In the battle of west wing.
Alexander considered for a moment, then made a decision. "Elara, you and Selene go to the dean's office. Explain everything to them and bring them to the infirmary. Lira and I will go there now and try to keep Thorne from making any more moves."
Elara and Selene nodded, her eyes fierce with determination. "Got it. We'll bring them as fast as we can."
Alexander turned to Lira. "Ready?" Lira's dark eyes were filled with resolve. "Let's end this."
With a final nod, the group split up, each pair heading in opposite directions down the shadowed corridors of the Academy. Alexander and Lira moved quickly and quietly, their footsteps barely making a sound as they approached the infirmary. The halls of the infirmary were eerily quiet, the usual buzz of students replaced by an unsettling silence. Shadows seemed to stretch and warp in the dim light, casting strange shapes across the stone walls.
...
They reached the infirmary doors, slightly ajar, just as they had been before. Alexander pushed them open carefully, peering inside. The room was dimly lit, with the only source of light coming from a flickering fire at the far end. It seemed almost peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding elsewhere in the Academy.
Alexander motioned for Lira to follow him, and they stepped inside, their footsteps soft on the stone floor. The rows of beds were empty, the room unusually still. At the far end of the infirmary, near the fireplace, stood Professor Thorne. He was sorting through some vials on a table, his back to them.
Alexander and Lira exchanged a quick glance before Alexander cleared his throat. "Professor Thorne."
Thorne turned slowly, his expression one of surprise. "Ah, Alexander, Lira. What brings you here? I wasn't expecting visitors."
"We know what you've been doing," Lira said coldly, stepping forward with her wand raised. "We know you're the one behind all this—the corruption, the experiments. You've been using the students as test subjects to master The Legacy of Fire, haven't you?"
Thorne's expression remained neutral, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. I've done nothing of the sort."
Alexander shook his head, his voice firm. "You can drop the act, Thorne. We know everything. Tomas left us a message before he died."
A flicker of irritation crossed Thorne's face, but he quickly masked it with a cold smile. "Ah, Tomas. Such a pity about what happened to him. But you're mistaken if you think I had anything to do with it."
Alexander's patience was wearing thin. "Stop lying, Thorne. We know you're using dark magic, and we know you're the one behind all the attacks. Why are you doing this? "
Thorne's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "Ah, Alexander. Always the curious one. Do you have any idea of the power it holds? It could reshape the very fabric of magic as we know it. But it was sealed away by those idiots. I won't let that knowledge go to waste. Just requires... a little sacrifices."
Lira's eyes blazed with anger. "You're insane. You've been killing lives, just for power!"
Thorne shrugged, his expression unrepentant. "Power always comes at a price, my dear. And sometimes, one must be willing to pay that price, no matter the cost."
Suddenly, Thorne unleashed a torrent of dark magic, the energy crackling with malevolent power as it surged toward Alexander and Lira. They dodged to the side, the dark bolts slamming into the walls and sending stone and debris flying. Alexander quickly retaliated, summoning the Flame Man spell he had learned. A figure of fire leapt from his hands, roaring towards Thorne with blazing intensity, its flaming fists swinging with deadly force.
Thorne countered with a wave of his hand, summoning a barrier of dark energy that absorbed the impact of the fire man's attacks. The barrier shimmered with dark flames, the air around it distorting from the heat. "You think your paltry fire magic can defeat me?" Thorne taunted, his voice filled with disdain.He countered with a blast of shadow energy, but Lira was ready. She wove her hands in a complex pattern, summoning a wall of shadows that absorbed the dark magic, protecting both her and Alexander.
"You'll have to do better than that, Thorne," Lira called out, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Thorne's eyes narrowed. "Very well, then. Let's see how you handle this!"
With a swift motion, Thorne conjured a swirling vortex of dark flames, sending it hurtling toward them. Alexander and Lira leapt aside just in time, the vortex crashing into the ground where they had stood, leaving a charred crater in its wake.
Lira responded with a burst of shadow magic, her hands moving in a blur as she summoned tendrils of darkness that snaked towards Thorne, wrapping around his limbs. Thorne struggled against the shadows, but his strength was formidable. With a roar, he broke free, the shadows dissipating into the air.
Alexander took the opportunity to attack, sending another wave of fire towards Thorne. The flames roared and crackled, consuming the air with their heat. Thorne raised a barrier of dark energy, but the fire pushed against it, the flames licking at his robes.
"You're getting sloppy, Thorne," Alexander taunted, his eyes locked on his opponent.
Thorne's eyes blazed with fury. "I'm far from done, boy."
With a burst of power, Thorne shattered the fire and darkness, sending both Alexander and Lira stumbling back. He raised his hand, and the ring on his finger began to glow with a sinister black light. Before they could react, the ring emitted a burst of dark flames, forming a black firewall that surrounded Thorne, cutting him off from Alexander and Lira.
"What the—" Alexander started, but before he could finish, the floor beneath Thorne opened up, revealing a hidden passageway. Thorne disappeared into the darkness, the black flames flickering and fading as he made his escape.
"Damn it!" Alexander cursed, rushing forward. "He's getting away!"
Lira was right behind him. "We can't let him escape. Come on, there has to be a way down there!"
Meanwhile, Selene and Elara hurried through the corridors of the Academy, making their way to the dean's office. The air was thick with tension, the sounds of battle and chaos echoing from every direction.
As they reached the dean's office, they saw the deans of House Aqua and House Ignis standing outside, directing other staff members as they tried to manage the crisis unfolding around them.
Dean Aquila, a tall, stern woman with piercing blue eyes, turned as they approached. "Selene, Elara, what's happening? Why are you here?"
Elara quickly explained the situation, her words tumbling out in a rush. "It's Professor Thorne—he's behind all this! He's been experimenting on students, using them to master The Legacy of Fire. We think he's trying to harness its power for himself."
Dean Ignis, a burly man with a fiery red beard, frowned deeply, his expression darkening. "Thorne? Are you certain?"
Selene nodded, her eyes filled with urgency. "Yes, Dean Ignis. Alexander and Lira went to confront him in the infirmary, but they need your help. Thorne is dangerous—we have to stop him before it's too late."
Dean Aquila's expression hardened. "We need to act quickly. Thorne's actions are a grave threat to the entire Academy. Ignis, let's move."
Dean Ignis nodded, turning to the other staff members. "You all, maintain order and continue managing the situation here. We're going to the infirmary." Without another word, the two deans followed Selene and Elara, hurrying down the corridor toward the infirmary.
Back at the infirmary, Alexander and Lira had found the hidden passageway Thorne had escaped through. They descended the narrow staircase, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls as they hurried after him.
The passageway was dark and winding, the air damp and musty. It twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the bowels of the Academy.
"We have to be close," Lira whispered, her voice tense. "He couldn't have gotten far."
Alexander nodded, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead. "Stay sharp. Do you know the ring he just used to create a barrier of black flames?"
Lira's eyes narrowed. "A ring? That must be how he's channeling the dark magic. It's a powerful artifact, one that we need destroy or seize in advance during the next battle."
As they rounded a corner, they saw a faint light up ahead, flickering like a distant flame. When they reached the end of the passageway, they found themselves in a small, circular chamber, dimly lit by torches on the walls.
In the center of the chamber stood Thorne, his back to them as he worked on a large, intricate sigil carved into the floor. The sigil glowed with a dark, pulsating energy, and Alexander felt a chill run down his spine.
"Thorne!" Alexander shouted, stepping into the chamber. "It's over. Surrender now, or we'll stop you by force."
Thorne turned slowly, a smirk on his face. "Ah, Alexander. I knew you'd follow me. But you're too late. The ritual is almost complete."
Lira's eyes widened in horror. "What are you doing, Thorne? What is this?"
Thorne's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a manic light. "This, my dear, is the culmination of my work. The Legacy of Fire is within my grasp, and with it, I will wield a power unlike any other. You can't stop me now."