Chapter Twenty-One — Phase Two
Location:
Argent Blade Academy — Inner Gardens & Shadow Corridor
Time: Midnight, same day
Scene 1: Calm Before Blood
Moonlight bathed the Inner Gardens.
Celsius walked alone, senses stretched.
Eridiaries: "They hide poorly."
A ripple passed through the shadows.
Footsteps where none should be.
Celsius (thought): Three… no—four.
Scene 2: The Ambush
Runes ignited.
The ground collapsed.
Chains of crimson light shot upward.
Assassin: "Bind him!"
Celsius was dragged into a sealed corridor—walls closing fast.
Steel flashed from all directions.
Shadow surged.
Celsius: "Too slow."
The first assassin fell—unconscious.
The second hesitated.
That hesitation killed him.
Blood splattered the wall.
Celsius froze.
Celsius (thought): So this is the line.
Scene 3: A Traitor Revealed
A familiar voice echoed.
???: "Impressive control."
A figure stepped forward—academy uniform, silver trim.
Instructor Marvek.
Gasps echoed in Celsius' mind.
Celsius: "You taught combat theory."
Marvek smiled thinly.
Marvek: "And now I test it."
Crimson sigils flared behind him.
Marvek: "The Night does not tolerate anomalies."
Scene 4: Shadow vs Blood Art
Marvek attacked.
Blood magic twisted into blades.
Celsius raised his hand.
Shadow swallowed the corridor.
Eridiaries: "Kill him."
Celsius exhaled.
Celsius: "No witnesses."
They clashed.
Blood burned shadow.
Shadow devoured blood.
With a final strike—
Marvek's heart stopped.
Silence.
Scene 5: The Cost
Celsius staggered.
Hands shaking.
Blood on his fingers.
Celsius (whisper): "I chose this."
Eridiaries: "And survived."
The corridor collapsed inward, erasing evidence.
Scene 6: Aftermath
Location: Medical Wing
Selene sat beside his bed.
Selene: "They said it was an accident."
Celsius stared at the ceiling.
Celsius: "It wasn't."
She didn't ask more.
She held his hand.
Scene 7: Night's Response
Location: Unknown
A hooded council knelt.
Night Leader: "Phase Two failed."
A voice answered from darkness.
???: "Then release the beasts."
Red eyes opened.
To be continued.