"Garrick, The Dumb"

Whoosh!

William felt the wind brush past his face as he ran towards the direction where he sensed the surge of energy from.

He weaved through the buildings in the academy and effortlessly jumped over the compound wall. In mid-air, he unsheathed his sword and readied his stance as he landed.

As soon as he landed, the putrid odor of blood hit his face. The whole alley was filled with splatters of blood, and it looked like a huge fight had just happened there.

He saw a boy and a girl standing amidst it, both looking surprised at his sudden appearance.

William frowned at them since the energy he felt didn't seem to belong to these two. However, their presence there was suspicious enough to make William be on his guard.

The only reason he didn't immediately attack them was that the two of them were wearing the academy's uniform.

Nonetheless, he kept a vigilant eye on them and was prepared to attack them if necessary. William pointed his sword at them and ordered in a harsh tone,

"Identify yourselves!"

_____

Norman felt a lump in his throat as he faced the stern man before him.

The Silver Knights were a force to be reckoned with, feared and respected by many. Even though they were relatively new, their reputation for ruthlessness and efficiency had already spread far and wide throughout the empire.

They were a symbol of order and justice, and their mission was to eliminate any and all threats to the safety and security of the empire.

They were not known to show mercy to those who crossed them, and their methods were often brutal and unforgiving.

The man standing before Norman was no ordinary member of the Silver Knights. He was their Captain, William Valois, a man known for his unwavering dedication to his duty and his unmatched combat skills.

Norman knew that any mistake he made in front of this man could cost him his life. He looked over at his sister Felicity, who stared at the man with wide eyes. Just from her face, he knew what she was thinking.

'This bitch...' he muttered under his breath.

William's eyes narrowed as he watched Norman reach into his pocket. He wondered what the young man was about to produce. With a swift motion, Norman retrieved two badges that gleamed with a bright, unmistakable shade of gold.

"I am Norman Winterbourne, and this is my sister Felicity Winterbourne," Norman announced, holding out the badges. "We are final-year students of Class B. These are our identifications!"

William caught the badges and inspected them closely, holding them up to the faint moonlight. The intricate details of the gold emblem shone brightly, and the letters engraved on it were clear and precise. After a moment of scrutiny, he concluded that they were indeed genuine academy badges.

After nodding his head, he sheathed his sword back into the scabbard and asked,

"What are you two doing here after curfew hours?"

Norman's mind raced to come up with a plausible answer.

"We couldn't find our brother, so we came out to search for him," he said, feigning a mournful tone. His sister quickly put on a sorrowful expression, pretending to be mourning with him.

"We sensed a surge of mana similar to our brother's, and when we arrived, we found this," Norman explained, pointing to the bloody mess scattered through the alley.

William frowned in thought.

'It looks like another victim has been captured by that organization.'

Suddenly, Felicity asked in a voice barely above a whisper,

"What do you think happened to our brother, Sir Knight?"

Her expression immediately darkened at the thought of her missing brother, her eyes glistening with sorrow.

As Norman looked at her, he couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine. He knew that her entire display was just an act.

William's face softened at Felicity's act, and he replied reassuringly,

"Don't worry. We will find the culprit who might have kidnapped your brother. But first, I will need more information about your brother from both of you tomorrow."

Felicity nodded sorrowfully and spoke in a seductive voice,

"I'll assist you in any way I can, Sir Knight."

Just then, a humongous figure landed with a thud, causing dust and debris to fly everywhere. He bellowed,

"EVIL DOERS! PREPARE TO FACE THE WRATH OF GARRICK, THE GREAT!!!" announcing his arrival, holding his massive 6-foot broadsword.

As the dust settled, Garrick saw his Captain facepalming himself, along with a boy and girl who looked scared.