Tale of Vanguard

With a sharp snap of his fingers, Headmaster Dorian's eyes glinted with a cold resolve. The impasse between the bodyguards broke in an instant. Veridicus's bodyguards, who had been locked in a standoff with the other headmasters' protectors, suddenly stiffened. A moment later, as if their strings had been cut, they collapsed to the floor unconscious.

Dorian's gaze remained fixed on Veridicus

"Did you really think your pawns would be enough?"

Dorian, Lyra, and Orion remained vigilant with their own bodyguards who were now standing over the fallen enemies, ensuring none would rise again. The air crackled with tension as everyone awaited Veridicus' next move. He suddenly chanted:

"Velum Alkahest"

An explosion rocked the private balcony that sends shockwaves throughout the grand arena. Plume of smoke and debris erupted into the sky.

Princess Bastia, who was in the arena ground became frozen as she saw the explosion above.

"What's happening?"

Before she tried to make a move, Headmaster Dorian appeared beside her with a grim and frustrated expression showing on his face.

"The bastard ran away.."

"Headmaster, what's going on?"

Dorian's gaze remained fixed on the smoldering remains of the balcony.

"I fear the entire capital might soon become an active warzone."

He then turned to Zephyr who was looking up at the destruction with a knowing expression.

"I assume you were aware of this situation?"

The boy said nothing. Instead, he harnessed his Veil of Wind and lift off the ground effortlessly. With a determined look, he flew out of the arena.

Headmaster Dorian turned back to Bastia and with a commanding tone, he ordered her:

"Princess, go after him, but be careful, and remember—do not trust any Veridonian you come across."

Bastia hesitated for a moment, until she finally snapped. She nodded firmly and began to channel her Veil of Titan, she jumped out of the arena with great distance.

***

In the dimly lit hallway of the grand arena's interior. Serephira sprinted down the corridor, her footsteps can be heard echoing against the stone walls. Each room she ran passed by was designated for the competitors, a place for them to rest or prepare before their matches. But now, the usually bustling hallway was eerily silent, save for the distant rumble of the explosion she had just heard. She had first assumed that the explosion was just another powerful display from one of the ongoing matches, but this one felt different, there was something ominous about it.

'What was that?'

The intensity of the blast had shaken the entire arena, and now a sense of dread was creeping into her thoughts.

She quickened her pace as her mind was filled with possibilities. Were they under attack? Was the explosion a sign of something far more dangerous? She couldn't shake the feeling that the situation was far more serious than a simple duel gone awry.

As Serephira sprinted down the hallway, she barely registered the sound of a door creaking open behind her. A boy emerged suddenly with his face twisted in determination. Before she could react, he throwed a spear with its tip glistened with a strange, oozing liquid.

"Shit!"

Serephira muttered as she spun around in alarm. But before the spear could reach her, a shadow descended from the ceiling above. Thane landed between them with his claymore who was already in motion, and with a swift powerful swing, he deflected the spear and sent it clattering harmlessly to the ground.

Without missing a beat, Thane charged at the boy

"Sorry about this."

He delivered a quick and decisive punch to the boy's stomach, causing him to crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

Thane turned to Serephira as he scanned the hallway for any more threats.

"Are you alright, Princess Serephira?"

Serephira approached him

"Yeah, thank you. You're… Thane, right?"

Thane gave a curt nod to her.

"That's right. Do you have any idea what's happening?"

With a troubled expression, Serephira shook her head. As she glanced down at the boy who was sprawled on the ground, her eyes caught a familiar emblem on his clothes. Her face paled slightly as she recognized it.

"Veridonia."

Thane's eyes widened at her remark

"Veridonia? Are you sure?"

Serephira nodded.

"Yes. It's their emblem. They must be planning something. We need to find out what's going on outside."

Thane agreed to her suggestion as the two of them hurried down the hallway with worried determination showing on their faces.

***

In the heart of the grand arena's ground, Headmaster Dorian stood amidst the chaos with his gaze shifting upward to the trace where Princess Bastia had left. Headmaster Orion and Headmistress Lyra approached him, both bearing the marks of their hurried actions.

Dorian turned to them as they arrived

"Quick thinking on your part, Orion"

Apparently, when the explosion occured, Headmaster Orion casted a barrier around the stands near the balcony to protect the people from the impact of the explosion and the debris. Dorian turned his attention to the crowds in the stands where Headmistress Lyra's veil was still in effect.

"Let them be for now, we don't want to cause any chaos and panic. The last thing we need is a terrified crowd stumbling into the danger outside."

Lyra nodded in agreement.

"I'll stay here and maintain the veil for as long as necessary."

Headmaster Orion's expression darkened with frustration as he looked out over the arena.

"How could I not notice a threat like this, especially with His Majesty who is now away? It's unacceptable."

Dorian responded to him:

"That is probably it: with the King of Calaria who is now absence in the capital, it would be the perfect opportunity to strike. We can safely assume that their target is not him. The fact that today is the tournament could also be a benefit for them."

Did they choose today to strike because of the tournament? Or is it merely a coincidence that the attack coincides with the king's absence? Perhaps the tournament was just an opportune cover for their plans.

Headmaster Dorian mind is filled with possible scenarios as he tried to piece together the motive behind the attack.

'Perhaps... an insider?'

***

As Thane and Serephira rounded the last corner in the hallway, they were met with a gruesome scene that stopped them dead in their tracks.

The walls were lined with bodies, gruesomely impaled by shards of ice. The cold, jagged spikes had skewered them with a chilling precision, their expressions were frozen in silent screams of agony.

In the center of this horrific scene, a girl stood with her presence that radiates an unsettling calmness amid the carnage. Her appearance was unmistakable—it was Seraphina.

Her gaze turned toward them and a flicker of recognition can be seen on her face.

"Sister?"