Legendary Guardians: Mad Emperor

[Unfortunately, Susan Talon lost her way during the ritual and was neutralized.]

[Unfortunately, Finn Dray lost his way during the ritual and was neutralized.]

[Unfortunately, Sylara Greve lost her way during the ritual and was neutralized.]

Kael's nails dug into the steel railings, his eyes dilating as beads of sweat rolled down his face. He looked pale, sickened by the cold emotionless voice reporting the death of students consecutively for the past few minutes.

He looked down the staircase, his vision shaky. His legs felt wobbly, threatening to crumble under the weight of his bleeding heart.

[Unfortunately, Lucan Oris lost his way during the ritual and was neutralized.]

[Unfortunately, Mira Solenn lost her way during the ritual and was neutralized.]

[Unfortunately, Rylan Jett lost his way during the ritual and was neutralized.]

Entering the Cafeteria, Kael's heart was stomped by the eerie silence. This was a complete contrast to the always cheerful and bustling Cafeteria.

His gaze fell on the only figure seated, Kael's eyes widening in shock.

Eric sat alone, his usual jovial attitude replaced by a cold silence. He sat still, glaring at his soup with a slight frown; even the wild kid in class was shaken as well.

Kael's sloppy movements alerted him, causing his head to snap up. A bitter smile played on his lips, his eyes lacking the madness it once had.

Clank!

The sound of the chair scraping along the ground echoed across the room, the fierceness in his eyes gone. Kael sat, his shaky guys trying to meet Eric.

"W.. what… the hell is… happening here?" Kael stuttered.

His words attracted a disturbing chuckle from Eric, his gaze slowly rising to meet Kael.

"This isn't an academy. This is a laboratory and we are the test subjects." Eric said, a crazed grin stretching across his face.

However, Kael could see the sadness hidden behind the strange smile. He couldn't help but guess Eric used his smile to cover up for every emotion he felt.

Bang!

Eric and Kael abruptly stood up, their heads snapping in the direction of the stairs. A student was on the floor, shuffling back to his feet when two academy security guards rushed down, pinning him to the ground while putting a handcuff on.

These security guards were dressed in ash and black camo, their faces covered with balaclavas adorned with skull designs

"LET ME GO, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE FUCKING TEST ANYMORE, PLEASE LET ME GO!" he cried as they pulled him off the ground, another soldier punching him square in the face.

"Hey!" Eric bellowed, a sinister smile etched on his face as he walked around the table but Kael grabbed his hand.

The soldier turned, his vicious eyes fixated on Eric. He said nothing, his hand gently stroking the gun strapped to his waist.

"Bastard, I'll play with you!" Eric cursed, attempting to move but Kael's grip only tightened.

His gaze whipped back to Kael, who shook his head slowly with a terrified expression.

"We can't do anything… Don't get involved if you can win." He said in a hushed tone.

Kael watched Eric's expression shift from disgust to anger, then realization, before sadness. He tugged his hand away and collapsed on his seat.

"Smart choice kid." The academy security guard scoffed.

Kael and Eric could only watch them drag the students away, the disturbing silence returning to the cafeteria.

[Unfortunately, Zerik Solt lost his way during the ritual and was neutralized.]

Kael flinched at the announcement, his body collapsing on his seat. His eyes were wide open, his gaze distant even though he was looking at Eric.

{Greedy humans… They turned on me, they turned on demi-beasts and now they have turned on themselves. Disgusting.} Ra's voice oozed with cruelty.

Kael flinched and shuddered, still not used to having a voice in his head. He pushed Ra's words aside, shifting his attention to Eric.

"Can I ask you something?" Kael asked Eric, his sudden request catching his friend off-guard.

"Sure," Eric shrugged, adjusting his sitting position.

"After the ritual. Did anything change about you?" Kael asked, instinctively leaning in.

"..." Eric wore a rare thoughtful expression, pondering in silence for over a minute. "Nothing outside seeing better, feeling slightly stronger, and having more appetite."

"I see…" Kael nodded, confirming he was the only one who had to deal with a voice in the head.

Another brief silence followed as Kael pondered while Eric took a spoonful of his cold soup. The spoon pressed against his lips, but they never opened; he lowered the spoon and returned his attention to Kael.

"So far, only five people have survived the mystic resonance test. more than forty students have undergone the test already." Eric said, his tone heavy with emotions.

Kael sat up properly, his brain yet to process the information he just received. The academy admitted fifty people this year; doesn't that mean over thirty-five people are dead?

"You are joking, right?" Kael mumbled.

A thought crossed his mind, a familiar face flashing across his eyes as he abruptly stood up.

"Liora.." He gasped. "What happened to Liora?!"