Talia was left in shock when she saw her husband and his companion covered in blood, dust, and shame.
Her demeanor, usually wrapped in ice, melted and was replaced with anxiety that clashed with her divine trait.
"What happened?" she asked, rushing towards them.
The two young men in front of her said nothing, too busy fighting for breath.
Her next movements indicated that she was going through the door, perhaps in search of medical help. However, upon closer inspection of the boys, she noticed it was not their blood. A fact that seemed to calm her nerves.
Her slight relief was caught short as she observed Derek losing consciousness, his lolling head landing on Emon's shoulder.
Emon gently moved Derek's head aside and tried to stand, his legs giving out instantly.
Seeing that, Talia stretched out her hand to lift him up but Emon hadn't enough strength to hold his hand out.
And so, the High Prince surrendered to the probability of sweet dreams or nightmare, rather than facing the already certain nightmare waiting in the waking world.
Talia froze in place for about a minute after seeing both of them collapse. The silence served as a loud reminder for her to seek help as she ran through the door without hesitation.
------
The quiet in Emon's room was a stark contrast to the chaos inside the walls of the castle.
Waiting in the courtyard were several nobles, most of whom had children in the academy.
The noisy courtyard became silent when the presence of the one called 'the Sovereign of Flame' filled the atmosphere.
Heads lowered in unison, waiting for reassurance that never came. None were given as Daemon Clovis walked on, towards a horse.
Everyone averted their gaze except Candor Culayn who walked alongside him.
Without breaking the silence, the Emperor, Daemon Clovis mounted his horse and rode out.
The bubbling street hushed as both Emperor Daemon and Candor rode to the academy. The closer they got, the greater the scent of smoke and death registered itself.
"It seems the days of my peaceful reign have come to an end" Daemon said, his golden hair with streaks of black dancing in the morning wind.
"Personally, I think it's a small miracle that it didn't end years ago" Candor replied telepathically.
"Any guesses on those involved" Daemon questioned, joining the conversation telepathically after Candor created the link.
"Everybody, I always suspect every human" Candor said, his short brown hair clinging together.
"Luckily I have you" Daemon said as he gave a smile that said 'I will work you to the bone'.
"Invading a mind is like piercing it with needle, it painful for the victim and also for me" Candor said, his sour expression removing the smile from Daemon's face.
"A curse and a blessing" Daemon said, his eyes cold and pained.
"Nevertheless, I will do it for my Emperor and friend" Candor said, as he watched cast of falcons fly by.
The two rode on in silence, Candor looked only ever forward, his attention fixated on the journey.
Daemon's gaze drifted to the granite road.
To the onlookers staring at the rising smoke.
To the red-roofed buildings that suddenly all looked the same.
After minutes of silent riding, the grand structure of the academy came into view. Though they got closer to their destination, their horses only got faster as they saw the crowd gathered in the academy premises.
"Lord Paschal" the Emperor shouted as he entered the gate after sighting the man moments ago
The gray haired middle aged man rushed to the Emperor's side and gave him his due curtsey.
"Welcome Most Graced, I am deeply sorry for what happened and I will tender my resignation after the completion of the investigations" the weary looking man said as he bowed.
"There will be no need for that" Daemon replied, a response that granted hope to the Principal.
"Most Graced, I am not worthy of such mercy" now standing upright, Lord Paschal said.
"The only mercy I'll grant you is a swift death" Daemon said in a low tone, his voice pained.
"Ah, of course, Your Majesty is most gracious" the death-sentenced noble said, his face abandoning the hope it recently expressed.
"Lord Paschal, take me there, the rest should wait" Daemon commanded. The crowd of guards, coroners and others made no movements to follow
"Follow me Most Graced" Daemon and Candor followed Lord Paschal as he led them to the lecture hall.
The closer they got to the lecture hall, the more irritating the stench of death and smoke.
Calm as ever Candor patted Lord Paschal's shoulder, the two created a distance between them and Daemon who didn't seem to mind it.
"Daemon had no choice, the Kings and Lords would want for blood. At the present, they want someone to blame, your failure to protect the students betrayed your life" Candor said as he brushed his hair back with his hand.
"No need to tell me, Daemon was kind when I taught him. Politics didn't remove that kindness, it only amplified the necessary coldness in him" Paschal replied with a smile
"Thank you for your understanding, it would have been an honour to have been tutored by you. You're a great loss for the empire" Candor Said
"But in your final moments, see yourself as the man who bought his Emperor more time" Candor continued, his eyes, empty.
The two slowed their steps to let the lagging Daemon catch up.
When they reached the stairway leading to the hall, they were greeted with dismembered bodies and splattered blood. Body parts of those who perhaps wanted to flee from the scene, the sight of it made Daemon clench his fists.
The hall had become a crimson lake, severed limbs floating in stillness.
"How many survivors Lord Paschal?" Daemon questioned, his fists tightening.
"At the moment, one hundred and twenty- seven survived. Thirty-eight out of them are still unconscious, forty-three were injured with a good number of them maimed." Lord Paschal replied.
"Those who were maimed have been sent to the IDTH, although nothing can be done for them without recovering their body parts first" Lord Paschal continued, then handed a document to Candor.
"The total number of people in attendance?" Candor asked, unable to count them due to scattered remains.
"Two hundred and ninety-five, including the High Prince and his manservant" Paschal said, looking at a document in his hand
"So one hundred and sixty-eight died huh. I need the names and houses of those who died, summon Lady Vhara, send the maimed to her, tell her we will pay for her service" Daemon said, his voice authoritative yet calm.
"You're dismissed, Lord Paschal. Thank you for your service to Velecor" Daemon said as he made a calming smile to the former Principal.
"What do you make of it, Candor?" Daemon asked after he saw the last of Lord Paschal's back.
"I don't see the possibility of numerous people bypassing our security" Candor answered, his eyes seemingly scanning the hall for breaches.
"Perhaps they used a divine trait to conceal their presence?" Daemon said as his jaw tightened
"That's within the realm of possibility" Candor said, his shoes now stained red.
"Let's check their bodies" Daemon said, kneeling beside a body missing its torso.
"That one is nearly intact" Candor said after seeing the body beside Daemon
"This is not a time for humour" Daemon warned, his hands covered in flame
"Sorry," Candor said flatly
"Eyewitnesses probably didn't see anybody or Paschal would have told us about it" Candor continued
"The possibility of it being someone remotely orchestrating the situation does not bode well" Daemon replied, his hands stained with blood.
"They certainly possess great power or found a way to manipulate lifeforce to create explosions" Daemon continued, the flame growing stronger.
"So you've noticed they exploded from the inside then?" Candor said while smiling
"Obviously, explosion from an external source would leave more burns on them" Daemon said, as he stood up.
"I just need Emon to confirm it" Daemon continued
"Could we leave now? I'm famished" Candor said while touching his stomach.
"Call a council, tell them we meet in a week's time" Daemon commanded, his words giving Candor some kind of joy.
"Aye, Most Graced" Candor replied, his smile became more prominent.
"Let's go see Emon" Daemon said, his eyes casting their final gaze on the sad lecture hall that had just recently lost its beauty.
The two left the now arena-like lecture hall that had just recently lost its cap in the explosions.
"I wonder if those two would have found it weird if a wall spoke" an eerie voice coming from a brick said.
"Hahaha, everybody would probably find it weird" the strange voice continued.
The brick fell. A dim light flared behind it.
When it faded, only the heels of a human remained.
-----
The crowd that had gathered, some of which were coroners were given leave to carry out their duty.
The two rode half as fast as they did when they hurried to the academy earlier. This time, they took pleasure in seeing the beautiful city of Damattis.
------
About two hours had now passed since Emon and Derek stunned Talia by falling unconscious. Emon had been treated by the Clovis House physician, Lord Netus Grey.
Emon was now tucked into his large bed, covered with red blankets and was due to wake up in about two hours, according to Lord Netus.
Seated in the living-room-like space in his room were a black-haired woman with silver eyes who couldn't have been older than her early thirties.
A metallic-bronze-haired, silver-eyed male who looked to be in his early teens.
A golden haired, red-eyed girl who looked to be almost reaching her teen years.
The woman wore a worried look, the young teen had a nonchalant countenance while the girl cried with the woman comforting her.
From the look of things, they had been there for quite long.
Emerging from the flame in the hearth to break the silence was Daemon Clovis.
The Sovereign of Flame possessed the ability to travel with flame as his pathway.
His presence filled the room and the sparks from the aftermath of his travel through flame was enough to wake the slumbering Emon up.
Betraying his nonchalant demeanor, Caster was the first to run towards Emon's bed. His mother followed suit, Daemon stood as he was while his sister, Leanor increased the intensity of her tears.
Before anyone could utter a single word, Emon uttered words that betrayed his inheritance and his ironclad resolve.
"Since everyone is here, I hereby renounce my right to the throne," Emon said still lying down.
The young High Prince's words stunned the room, even Leanor stopped crying, her voice caught in her throat.