"Alright, that's enough! Katrina, I don't think they're starting a war," I addressed the warrior, "How many students have you killed?"
"None! Don't compare us to you!"
"If the empire wanted to start a war, they wouldn't have spared our lives. But a uniform massacre could have severely undermined the morale of the troops. So, your goal was different." The girl clenched her teeth in anger and turned away; clearly, she didn't like hearing that.
"Krito, what are you talking about? How else can we interpret their aggression?"
I pondered for a moment, why would they want living students? Did they want something from them or use them as leverage? But no country would negotiate with the enemy; they would most likely view it as casualties of war and not provide any resources or technology. The only thing they could undoubtedly trade in exchange for the lives of high-ranking nobles' children...
"Information?" My first guess caused a frightened glint in the prisoner's eyes, but she quickly tried to hide her agitation.
"What kind of information?" Katrina still hadn't understood.
"Neither Verania, nor Leran, nor Nordrune would negotiate with them; they would send a military expedition to retrieve the captives. Only if the empire demanded something that these countries would hesitate to part with. What do you want to know?"
"Lady Aileen, we've finished loading, please return," a voice came from somewhere in the room, but there was no one else besides us.
"Damn," the prisoner clicked her tongue and quickly glanced at the helmet lying on the floor.
"I wonder what we have here," I picked up the helmet and slipped my hand inside.
"Aaah, it's just a talking helmet. You probably have something similar, so there's no need to worry."
"Lady?" The voice again came from the helmet, and based on its direction, I took out a small round crystal from inside.
"What is it?" Katrina approached the crystal, and it faintly glowed.
"It seems to be some sort of communication device. I'm afraid they'll soon realize they're missing one person," I crushed the crystal under my foot.
"Haha, gotcha! Soldiers will surround your little home soon, and it's better for you to surrender voluntarily."
"We need to leave."
"Krito, are you taking her with us? You know if she finds out about the passage, it won't end well."
"She's already suspecting it, and if we leave her behind, they will pursue us."
"In your place, I would kill the prisoner," the girl spoke as if it didn't concern her.
"I agree with her," Vina indifferently supported the idea of the imperial warrior.
"I haven't learned everything from her yet, and besides, if we kill her, they may retaliate and harm someone in response."
"But at least they won't leave until they find the killers, which is to your advantage."
"Or maybe you just don't want to share information with us and are trying to convince yourself to kill her?"
"Tsk," the girl clicked her tongue and turned away.
"Let's take her and leave, find a more convenient place. Grain, I'm leaving her to you."
"Alright," the big guy lifted the bound warrior over his shoulder and followed us to the basement. "And these armor pieces are lighter than I expected."
"Hey, you mountain of muscles, put me down! I'm not a sack of potatoes! At least carry me like a princess!" The girl struggled, but since her hands were tied, she only shook the air in vain.
"No, it'll be harder for you to escape like this. Let's go already." As we were entering the passage on the ground floor, a powerful explosion occurred. It seemed the pursuers blew the door away in their first attack. Poor little house.
"WHAT!! WHAT THE HELL!?!" The girl stared wide-eyed at the "path." "It couldn't have been in your basement; it defies all laws of physics!!"
"Quiet there, this place was created by magic; it's not real."
"Ugh, cursed magic again."
"Come on, your dragons also use the same magic, so stop pretending."
"They use abilities bestowed upon them by the gods, not borrowed from the dead!"
"You're quite categorical, but we'll argue about history some other time. I hope they're gone," I stood by the door with the fresh inscription in ink on the jamb.
"Do you want to return to the tower?"
"It's the best place for a temporary base; we can figure out what to do next there."
Fortunately, there was no one in the tower anymore. Peeking out of the window, I saw about twenty knights inspecting our guild. It was a good thing I managed to seal the exit in the basement.
"What is this place you brought me to?!"
"Well, it's ju..." Katrina almost revealed our location out of foolishness, but I covered her mouth with my hand.
"Quiet, fool! And what if she has more communication devices?"
"Sorry."
"It doesn't matter. We were interrupted, but I was just about to ask you what you want to know. If it's within my power, I'll answer all your questions."
"A simple student is unlikely to know about it, but still, we came to find out who organized the attacks on our cities?"
"What are you talking about? It happened a thousand years ago, and back then, demons attacked not only your country; we all suffered. Tell the truth! Why did you come?" Katrina snarled at the captive.
"Are you a fool?! No one cares what happened a thousand years ago! I was about to say..." The girl fell silent, realizing that we didn't know anything, and she would only blurt out secrets.
"About what?" Katrina glared at the imperial warrior.
"Nothing," the girl lowered her eyes and tried to avoid the question.
"Let me guess: there were attacks on the empire, and you decided we were the culprits?"
"Grrr. Who else could it be? Your Verania couldn't stand a free country like ours. You attacked us before. Who else could sail on ships without flags!?"
"That's nonsense; we have enough problems of our own. Maybe it was just ordinary pirates?"
"SHUT UP! Pirates don't act like that! You wiped out the city, all its inhabitants were killed, and hardly anything was stolen!"
"But you have no evidence that Verania was behind it."
"That's what we'll find out when your leaders agree to answer our questions in exchange for the students' freedom."
"And what if they don't know?"
"They know, I'm sure they do. You don't need to know about it!"
"And what if it's internal forces within your country? Surely not everyone is satisfied with your government?"
"Everyone wholeheartedly obeys the Great Emperor, and he has been wisely ruling us for thousands of years, so don't you dare underestimate our people's loyalty."
"Isn't it too much? Even the best of us can be corrupted by power. Maybe your emperor planned all of this?" Katrina disdainfully glanced at the girl.
"Shut up!"
"Or are you saying it's impossible?"
"SHUT UP!!!" Even being tied up, the girl leaped up and threw a chair at the princess. Katrina barely dodged it.
"What are you doing? Behave like a normal prisoner."
"SHUT UP! Don't you dare insult the emperor! You're alive only thanks to his mercy! After that massacre, most of the council favored a harsh response; they suggested killing everyone in the Academy as a lesson to your authorities. But the Emperor proposed this plan to avoid unnecessary sacrifices!"
"The Emperor could have organized it to divert suspicion," I began to speculate aloud, and my words didn't please the prisoner, barely restrained by Grain. "But perhaps his intentions were noble. I don't want a new war either, but even such an operation without casualties could lead to one."
"You should run or hide. Anyway, my comrades will soon sail with all the prisoners, but don't worry, they'll be fine."
"Noo, they're not in a hurry," I looked through the window at the square in front of the main building. All students were already submerged, and only two people remained there. An old man in a black cloak, undoubtedly the rector, and a young girl with a neat bob. She seemed familiar; it was Ferris, the head of our group, whom Katrina struck with lightning in the first month of classes. Why was she getting such an honor? In front of them stood a warrior in armor similar to the others but with expensive golden decorations. "Is that the commander of your operation?"
I led the prisoner closer and pointed towards the square.
"The general? What is he doing? They should have left by now." Other soldiers were searching the academy, and only nine guards remained in the square.
"Perhaps we can persuade him to retreat?"
"Well, risk your life then. He's protected by imperial guards, the finest warriors in the country. They'll capture you the moment you appear on the horizon."
"Then I understand why they're not leaving," I smiled and inspected the guards' armor. They were just as black as the other warriors', but silver stripes distinguished them from the rest. I tapped on the prisoner's armor: "You're one of them, aren't you? That's why they can't abandon you?"
"General, you are too naive! This operation, without casualties, was inevitable. You need to leave before the regular army arrives!" The girl tried to shout to reach the general's reflection in the window, but he was more than a kilometer away.
"Now I know how we should act. Tell me, guardswoman, your general is an ancient dragon, isn't he?"