"Are you ready for patrol?" Liliana's voice cut through the silence, pulling Noah from his thoughts.
He blinked, slightly startled, and looked up at her.
"Patrol? It starts now?" he asked, stoked but surprised.
Liliana chuckled, her green eyes twinkling.
"Yep, no ti to waste. Don't worry though, I'm your partner."
She gave him a reassuring smile, her pink hair bouncing as she adjusted the cuffs of her uniform.
Noah stood up, brushing off his pants and re-adjusting his shirt and tie.
"So, how are we divided up? What's our area? I thought there'd be so sort of briefing before we got thrown into this."
Liliana explained as they walked towards the exit.
"There are six cadets in the Vanguard right now, split into teams of two. Each team gets a specific area to patrol. One team is assigned to Ironwood Hall, another to Silvercrest Hall, and the last patrols around the Tuition Cube.
Since there are already school guards and knights stationed around the town center, we don't need to patrol that area. But, we still have to keep an eye on the academy grounds and the nearby halls."
They were supposed to maintain order within the academy, but Noah knew better than to take things at face value.
Beneath the surface, danger lurked, and the cult tied to the Second Act was sothing he couldn't ignore.
They'd decided earlier that the knights would handle the town center, ensuring no trouble would breach the academy from that side.
But Noah couldn't shake the nagging thought that had been clawing at his mind for days now.
'Knights aren't all trustworthy...'
He knew enough about how this world operated. The ga's storyline was steeped in betrayal, hidden agendas, and people working for factions that were anything but noble.
The cult that was tied to the Second Act had their claws in everything, and it wouldn't be surprising if so of the knights stationed in the town center were already under their control.
'The cult has a way of infiltrating high places, using positions of power to move unseen,' Noah thought, his eyes narrowing as he glanced around.
The academy wasn't just a school; it was a hub of influence, drawing the attention of powerful families, politicians, and, of course, hidden enemies.
Smuggling, illegal items, secretive etings—any of it could be happening right under their noses, and the knights wouldn't even need to bat an eye if they were complicit.
He didn't voice his concerns, though. Liliana wouldn't understand, at least not fully.
She was bright and full of energy, but she didn't think in layers the way Noah did.
Everything she saw was straightforward, clear-cut—patrol the grounds, catch the troublemakers, and call it a night. But Noah knew better. The enemy wasn't always out in the open.
'If I can weaken the cult before the Second Act happens, he mused, 'it'll give us an advantage. Maybe even stop the worst from happening.'
He clenched his fist, feeling the weight of that thought settle heavily on his chest. The ga's Second Act wasn't just any storyline—it was where everything started going wrong.
The problem was, he had no way of knowing who was involved.
'If the cult really has its hands in the knights, they could be smuggling all kinds of things—rune stones, forbidden books, maybe even items that enhance dark magic.'
Noah's mind raced through the possibilities. The academy had strict rules on what could be brought inside, but that didn't an people followed them.
There were always cracks in the system, and the cult was good at slipping through unnoticed. Illegal items could easily find their way into the academy under the guise of legitimate shipnts or through secret routes only a knight or guard would know about.
Noah couldn't stop them on his own, but if he stayed vigilant—if he could uncover even a hint of their operations—he might be able to turn the tide before the Second Act unfolded in full force.
He had to be subtle, though. One wrong move and the cult could disappear again, retreating into the shadows only to strike when the academy was most vulnerable. Worse, they might catch onto him.
The last thing he needed was for them to realize he was aware of their plans. He wasn't ready for that kind of confrontation yet.
'I'll have to play this carefully,' Noah thought.
'Stay on guard, observe everything, and see if I can find any cracks in their operations.'
It was risky, but if he could chip away at their strength, weaken their influence bit by bit, the cult might not have the sa power they did in the ga's original storyline.
His mind replayed monts from the ga, where the protagonists fought desperately against the cult's influence.
The academy had fallen into disarray, students turning on one another, trust eroding, all while the dark skies lood overhead. It was a nightmare scenario, one that led to Maya becoming the final boss.
Noah's pace slowed slightly as the weight of his thoughts pressed down on him.
'If I can weaken them now… before they strike… maybe the Second Act won't be as devastating. Maybe there's still a chance to turn things around.'
The cult's ties to the Second Act were crucial. They weren't just another faction—they were the catalyst for everything that went wrong.
If he could dismantle their plans, it would change the course of events. But it had to be done in a way that didn't draw too much attention. He couldn't be reckless.
'Stay sharp, stay vigilant,' he reminded himself.
Every knight, every guard, every shipnt that ca through the town center could be a piece of the puzzle.
If the cult was smuggling items into the academy, there had to be evidence—sothing he could use to expose their operations.
But he couldn't rely on anyone else to see it. It would be up to him to gather the pieces and put them together.
Noah took a deep breath, steadying his mind.
'I'll weaken them,' he resolved.
'Bit by bit, I'll chip away at their power. And by the ti the Second Act rolls around, they won't be strong enough to cause the sa destruction.'
It was a gamble, but it was the only chance he had. He couldn't afford to wait for soone else to handle it.
The cult's influence was like a disease, spreading through the academy's ranks, and if he didn't act soon, the infection would take hold, just like in the ga.
Noah nodded, listening closely. "What exactly do we do on patrol? Like, what's our job?"
"Well," Liliana began, "our job is to maintain order. We're basically the academy's internal security. If we co across any suspicious individuals or students causing trouble, our first step is to assess the situation.
If they pose a threat, we're allowed to engage them, but we have to be careful.
We have special cuffs that can restrain people by stopping their mana flow and locking their mana core. It's a failsafe in case anyone tries to use magic against us."
She pulled out a pair of sleek, silver cuffs from her belt pouch, showing them to Noah.
"These are specially designed. Once they're locked on, no one can access their magic unless soone with the right authority releases them. It's all about neutralizing the threat without causing unnecessary harm."
Noah raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what if we face enemies? Actual enemies, not just rowdy students?"
"If we do, we fight. We're expected to subdue any hostiles, but only as much as necessary. We're not knights, Noah, but we do need to know how to protect ourselves and the students. If things get too dangerous or out of hand, we signal for backup.
There's always a team on standby for ergencies, and we're equipped with communication crystals. It links us directly to the other Vanguard teams and faculty in case sothing goes really wrong."
She paused for a mont and then continued, "In case of ergencies, we can also evacuate students if needed. The first priority is always their safety, not winning a fight."
As they continued walking, Noah mulled over the information.
Patrolling halls, keeping students safe, possibly encountering threats—it was more complicated than he'd thought.
Liliana broke his train of thought. "By the way, you and I are patrolling Silvercrest Hall tonight."
Noah stopped in his tracks.
"Silvercrest?"
His face shifted, and he let out a small sigh.
"Yeah," Liliana said, smiling, "That's where the nobles stay."
Noah's thoughts drifted for a mont.
Silvercrest Hall ant one thing: Ariana.
She had been ignoring him lately, and he couldn't figure out why.
Did he do sothing wrong? He hadn't even had a chance to talk to her.
The idea of seeing her tonight made him feel uneasy, but he pushed the thought aside. He had a job to do.
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