Rimholm University: Clandestine

Chapter 23

"Lady Marionette," Selene called the principal who's watching her students from her window. Marionette faced at Selene's direction then her eyes flickered into coercing gold like a scorching sun.

"Oh! What is it, Selene?"

"Zachary and Salem are---" The lady smiled and raised her hand to silence her, "I know. Both of them can handle it. Evacuate the other students. We're going to release the abandoned now." Selene snapped and was left dumbfounded by the lady.

"That's obscene! That creature might be the way to cause a lot of damage! You know that those creatures will spread havoc here. They're not like what they used to be, Lady Marionette! Maybe they're orcs but they're not what they used to!"

"Why don't we trust the process?"

"Zachary and Salem will handle him. To avert everyone's attention and avoid further dilemmas, we're going to acquit the abandoned." Even how much she's against the lady, Selene bowed then stand up straight. She gives Marionette a look of disappointment and leaves the room.

"Releasing the abandoned to test who are the perfect students for the games is a kind of desperation, Marionette." Marionette glared at Jairus and leaned on the window. She's not shocked anymore is the man appeared in her office.

"When will you going to learn how to knock?"

"Seeing the lady that should be dead for thousands of years now and doing a is such an entertaining thing to do. You even entrusted me." Jairus spread his legs into a manly way then positioned both of his arms to backrest while looking at Marionette in a fellow amusement.

"Tell me, Marionette. Why do you want those kids to join the games?"

"Who are you referring to?"

"Those kids." Marionette raised her brown before letting out a chuckle. Marionette showed him her glorious smirk as her eyes glowed, "Them? Ah, yes. Those kids, how can I say this?"

"Mira Gloucester, her origin is the history that they shouldn't know. That 18-year-old girl is such a nice girl. Allow me to let you know her more." Marionette held Jairus' face then allowing him to fall into a trance.

"Where are we right now, Marionette?"

"On my mind and you're fallen into trance."

"Mira Gloucester's parents are still unidentified. She grows up in her aunt and uncle's custody. They taught her how to fight and use a bit of knowledge about the time magic."

Multiple pictures and events flashed before them. All of it from the begging into the end, one by one, Jairus watched them. All of those are memories of what Marionette saw and used to be hiding in the deepest pit on her mind.

But one thing caught the shifter's attention. One blurry image that even Marionette has no clue what's the event behind that vague image. Marionette feels something's not right as long she keeps her eyes on the image, indicating that it should be remained untouched or gets unveiled.

"What is that?"

"I...I don't have any clue. But then let's proceed."

At the same time,

Ellistal silently stopped walking behind the velvety chair where Mira is sitting and glanced at the books she’s struggling to read. Mira flamed it down to the cushion on her lap then flipped the pages of the blank book. She furrowed her brows as she reached the last page of the book that remains blank.

“Is he fooling around?” Mira uttered then closed the book. Ellistal takes the book from her hand and checked it. He’s about to speak when the lights inside of the living room blinked thrice and almost die before it gets back. They both exchanged looks after sensing the presence of the unknown that sends chills on Mira, “Did you feel that too?” Ellistal is about to speak but Freddy sprinted out of his room while Mattheo opened his room’s door, his expression is enough for Mira to know that he’s too dazed. By that, Mira knows that she’s not the only one who can feel it

“What is that?” Florantine and Fauna seat beside the elf to comfort him. Even Mattheo wants to leave the place to escape the same thing that bothers and sends chills down to their spine. They all crouched down and covered their ears when an explosion breaks the silence of the whole place. Knowing that it’s not just the explosion, Ellistal pulled out his time staff after shattering sounds of window panes. Florantine and Fauna turned into a bow and arrow. There came a moth with the size of almost big as the velvet cushion and crimson-colored wings landed on Mattheo’s palm. A light flashed from his palm when the moth’s wings brushed against his palm before it turns into a long and black sword.

'Mira? Are you there? Are you safe?’

Mira feels relieved after she heard Zachary’s voice on her head. But still, the unmeasurable fear inside her remains. Ellistal gave her a meaningful look, Mira nodded then held his hand.

‘Yes. Do you need a hand?’

‘Even I restrict you, I know you won't obey. I’m still haven't decided yet if I'm allowing you to join the games, Mira. You have a moment to prove me.'

"This is not how it should be working." Salem's blank expression and pyro's sharp edge greets him on the open part of the destroyed establishment while Zachary's sword is pointed at his neck. The man's eyes glowed red before the darkness feed the whole light inside the university.

"You know that once you entered this world you can't go back. All of the divinity's eyes cast upon the seven of you again." She glanced at the dorm where Mira is. Their room's door is now scattered into pieces in the hallway and they got surrounded by the massive creatures with fangs wearing armors and holding weapons. No attack from monsters outside occurs yet

"The abandoned," Salem whispered.

"Both of you are just mere children who think that they can handle a true demon like me."

Zachary smirked and deepened the blade more. The entity's feet started to get frozen to the point that his own body's heat and strength doesn't match the ice crawling on his legs upwards.

"One question doesn't kill you, Mister. We didn't do it to threaten you. You're the only one at the first who did that to us." Zachary said. Salem makes the blade on the edge of the spear get close and Zachary removed the sword on his neck.

Mira landed a kick on the beast's knees that knock it off. She furrowed her brows as she meets its gaze. The sword from her grasp glowed and turned into a human being. Ellistal held Mira back to conserve her away from it.

"Wait a minute," Mira put down Ellistal eyes and walk closely to the creature that might harm her.

"Don't kill them! Just knock them off!"