you to go to the training grounds through the backside of the academy. You will be accompanied by Huck. The two of you are the strongest fighter among the rest of us. The training grounds are wide enough for the magician to enter so there's a high chance that he will use that path to gain access to the academy. I and Nikki will be checking the interior area. I have already memorized the layout of each room so it is possible that he might break through the window."
"A-Are we going to be together?" Nikki asked.
"No, I will take the boys' dormitory. You will take the girls." He answered nonchalantly as he stood up. Nikki nodded.
"Right then, I don't think we have any complaints, do we?" He asked the group.
"Yes, I think we should go back now. We've spent the rest of our time planning here," Eunice replied.
"Umm... How exactly are going to go back? We're already late, Miss Julia might get us suspended for skipping, you know?" Huck's question left everyone in dismay as they realize that they have broken the rules.
(Damn it, I didn't realize that we broke the rules now because of this thing. It is my fault that I have dragged them into this.) Gritting his teeth, Aran turned his back and faced them. He bowed gently.
"Sorry! I apologize! I dragged you guys into this and now we are in deep trouble because of me!" He apologized sincerely. Huck slapped him on the back while chuckling.
"What the hell are you even saying? We are the ones who followed you here. It is our fault that we got into trouble as well you know? Hahaha!"
"Yeah, there's no need for you to apologize, Aran. We're all in this together." Eunice comforted him as well.
"Umm..." Nikki raised her hand, trying to suggest something.
"Mmm?"
"I think we might be able to go there... Without a trace..." She said.
"Nikki, what do you mean by that? I don't think we can get in class without anyone noticing at this point." Eunice approached her.
"We can if we use magic,"
"Magic?" Aran asked.
"With this spell, we might be able to reach the class and pass through walls and re-appear without anyone tracing us. It is called the invisibility charm. It enables the user to become invisible from the naked eye and they can pass through many materials that exhibit in their way." She explained. Nikki walked slowly in front of them and raised her hand.
Upon activating the spell, a concatenated series of magical particles spiraled into her arms emitted a strong wave. It was pulsing throughout the air, enclosing the three with her magic. She stood back for a second and chanted the spell.
"Invocortia."
The wave of magical particles lightened their appearance, it is glowing with a touch of a neon green sparkle. All of them had become invisible. It created a whitish outline of their whole shape.
"Woah, are we invisible now?" Huck asked as he checked his body.
"Nikki, you've used a lot of mana, are you sure you're going to be okay?" Eunice noticed the gradual descend of Nikki's magic molecule. This sudden decrease will leave her exhausted and she won't be able to concentrate that much. After all, using that much mana for all four subjects is pretty hard and it requires a lot of concentration. Her body will become frail and vulnerable for a short amount of time.
"I'm okay... I think I can work this one out..." She replied. Despite that, her status is still not stable. Aran couldn't help but feel uneasy.
While walking through the hall, the group saw facilitators going in and out but they cannot see them. The invisibility charm she cast worked perfectly and it is very commendable by the fact that she had to use it four times.
Upon reaching the entrance of the Section C room, they passed through the wall without any trace. The white magical presence dispersed, opening up as their body becomes a separable particle, enabling their light energy particle to pass through the white spaces. In order to pass through the materials, all of the building blocks that are residing with their body are pressed to become slim and tight. With their compressed light energy particles, the invisibility charm will be able to transcend their body on any material. It will let them connect the particles to the environment's light energy particles giving them enough space to pass through.
They slowly head into their seats and when the instructor wasn't looking, they have disabled the invisibility charms without anyone looking in their direction.
"We're lucky that they are focused on the lessons. If they were observant we would've been noticed..." Aran whispered as he leaned on his seat. Huck and Eunice did the same.
"Well, it is unlikely that they will be observant. We're talking about how interesting the lesson is..." Eunice replied.
"Are you sure that we should leave Nikki like that? We've used her for the invisibility charm and I feel bad that she can't be able to focus now."
"That's what I wanted to say in the beginning but she didn't listen. I think she will be fine after some rest. We don't need to rush on our mission do we?"
"She can just go rest in the dorm for a bit... But rather, I would like her to stay indoors and keep her safe," Aran replied.
"You say that, but I don't think she will listen to you."
(You got a point)
***
The lesson for their last subject continued for about an hour or so. The sun was about to set, the dusk within the night sky permeated on its vast area with the stars twinkling.
"Thank you all so much for listening today, the class is now over. You guys can now head onto your dormitory and take a rest." Miss Julia ended her session. Everyone grabbed their books and weapons. The only group who remained in their seats was the four candidates who are planning on doing something.
"Hey... What's with this intense feeling?" Aran asked Huck while sweating.
"Don't ask me..." He replied.
"You guys seem to have underestimated me did ya'?" Miss Julia's voice was neither angry nor disappointed. She raised her hand and waved them to come over her. Her face somehow is diluted with a smile that is precariously vindicated.
Aran, Huck, Eunice, and Nikki joined over her. They were refreshing their minds and gulping while sweating profusely. They are all stuck together in a crescent line while their heads are gazed down on the floor.
"Now then, let's hear what you guys have to say." Miss Julia sat on the table's chair as she brought upon the topic of them being able to skip.
"Miss Julia, please do not punish them. I was the one who–"
"There's a criminal running loose in the town right now. Most of the knights have already gained their vantage point from outside the capital and they are now working for the sake of the security of the whole academy. We were concerned about the presence of this crime that's why we left the class. We noticed that there were a lot of stationed guards." Eunice burst explanation right off the bat threw Miss Julia from her seat and gasped.
"Oh..." But she is not the only one who felt the huffing counter for their defense. Even Nikki, Huck, and Aran were surprised by her intense explanation. Julia shrugged her shoulder and started talking once again.
"I didn't know anything about that, what happened?"
Even though she was the one who received the question, she didn't answer. She turned her gaze to Aran in which he saw the meaning behind. He gulped and started talking.
"We heard from the commander of the West department that there's a masked magician who escaped. He has slaughtered a lot of people and is capable of using deadly and lethal magic. They have started organizing a joint operation with Commander Henry and are now taking the vantage point from the capital right now. You can see that there's a lot of knights stalling outside." Aran said.
"Aran... That uniform. I know about the knights being able to go inside the academy. But are you also one of them?" Julia asked.
"No, I was given this uniform by my guardian Master Rin. But I have no connection with the knights whatsoever. I am not a guard as well. They have their own emblem and I have none. I am pretty confident that Nash also gave them their own for the sake of this operation." He answered.
"First I've heard of that, but I was surprised that you are the kid that Nash is talking about." She leaned back on her seat with a smile on her face.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Aran asked.
"Nevermind that, we'll have a talk about our meeting soon. But for now, since you guys mentioned that there's a criminal lurking around here, we need to be careful and cautious. I want all of you to go back to your dorms immediately as possible. I will have to meet up with the other Masters later on for this case. And please keep this information with you. We don't want to panic the other candidate." She instructed them.
"Yes, Ma'am." They bowed.
After receiving a short lecture, they have returned to the dorm and Julia was the only one left inside. She stood up from her chair and stalled near the window to take a good look outside. She seems to be serious and tense from the situation considering the fact that they are prone to danger.
(What Aran said was true... If that criminal were to enter the academy, it will be a disaster. We cannot let that happen.)
As soon as they stepped into the hall, they started splitting up. They gave each other a sign of when to contact in case there's a danger.
When Nikki was about to take the second route, Aran grabbed her arm sleeves and she suddenly stopped on her track. Shocked by this, she turned to face Aran.
"Umm, Aran? What is it?" She asked. Aran's head waved left and right.
"We're going together. You don't have enough strength left. You have been frail after that magic activation and I don't want to leave you alone on yourself." He answered as they started walking.
The gentleness in his words suffused through Nikki's heart. She enjoyed the mesmerizing moment as she followed him. She didn't expect someone to be that overprotective. Aran's nature to worry about others has been the one factor that stands out, if he feels that something is off within his friend, he would do absolutely everything in order to protect them.
Nikki's face became red for a second. She fidgeted in her position.
"T-Thank you..." She whispered. Aran smiled back.
"We're going to start on the other side of the dormitory. Let's just hope that the other facilitators won't be able to see us while we are stalling." Aran told her the plan.
"I think we don't have to worry about that?" Nikki replied.
"Mmm? Why?"
"The dormitory is the home base of all of the candidates here. Once we enter that zone, we can do whatever we want because it is our place. I am pretty sure that the facilitators are not going to excuse us or anything, they should be able to understand that we have our own free time. It is not in the rules as well." She explained.
"Heh... You've already memorized the rules?"
"Yep, I've read it while we are waiting for the instructor earlier,"
"Woah, Nikki, that's very cool. You have a high memory." Aran commended her.
"Hahaha, there's nothing to be surprised for. It is common for people who read a lot of processes and remember all kinds of details especially if you are focused. I am confident that you can also fulfill your part in that case as well." She replied.
"Woah I just learned something for today! Haha! Thank you, Nikki!" Aran smiled.
The thing is, with Aran's smile, the day gets better. Nikki seeing the potential prosperity in his emotions has garnered her more confidence to be with him and socialize with others. She saw how happy it is to become a part of a group. Seeing his expression in a nice way means the world to her. As such, her face became beet red once again and then straightly shifted into a form of a laugh to join Aran.
After reaching the third floor, they turned into the left side of the balcony to enter the dormitory zone where there's a big hall straightly covering the room. Upon reaching the room, there were a few candidates and some cliques talking to each other and approaching everyone. It seems very lively and everyone is happy.
"We're here, let's check each room for now. Then we'll meet up again on the hall..." Nikki nodded as she started visiting each room. Aran did the same on the other side.
They checked the doors and the windows for their safeties. For those rooms that are locked, they didn't bother knocking for they will have no reason to barge in.
After a couple of minutes, Nikki and Aran met up in the center of the hall and started walking again.
"How is it?" Aran asked.
"Everything is normal, all of their windows and doors are locked. I couldn't get in on some rooms though. How about on your end?"
"Same here, all of it seems to be good. I don't think there will be enough space for the criminal to barge in this room. Except if there are areas around here that are potential blind spots. He can easily manage to slip if we are not very cautious." He answered.
Within the hall, a woman with golden hair suddenly brought herself into their way. It was Lisa who's been wandering for quite a while. She's been looking for Aran ever since the class ended.
(Hmm? It's Aran!) Noticing Aran's presence, she suddenly dashed across to approach him.
"Aran! Huh–" As soon as she got close, she stopped in her tracks and noticed Nikki behind Aran.
"Oh, Lisa!" Aran saw her and happily responded.
(There's another girl! Who's that?! Why is she close to him?! I can't believe this!) Lisa displayed a shocking expression. She didn't expect that Aran would have brought another woman to his side. Not to mention that these two seemed to be closer.
"A-Aran, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in a room or something? And where's Huck?" Her tone gradually faded through the mist as if she's been exuding a dangerous aura. She doesn't seem to be happy.
(Eh? Why is she looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong?) Aran moved his head for a little bit.
Following that statement, Lisa asked him.
"Also... Who is she?"
"Ah, this is Nikki Shimizu. She's from my class. Nikki, this is Lisa, she is my childhood friend." Aran managed to slip in the introduction with them.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Nikki Shimizu. I am from Section C." She bowed politely.
"Ah! I'm Lisa Alliere, from Section B. Nice to meet you too. So uh, what are you guys doing here?"
(And why are you so close to each other?!) Lisa raised another question in her mind. Aran gazed at Nikki and they nodded.
"Lisa, come with us..." Aran grabbed Lisa's hand and they started dashing towards the corner of the hall wherein there's no audience.
"Eh? What's happening?!" She exclaimed.
"Lisa, we need your help. Have you noticed something different from the outside?" Aran asked.
"Mm... Well yeah, there has been a lot of knights outside. But what's the deal?"
"I know the reason why there are a lot of knights outside. There is a criminal lurking around the town for some time now. I heard that he has killed a lot of people in the past and is now on his way to this area. I and Nikki including Huck and Eunice are doing our best to check the area and scout them. We need to protect this academy from that criminal."
(Eunice?)
"Wait, hold on, a criminal? Are you sure about that?" Lisa questioned him.
"Yes, your grandfather already confronted the commander from the West department. I am guessing that they are now discussing the procedure. Sooner or later, we might be able to encounter that criminal. We need your help, Lisa."
"I think I can do that, but how am I supposed to help, exactly?"
"I want you to please protect the candidates here in this dorm. We don't know if there are any more areas around the academy that we missed and so I want you to stay in this zone while we venture the rest of the rooms." Aran proposed.
Lisa waved her head left and right, indicating that she doesn't agree with his plan.
"No, I am coming with you Aran. If we are talking about a deadly criminal here, then I don't think I can leave you. I will come with you and check the rest of the area as well. I might have to call my grandpa on this matter. We don't know what priorities we have and it is too dangerous!" She easily countered Aran with her will. Hearing this, he immediately realized that Lisa wouldn't let him do anything rash. She's been with him for more than a decade and she knows how Aran would work.
"I-I see, sorry..." Aran gazed down.
"Don't worry, everything is going to be fine." Lisa moved closer to him and pats his shoulder. She's been like a big sister to him, always scolding his actions whenever he risks himself. Aran couldn't actually disregard opinion.
"Sorry, thanks, Lisa..." Aran smiled as he embraced her. Lisa felt relieved by his warmth. Her heart has been all over the place but she managed to calm herself down. She wouldn't let this man alone.
Meanwhile, outside of the academy, Huck and Eunice ran through the hall to reach the backdoor of the second building.
"I hate that I have to come with you." While running, Eunice nagged about how she was forced to be with Huck while covering up their mission.
"I didn't want to be with you either so you don't have to worry," Huck replied.
After reaching the end of the hall, they pushed the door and head outside to the garden. It was a field split into two. The first one which is on the front side is the garden stretching alongside the training grounds. The area was barricaded with tall wire fences and there seems to be an outpost on both ends of the corner of the field.
"Hmm, this place is huge. No wonder that we are stationed here." Eunice said while examining the whole area.
"Why aren't they deploying the other knights on this side then? It has been like two hours since they let them in." Huck wondered.
"They were stationed outside, not inside. They probably did that because they don't want to alarm the other candidates. If they were to enter the academy without any context, everyone would be wary about the situation. I am confident that the knights are outside this fence." Eunice answered. Both of them walked together to check the garden first.
On the outer side of the academy, a few knights lined up in discreet mode. Some of them are hiding in the alleyway while the rest are converging their way onto the front area. Commander Bill has garnered the other troops on his side to cover him as they walked across the gates.
He raised his hand and started allocating his mana to project a calling connection through magic. A series of particles fused, enabling him to create a magic port of communication that connects his voice on their mana.
"Listen up, we are here to protect the academy from the criminal. I want everyone to stay alert on their position and monitor the whole building closely. This place is scoped throughout the city and it is big so we need to work together if we want to defend it. If some of you were to encounter it, report directly to me so we can bring reinforcement, understood?" He commanded.
"Yes, Sir!" Everyone responded.
The lonely night of the central capital has turned into a battlefield for the first time. The other civilians didn't worry that much since it is a secret operative commencing in an underlying blind projection. The uniforms that they have used also did their part by reflecting and blending on the mass.
Up in the sky, within the range of clouds sticking together with the illuminating stars. A person who wears dark purple clothing with a white mask on his face floated around the sky, stalling and scouting the position of the knights.
"The time has come for me to reclaim what is mine... All of you... You pesky little bastards who keep on stopping me... Will have to die..." He muttered in a rough voice.
Inside the academy, on the great library zone called Grand Athenaeum, Master Himawari entered the room without anyone seeing him. The place was very spacious and each section of the board including shelves and tall cabinets is full of magic books. It is like a maze inside the library wherein there are so many sections covering up an entire category.
He walked straight to the other room where there's a neat configuration of cabinets attached to the wall. A fireplace can be also found in the second room.
By standing on the rear side of the fireplace, he whispered a chant...
"Quenus Agoenta..."
A vast magic circle inhabited the whole room. Its glow was strong enough to blind someone, The fireplace on the front side suddenly twisted its structure and it became a door.
Master Himawari opened the door slowly and went inside.
The path was deep. There are stairs leading downwards. The walls are made out of old stones and bricks.
The chamber of Hollow Dimension was brought upon the reel. The room was spacious. Himari's footsteps echoed throughout the room, giving a sense of domestic atmosphere reeling on chills. The structure of the chamber is particularly complex. There was a touch of sophisticated pillars supporting the foundation while a massive room of dimension hallowed consecutively on every corner.
Within the center, is a glass designed to enclose a particular object.
A certain object can give the user infinity and regeneration within the life source. A treasure bound to be kept hidden from the enemies. Once it is held, the power of this object can protect the user from any harm and he is going to be given an infinite life.
The Talisman of Regeneration.
***
"Here?" Aran asked.
"There's nothing weird in that place as well. I have checked all of the locks and windows but there's no other place for this academy. I don't think that there is also a secret pathway as well. How about on your end?" Lisa reported.
"Well, the balcony and the fourth floor leading on the third building are clearly discreet. I cannot enter the other rooms because it is locked. We cannot really check the other rooms if we don't have the key. The washroom is also safe. There is no venting system or any holes or secrets that can be directly passed within the outskirts. They are completely jolted." He answered.
"At this point, we have no other options but to prepare for the worst. We have Huck and Eunice outside, should we meet with them?" Nikki asked.
"We will join them later. For now, I think we should double-check each room again and split up. We haven't been able to venture into the other building, don't we?"
"This place is so huge that we can get lost..." Lisa said.
"I know, but we don't have a choice, do we? Nikki, please check the washroom for the girls and I'll check the basement. I think I remember the path. Lisa, you're coming with me." Aran instructed them once again.
"All right..." Lisa agreed and Nikki rushed onto the stairs.
"Come on... We need to hurry." Aran and Lisa ran down the hall and turned to the right side.
"Let's start..." The masked magician activated the spell.