Rimholm University: Clandestine

Chapter 39

On the land blanketed on snow, the howling and frigid wind ruled the tides. Winter has abides the land day after day; rendering every form of life unfathomable freezing and taking away the lives of those who can't withstand it.

The white owl itself landed on the edge of the wall. Observing the smoke getting out from the burnt coal in the middle of the village as a hint of overnight activities. Everyone there sent themselves on a deep slumber. The owl glided on the other side where the violent waves hit the wall. Its golden eyes wandered around before approaching the village's grand hut.

Its talons got replaced by a thin pair of feet once it touches the ground. Her hair draped down in slow motion. In one wave of a finger, the stagnant fire gets back to life. She clasped her hand together on her back while waiting in patience.

"I learn that once the fire returns its wilderness, you're here." She watched the malevolent fire while listening to the woman's footsteps coming towards her.

"I didn't expect your presence here, Lady Zenith. I surmise the message has arrived in the imperial palace. How's your life going?"

"Chief Callis, the message has arrived as you expected and I'm also here to pay a visit. I beg you for pardon if I went here while your people are asleep."

"Save that excuse for later, let's have a drink inside of my hut."

"Let me guess, my majesty has sent a messenger gave you the letter." Zachary watched her take out the unwrinkled and clean envelope then hand it over to him, "This is untouched, you don't read it?"

"That wasn't mine. It's yours if you didn't notice," The shifter scanned the untouched seal before opening it to read the whole letter. Within a minute or two of reading, he puts down the letter.

"Enlighten me about those certain people, Zenith." Salem cleared her throat; acknowledging that there's a formality needed on the conversation.

"They're unknown bandits that settled in between the boundaries of Northern sea and kingdom's territory. I investigate them when I went there earlier. None of the members of the Northern tribe knows who they are. But the chief has spoken to me about the thievery happening to their land when the dawn comes. Their livestock and other sources of food are having a shortage."

"Every dawn? So that means, those bandits attack only when the sun comes up since everyone there sleeps during the day, am I right?"

"Indeed, my majesty. Also, there's no hint of trespassing on the Northern wall either."

"Say, how does it relate to the news you told me earlier?"

"I found some magic artifacts on the place. None of the villagers knew about its existence and even Chief Callis. Also, I found out the same energy in the spoken place matches the energy on that day." Salem takes out a black cloth covering a heavy and smooth thing. She handed it to him. Zachary flipped the cloth then scanned the glowing Byzantium crystal. Shivers hives his skin after his finger brushed on its smooth surface.

"This is the crystal that the father of the cosmos created. It can destroy every blessed weapon and barrier. How come this thing is on their hands? Is there plenty of crystal in the place?"

"That's the only one and it's the real one. I searched all around the place. It's 30 of them in total." The girl glanced at the frost stretching out everywhere but turning into steam when it approaches her.

"Calm down, the crown prince. I'll lead you to the place. Let's meet at the rendezvous point." She said before standing up to leave him on his favorite spot. The younger one watched him dust off his clothes then look at his familiar.

"Please take care of them while we're away."

None of the teachers nor their friends know where did they go. After Salem told Zachary that she found the culprits herself, Zachary didn't waste any time moving. That leads to why the two shifters went outside the barrier without anyone noticing. Not even Lady Marionette.

"This is the place?" Zachary asked her with his casual tone. She nodded. The wind howls while both looking at the temple ruins on the mountain top. Giant chains are attached to the cliff where Zachary and Salem were. It's covered with some icicles because of uncountable snowstorms.

"Yes," She replied. Smoke puffed out of her mouth due to the cold weather. The temperature drops lower; colder than inside of University. Zachary scooped the snow on his feet to take a sniff at its scent. His eyes flicked gold after he pour back the lump of frost on his hand.

"You sneaked outside, aren't you?" Salem looked at him with tired eyes beneath her hood, "Comes from you." She replied. Zachary doesn't need to bet if she's tired of hearing that idiotic question that he always pulls. He already knew. However, he can't help but laugh as he kicked the snow that covers his feet.

"We both sneaked out."

'Good thing he's aware of his imbecility.'

Zachary accidentally choked on his breath; causing him to cough. She clearly said it to her mind and let Zachary hear it. He was aware that she's annoyed but not on this level.

'Seriously, how big her hate towards everyone? Are you my cousin?'

'Bigger than this mountain. I am your cousin that's why I'm tired of your dramas.'

A bullet hits the gap between our feet. The girl beside him looked at the man holding a marksman rifle; taking a good grip on his gun while hiding behind the porch. Zachary started at the black and smoking ring between their feet. It got followed by the rain of arrows, causing both of them to step back. Zachary immediately created an ice barrier; to prevent another batch of arrows from bursting their direction towards them.

"Ahh, so they wanted to back off on my own territory?" He smirked then dusted off the snow on his shoulder. He watched the arrows pierce through the transparent sheet of ice. Salem stepped outside the barrier; Zachary glanced at her taking the uncovered path beside her.

"I'll take care of them here outside, my majesty. I will make a way for you."

"Since when did you get polite?"

"Don't test me while I'm still nice. We're on the same side, my majesty." A magic pentagram burning red appeared on Salem's side. She pulled out a pole with a curved blade. The pentagram turned into threads slowly falling into a bed of snow.

"Let's see what they can have." The snow turned into steam when she take a step forward. Salem swung the weapon that ricochets another pack of projectiles gushing in her direction. She watched the arrow coming on her side and crush it with her hands.

"Invaders!"

"This Northern region is also imperial family's territory. This is Levine's territory." Zachary declared openly. Salem stepped on the chains while looking at the group of individuals aiming their guns at her; eyes blazing gold. A smirk crept upon her lips after she held the weapon singlehandedly while on the other hand is a dagger, causing the blue flame to wrap around the blades.

"We only wanted to have a word with all of you!" Zachary added then sitting nonchalantly on his handmade chair, "But if you insist, that'll leave us no choice."

"They won't be attentive, my majesty."

"Fire!"

"I thought they will. Well, if that didn't work, it's up to you now." Zachary smiles.

"I already told you that when I come to you." Salem hits the chain using her weapon; igniting the bulk of the metal. The fire swiftly circulates and reaches the troop on the mountain top. The troop runs away from it yet, they didn't escape from the explosion. She sauntered before playfully jumping into the chains next to her.

"Have you heard about the news, Salem?"

"News? No."

"Makes sense, you don't socialize ever since. We all know that you're not a social butterfly yourself."

"Tell that to the anti-social insect shifter."

"That's offensive. But moving forward--"

"The University is throwing a ball for the festival. Everyone will be going to attend. Even the other students from five universities. I know." Salem shoots fire on the person who's striving to attack her, "I've had enough of everyone since I was born. There's no point spreading phony friendliness."

"I only dragged you into some places since we were young. We even take you with us every holiday and bring you to the kingdom. Yet, I still don't know why you're still like that." Zachary shrugged. He watched how dark clouds pave away and the sun revealed itself as an actor to every opera house.

'People can't change easily but pulling this kid's leg is nice.'

'However, once these people get caught, I won't stop until they came up with the answer. They're doing this because the imperial guards and the Northern Tribe aren't aware of their presence. My patience is not long.'

Salem recedes her index and middle finger then pulls up the imaginary string. She shoots the mountaintop without a word and watched how the snow on the top of the temple collapse. Zachary summons ice on his hands then throws it on the top; stopping the upcoming avalanche.

"Zachary, even how many times you tried to change someone, it's up to them if they're going to change or not. You can't force someone to do that because it's not easy." Salem murmurs enough for Zachary to hear, "Are you talking about yourself?"

"It's up to you if you think that way. Seek for the answers by yourself." Zachary watched the fire acting like a string on Salem's hand dripped before it vanishes. Stairs made up of ice soared on their way to the temple ruins. The crown prince made his way to the temple casually, followed by Salem walking through the chains holding her weapon by her shoulders.

"Hey--"

"Don't ask me. I'd rather shift into a bird than take that path." The wolf shifter laughed as he creates the ice sword. Salem immediately aimed her weapon at the man wearing shabby clothing and holding a knife. He looks like a traveler who got robbed by the mountain thieves.

"You see, all of you engaged against us first and leaves no choice on my right hand here." The man gulped twice after the flame covered the blade. Zachary lowered himself to his level, "You're not from the Northern tribe. Not even a shifter yourself but you look so familiar."

"This guy is not even a vampire nor a fey but he smelled like the sea and...a fish." Zachary glanced at one of the remaining bandits in the area's making an effort to attack them.

"Not on my watch." The royalty waved his hand; getting the bandit covered with ice. Zachary staved off his attention back to the guy with eyes that defines cyan and vast seas. His hands are almost white as he takes a great grip on the knife. There's the only thing that he can't; the shifter's golden eyes in front of him.

"Could you please proceed inside, my majesty? They're escaping." Salem said in a cold tone.

"Keep an eye on that guy, Zenith." Zachary hums while marching on his way inside the temple. He nonchalantly entered the place and stared at the statue of a God resting on the altar.

"It seems like that statue is away from the certain deity's original appearance. Northern tribe is not worshipping on some random deity. But are you the ones who destroyed the barrier?" Zachary looked at the snarling leopard and another crook.

'We don't know such a thing.'

"Another shifter, I see. Another headache for me. When will some of you stop sympathizing with other rascals? Are you aware of its consequences?"

'I already faced it.'

Zachary sighs and looked directly into the giant cat's eyes, "I've heard that millions of times. Could you think of a good excuse? My ears are jangling when someone came up with that reasoning. Because if you don't." Zachary's friendly demeanor succumbs as the frost crawls out from his feet, "I'll kill both of you."

The man shoves a metal stake using his foot and yanks Salem's blade then takes a somersault away from her. He veered around the cold metal, making the snow flow around them. The female shifter stared at him with flaring gold eyes. Their confrontation meets its end after the wooden door breaks.

"That's not a good idea, mister!" Zachary yelled from the inside after throwing two creatures out of the temple. He exits clenching a scepter on his hand.

"We should head back now." Salem took away her weapon from his neck after Zachary motions her. The man narrowed his eyes at them.

"That crest." He pointed to Zachary's uniform, "Are you a student from Rimholm University?"

"Yes."

"Allow me to come with you. I've been looking for someone named Beaumont."