It had been several days since the mission. Thankfully, Kira had created plenty of healing potions, helping everyone recover faster than usual. Their days slowly returned to normal.
But something stirred tension between the royalties and the academy.
As Lior walked toward a class who are in training, to observe, she noticed angry eyes glaring at her. Confused, she turned to the students sitting on the benches. Why were they staring at her like that?
Then she saw the royalties approaching—faces full of anger. Her confusion deepened. She frowned as they came closer.
Suddenly, vines shot out and wrapped tightly around her, trapping her in place. The royalties stopped in front of her, their eyes burning with fury.
Lior looked at each of them, puzzled. She didn't understand why they were angry. Pain surged through her body as the vines tightened. Her body was still sore from the mission, and while Kira's potion helped, it only eased the pain temporarily.
"Let me go…" Lior growled through clenched teeth, struggling against the vines.
But they only tightened more. She winced, feeling the pressure.
Using her black magic, Lior broke free from the vines. The spell damaged Terren's connection to them, and he hissed in pain.
"Don't make me use violence," Lior warned, rubbing the sore spots where the vines had gripped her.
Terren suddenly attacked. Lior's eyes widened in shock, but her reflexes kicked in—she dodged just in time.
She glared at him. "You want a fight, huh?"
Terren launched another attack, but again, Lior dodged quickly. She reached out with her black magic and grabbed Terren by the neck.
He floated in the air, dark energy swirling around his throat.
"Let him go…" Quirel said, wind gathering in his palm.
The air grew heavy. Quirel's voice echoed through the courtyard like a gust, but Lior didn't flinch. Her grip on Terren pulsed with shadow.
Quirel moved first. A sharp blast of wind shot from his hand, slicing toward Lior like invisible blades. She released Terren just in time and summoned a shield of shadow. The wind scattered into leaves and dust.
Yrion stepped forward, flames dancing along his arms. "You've gone too far, Lior!" he shouted, hurling a fireball that twisted like a serpent.
Lior spun, her cloak catching embers, and countered with a burst of void energy that swallowed the flame whole.
"I've gone too far?" she said, laughing weakly through her breath.
Thalmyra raised her hands. A wave surged from the nearby fountain, crashing toward Lior like a beast. She cast a dome of shadow to absorb it, but the force knocked her back, her boots skidding across the stone.
Glacielle's eyes glowed pale blue. Ice shards formed midair and shot toward Lior like arrows. She ducked and rolled, her black magic forming tendrils that shattered the shards before they could hit her.
Terren, now free, slammed his fists into the ground. Vines burst out again—this time with thorns. Lior leapt into the air, twisting her body, and sent a pulse of dark energy downward, cutting the vines before they reached her.
Now, all five royalties surrounded her. Each element crackled in the air—fire, water, earth, wind, and ice. Lior stood in the center, panting, her aura flickering with raw power.
"Why are you attacking me?" she shouted, her voice shaking with anger and confusion. "What did I do?"
Yrion's flames dimmed slightly. "You know what you did. You stole the protected item—the cursed gem."
Lior's eyes widened. "How dare you blam—"
Before she could finish, Quirel and Thalmyra launched a combined attack—wind and water spiraling into a cyclone. Lior raised both hands, summoning a wall of shadow. It held just long enough for her to escape the blast.
She landed hard, coughing, her body aching from the fight. But her eyes still burned with defiance.
"If you want war," she whispered, "then I'll show you what darkness can do."
Even though her strength was fading, she refused to back down.
The courtyard trembled under the clash of elemental fury and shadow. Lior's wings of black magic spread wide like a storm. The five royalties stood ready—Yrion's flames crackling, Glacielle's frost swirling, Quirel's winds howling, Terren's vines twitching, and Thalmyra's water rising like a serpent.
Lior was about to strike—
But then, a pulse of fire rippled across the courtyard. It was soft, yet commanding. The elements faltered. Lior's wings flickered. The royalties froze mid-attack.
From the archway of the academy, a figure stepped forward. His robes shimmered with golden threads, and his staff glowed with ancient runes.
Archsage Elowen.
His voice rang out, calm but firm. "Enough."
The word carried power—not just authority, but magic. The vines recoiled. The flames dimmed. The frost melted into mist. Even Lior's shadows softened, curling protectively around her.
Elowen's gaze swept over them all. "This is not how we solve problems."
Lior, still catching her breath, lowered her arms. "They attacked me without reason."
Terren growled, "She stole the—"
"We don't accuse," Elowen interrupted sharply. "We can't say it was her. No one saw the thief's face."
The five looked away, ashamed. Even Yrion's fire flickered with guilt.
Elowen turned to Lior. "The six of you—we need to talk." Then, more gently, he added, "Bring your friends. We will speak in the Hall of Echoes. The truth must be heard."
Lior hesitated, then nodded. Her shadows faded, leaving only the ache in her body and the questions in her heart.
As the group followed Elowen into the academy, the courtyard remained still—scarred by battle, but silent now.
Lior glanced at the students who had witnessed the fight. Their eyes were filled with judgment, silent accusations.
She exhaled deeply, then vanished from sight. Moments later, she appeared where her friends were gathered. When they saw her serious expression, concern filled their faces.
"What happened back there? We were about to follow and help," Thorne asked, worried.
"It's nothing," Lior replied. "The Archsage wants to speak with us in the Hall."
The four exchanged uncertain glances. "Is this about…?" Keal began, but didn't finish. Lior nodded, understanding.
They wasted no time and headed straight to Elowen's office. The royalties glared at them as they entered, but Lior's group ignored it.
They sat on opposite sofas—Lior and her friends on one side, the five royalties on the other. Lior faced Yrion, who stared at her with burning anger.
The room was quiet. The runes on the walls glowed faintly, pulsing like breath under the weight of emotion.
In the center stood Archsage Elowen, his staff planted firmly into the marble floor, glowing with golden light.
The air was heavy—filled with tension, suspicion, and unspoken pain.
Elowen spoke in a calm but firm voice.
"We have no time for shouting or blame. This Hall is for truth. Lior and your companions. Royalties. Speak what must be spoken. Let the Echoes record what is real."
Yrion leaned forward, fire flickering in his eyes. His voice was sharp, like flame.
"Let's not pretend. The Curse Gem of Lithzaruun is gone. And your team—yours—is the only one who wanted it. It's the most valuable thing."
Lior didn't move, but her jaw tightened. Her hands clenched slightly on her knees, holding back the shadows that stirred around her.
She answered quietly, but with strength.
"We didn't take it. We didn't even know there was a gem."
Terren stood, veins glowing as the ground beneath him trembled.
"You were seen near the vault. Your magic could've hidden the theft."
Lior let out a soft laugh at the accusation.
Thorne stood too, his voice tense.
"Are you even sure it was us? Don't blame us just because we're not royalty."
Glacielle exhaled coldly, frost forming around her. Her voice was sharp as ice. "Shadow magic deceives. It corrupts. You expect us to trust you?"
Kira remained seated, her healing aura flickering. "Shadow doesn't mean evil. And we don't need cursed power to prove ourselves. Why are we the ones being blamed?"
Keal frowned, half-standing. "You just want someone to blame. Someone who doesn't fit into your perfect elemental circle."
Quirel's wind stirred like a storm. "The vault's seal was broken. The gem is gone. And it was said—five figures, all cloaked in black."
Jex stood, fists clenched and shaking. "And you think that was us? Just because we use dark magic? We didn't even know vault and gem"
The tension rose. Yrion's flames flared. Terren summoned vines from the floor. Quirel's wind pushed against Lior's friends. Glacielle's ice shards floated, ready to strike. Lior stood, her shadows swirling, ready to fight.
Her voice was low, filled with warning. "You want a fight? Then stop hiding behind your titles."
Her friends stood with her. Kira summoned a shield. Keal raised an energy barrier. Jex prepared to strike.
But before the clash could begin—
Elowen raised his staff.
A burst of light filled the room. All magic stopped. Flames died. Ice melted. Wind calmed. Shadows retreated.
Elowen's voice rang out, loud and clear. "ENOUGH!"
Everyone froze. Silence returned to the Hall.
"This is not how truth is found," Elowen said firmly. "You accuse with anger. You defend with pride. But hatred will not reveal what's real."
He turned to the royalties. "Lior and her companions are not guilty just because they use black magic. No one saw the thieves' faces. They wore masks."
Everyone sat down again, heavy with emotion. The stares were no longer just suspicious—they were filled with resentment. Yrion still glared at Lior, his fire refusing to fade. Lior remained silent, but her eyes burned with resolve.
The Hall of Echoes was quiet, but the echoes of anger lingered.
"The kingdoms have been informed," Elowen continued. "Each will take action. Even Hollow has been notified." He turned to Lior's group then face everyone
"There were four seen in Ignetharion. But five in Lithzaruun. That means we don't know who they are. We do not accuse." Then he faced the royalties.
"What happened earlier—try to make it right. Break the walls you've built. The bond between elemental magic and shadow should not be enemies. They should be allies. We don't yet know who our true enemy is."
With that, Elowen dismissed them.
Outside, the tension still lingered. The ten walked in silence. No one spoke. No one broke the quiet between them.
As they walked, Yrion kept his eyes on Lior, who walked calmly, her gaze fixed ahead.
He could feel the weight of her thoughts. Her friends exchanged angry glances with the royalties. Only Lior refused to look at them.
Before they reached the exit, Lior suddenly stopped. Her friends looked at her in surprise.
Yrion didn't know what she was thinking—but he could feel her anger.
Lior raised her head and faced him, expression blank. He thought she would speak. But she turned to her friends instead.
"I need a favor," she said softly.
Her friends understood immediately.
Lior looked at them one last time—emotionless—then vanished into thin air.
The royalties were left puzzled. What favor had she asked?
They exchanged glances, realizing their suspicions might have been wrong. Without hesitation, they rushed to Lior's dormitory.
As they arrived, thoughts raced through their minds. They barged into the dorm, startling the others inside. Some prepared to attack, but lowered their magic when they saw the royalties.
"What are the royalties doing here?" one girl asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Where is Lior?" Terren demanded, teeth clenched.
The girl glanced to her right. Confused, they followed her gaze—and heard laughter.
Glacielle stepped inside and froze.
Lior was laughing. She wore a soft blue dress, surrounded by her friends in black. The tension in her shoulders was gone. Her smile was real.
Glacielle looked at her fellow royalties in quiet defeat.
They had been wrong.
Without a word, they turned and left—disappointed, but changed.