On the next day.
Start of new week!
The sunlight gently stread through the windows of Arcadia Academy, casting warm, golden light onto the stone floors and open training fields. Outside, students had already begun to gather, chatting with friends and getting ready for the new week ahead.
The academy grounds were filled with the busy sounds of footsteps and practice weapons clashing during early morning drills.
But deep inside the academy far from the noise and bustle sothing different was happening.
In the administrative wing, where important decisions were made, a secret eting had been arranged. Principal Aldric had called it quietly, without making any announcents to the students or posting any notices for the general staff.
There were no bells, no mos—just silent ssages passed among those who needed to know.
Only professors were invited. It wasn’t a normal staff eting.
As word of the closed-door eting spread through the halls, a strange stillness followed it. Professors who received the invitation wore serious expressions, and those left out could only guess what it was about..
It was about the eting with all the academies of the entire Elaris state.
The students, busy with their morning classes and training drills, had no idea what was about to happen beyond the usual lessons.
Back on the academy grounds, students started to notice sothing unusual.
None of the professors were around.
The classrooms were empty, the training fields lacked supervision, and even the usual patrols of faculty mbers through the corridors were gone. Whispers started to spread among the students. Sothing was definitely off.
What they didn’t know was that, at that very mont, every professor had been summoned elsewhere.
At the exact hour set by the ssage, all of Arcadia Academy’s professors—regardless of rank or subject—gathered quietly in a large, private room located deep within the administrative wing.
It was Principal Aldric’s personal eting room, used only for the most serious matters.
The atmosphere inside was tense and quiet.
A large table stood at the center, and the professors took their seats, exchanging glances but saying little.
At the head of the room stood Principal Aldric.
When the room had gone completely silent, he stepped forward and addressed everyone.
"I have called this eting to discuss the important matters," he said.
He looked around the room, eting the eyes of each professor.
"The recent events on and around our academy grounds are not isolated incidents," he continued. "We are not simply dealing with rebellious students or rogue outsiders. This... this is sothing bigger. A threat that reaches beyond Arcadia’s walls."
A quiet murmur passed through the room. So professors frowned, others exchanged concerned looks.
Principal Aldric raised his hand, calming the room again.
"We must be vigilant," he said. "And we must be united. The days ahead will test all of us."
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle. "Therefore, we will convene a eting of all the academic staff across the state—the twelve academies of Elaris. This will be a gathering of minds, a union of strength."
Murmurs spread among the professors. Such a eting had not been held in many decades, and the very idea carried both hope and worry.
"But this must remain confidential," Aldric continued. "We cannot risk spreading panic among the students or the public. For now, only our trusted faculty mbers will be inford and involved. The students will continue their training as usual. Their focus must not be disturbed."
Professors nodded sincerely, "Understood, Principal Aldric. We will keep this secret and act swiftly."
The professors exchanged looks, aware of the responsibility that lay before them. They knew that whatever was coming, it would affect not only their own academy but every corner of the state’s educational institutions.
Soon, the hallways of Arcadia grew quiet of faculty footsteps as all the professors and staff departed together. They left the classrooms and training grounds behind, where the students remained—studying, sparring, and practicing magic—unaware of the eting.
But while the academy humd with youthful energy and determination, the heart of Arcadia—the professors and leaders—had moved beyond.
Most students went about their day as usual, unaware of anything. But a few ones started to notice the odd silence—the missing professors, the lack of authority, the way senior staff avoided questions. Whispers began to spread among those paying close attention.
So murmured of a secret eting, held behind closed doors. Others guessed it might be related to the recent dangers. But no one could confirm anything. No official word was given. No announcents were made.
To most, it was just another day.
At the sa ti, far away from the bright lights and tall towers of the academy, sothing else was moving in the darkness.
Just outside the city walls, a young assassin crouched quietly on the rooftop of an old, broken-down building.
He was shaking, but not because he was cold.
His breathing was rough and uneven. His chest rose and fell quickly, like sothing strange was happening inside him... or sothing hidden was starting to wake up.
He was holding sothing in his hand.
This was no ordinary item.
It was a skill fragnt, a piece of forbidden power.
The mont he pressed the fragnt into his skin and let it rge with his body, everything inside him changed.
It felt like a violent storm had erupted within. Dark energy rushed through his veins like fire, wild and uncontrollable. His heart pounded. His muscles tightened. His thoughts beca strange, violent.
Everything he had once known or believed began to twist.
His instincts had sharpened.
His fear disappeared.
Sothing savage.
His eyes flickered strangely, as though he was no longer fully human.
And in his mind, only one word repeated, louder and louder, like a drumbeat of madness:
KILL.
KILL.
KILL.
It was the skill of madness.
He gritted his teeth, trying to hold back the urge, but it was useless. The hunger for violence had already taken root.
The hatred burned in his eyes.
Then, breaking the heavy silence, he spoke.
"Those damn insects... Today, you’ll all et your demise."
And just like that, he heads toward the Arcadia Academy.
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