Far from watchful eyes. A culmination of a shimmering black and red ran through the undergrounds of Cainlocke. Passing through dimly lit white dull halls of the forgotten pathway. All are veiled with different masks that represent their self. Two of them who visited Jacob's dorm had news to report to the others. They still wondered where's the third one. She should be with them, but it took some time for her to escape the gaze of their so called 'friends'.
At the end of the path stood a wide room with a single round chair and ventilation for oxygen. Seven other figures, all donning the same black and red attire, were waiting for them.
"There you are. Been wondering where you were." One with a horned mask spoke.
"It was difficult escaping the professor's eyes. Luckily for us, the security force wasn't too much to handle. They weren't on guard duty for some reason." A distorted lady voice spoke from the new arrivals.
"So Elyssia Sanghur won't be much of a problem now?" Someone spoke from the table.
"No. It's mostly just Madhav Nathersa that's a problem. Rovanne and Matthew aren't much. They're fools for all we know." The distorted voice of a boy spoke.
"So no worries right?"
"No. There are. Jacob failed to kill the targets. It went horribly in fact. Some of the artifacts were gone and we only managed to secure a few." The same person spoke, "The longer they are alive, the more of a threat they become to us. They already are on our trail with being in S-class."
"I see. Most of our troops had been arrested or killed in the lower ranks. We can't risk losing more to them. Do you have any info about them? Reports. Anything?"
"Yes. but it's not with us. The third should be here by no-"
Before he could finish his sentence, a scurry of footsteps appeared in view as someone ran to the meeting in a hurried state. As the third member appeared into view. Panting heavily as she adjusted her mask.
"Sorry, I'm late...My friends wanted to take me out to the astronomy tower..." She said.
"'friends'...They're tools to keep your alibi up 'Shoatan'. Remember the difference." The horned member spoke.
"Understood 'Maestro'...Now, you said you desired information about them yes?" Shoatan stood up straight, walking towards the others.
"Do you have any? It's difficult to get any info on them without risking being seen somehow."
"Well, I guess I have the answer for that..." Shoatan placed three files onto the table, each one dedicated to one of the trio, "Donovan here must be the leader...The brains. He has a way with words which made it difficult to find his true intentions."
"So if we kill him, they fall apart?"
"Maybe. But I doubt they'd crumble without him. If we even get to him. Gary here seemed to be the muscle of the group. A raging monster that is strictly loyal to the other two. He's the shield of the brains." Shoatan then pointed to Samuel, "I don't have anything on him. He's always in the back. Just watching the others as they do whatever. One of our members was stalking them for info. But he was confronted by Samuel. Even though he was well concealed."
"So Donovan's the brain, Gary's the muscle, and Samuel must be the spear." Maestro said.
"That's accurate. But my best guess is that the biggest threat is Donovan. So we should take him out." Shoatan said, "Any ideas?"
A quiet murmur rummaged through the room as they discussed any plans on eliminating Donovan, but the maestro raised his hands and quickly shut everyone up, "The tournament."
"You mean the first year tournaments?" The distorted lady asked.
"Yes. If we could tamper with it, we could single them out and eliminate them, " he said.
"And how would we do that?" Shoatan asked.
"I'll deal with that. But right now, the meeting has ended. I just need you, all of you, to participate and bring the other members alongside you. When you see the signal, try your best to kill or injure anyone." Maestro stabbed the picture of Donovan with his dagger, "Hanlerk is going to regret sending them..."
***
As Samuel flipped through the sheet that Madhav had given the three of them. Their schedule for being in the security force. They would have shifts in patrolling the area, and spend other times having classes separately alongside having different break times.
"It's magic class now isn't it?" Samuel asked.
"Yep. With Mister Kiro as our teacher. Wonder what's gonna happen next..." Donovan led his friends towards the same room where they were met with hostility yesterday.
"Let me go first," Gary said.
"Alright then...after you."
Gary bent down slightly to accommodate his size and height as he entered the class. The other students were quiet this time. With mister Kiro early by his table this time.
"Ah. You three. Please take a seat where you last were yesterday."
Following his request, they walked up to the corner of the class and sat by the window. Just hanging there as Mister Kiro announced something.
"Now that everyone is here...I would like to make a statement." A sudden emotion scatters across the room and into everyone's heart. A sinking feeling of fear and despair grabbed their hearts and pulled it down into their stomach, Mister Kiro had an ominous glare in his eyes as he stared at everyone. Even with only one set of eyes, "It had come to my attention that each one of you had participated in a scuffle in break yesterday. Targeting Gary and Donovan."
He slammed his fist on the table, scaring everyone, "Such a misdemeanor should be punished heavily. All of you. In the old times, they would have you working like slaves for two weeks straight. Lucky for you, that sort of punishment has been outlawed already. So I'm being light about this."
He pointed at everyone in the class, "All of you are banned from the Tournament. And will spend your time cleaning the classes and school."
A collective gasp rummaged through the class as everyone tried to hear him correctly. Banned from the tournament...? No. This isn't fair! Akane stood up from her chair, "But mister! I-"
"SILENCE."
Everyone's mouth was quickly glued shut from the weight of his words. The trio looked at each other in confusion trying to comprehend what the tournament is.
"I know that all of you were looking forward to the event. Where you can show off your abilities, get recruited to join a study group or get scouted for a magic path group. But after what you attempted on those two, I ban you all from it. With a few exceptions."
Many of the students started to protest against his decision. They wanted to prove their worth. But the regret of following Jacob on attacking them hung heavy on their heart. As some started to blame and resent Jacob for it. Samuel sympathized with him, he could see the sadness in his eyes. He was forced to attack them, it was not his fault. If only the others knew about it.
"Hey, Azzy." Donovan turned around, and Aziroth poked his head out of his book.
"Don't call me that. But what is it?"
"What's up about the tournament? The hell is that for?"
"Like what Mister Kiro explained, a tournament of power to show your strength. Get scouted for anything. Our class would compete against the other six classes. And whoever wins receives a trophy. It's useless but it's the thought and struggle that counts. And the fame." Aziroth explained, "Our class, Haelfein class, had mostly been the run of the litter class. For about six years, we had never won a tournament. Not even the second and third years. These kids are eager to prove themselves. But guess that's stolen from us."
"They'll be shamed for it." Gary said.
Aziroth nodded, "Exactly. So that's not good. But I don't care."
Gary turned to Donovan and Samuel, "Yo, I wanna participate. But is it compatible with our schedules?"
Donovan thought for a second, "I think I can convince Mister Kiro."
"Go for it." Aziroth said, "I doubt it'd work."
"Watch me..." Donovan stood up and raised his hands, "Mister Kiro!"
Everyone silenced themselves as they turned to Donovan. Ready to work his magic. In a metaphoric way. Mister Kiro raised his eyebrows, "Yes Mister Donovan?"
"See sir...It would be unfair for everyone here to be banned. Even though some of us didn't participate in well..attacking us."
"That's the point. Due to some people's actions, everyone is punished. That's what happens in the real world." Mister Kiro said.
Samuel and Gary could see Donovan's tongue shift from red to a long silver tongue. No one seemed to notice cause it was discreet, but it did take Aziroth's attention and interest, "But that's unfair. We know that. However, the humiliation of a class failing to participate would be a much more horrible punishment. It would probably last until we graduate! That's not good for young aspiring mages and fighters like us no?"
Mister Kiro crossed his arms, "Keep going..."
"In my opinion, this level of humiliation is too severe for our class. It won't be a good sign to the school, to us, and even to you. You could be affected. We don't know how, But I guarantee you it would." Donovan then activated it, and a sharp bundle of hisses echoed through the class, "So how about, letting them watch the tournament? Let me, Gary, and Samuel participate. And others who didn't attack us. Like Aziroth for example."
"No. Don't you dare..." Aziroth nearly stood up.
"If you want to, Aziroth." Donovan said, "You've been a teacher for the Haelfien class for what? Six? Seven years so far? And it's been a long time since our class won the tournament. Let us participate. Give us a chance."
Mister Kiro stood silent for a good thirty seconds, before sighing, "Fine. I'll let you three participate. And I'll add a cherry on top. If you want, in the tournament, I'll allow the others to participate. If you say so."
"We'll see about that." Donovan chuckled as he sat back down, "At least now you'll get to watch instead of lounging on the campus and do whatever."
"Smooth." Gary smirked.
As Donovan sat down, students started to speak to him, and even shout over each other to reach him. Asking to allow them to participate, but Donovan held his hand up, "If you keep bugging me, I won't let you in."
That quiets them down a bit. Donovan leaned back in his chair as Mister Kiro raised his hands, "Alright Class. You heard him. Let's begin the lesson."
Samuel nudged on Donovan, "What about...you know."
"Ah, shit. Forgot about that." Donovan sat back up and readjusted his hat, "God damnit. I was so focused on having fun that I-"
"Donovan." Gary spoke.
"What?"
"Just calm down. We can have fun once in a while. What harm is one day right?" Gary tried to convince him.
Donovan sighed and eased himself, "Alright. I'll trust you."
Aziroth quietly listened in to them. He still remembered their true mission. And their true goal. But he did agree. They're still kids. They should have fun once in a while. Even though he doesn't care too much about the tournament, some prospect of fighting does entice him to join. Maybe he would. And will it really be any harm? He doesn't know. But what Samuel is dreading today would be his patrol session with Rovanne.