The morning light filtered through the narrow windows of Lumumba's office, casting long shadows on the stone walls. Sitting across from him were the two students Koffi had identified as possible saboteurs. Their faces were pale, eyes flicking nervously between Lumumba, Koffi, and Mamadou, who stood by the door with his arms crossed, a sharp smile playing on his lips.
The room was tense. Lumumba sat behind his desk, hands steepled in front of him, watching them intently. Koffi stood by his side, calm as always, while Mamadou's eyes gleamed with amusement at the situation.
"So," Lumumba began, his voice measured. "Why don't you two tell me what you've been up to? And don't try lying. We already know you've been in contact with the nobles."
One of the students, René, swallowed hard and shifted in his seat. "I… I don't know what you're talking about, sir."
Mamadou chuckled darkly. "Oh, come on. Let's not waste time with the denials. We've got all the proof we need. The only thing that matters now is how bad it's going to be for you two. So, I'd start talking."
The second student, Elara, remained silent, staring at the floor. René glanced at her, then back at Lumumba, clearly torn between loyalty to his fellow student and fear of what might happen if he kept quiet.
"Look," Lumumba said, leaning forward slightly. "I get it. The nobles probably promised you something—money, safety, a way out. But whatever they told you, it's a lie. They don't care about you. You're just pawns in their game."
René hesitated, his hands trembling. "We didn't want to hurt anyone," he said quietly. "We were just supposed to give them information. That's all. They… they said if we did, they'd help our families. We didn't have a choice."
Elara finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "We're not traitors. We just… we just wanted to survive."
Lumumba exhaled, understanding their desperation. He knew how easy it was to get caught in the web of the nobles' manipulation. But that didn't change the fact that they had betrayed the academy.
"What kind of information did you give them?" Lumumba asked, his tone softening slightly. "What do the nobles know?"
Elara looked up, her eyes filled with regret. "They know about the academy's defenses. The number of students, the training schedules. They wanted to know how strong we were, how organized. They… they're planning something, but we don't know what."
Mamadou's expression darkened. "Of course they're planning something. The question is when. If they know our weaknesses, they'll strike soon."
Koffi nodded in agreement. "We need to act fast. The nobles won't wait long. If they see a chance to cripple the academy, they'll take it."
Lumumba leaned back in his chair, thinking. The situation was worse than he had anticipated. The nobles had been gathering information for weeks, maybe even months, and now they knew exactly how to hit the academy where it hurt.
"You've made your choices," Lumumba said, looking at the two students. "But I'm giving you a chance to make things right. You're going to help us. If you do, we'll protect you. If not, well…" He glanced at Mamadou, who grinned ominously. "You don't want to know what happens next."
René and Elara exchanged a glance, then nodded slowly.
"Alright," Lumumba said, standing up. "Here's what we're going to do. You're going to keep feeding the nobles information. But it's going to be what we want them to know. False schedules, fake plans. We'll lead them into a trap."
René and Elara looked relieved, though still terrified. "We'll do whatever you say," René said quickly. "Just… please. Don't hurt our families."
Lumumba's eyes softened. "I'll make sure your families are safe. But don't cross me again."
Later that day
The academy felt different now—more focused, more determined. The students, now aware of the threat looming over them, were training harder than ever. But the tension was still there, an undercurrent of fear and uncertainty.
Lumumba stood in the courtyard, watching as groups of students practiced their combat drills. Koffi had taken charge of the training, his leadership style calm and methodical, while Mamadou observed from the sidelines, ever the strategist.
As the sun began to set, Lumumba felt a presence behind him. He turned to see Amara, her face serious.
"We need to talk," she said, motioning for him to follow her. They walked together through the academy grounds, the air cool and heavy with the weight of what was coming.
"The nobles aren't just planning to sabotage the academy," Amara said quietly. "They're preparing for an all-out attack. I've heard whispers from my contacts in the capital. Lord Dorian is gathering forces. He's going to try and shut us down permanently."
Lumumba's jaw tightened. He had expected something like this, but hearing it confirmed made the situation even more dire.
"So, it's war," Lumumba said, his voice flat.
Amara nodded. "Yes. And if we don't stop them, they'll destroy everything we've built."
Lumumba looked out over the academy, his heart heavy. He had known from the beginning that the nobles would never let the academy thrive. But now, with war on the horizon, the stakes were higher than ever.
"What's our next move?" Lumumba asked.
Amara hesitated for a moment, then said, "We need to rally the students. But more than that, we need allies. If we're going to stand against the nobles, we can't do it alone. We need to expand the academy, reach out to other kingdoms, other forces. The nobles have wealth and power, but we have something stronger. We have the people."
Lumumba nodded slowly. "You're right. It's time to take this fight beyond the Western Kingdom."
That evening
As Lumumba and Amara returned to the academy's main building, they found Mamadou waiting for them, a sly grin on his face.
"I've got news," Mamadou said, his voice low. "Our contacts outside the kingdom—those rebels I told you about—they're ready to join forces. They've got fighters, mages, resources. Everything we need to take the fight to the nobles."
Lumumba raised an eyebrow. "And what's the catch?"
Mamadou shrugged. "No catch. They want the same thing we do—freedom from noble rule. If we help them take down their local lords, they'll help us take down ours."
Amara looked skeptical. "We don't even know these people. How can we trust them?"
Mamadou grinned. "You can't trust anyone, Amara. But you can make alliances. And right now, we need allies."
Lumumba thought for a moment, weighing the options. They needed help, that much was clear. And while Mamadou's contacts might be risky, they couldn't afford to turn away potential allies.
"Alright," Lumumba said. "Set up the meeting. But we're going to be cautious. No promises until we know exactly who we're dealing with."
Mamadou nodded, satisfied. "I'll take care of it. Just be ready for a fight, Lumumba. The nobles aren't going to sit back and watch us grow stronger."
Lumumba watched Mamadou walk away, his mind racing with possibilities. The academy was about to enter a new phase, one that would take them beyond the borders of the Western Kingdom. But with new allies came new dangers, and Lumumba knew that the fight was far from over.