In a secluded, opulent room within the academy, the ambiance was one of luxury and decadence.
The room was lavishly furnished, with plush velvet drapes, intricately carved wooden furniture, and a large, ornate chandelier hanging from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over everything.
Delilah, a Student with an air of authority and confidence, sat in a high-backed chair, her posture relaxed yet commanding.
"So we now have a young genius in the academy,"
she smirked, her eyes gleaming with a mix of interest and amusement.
"Yes, My Lady. Apparently, he is from the Bluemoon family," a young man said, massaging her shoulders with practiced ease.
His tone was respectful, yet there was a hint of trepidation in his voice.
"Dammit, we should be careful about touching him,"
Delilah said, her expression turning bored after hearing the association with the Bluemoon family.
"But My Lady Delilah, in the academy, family names don't matter," another young man standing nearby interjected.
His voice was steady, but there was an underlying tension.
Delilah's smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression.
"You guys tell me, how long have we been in the academy?"
"It's been six years, My Lady," they both answered promptly.
"Six years, you say... and tell me, who is the most dangerous student in the academy from the past four years?" she asked, her tone growing more intense, eyes narrowing.
"Dante Stormcaller, My Lady," one of the boys answered quickly, a bit too hastily.
Delilah's eyes flashed with disappointment and anger.
"I didn't ask the most popular, I asked the most dangerous. You guys are useless sometimes," she snapped, her voice cutting.
Both boys looked down, clearly uncomfortable under her scrutiny.
"The most dangerous student in the academy is Zion Bluemoon, 'The Wolf of Chaos,'" she declared, her voice filled with a mixture of respect and disdain.
"Even though our families are under the Shadowfen family and Juzo is strong, he doesn't hold a candle to Zion."
Her eyes bored into them, making sure her point was clear.
"So take heed. Do not touch any disciple from the Bluemoon family."
The boys nodded, clearly understanding the gravity of her words.
The tension in the room was palpable, the air heavy with unspoken threats and warnings.
The scene, with its rich, dark decor and the intense emotions on display, painted a clear picture of the power dynamics within the academy.
Delilah, with her commanding presence and sharp mind, was clearly someone not to be underestimated.
---
In a dark cave somewhere in Verdantia...
A man entered the cave, his black cloak trailing behind him.
The cave was damp and cold, the walls slick with moisture.
Dim light from torches flickered, casting eerie shadows that danced across the rough stone.
The air was thick with the smell of earth and a faint metallic tang, hinting at the presence of minerals deep within.
"You're recovering well, I see," a commanding voice echoed through the cavern, resonating with authority and menace.
Barnabus, a rugged man with a missing arm, sat on a rough stone ledge.
His face twisted in anger as he responded,
"Recovering? I lost my arm!" His roar reverberated off the walls, a mixture of pain and frustration.
"Don't forget who you are talking to. I'm not one of your useless henchmen, Barnabus,"
the commanding voice retorted, a dark aura emanating from its source, causing the temperature in the cave to drop slightly.
Barnabus's defiance melted into submission.
"Yes, Master Varian Shadowfen," he replied, bowing his head slightly.
Varian Shadowfen stepped into the light, his presence imposing.
He was tall and slender, with piercing eyes that seemed to see through the darkness.
His aura was intense, and even in the dim light, his expression was one of cold determination.
"Yes, I have recovered, but not to my former strength. I'm getting better," Barnabus continued, his tone more respectful but still laced with bitterness.
"That's good. I still have some use for you, despite your failure to throw the kingdom into chaos last time," Varian spoke, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife.
Barnabus's face contorted with frustration, but he remained silent, knowing better than to challenge his master.
"But don't worry. Take your time to recover. These mountains are under my family's control, so you have nothing to fear here," Varian added, his tone a mix of reassurance and warning.
As Varian turned to leave, the torchlight flickered over his stern face, casting long shadows.
His movements were deliberate, each step echoing through the cave.
Barnabus watched him go, a mix of fear and resentment in his eyes. His body language was tense, his remaining hand clenched into a fist.
The scene was tense and foreboding, the atmosphere charged with the weight of past failures and the threat of future plans.
Barnabus, left alone in the damp, dark cave, was a figure of anger and determination, ready to regain his strength and serve his master once more.
---
It had been two weeks since Oasis' duel with Jumbo, and he had spent every day training his body relentlessly.
"Dammit, I feel like nothing has changed. This is not effective."
"I need more training equipment. I have to find a blacksmith in the academy," Oasis thought to himself in frustration.
"I wish the directional artifact of the academy in my conscious realm could highlight every place in the academy."
Determined to find what he needed, he stood up, ready to move.
"I'll just go and check in the marketplace of the academy," he said aloud, his resolve firm.
"Damn, Selene hasn't been coming here since I finished the theory," he muttered to himself