Chapter 50: Calculated Chaos
Dune was standing alone in the room, when someone entered. It was his brother, Ned. Dune greeted Ned as they both sat around a small wooden table.
The room was modestly furnished, with simple decor and soft lighting casting a warm glow.
The walls were lined with old, worn books, and a small window let in a sliver of the outside world.
Ned spoke first. "We were fortunate they didn't discover you," he said, his voice heavy with concern. "This whole ordeal is a standard procedure... it happens every year when the academy admits new students."
He paused, looking thoughtful. "It seems what Beth made you all do wasn't just for training but was also meant to expose Zetens among the newcomers.
You handled it well, Dune. Atlas did too. Neither of you are suspects."
Dune nodded, absorbing his brother's words.
Ned continued, his tone somber.
"They didn't anticipate so many Zetens. Usually, they are eliminated quickly by professionals and academy elders. But this time, fifteen Zetens were caught and killed in the academy.
Those Zetens managed to take down a few professors and fifty-four academy students... twenty-four of them were newcomers.
The academy has already been rebuilt using strong Orange Neba from one of the professors, but the lives lost..."
Ned sighed deeply. "In one week, the King will hold a ceremony to address the losses and compensate the families. We have to be there too.
I'm sorry, Dune. This is on me. Maybe if I hadn't failed at the academy, I could have helped you."
Dune raised his hand and placed it on his brother's shoulder. "It's not your fault, Ned. You did everything you could. We can't dwell on the past."
They both nodded, a silent understanding passing between them.
"So what happens now? How is the King reacting to this?" Dune asked.
"The King expected us to succeed, and if we failed,it seems he considered us expendable.
It's clear now that we are not as important to him as we thought, or at least he has no qualms about sacrificing a few of us."
"I see," Dune said, sighing. The weight of recent events and the realization of their precarious position hung heavy in the air.
Prince Damion stood on the castle terrace, gazing out at the sprawling city below. The sun cast a warm glow over the horizon, highlighting the imposing silhouette of the giant academy in the distance.
A satisfied smile crept onto his face as he breathed in the fresh morning air. The view from the terrace was breathtaking, offering a panoramic glimpse of the city's bustling streets and the serene landscape beyond.
Footsteps echoed softly behind him. Damion didn't need to turn to recognize the presence. Cel, his trusted friend, stepped up beside him, sharing the view from the terrace.
"Like always, your plan worked again," Cel said, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Now what, Damion?"
Damion chuckled, his eyes still fixed on the horizon. "Cel, don't you know me by now? My plans always work. But it's thanks to you for sneaking in those Zetens we caught before.
Poor students that died, but their sacrifice will benefit the whole world after.
"Did those two make it?" Damion asked.
"Of course they did," Cel replied. "Atlas was unconscious for some reason—he might've fought a strong Zeten.
And Dune… that guy, he really killed his own classmate. I couldn't believe my eyes.
I thought he'd let her go, and I'd have to finish her off. But he managed to kill her using a teleportation ability.
But he had no choice. If he let her go, she would've exposed him."
Damion laughed heartily. "No way! I kind of like him now."
Cel's expression turned serious. "Now, now, I know you're trying to change the subject. So why did you want to damage the academy?"
Damion glanced at Cel, his smile fading slightly. "Come on, let's take a walk."
The two left the castle walls and made their way down to the poorer part of the city. As they walked, they observed the dilapidated buildings and the struggles of the residents.
Children played in the streets, oblivious to the weighty conversation unfolding nearby.
"What do you see, Cel? Can you tell me what comes after we walk more?" Damion asked, his tone contemplative.
"Outskirts?" Cel answered, a bit puzzled.
"Right," Damion said. "And what comes after the outskirts? What lies beyond that?"
Cel sighed, trying to follow Damion's train of thought. "Forests, monsters, and some of the cities that managed to survive in the wild, like Fein."
"Exactly. And what's beyond that, Cel?" Damion pressed.
"Further? Millions of monsters and demonic creatures, also people who lost control of their abilities.
They're the reason we can't leave the continent easily. Even the sea is problematic because of the many creatures that could swallow whole ships."
"Good answer," Damion said, a note of approval in his voice. "But those monsters are not only barriers preventing us from going outside; they also protect us, making it harder for other continents to attack.
That's why it's been so long without wars. Whoever created this was smart.
I'm sure every other continent is in the same situation."
"Someone who created it?" Cel asked, intrigued. "Do you think someone purposely created the monster barrier?"
"It's obvious, Cel. Why do you think the monsters don't just attack us? They're there to do their job. They only attack when we approach the edge of the continent."
"I guess so," Cel conceded. "But what does that have to do with your plan?"
"You'll see soon," Damion replied cryptically.
"As for why I needed to damage the academy, it's simple. The King will leave the castle for that rare occasion to attend the ceremony himself.
You will sneak into the castle and steal the potion for me."
"Huh?" Cel's eyes widened. "That's not going to be easy. And why don't you just enter the beast tournament and win it yourself?"
Damion sighed, looking at Cel with a mix of impatience and affection. "Because I don't want to. I want to speed things up.
Don't you want the same, Cel? So go and steal that potion for me. Then we will use our special card that we've been saving for so long and finally achieve the impossible."
Cel studied Damion for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I trust your plans, Damion."
Damion's eyes gleamed with a cunning light. "Good. let's put my plan into motion and change the world forever."
Cel couldn't help but laugh. Damion, despite his youth, possessed a mind sharper than anyone he had ever known. Will he really be able to reshape the future of their world?.