Everyone is now seated in the Grand Hall. The same one where Leon and Rufus did that dramatic entrance while sitting on top of a griffin. Viola mentioned that they used powerful water magic to make a water show, nearly flooding the entire place last year. This year, he brought in wild animals made from his illusion into the Grand Hall, creating chaos.
Seriously, how are they not expelled yet?
They are all waiting to introduce to the foreign exchange students after several weeks. According to the professors, there are seven this year. There were supposed to be more but most of the students decide to stay in their countries since the attacks. Six of them are from Hekaton but the seventh one is from Karnei.
That caught her attention. There are rarely any Karnei students that come over to Solin in this time and the story's time. The country's recluse nature is a well-known fact after all.
Then the headmaster went up the podium. She usually wears a warm smile but this time, her expression looks professionally sharp as she stares at both Rufus and Leon, checking to see if the troublemakers are in her line of sight.
Leon is seated at the front row, his chair decorated with a red cushion and silver lining and wearing his royal attire much to his displeasure. Everyone is seated by their nobility thus segregated. The higher-class students sit at the front while the lower ones sit at the back. There are empty chairs at the front row reserved for the arriving students. Melissa and Rufus are sitting next to him as the next higher ranked nobles. The rest are seated separately much to Viola's displeasure but at least they are seated together.
"Students!" Headmaster Zoe shouted, "I am pleased to announce that this year, we will have special guests. Every year, we have students from other magical academies come to this very academy for a semester to experience what it is like in this school."
Everyone has done this song and dance already. Just move on to the students waiting outside those doors right now! ... is what everyone is thinking as they listen to her speech.
"Now, let us give a round of applause to our guests from Hekaton and Karnei."
The doors opened. Two girls and four boys are closely grouped together. Prince Alphonso and his posse has now arrived. The most standoffish is the one who is not wearing the school uniform. He is wearing formal attire, has light blond hair and eyes that are a light shade of blue, at an average height and so far, appears different than what Leon has described him as. His wand looks like a conductor's wand and his magic appears average. As for those around him, most of them do not appear arrogant so far.
It was hard to see everyone after stretching her neck up to see the Karnei guest, she almost gasped in surprise. The boy had long burgundy hair, golden eyes and tanned skin. After confirming everyone's name, she is shocked to see him. Lysander Doukas; the High Chancellor of Karnei.
Leon then got up from his seat, approached his Hekaton counterpart and shook hands in front of everyone wearing the fakest smile she has ever seen. Amy looked around seeing their close friends holding in a smirk or laugh and everyone else remains ignorant.
Her attention is not on Leon; her interest remains with Lysander. In the story, he was a supporting character in the same movie where Alabaster came from. He was a skilled mage and personally investigated the strange phenomenon and kidnappings in the country. He helped Aron and brought reinforcements after hearing him out. He reappeared as an envoy in the last arc for an international meeting to discuss the incoming war against the Cambion. He was actually a member of the privy council in the movie but got promoted to High Chancellor after that. He came off as a stoic character but has excellent judgement. His decision making and leadership has prevented many issues. As a highly skilled mage and tactician, he participated at the frontlines supporting the Karnei army against the Cambion.
After the introduction and salutations, the entire hall had a feast and this time, Leon decides to relax, loosen up his collar and casually talk with the guests.
"I've been wanting to meet you for some time, Prince Leon." a girl named Fiona Rich said, "I've heard of your achievement of your invention. I tried the potion, and it works much better than the old one."
Amy almost forgot about the memory wipe she did. Ever since she overdosed on her potion, she feels sick just by looking at it. She had some when she went back in time but in very small sips, just enough to keep her awake. The entire ordeal was extremely traumatic that the slightest thought makes her shiver.
"I didn't know that it has been commercialized to the other nations." Rufus commented.
"Yes," Lysander said, "It is also quite popular in Karnei as well."
"Is everyone here, okay? Leaving your home country in light of recent events must be nerve wracking, isn't it?" Sabina asked.
Prince Alphonso proudly looks smug. "No need to worry. All of our families live in Enoch. It is the most secured Capital in the world. Nothing, not even the Ripper will be able to pierce our walls."
"Besides, all of us here are actually pretty strong so there is no need to worry." Another boy said, his name is Baldwin Heron.
"Is that so?" Leon said, his tone shows interest.
*
Amy didn't join in the festivities for long as she slowly retreated back to her room. Alabaster seems anxious for some reason and now she wants to be alone with her thoughts.
You guys doing okay? she said in her thoughts.
"I'm doing fine." Boris answered, "Project Yerenis is doing great. I managed to get the cells needed to recreate the vampire's anatomy to test on."
That's good news. Amy said.
Truly it is. She is not good at stuff like this so having Boris around really helps. In order to change a vampire's biology enough to be more human like, it will take many years of research. Boris built his laboratory in a far-off deserted island and thanks to borrowing her construction ability, he created a laboratory with everything he needed in about a single day using so many marbles. He even befriended the mermaids in the area and negotiated with them in exchange for some supplies and sea protection. As for the promise, Amy cannot explain but she hopes to visit soon.
You should also get some workers. Doing all of this by yourself is going to be stressful.
"Don't be so sure. I've done questionable research like this a lot where I'm from so this is nothing."
Amy nodded in response and moved on to Alabaster, whom she is truly worried about.
What's going on, Alabaster?
"Some of my workers have died to the Ripper." he said curiously.
Oh, I'm sorry.
"I asked one of my men to compensate their families but guess what? They died too. Some of them are separated from their hometowns hundreds of miles away from here so for this to happen is odd enough but it's even stranger considering they all died at the same day."
Amy was a bit stunned. "You may have lost your magic, but you could still sense it right?"
"I felt nothing. No magical presence of any kind was found. There was also no damage made by the Devil's Arrow so that theory is debunked."
Amy nodded. It was mere speculation on her part.
"I still decided to look for it. I had some men go ahead to excavate on the location but it's not there."
Amy slammed her hand on the table. That's impossible! The arrow should still be there!
In the story, Aron was in school by the time the arrow was discovered in that place and now it's missing. The implications of it being in the outside world is huge.
"Fuck!!" she lost her only lead to one of the most dangerous items in this story.
"Unfortunately, wherever the arrow may be, at least we know that we can destroy it. Out of the existing Demon weapons, this one is the easiest to deal with."
Amy nodded, but now we got another problem to deal with.
Someone took the arrow, and it is not the Cambion nor its supporters so who could it be?
*
A mysterious figure lurks in the shadows. Their eyes show interest.
"Isn't that interesting?"