"What?! Melanthius is being accused of that?!" A boy in the cafeteria choked on his food, his eyes wide with disbelief. Whispers about Mel and the accusation spread rapidly throughout the room.
Dorian and Elowen sat at their table, their faces dark with concern as they overheard the conversations about their friend. Elowen's fist tightened in frustration. "I can't take this anymore. What are we going to do, Dorian? Mel's still in that room, and his reputation is being dragged through the mud."
Dorian let out a heavy sigh. "And all we did was agree with what the other black cards were saying…"
Rue approached their table, defying the usual rules that prohibited red cards from sitting with black cards. Her royal status made exceptions, though today she looked unusually subdued. She wore Mel's robe, which seemed out of place. "H-hello, guys," she greeted, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she ordered food from the tablet, which promptly appeared before her.
"Princess Rue? You're sitting with us?" Elowen asked, her curiosity piqued. "And why are you wearing Mel's robe? Do you believe in his innocence when everyone else doesn't?" Dorian raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
"Of course," Rue said softly, a small, thoughtful smile on her lips. "How could I believe that the boy who saved me would be capable of stealing weapons? He was so respectful that he wouldn't even sit on my bed. That day we spent together was the most vulnerable I've ever felt. And then, for some reason, he spoke with Professor Estron and fell unconscious for three entire weeks."
"Last night, they chained him up like an animal," Rue said, her voice trembling. "They forced him to relinquish his book to the museum because they can't handle it themselves, and then they locked him in a dungeon beneath my castle. His screams… they were heart-wrenching. I couldn't sleep a wink."
Elowen nodded, her expression resolute. "We need to speak with Professor Estron. He might have some insight into what caused Mel to pass out." She glanced at Rue, her eyes softening. "And Rue, thank you for sharing this. If there's anything you can do to help us reach him, it would mean a lot."
Rue wiped a tear from her cheek and gave a small nod. "I'll do whatever I can. Just… Please find out what's really happening. Mel doesn't deserve this."
Suddenly, Professor Estron burst into the dining hall, his face pale and eyes wide with terror. "He's escaped! Melanthius Shadowbane has escaped from his imprisonment!" His voice cracked as he continued, "And not only that—he's unleashed a horde of enormous goblins into the school!" His frantic cries sent a wave of panic through the cafeteria, students shrieking and scattering in all directions.
Dorian's eyes widened in disbelief. "This is madness! We have to do something!"
Elowen, gripping the edge of the table, stood up with a determined expression. "We need to find out where he is and stop those goblins before things get worse!"
Suddenly, a massive goblin clamped a hand onto Elowen's shoulder. "Meh meh meh, what a cute little girl we've got here!" it sneered with a menacing grin. But before it could react, Elowen spun and delivered a powerful backfist, crushing the goblin's upper body into a heap of mangled flesh. She looked at the remnants with a steely gaze. "Alright, let's deal with these goblins."
Nearby, Dorian had several goblins sprawled on the ground, their blood staining his hands and clothes. He wiped the blood from his face with a grimace. "Agreed." He and Elowen exchanged a resolute nod, their expressions hardening with determination as they prepared to confront the chaos.
In the castle, Mel kicked open Rue's door, his movements frantic, his hands and legs still bound in heavy chains. "I need to get out of here," he muttered, rushing toward her closet. He fumbled through her clothes but paused, guilt tugging at him. His moral compass screamed at him to stop.
Before he could decide, the door creaked open, and Mel swiftly clung to the ceiling, holding his breath. King Aldara stepped inside, his presence calm. "It's alright," the king said softly. "I come in peace." He approached Rue's bed, and Mel hesitated before lowering himself to the floor.
"K-King Aldara…" Mel stammered, his voice raw. He approached cautiously, his body trembling. "I'm sorry. I-I'm just scared… being alone like this, chained up…" Mel bowed, his eyes swollen and red from tears. His voice was hoarse, broken from the hours of screaming he'd endured through the night.
King Aldara, or King Percival, patted the side of Rue's bed, motioning for Mel to sit. Hesitantly, Mel curled up beside him, pulling his knees to his chest. "You're not going to let Thaddeus throw me back into the dungeon, are you?" he asked, his voice muffled as he buried his face in his hands.
Percival sighed and gently rubbed Mel's back. "I don't believe you stole the weapons," he said quietly, and Mel peeked up at him. "But… why does Headmaster Thaddeus?"
The king's expression softened, his gaze distant. "Thaddeus… he's been through a lot. When he was young, he fell in love with a servant girl from another kingdom. They dreamed of running away together, escaping the chains of duty. But she was caught trying to flee and… they executed her. Beheaded her." His voice wavered, the memory clearly painful.
Mel took a deep breath, his heart heavy. "But why does he think I'm the one who stole the weapons?" he pressed, searching Percival's face for an answer.
Percival stood slowly, adjusting his crown with a sigh, avoiding the question. "Some wounds never heal," he murmured, his silence speaking louder than words. "Melanthius, you can sleep in one of the rooms in the castle, don't let yourself be seen." With that he left the room and Mel sat in the bed and sniffled. "Would I have been better off in Caldara?"
Back in the school
Elowen cracked her knuckles, her gaze sweeping over the goblins swarming the ground. "They just keep coming!" she shouted, swiftly dispatching four more with a flurry of strikes. "This would be easier with Excalibur… but no, a real woman doesn't need a weapon." She set her jaw, determination hardening her resolve.
Dorian, his nails sharp as blades, slashed through several goblins, but his fingers were starting to bruise. He glanced down, frustrated. "If only the upperclassmen were here. But they're busy evacuating everyone and dealing with the bigger threats," he growled, slicing through another wave of goblins, his hands now slick with blood. "No, a real man doesn't rely on numbers alone…"
Both of them winced at their own thoughts.
"Dammit, I'm quoting that idiot," they both cursed silently, yet a fleeting smile crossed their faces as they thought about Melanthius.
"We'll handle it from here," a booming voice interrupted. Goda, along with the warriors of Atlantis, strode into the school, defying the ban that kept them from ever setting foot there again.
Dorian's eyes widened. "You guys aren't allowed here! What are you doing?!"
Before Goda could answer, another voice chimed in. "Don't count me out either. My master might turn evil one day, but a real man never steals." Lance appeared, now wearing a tattered robe that matched Melanthius's own, his smirk mirroring the confidence he exuded. "Looks like chivalry isn't dead after all."
Dorian scowled worriedly. "What the hell are you all doing here? Fishpeople, you're banned!"
Goser, a fish warrior, stepped forward with a grin. "We're here as heroes, because we like Melanthius. Someone important made an exception for us." He raised his fist with a flourish. "Now go help the upperclassmen. We'll take care of these small fry." He announced and Elowen and Dorian nodded.
As the goblins let out a loud roar, instead of charging forward like heroes, Goda and his warriors froze in place. Their confident stances faltered, and within seconds, they were dropping like flies—collapsing one by one as unconsciousness took them out of fear.
Lance, who had been bravely standing alongside them, was the last to falter. As the goblins advanced, his legs wobbled, his resolve crumbled, and… he peed his pants. Panicking, he fell to the ground and crawled back in retreat, babbling to himself as he made his slow, humiliating exit back toward the middle school.
Dorian and Elowen watched in stunned silence.
"So… much for handling the small fry," Elowen muttered, cracking her knuckles.
Dorian shook his head. "Chivalry might not be dead, but their dignity sure is."
The goblins charged at them with ferocity, catching Dorian and Elowen completely off guard. Their bodies tensed, barely able to react in time. Just as the horde closed in, Draven appeared in a blur of motion, his blade flashing through the air. In seconds, the goblins were sliced apart, their bodies falling in pieces around him.
Draven turned to the group, breathing calmly as if nothing had happened. "You alright?" he asked, his voice steady, but his eyes sharp, scanning them for any signs of injury.
As Draven asked, they merely looked down, frustration clear on their faces. He sighed, knowing their anger wasn't just about the goblins—it was about Melanthius. Before he could say anything, Laurel appeared, her tone brisk.
"Emrys took care of the rest of the goblins. Everyone's been evacuated," she informed them, her eyes flicking between Draven and the group, sensing the tension in the air.
Cassius strolled in, a massive goblin slung over his shoulder, with Amara and Astroman close behind. All three had wide grins plastered on their faces.
"Ugh, pretty sure I broke my leg, guys," Cassius groaned dramatically.
Amara snorted, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, right. He just twisted his ankle—probably from kicking a goblin's face in too hard."
Astroman chuckled. "Dumbass, always overdoing it."
Laurel, Emrys, and Kali walked in, all wearing matching expressions of frustration.
"Ugh, my head's killing me," Laurel groaned, rubbing her temples.
Without a word, Emrys held up a hand, summoning a gentle yellow flame that flickered soothingly around Laurel's head. "Better?" she asked, her voice calm.
Laurel sighed in relief. "A little."
Kali sighed and turned to Draven with a sharp look. "So, did you track down the little thief or not?" she asked, her tone dripping with impatience.
Elowen's eyes flashed with anger. "Melanthius is not a thief!" she snapped, clenching her fists tightly, her voice seething with defiance.
"Alright, relax," Kali said with a smirk, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Maybe you just misplaced Excalibur. I heard Cameloteans are known for losing track of things." She let out a laugh, her tone teasing.
Elowen's eye twitched with fury. "Care to repeat that?" she growled, her fists clenched, barely holding back the urge to strike.
"We don't have time for this," Draven snapped, frustration lacing his words. "Melanthius has escaped, and Thaddeus is all over me to find him. I know he's your friend, but from here on out, he's an escaped convict." Elowen and Dorian's expressions darkened, their gazes dropping to the floor.
Meanwhile, with King and Queen Aldara at a meeting and Rue still at school, Melanthius roamed the quiet palace halls. Yawning, he stretched as he stepped out of Rue's room after taking a nap. "I'm thirsty," he muttered, wandering into the grand kitchen. He frowned when he noticed the lack of a refrigerator. "No furniture? Great, I really don't want to make toilet juice," he pouted.
Just then, an AI voice chimed, "Juice." A bottle dropped into his hands. "Whoa!" Mel stared in awe before setting the juice aside. Grinning mischievously, he called out, "S'mores ice cream!" The AI responded, "S'mores ice cream," and a carton materialized in his hands. "This place is amazing," he chuckled, digging into the treat.
A few moments later, Percival strolled into the palace, glancing at his watch. "I've got a few minutes to check on Melanthius," he muttered. As he passed the kitchen, his eyes widened in horror. "What in the—?" He shrieked, nearly stumbling back. Before him was a mountain of s'mores ice cream, with a single hand poking out from beneath it. The body under the pile was giggling.
Percival rushed over, frantically moving the ice cream aside to reveal Mel grinning like a child, a spoon still in his mouth. "I think I ate all of your ice cream," Mel giggled, lazily throwing an arm over his forehead like some dramatic actor.
"Melanthius! What have you done?!" Percival whispered sharply, eyes darting around. Mel casually pressed a finger against Percival's lips. "Chill, man," he whispered back, sounding far too relaxed. "It's all good."
Percival stared at him, incredulous. "He ate all this ice cream—shouldn't he be bouncing off the walls by now? Is it different for wizards?" he thought, trying to make sense of the scene. "Trash vacuum," he called out, and with a pleasant ding, the kitchen cleaned itself, vacuuming up the discarded cartons and spoons like nothing had happened.
Just then, the front door creaked open, and Queen Ruecrix—Rue's mother—stepped in with an air of authority. "Percival, what's keeping you?" she called, her voice ringing through the halls.
"Eek!" Percival let out a panicked squeak, his eyes darting toward the mountain of ice cream. "Uh—take Melanthius to the basement!" he whispered frantically.
Before Mel could respond, the kitchen's AI kicked into gear, sucking Mel into the vacuum system. "Wheee!" Mel's voice echoed as he disappeared into the chute.
Percival sighed in relief just as Queen Ruecrix approached, none the wiser. "Coming, dear!"
She strode into the kitchen, her eyes narrowing as Percival stood there, wearing a nervous grin. "Uh… I fell out of bed!" he blurted out, sweat forming on his brow.
Ruecrix raised an eyebrow and glanced down the long hallway toward their bedroom, then back at him. "How'd you end up here?" she asked, her tone suspicious.
"Where?" Percival feigned confusion, his hands fluttering awkwardly.
"Here!" She pointed to the kitchen, her eyes widening.
"Where?" He raised his hands in mock defense.
"THERE! How'd you end up in the kitchen?!" she barked, her patience wearing thin.
Percival gave her a wide, panicked smile, the silence stretching painfully until Ruecrix finally sighed and stepped into the kitchen. "Percival, I don't care that you've got that boy wandering around our palace. But don't lie to me about it." She pinched his cheek, a mix of amusement and frustration in her voice.
Percival's mind reeled. "WHAT?! How did you know?!" he stammered, wincing from the cheek pinch.
Ruecrix chuckled, her towering presence making Percival feel even smaller. "Where do you think our daughter gets her smarts from?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement. "Now, where is he? I want to lay down some ground rules." She glanced around, scanning the room.
"I, uh… sent him to the basement," Percival admitted, eyes shifting nervously.
Ruecrix's expression froze, her eye twitching slightly. "Percy, my dear husband," she began slowly, her voice deceptively calm. "This kingdom used to be Noctara, the same kingdom Merlin seized all those years ago, before your parents rebuilt it."
Percival nodded eagerly. "Yeah?"
She placed a hand gently on his cheek, her smile sharp. "And you've told me before, this is the same castle Merlin once ruled. But we've never gone into the basement, have we? That was the one place your parents specifically warned us never to touch. And we obeyed, didn't we?"
Percival swallowed hard. "Yeah?"
Ruecrix's smile vanished. She grabbed his ear and lifted him effortlessly, holding him suspended as he winced in pain. Her voice was no longer calm. "SO WHY WOULD YOU SEND THE BOY INTO THE VERY BASEMENT WHERE HE WAS FOUND BEFORE THE MAGISTERIUM DRAGGED HIM OFF TO CALDARA?!"
Percival whimpered. "I'm an idiot…"
Mel stood before the relics in the basement, his eyes sweeping over a black crown, a robe, and black armored gloves. But the item that captured his attention was a black wand embedded in the wall. Etched into its surface were the words, "My son, Melanthius."
He stepped closer, his hand trembling slightly as he gripped the wand and pulled it free. Unlike with Excalibur or the tonfas, he didn't lose control. The power hummed in his hand, but it felt steady. Opening his book, he whispered a random incantation, "Imperem Strixortis."
A dark, lilac spike of particles formed beside him, swirling and coalescing into a perfect magical copy of himself. He stared at it, momentarily stunned—it was the first time he'd successfully cast something powerful that wasn't just clouds. Tentatively, he reached out and touched the copy, which dissolved into a shimmer of particles before vanishing.
Just then, Ruecrix and Percival burst into the basement, their eyes wide. "Whoa," Percival muttered, his awe mixed with fear as he took in the ancient relics.
Mel turned to them, his expression dark. "Have you guys seen this? It's everything—everything he left for me." His voice cracked, emotion welling up. "He did all that overlord shit—stuff—just to have a kid, and wasn't even there." His eyes began to water, his voice trembling. "Did you know this was down here? Did you?" He rambled, his sadness pouring out.
Ruecrix stepped forward, her voice soft. "Melanthius… we had no idea this was here. We were forbidden to even come down. But listen, you're nothing like your father. You're a good kid, a kind soul."
Without hesitation, Percival rushed to him, wrapping his arms around Mel in a tight embrace. Ruecrix followed, pulling them both into a warm, protective hug. "You don't have to carry this alone," Ruecrix whispered, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "We're here for you. Always."
Mel's sobs grew louder as he clung to them, finally allowing the weight of his pain to surface, his tears soaking into their shoulders.
Suddenly, a floorboard creaked, drawing their attention. Standing in the doorway was Rue, wearing Mel's robe with a startled expression. "M-Melanthius, you're here? Why are you here?!" Her voice wavered with fear, her eyes wide.
Mel, still wiping his tears, looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?" Before he could get another word out, the door swung open wider, revealing Dorian, Elowen, Amara, Cassius, Astroman, Laurel, Emrys, Kali, Jasper, Kai, and Draven. They all stared, equally bewildered.
"Melanthius, you were here the whole time?" Draven asked, stepping forward.
Mel stood protectively in front of Ruecrix and Percival. "You two leave. They've come for me," he said quietly. Without argument, Ruecrix and Percival were whisked away, vanishing in the same way the kitchen vacuum had taken Mel earlier.
The room hung heavy with tension.
"You were here the whole time?" Elowen's voice cracked with disbelief. Dorian stepped forward. "Mel, no hard feelings. You're still my best friend. But I'm a black card, and I have a job to do." Without warning, he lunged at Mel, claws flashing as they raked across his skin.
Elowen followed, her punches raining down, connecting with his face until his nose bled. Mel could feel they were holding back, but it didn't lessen the pain. Before he could react, Amara froze his hand mid-swing, while Cassius landed bone-crushing blows. Astroman added to the assault, using his gravity powers to pin Mel to the ground.
Emrys conjured green flames, binding Mel's hands tightly. "We can't take any risks. He's Merlin's son, after all," she called out. Kali doubled the pressure, creating clones that helped restrain Mel further.
Jasper stepped forward, grabbing a chunk of Merlin's iron from the basement, forging a chain that wrapped tightly around Mel. "Now, Laurel! Subdue his mind!" Jasper shouted.
"On it," Laurel replied, placing her fingers on Mel's temple. Her eyes glowed as she delved into his mind.
Inside, Laurel found herself in an expanse of clear skies and rolling clouds, far more peaceful than she'd anticipated. "This… isn't what I expected." She ventured toward a darker, looming area labeled 'Magic.' "There. I'll turn it off." As her hand reached for the door, a thunderous crackling sound erupted behind her. "What the—?!" Before she could react, she was violently pulled back into her physical body.
Mel shattered the chain, wrapping it around Jasper's leg and yanking him to the ground with brutal force. His eyes burned with a new intensity—no longer the hesitant boy but someone who had fully embraced the fight. "Looks like I'll have to become inmate Zero," he muttered, his voice cold.
Kai's eyes widened as he called out, "What did you see in his mind?!"
Laurel gasped, still catching her breath. "I-I don't know! But it wasn't Merlin's influence! He's too dangerous—take him down, now!" she ordered.
Cassius wasted no time, rushing at Mel and grabbing him by the waist. With a roar, he suplexed Mel into the cold concrete floor, the impact shaking the room. "You can't beat me! I've lifted 3 tons heavier than you!" Cassius shouted, his voice full of confidence as he tried to overpower Mel.
But Mel gritted his teeth through the pain. "What about a trillion?" he muttered under his breath before stomping down on Cassius's foot, hitting a pressure point with precision. Cassius cried out in pain, and in a flash, Mel unleashed a flurry of hidden cloud kicks, moving too fast for Cassius to react.
The force of the strikes sent Cassius flying across the room, slamming into a wall. "This strength…!" Cassius groaned, barely able to comprehend what had just happened.
"Don't let him recover!" Kali shouted, summoning more clones to restrain Mel. But Mel was quicker, his power surging. "Rain Aikido!" he bellowed, throwing the clones in all directions with a roar of defiance.
Amara conjured ice balls and hurled them at Mel, but he swiftly grabbed Laurel's body and used her as a shield, the ice shattering harmlessly against her. Without hesitation, he hurled Amara aside and aimed at her with deadly precision. "Rain balls!" Mel fired rapid orbs of energy from his fingertips, striking Amara and Laurel with force and slamming them into the wall.
Astroman increased the pressure, forcing Mel to the ground. Gritting his teeth, Mel groaned in pain, but his hand shot out, gripping the wand tightly. A glint of mischief flickered in his eyes. He aimed the wand at Astroman. "Pretendo!" he shouted, casting what sounded like a real spell.
Astroman panicked, screaming as if hit by a powerful force, momentarily losing his concentration. The pressure lifted, and Mel wasted no time. He lunged to his feet and delivered a devastating punch to Astroman's chest, sending him crashing to the ground with a grunt of pain.
Emrys, watching from the sidelines, sighed dramatically and collapsed to the floor with exaggerated laziness. "I'm tapping out," she muttered, clearly uninterested in continuing the fight.
Mel's eyes scanned the room, landing on Elowen and Dorian as they rushed him. They both unleashed punches, and Mel braced himself, tightening his body against their blows. He didn't fight back, simply standing there, his expression hardened.
"My friends," he whispered, the weight of the words hanging in the air, pain and loyalty evident in his voice.
Mel grabbed Dorian's wrist and hurled him to the ground with a powerful punch. Elowen retaliated, landing a solid blow to Mel's cheek. He intercepted her next attack with a swift block and countered with a punch to her side. Elowen blocked this as well, using her elbow, and then slammed Mel against the wall. "Just stop and surrender!" she demanded.
Mel responded with a hidden cloud kick, snapping her head back and sending Elowen airborne. As she attempted to kick him from above, he deftly dodged and unleashed a series of rapid punches. Elowen adapted quickly, blocking each strike with precision.
"Why should I be imprisoned because of my father?" Mel shouted, his voice filled with frustration. Dorian, rising to his feet with self loathing fury evident in his eyes, spat blood and roared, "Why can't I defeat you?" He slashed a stream of boiling blood toward Mel's face. Mel ducked, conjuring a cloud to bind their limbs together. "Not this time," he said defiantly.
Turning, Mel saw Rue clutching his robe, her eyes full of concern. "Just go, you need to hide," she urged, her voice trembling. Mel gently lifted her chin and, despite the blood smeared across his face, offered a reassuring smile. "I'm coming back, for all of my friends."
Before Rue could respond, Draven appeared and drove his sword into Mel's back. In an instant, Mel vanished, leaving only a lingering trace of his presence.
"MEL!" Rue screamed, her voice echoing with anguish.