A hush fell over the observation room as the commotion below flickered on the massive screen. The once vibrant display of student chatter had morphed into a tense standoff. Light from the activated tomb pulsed eerily, illuminating the brewing conflict.
"Uhm... Are we going to let this happen, miss Eliana?" A human instructor, his voice barely above a whisper, broke the silence. All eyes turned towards Eliana, her regal bearing and unwavering gaze holding the room.
They didn't need words. Eliana's position as princess of the most populous race of students, humanity, gave her imnse authority. Sure, the others within the room were nobles – from Ducal houses, great clans, all prestigious families – but here, in the face of potential chaos, Eliana held the most sway. Humans, while considered the 'weakest' among the student body, were also the most nurous.
A fight could turn disastrous for them.
"Why not?" Eliana's voice, though calm, held an icy edge. "Racial discrimination and conflict were bound to happen sooner or later. Now the students can face this reality head-on. They'll understand just how weak they are when they fight amongst themselves."
"Is that so." A hidden smirk played on the lips of Aqua.Eliana's declaration hung heavy in the air, t with a heavy silence.
"The injured and poisoned students have already been sent back," began an Elven instructor, her voice laced with concern. "The infirmary is overwheld with over 13,000 cases. If a major conflict breaks out…"
"The academy isn't a paradise," Eliana cut her off, her voice firm. "It's designed to prepare them for the harsh realities of war. If they charge into reckless battles expecting a safety net, that's on them."
The human instructor who asked the question sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Eliana may be right about the academy's purpose, but he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. A full-scale brawl could lead to serious injuries, even deaths.
The observation chamber thrumd with a tense silence after Eliana's chilling statent. Aqua, her scales shimring faintly, leaned back in her seat, a predatory glint in her eyes.
"Wow... That's cold," she finally murmured, her voice dripping with a feigned sympathy.
Eliana remained impassive, her silence a stark contrast to Aqua's theatrics. Frustration bubbled within the blue dragon instructor.
"Tsk," Aqua clicked her tongue in her head. She couldn't get a reaction out of the princess. Was it Eliana's royal lineage that gave her this air of superiority? Or was it the slight edge in magical power? Why did she carry herself like the queen of the academy.
It annoyed Aqua that this human, this "kind princess" held such sway in the academy.
Earlier, Aqua had considered recording Eliana's callous statent about the conflict, hoping to tarnish the princess' reputation. But it was a futile plan no one would've cared.
And the strong in the academy staff, a collection of grizzled veterans more interested in teaching than political maneuvering, don't care about whose incharge they just want to teach. Every student knew what they were signing up for.
"Soon," Aqua vowed silently, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "This little surprise will loosen her grip on the academy. You'll pay for undermining , human brat."
The sudden appearance of a holographic notification on the main screen montarily distracted everyone. An elderly Elven instructor, her pointed ears twitching, pointed towards it.
"And what about this sudden tomb?" she inquired, her voice raspy with age. "Did you know about this, Aqua? Is that why you requested a change in location?"
Aqua blinked, caught slightly off guard. The tomb hadn't been part of her plan. "No, not at all," she recovered quickly. "A complete coincidence. But I suppose early tomb experience won't hurt the students."
A low rumble echoed through the room as a dwarf instructor, his beard braided with intricate silver rings, broke the silence.
"Hmmm," he rumbled, his voice deep as an avalanche. "The blessed are starting to show. Though, only the human one for now."
The other instructors didn't answer, their gazes fixed on the screen as the holographic image flickered, revealing two figures entering the observation chamber. It was Azrael and Vera, two human students, oblivious to the potential chaos brewing below. The instructors, however, knew better.
The tension between the students was a powder keg, and the arrival of these "blessed" students – could be the spark that set it all off.
******************
Azrael and Vera erged from the dense foliage surrounding the tomb site, blinking in the sudden brightness. A tense silence hung heavy in the air, replaced only by the nervous murmurs of the gathered students. Hands still lingered near weapons, and a palpable undercurrent of hostility crackled between the various races.
"Did I miss sothing?" Azrael asked Vera, a frown creasing his brow. The atmosphere here was far from welcoming.
Vera shrugged, her gaze scanning the crowd. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "Seems like we interrupted sothing bigger."
Suddenly, a hulking dragon student, scales shimring a deep crimson, stomped towards them. "You human," he bood, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're one of the blessed, aren't you? Going to side with your weakling kind in this little spat?"
Another dragon, seemingly calr, nudged the first one. "Carson, enough of that."
Carson scoffed, ignoring the attempt to quiet him. "We need to establish dominance over these lesser creatures! It doesn't matter if he's a six-star mage, I can still take him." He lunged at Azrael, the size difference stark. In one swift movent, Carson reached down and ripped Azrael's shirt, remnants of his encounter with the wolf pack now exposed.
Azrael, his eyes flashing with annoyance, didn't back down. "Back off," he growled, the tension crackling around him. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he wouldn't tolerate being bullied.
"Make , monkey," Carson challenged, his smirk widening. His hand morphed into a wicked claw, the tip threatening to pierce Azrael's skin.
Before Carson could follow through, Azrael reacted with lightning speed. A perfectly executed uppercut sent the dragon reeling, his head snapping back. But to Azrael's surprise, Carson recovered quickly, a toothy grin splitting his face. "Is that it?" he mocked, his voice laced with amusent. "Disappointing for the 'number one blessed.' But I guess I shouldn't expect much from a filthy monkey."
The barb struck a raw nerve. The casual racism, the reminder of the Baron demon, sent a surge of anger coursing through Azrael. He saw red.
Reacting purely on instinct, Azrael unleashed a flurry of attacks. Kicks, punches, knees – everything connected with a satisfying thud. The dragon, caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, crumpled to the ground. Azrael continued his assault, a primal roar erupting from his throat. Fear flickered in Carson's eyes for the first ti.
Vera, her face pale with shock, finally managed to grab Azrael from behind. "Stop!" she cried, her voice cutting through his rage.
He paused, his chest heaving, and looked around. The students watched with a mix of terror and awe. In a matter of seconds, the arrogant dragon who seed invincible had been brought low by the 'weak' human.
Sha washed over Azrael. He hadn't ant to lose control. He loosened his grip on Carson, who lay dazed on the ground. The silence stretched, thick and heavy. Vera released her hold, her expression unreadable.
Azrael knew this wasn't over. He had just walked into a brewing storm, and his actions had thrown him right in the center.
Draven strode into the scene, his gaze imdiately drawn to the sight of a bloodied Carson sprawled on the ground and Azrael standing there, fists clenched and knuckles raw. A flicker of surprise crossed Draven's face, then hardened into a steely resolve. The other dragons, recognizing their unofficial leader, surged forward with accusations.
"Draven! He just beat up Carson for no reason!"
A human student, a Class S himself and likely a scion of a Great Clan, couldn't resist "Wow, the nerve of these dragons!" he sneered.
Draven, however, ignored the commotion. He marched straight to Azrael, his tall fra casting a shadow over the surprised human. Instead of accusations, Draven did sothing unexpected. He bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, his voice firm and filled with apology. "I sincerely apologize for the trouble this… idiot has caused."
Azrael, still reeling from the adrenaline dump and the sha of losing control, stamred. "I-it's alright. I… I lost it too. Not completely his fault."
Draven straightened, a hint of respect flickering in his eyes. With a grunt, he hoisted Carson's unconscious form onto his shoulder. To the disgruntled dragon who whined about not being satisfied, Draven shot a cold glare that silenced him instantly.
Without another word, Draven carried Carson away, the rest of the dragon group following in a dejected line. They settled themselves at a distance, within sight of the tomb but far enough not to cause further disruption.
The tension, once crackling like lightning, dissipated as quickly as it arose. An awkward silence blanketed the students, punctuated only by the humming magic as the tomb completed its construction. No one dared step forward to claim tomb ownership, unsure of Azrael's reaction or how the other "blessed" students would respond when they arrived.
The students had beco a hesitant pack, as if waiting for the alphas to show them the way.
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