[ARCANUM INSTITUTE – HEADMASTER'S CHAMBER – EARLY MORNING]
The chamber smells of old parchment and ozone mana residue from endless experiments. The Headmaster sits behind his massive desk, blind eye milky and weird, good eye sharp as a scalpel. Monaki, Yuka, and Taru stand before him, gray robes pristine under illusions, but tension coils in the air like a drawn bowstring.
HEADMASTER
(voice dry as dust)
Elyria has made thier move. Seven hundred thousand soldiers, full legion muster marching on our eastern and southern borders. They mean to end this war in one stroke. Lord Vexis has already called the army reserves. He wants every capable body at the walls.
He slides a sealed scroll across the desk royal wax, unbroken.
HEADMASTER (cont'd)
This is an order from The ROYAL HOUSE, You three and every rift born you've sheltered, are summoned to fight for Velhem.
Monaki takes the scroll and opens it.
MONAKI
Hmmm I see we've gotten the Attention of the ROYAL HOUSE. So basically a No means death. We'll fight.
Yuka's hand brushes his shoulder, supportive. Taru looks at them.
HEADMASTER
Then gather your people. The apartment. The warehouse. Wherever you hide them. Bring them to the eastern gate by noon. The war waits for no one.
They leave in silence. The corridors feel narrower today.
[APARTMENT – THREE FLOORS UP – MID-MORNING]
Black curtains drawn tight. Beds shoved aside. The twenty three survivors teachers and students gather in the main room. Fire low, faces gaunt but eyes fierce.
Monaki enters first. Yuka and Taru behind him.
MONAKI
Seven hundred thousand Elyrians are attacking Velhem it's a full invasion. We've been summoned to join the Velhem army at the eastern gate to prevent the invasion.
Gasps ripple. One of the teachers Mr Mitoma stands slowly.
Mr Mitoma
All of us?
MONAKI
All of us. Both Teachers and students. Your mutations, your spells, your strength we measured it here. We are far stronger than most of their elites. This should be a walk in the park for us you'll see, and we have to fight to protect this group. To find the forty who went south and to live.
The frost-scar girl steps forward.
FROST-SCAR GIRL
We're ready.
Nods ripple through the room fearful, but resolute.
Yuka meets Monaki's eyes.
YUKA
And you?
MONAKI
I'm coming. But first… I have a suspicion to clear. Something's off. I'll join you at the gate soon.
[The white haired boyRuben who killed Marla] grins from the back, bloodlust in his eyes.
RUBEN
I'm with you, Monaki. Fun things happen around you.
Monaki nods.
The group prepares to Leave.
Yuka steps close to Monaki, leaps arms around his neck, lips crashing into his in a deep, hungry kiss. Tongues tangle, bodies press tight for one long heartbeat.
Taru's aura snaps, dark pressure rolling off her like black smoke. Her face twists: eyes narrowing The room feels colder. Jealousy boils.
Monaki pulls back gently, notices Taru's glare. He ends the kiss fast.
MONAKI
(soft)
Go. I'll be there.
He turns to the group.
MONAKI
Goodbye for now.
He and Ruben bolt out the door, heading for the guild path.
Taru lingers a second. Her terrifying stare pins Yuka like a blade. Teachers and students shrink back, Terrified.
TARU
(voice low)
What was that with Monaki?
Yuka meets her gaze, unfazed. She tilts her head, voice sweet and childish like honey over knives.
YUKA
It was nothing.
Taru's claws twitch, but she exhales sharply.
TARU
(gritted teeth)
Move out.
They run monstrously, group thundering toward the distant gates where Velhem soldiers already clash with the Elyrian horde.
[GUILDHALL – MID-MORNING]
The hall is a ghost of itself tables empty unlike the way it was when MONAKI last came, mission board stripped bare. Most adventurers drafted to the front lines. Only a handful of Gold-ranks linger, eyes sharp. Tobin the freckled newbie Marla left in charge wipes the bar nervously.
Monaki and Ruben enter, cloaks shedding road dust. Heads turn. Stares linger tense, unspoken.
They take seats at a corner table.
TOBIN
(approaching, forced smile)
What'll it be?
RUBEN
Booze. Strongest you've got.
Tobin nods, pours two mugs of dark, foaming brew. Slides them over.
The air is thick tense like a bowstring. The Gold-ranks shift, chairs scraping, eyes never leaving the pair.
Monaki lifts his mug, takes a deep swig.
Ruben reaches for his…
Monaki freezes. Coughs harsh, wet. Blood sprays across the table, dark and flecked with foam.
The Gold adventurers stand, surrounding the table, blocking doors and windows. Swords half-drawn, mana humming faintly.
Monaki wipes his mouth, smirks through crimson teeth. He reaches into his throat, fingers probing, gagging slightly and pulls out… a razor blade. Thin, wicked-sharp, glinting under the lamps. Small enough to hide in liquid, a magic item: invisible until saliva triggers it, blooming into lethal edge.
He holds it up, blood dripping.
MONAKI
(voice ragged, but amused)
Cute trick.
The Gold adventurers exchange glances uneasy now.
Monaki's eyes go cold. Then he laughs maniacal, echoing off the rafters, scales peeking as illusion strains. Blood bubbles at his lips, the sound is pure madness.
The Gold adventurers, rushes them.
Ruben grins.
The guildhall falls silent.
Outside, war drums thunder from afar.