Joseph hummed a tuneless melody to himself as he made his way through the twisted remnants of the old forest path. The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows that danced with the flickering light of distant flames. His hands were shoved into his pockets, and his footsteps were surprisingly light for someone who had just narrowly escaped a brutal confrontation. His disheveled hair bounced with each step, a stark contrast to the chaos that seemed to follow him wherever he went.
As he approached the edge of the woods, the sight of the academy came into view—or at least what was left of it. The grand structure that once stood as a beacon of strength and knowledge was now a charred skeleton, smoke rising in thick plumes toward the darkening sky. The smell of burning wood and scorched earth filled the air, acrid and suffocating.
Joseph's carefree expression faltered for a moment, replaced by a frown of genuine confusion. He tilted his head, trying to make sense of the scene before him. "Huh. That's… not what I was expecting."
He took a few steps closer, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. The academy grounds were littered with debris—broken bricks, shattered glass, and smoldering remains of what had once been the main building. In the distance, he could see the faint outlines of people moving, their silhouettes blurred by the thick smoke.
"Looks like somebody had a party and forgot to invite me," Joseph muttered to himself, a grin creeping back onto his face. "How rude."
He made his way toward the academy gates, stepping over fallen beams and dodging pockets of flame that still licked hungrily at the remnants of the building. As he walked, he noticed the remnants of academy insignias scattered across the ground, their once-proud symbols now blackened and burned.
"Geez, someone really didn't like the decor," he quipped, kicking a charred piece of wood out of his way.
Joseph continued forward, weaving his way through the debris, until he spotted a group of people huddled together near the main entrance. They were dressed in dark uniforms, their faces obscured by smoke and soot. As he got closer, he realized they were members of the academy's security force.
"Hey, guys!" Joseph called out, waving one hand in a friendly gesture. "What's going on? Did I miss something?"
The security guards turned at the sound of his voice, their expressions tense and wary. One of them, a tall man with a shaved head and a grim look on his face, stepped forward, pointing a finger at Joseph. "You! Stop right there!"
Joseph blinked, his grin widening. "Me? Oh, come on, I just got here! I swear, I didn't start the fire… this time."
The man's frown deepened, and he raised a hand to signal to his comrades. "We've got an intruder. Restrain him."
Two guards moved quickly, their hands reaching for their weapons. Joseph's smile faltered just a bit. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, let's not get hasty here, folks. I'm just a friendly face, a fellow scholar. Well, kind of. I don't even have my student ID on me, but trust me, I'm legit!"
One of the guards lunged toward him, and Joseph sidestepped nimbly, his movements fluid and almost playful. "Okay, okay, I get it—no guest passes today, huh? Tough crowd."
He ducked as another guard swung at him, his reflexes sharp despite his apparent nonchalance. Joseph danced around their attempts to grab him, laughing lightly. "Guys, really, this is starting to feel like an improv act. What's the punchline?"
But the guards weren't in the mood for jokes. They moved with the precision and determination of men who had just watched their home burn, and they weren't about to let some random wanderer make light of the situation.
Joseph's smile faded as he realized they weren't going to stop. His body tensed, and his eyes sharpened, revealing a rare glimpse of seriousness. "Alright, if that's how you wanna play it…"
With a quick flick of his wrist, Joseph reached into his pocket and pulled out a small metal sphere. He tossed it into the air, and it exploded into a blinding flash of light, causing the guards to stagger back, covering their eyes.
Taking advantage of their momentary blindness, Joseph darted forward, slipping past them with surprising speed. He could hear their shouts behind him, their footsteps pounding against the ground as they tried to regroup.
He sprinted through the ruined halls, dodging falling beams and leaping over piles of rubble. His heart raced, adrenaline surging through his veins. He didn't know why he was running—he hadn't done anything wrong. But something in the way those guards looked at him, the desperation in their eyes, told him he wasn't going to get any answers by sticking around.
As he rounded a corner, he felt a hand grab his shoulder, yanking him back. He spun around, coming face to face with a guard who had managed to catch up to him. The man's grip was like iron, and Joseph could see the anger in his eyes.
"You're not going anywhere," the guard growled.
Joseph grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Wanna bet?"
With a swift motion, he brought his knee up, catching the guard in the stomach. The man doubled over, his grip loosening just enough for Joseph to slip free. He turned and bolted toward the exit, his breath coming in quick bursts.
But as he reached the doorway, more guards appeared, blocking his path. They raised their weapons, and Joseph skidded to a stop, raising his hands in a mock surrender.
"Alright, alright, you got me," he said, his voice light and carefree. "I guess I'll just—"
Before he could finish, he felt something hard slam into the back of his head. Pain exploded in his skull, and his vision went black. He collapsed to the ground, his consciousness fading.
---
When Joseph came to, he was in a small, dimly lit cell. His head throbbed, and he could feel the cold, hard floor beneath him. He groaned, sitting up slowly, his hand rubbing the back of his head.
"Okay, not my best plan," he muttered to himself.
He looked around, taking in his surroundings. The cell was bare, with only a small cot and a metal door with a tiny, barred window. He could hear distant voices, muffled and indistinct, coming from somewhere outside.
Joseph sighed, leaning back against the wall. "Well, this is a pickle. I came for a reunion and ended up in detention. What a day."
He stretched his legs out, wincing slightly as he moved. "Alright, think, Joseph, think. How do I get out of here?"
He tapped his fingers against the floor, his mind racing. There had to be a way out. There was always a way out. He just needed to find it.
Suddenly, the door to his cell creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. It was the guard who had grabbed him earlier, his face still etched with anger.
"On your feet," the guard ordered, his voice cold and commanding.
Joseph raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "What, no 'welcome to the academy' gift basket?"
The guard didn't respond. He grabbed Joseph by the arm and hauled him to his feet, dragging him out of the cell and down a narrow hallway.
As they walked, Joseph couldn't help but notice the tension in the air. The guards were on edge, their faces grim and determined. Something was wrong—something more than just a burnt-down academy.
They reached a larger room, where several academy officials were waiting. They turned as Joseph entered, their expressions a mix of frustration and suspicion.
One of them, a woman with sharp features and piercing eyes, stepped forward. "Joseph… you've got some explaining to do."
Joseph grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, believe me, I'd love to, but I'm still catching up. What's the story here? Why's the academy on fire, and why am I the bad guy?"
The woman crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. "The academy was attacked, and you're the only one we found on the premises. You tell us."
Joseph blinked, genuinely surprised. "Wait, you think I did this? Me? Come on, I'm just a lovable rogue, not an arsonist!"
The officials exchanged looks, clearly not convinced. The woman narrowed her eyes. "We'll see about that. You're not leaving here until we get some answers."
Joseph's grin faded slightly, but his eyes remained bright. "Well, guess we're in for a long night, then."