CHAPTER:
Today we were stuck in the hall for hours on end, the teachers had to tell us some changes due to the attack that happened a week ago.
everything has been happening so quickly
I can't believe it's been 2 months since we joined the school. It felt like a year.
"I have come to explain the reason in which you were brought here." the head stood up. "I have been invited to a teacher conference in the school called Lumora Academy. And yes it's located in Lumora, because of this I'm, allowed to take you all"
"Lumora? Why is it there though?" Ravi looked around.
"I have no clue, and I don't really care." Thalia filled her nails. "Its so uneven, so triggering. "
"Shhh" Nerina hushed them.
"An investigation will happen in our school when we leave, to make sure the campus is safe. Do not. Embarrass our school. Or you will be removed accordingly" the head continued
"That's stupid, what if they start it?" Ha-Joon scoffed.
"If they initiate the attack, you may act on the defense. We will be leaving in 3 days, until then, you all are going to spend these three days packing. Thank you" the head said before disappearing.
Xiang stood up. "Please be quiet when you pack, I hate noise"
"You may all leave!!" Nami screamed.
—--------
"No!!" Ravi whined.
"What's up?" Thalia said.
"Oh wait I found it, my potions." he smiled.
"Uh okay."
"Guys! Since we're leaving, let's explore silverdust for the last time! We can do everything before we leave!" Thalia jumped with excitement.
"Not a bad idea, I've been wanting to collect more things for my potions equipment."
"And I want to try more mango slushies!" Nerina's mouth drooled.
"Let's go now!"
"When I was lost last time, I saw" Nerina looked at them both "a shop, it sells like sweets and fruits and stuff... like mangoes!"
"Deserts?" Thalia spoke.
"Yes! I'll show you!"
"Is that a good idea?" Ravi looked nervously. "I don't want us getting lost"
"I promise, I remember where it is!"
"Well let's go then!! we all need to go to town anyway!!" Thalia said.
"I don't think this is a good idea!" Ravi announced.
"Should be okay, we have three days" Thalia said
—--------
"I swear guys it's here!!" Nerina's eyes shined.
"Usually when people say here, it means the location Nerina." Ravi pointed around "an alleyway isn't there."
Thalia laughed. "You're right Rina, we are nearly there."
"I think it's through this alleyway. " Nerina itched her head slightly.
That day, I remember us walking into an unwanted area, we ignored the obvious "no one's allowed here sign" maybe this could've avoided everything? Maybe not. was this the start of everything?
Ravi played around with the fence before letting us inside. "no need to be a buzz kill but I doubt a cafe has fences like this.." Ravi trembled slightly.
"We are lost." Thalia looked around before exploding into laughter.
"this is so funny!! I thought we were going to get there!"
"Seriously guys where are we?" Ravi said.
"Hurry, the poison gas is coming!" a group of children came running towards us.
"Poison gas!?" Ravi said running to the shelter
"Yes, it's to keep merfolk from leaving," a little girl explained.
"Hm?" Nerina followed quietly.
After escaping the nearly attempted murder, we were brought into a tight filled space, filled with many merfolk, ranging from new-borns to old age.
babies wailed, children held onto parents tightly.
"Sai!" a woman walked towards a young boy. "Are you trying to get yourself killed!?" don't do that!"
"Sorry mom"
"just don't do that or they'll take you!" she pulled his ear. "honestly."
"ow!" Silas hissed. "fine!"
"Seems like we have some guests." A man spoke in the crowd, his hair was locked with his own hair, his skin resembled an oak tree. He stared deeply into our appearance.
"I haven't seen you three. you look very... city oriented." his eyes moved around our out fit choices
He stared at Nerina the longest.
"Introduce yourselves. " he said calmly.
"I'm Nerina" Nerina stared, her face expressionless.
"Ravi" he smiled.
"high school I'm guessing?" he smiled "I had a caretaker that was roughly your age"
he chuckled
"you should be careful, poison gasses are placed anywhere of an attempted escape." He said
"why?" Thalia spoke"
"why? Look around and tell me why? you didn't introduce yourself"
"Thalia" Thalia spoke with a trained smile.
"Thalia? "
people jumped into hidden conversations.
"She's from Eden! The - the people that separated us!" A man's voice roared angrily.
"How dare they bring supervisors here!" Another voice echoed.
"Haven't they had enough?"
"get out!- we don't want to die!"
"W-what's going on? What did I do?" Thalia's face changed.
"What didn't you do!?" a voice screamed. "Your family separated us!"
"I lost my husband!" A woman's voice echoed.
"I lost my wife and children" A deep voice trembled
They all erupted in anger, they threw rocks, sand and mouldy food at me.
"What?" dread filled my face
"Enough" the man from earlier commanded as everything came to a halt.
"So you're a princess?" he said. "I used to be a royal guard, from west Aquaria, I bet you don't care, your people never seem to care." he sighed "However, we have had our rights, dignity and even magic stripped away from us " he looked at Nerina.
"I'm a princess, but please, I didn't do anything, I don't even know what you are talking about…" Thalia tried to explain frantically.
"she's acting stupid, ignorant royals!" the voice erupted again
"she's probably here to keep one of us!"
"We were separated from family and friends, now we are nothing but pawns for the silverdust army" he pointed to everyone. "Everyone had a life, the silver dust army came here every week, assessing everyone in terms of magic ability and age. The old timers are almost always taken for their own pleasure, so are the females"
Nerina flinched.
"I'm sorry for everyone, truly, however she hasn't done anything." "Ravi tried to explain
"I see your reasoning, but we were taken from the Eden empire, to Silverdust."
"And what if you aren't taken by the army?"Nerina gulped.
"Everything in silverdust is used by magic, workers and more, guess who does them? We. we are forced into doing labour for hours on end, only to get 5 gems."
Nerina looked down.
"You're from west aquaria? What's your name?" Nerina looked around.
"Nana," he answered. "You look familiar. Or I'm just hallucinating from hunger"
"We need to get out of here" Ravi said.
"Yeah, you need to get out, what about us!?"
"Huh? We still have to suffer!" many voices surrounded.
"Please, if you're escaping, take my child," a woman said, holding a newborn. "he, has so much to live for"
Nerina's throat tightened, at the scene
"Take mine as well."
"And mine"
"Shut up! Get back to work!" a harsh voice filled the room.
"What's going on here? What's all this ruckus" a guard pushed everyone around"
He gasped.
"Princess Thalia? What brings you here?" he bowed politely
"I.. I was brought by my dad, I came to give an order to free all these people" Thalia looked down, a lie seeping through her lips
"I'm sorry I cannot, they're in silverdust property now, the only person that is the royal family in silverdust, let's get you and your friends out of here." he gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
Ravi and Nerina followed along quietly.
"I must be hallucinating, I thought you were the queen.." Nana murmured.
"oh.." Nerina said nervously. "wrong person"
The guard turned around, glaring at Nana before escorting them out.
After the guard let them out, he appeared behind Nana. "your queen is dead" he said coldly. "you, are hiding something?" he said putting him in chains "we'll get it out, one way or another.