Chapter Thirty-Three — The Academy Bleeds
Location:
Valerius Imperial Academy – Central District, Medical Wing, Council Spire
Time: Dawn to Midday, following the night of breaches
Dawn arrived without warmth.
Gray clouds hung low over the academy, pressing down like a lid sealing in the scent of blood and burned mana. The Valerius Imperial Academy still stood—but only just. Cracks ran along its once-pristine towers. Entire sections of the eastern wall had collapsed into rubble, hastily sealed with emergency barriers that flickered weakly.
Celsius watched the sunrise from the steps of the medical wing.
The stone beneath him was stained dark.
Not all of it would wash away.
Inside, healers moved frantically from bed to bed. The wounded overflowed into the corridors—students, guards, even instructors. Some groaned softly. Others lay unnaturally still, white sheets pulled over their faces.
This is what Kael wanted, Celsius thought. Blood that can't be ignored.
A healer approached him, hands trembling.
Healer: "Lord Valerius… your wound—please, lie down. You've lost too much blood."
Celsius glanced at the bandage around his side, already soaked through.
Celsius: "Later."
The healer hesitated, then bowed and moved on. They all did now.
That, more than anything, unsettled him.
Scene 1 — Counting the Dead
The central bell tolled.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Each chime marked confirmed casualties.
Students gathered in the courtyard, standing shoulder to shoulder in silence. Some clutched each other. Others stared ahead, hollow-eyed.
Lyra stood among the instructors, her face pale but composed.
Celsius joined her.
Lyra (quietly): "Seventeen students. Four instructors. Twelve guards."
Celsius closed his eyes briefly.
Seventeen.
Children.
Lyra continued, voice tightening.
Lyra: "Most were first- and second-years. They didn't even know how to activate defensive sigils."
Celsius' jaw clenched.
Celsius: "This isn't an invasion."
Lyra looked at him.
Lyra: "No."
Celsius: "It's a message."
Scene 2 — The Council Convenes
By midmorning, the Emergency High Council was summoned.
The Council Spire filled with nobles, elders, and representatives of powerful houses—many of whom had children injured or dead. Anger rolled through the chamber like a living thing.
"This academy is no longer safe!"
"You promised impenetrable wards!"
"My son lost his arm!"
Voices overlapped, shouting over one another.
At the highest seat sat Duke Magnus Valerius.
For the first time in memory, he looked tired.
Celsius stood below—not as an accused, but not yet as an authority.
Elder Thane slammed his staff against the floor.
Thane: "This breach occurred immediately after forbidden power was displayed in the arena!"
Eyes turned toward Celsius.
Thane: "Explain yourself, boy."
Celsius stepped forward.
The room quieted—not because of fear, but because they wanted answers.
Celsius: "The breach was premeditated."
Scoffs followed.
Celsius: "The rift signatures match pre-imperial void summons. Someone weakened the eastern seal from the outside while triggering instability from within."
He looked directly at the elders.
Celsius: "That requires insider knowledge."
Murmurs spread.
Thane stiffened.
Thane: "Are you accusing the council?"
Celsius: "No."
He paused.
Celsius: "I'm accusing my brother."
The room erupted.
Scene 3 — Kael's Shadow
Before anyone could respond, the chamber lights dimmed.
A rune ignited in midair.
Kael's image formed—translucent, smiling calmly amid the chaos.
Kael: "Still alive. How disappointing."
Shouts of rage echoed.
Kael raised a hand.
The room fell silent.
Kael: "You asked for answers. Very well."
His gaze swept over the council.
Kael: "The academy stands on stolen foundations. You buried what should have remained sealed."
His eyes settled on Duke Magnus.
Kael: "And you knew."
Magnus' expression hardened.
Kael continued lightly.
Kael: "Last night was not an attack. It was a demonstration."
Celsius spoke coldly.
Celsius: "You murdered children."
Kael tilted his head.
Kael: "No. I showed them the cost of lies."
The projection flickered.
Kael: "The next lesson will be harsher."
The rune shattered.
Silence followed.
Then—
Panic.
Scene 4 — The World Reacts
By afternoon, messengers rode out in every direction.
News spread faster than any blade.
The Valerius Academy was breached.
Void creatures appeared within human territory.
A Valerius heir was implicated.
Noble houses sealed their borders.
Merchant guilds halted trade routes.
Other academies activated emergency protocols.
And beyond Kuasha—
Eyes turned toward the empire.
In distant kingdoms, rulers whispered a single name.
Valerius.
Scene 5 — Father and Son
That evening, Duke Magnus summoned Celsius privately.
The ducal office was dim, curtains drawn.
Magnus stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back.
Magnus: "When you were born… the stars were silent."
Celsius said nothing.
Magnus: "I thought it meant you were ordinary."
He turned.
Magnus: "I was wrong."
A long pause.
Magnus: "Kael is walking a path that will destroy this house."
Celsius met his father's gaze.
Celsius: "You let him."
Magnus did not deny it.
Magnus: "And now I'm asking you something I never thought I would."
Celsius waited.
Magnus: "Stop him."
The weight of those words settled heavily.
Celsius: "As a son?"
Magnus hesitated.
Magnus: "…As Valerius."
Celsius bowed once.
Celsius: "Then accept the consequences."
Scene 6 — Oath in Shadow
That night, Celsius stood alone on the academy wall.
The wind carried the scent of ash.
Eridiaries' voice emerged, low and ancient.
Eridiaries: You are stepping beyond survival.
Celsius: "I know."
Eridiaries: This path leads to war.
Celsius' shadow stretched long across the stone.
Celsius: "Then let it."
Below him, the academy burned lanterns for the dead.
Beyond the walls, rifts pulsed faintly in the distance.
And somewhere unseen—
Kael prepared the next lesson.
To be continued.