FREYJA AMANA

Damn the more I think about it the more annoying it gets. This new era that we are entering will make us the old generation look like sticks and stone while the new era are the iron stools and carriages. 

But what can I say, I’m glad that kids like these are going to make the future better. 

Charlotte Bamford mana manipulation is something like a prodigy but it makes sense since she is a green ring at such a young age. It makes me want to watch her develop into something more…

Alter Violet… I can’t tell if he really is a red ring or he’s just trying to fool people… something is off about him… mana… technique… his aura… what’s more is that he uses two rings. A red ring and a midnight purple ring, what could be the reason for this kid.

Before I could even finish studying him, a pressure that was on par with the school director’s fell on the school. ‘There’s people in the front gate and what’s more they don’t seem like they’re friendly.’ 

Without a second thought I called out the match. 

“Everyone evacuate the school grounds; there seems to be uninvited visitors here.” I said out loud making sure the students heard me. 

I took out a communication orb, trying to contact the guards the monarch’s sent before.

“This is Freyja Amana speaking… I need reinforcements in the main gate of Ifesia Academy…” twenty seconds were gone but no answer yet, trying again to contact the guards there was an explosion.

‘Something is not right, the guards don’t seem to answer me much less hear me… could it be that they have an artifact that cancels outside communication?’

Dammit, I’m going to have to act on my own here. As I turned to leave the arena, there were two students who had yet to leave for shelter. Fear and anger rose into me, “What are you two doing here, we need to get you both out of here.” I can’t have them be exposed to danger not knowing what these terrorist’s objective might be. 

But before I could start talking, Alter closed his eyes and took off one of his rings, it was the red ring. His black long curly hair turned into white straight hair, Alter opened his eyes revealing crimson eyes. His presence grew more than it was before, it gave an icy cold aura, giving me chills down my spine I cracked a wry smile.

Alter looked at the princess, she nodded, making Alter look in my direction with scary crimson eyes, “I, Alter Violet, newly appointed general of the four kingdoms, I hereby appoint you to evacuate the students from the school grounds.” 

‘Newly appointed general?’ 

“This has to be a joke right?” I asked as my mind was trying to get a hold of everything. Alter looked at me giving me an uneasy feeling, “Professor, do you know the code names of the people who fought the war right?” In response to his question I nodded.

Alter’s expression changed, making a frowned expression. “And as you may know, the war lasted two years. The kingdom of Londorwin was not making any progress, their military power was below the basilisks. That’s when the elven kingdom joined and so did the other kingdoms later on…” There was a long pause, he seemed to remember those memories.

“This is common knowledge that even little kids are told.” I said as he didn’t seem to talk again. He looked up to me and started to talk again, “The monarch’s were out of ideas on how to get military power and stop the basilisk, Until there was a particular kid that was younger than anyone on the council. He gave the monarch’s an idea on how to improve their military power and win the war but there was a down side. It could only be two people from each kingdom to maintain the balance…”

“The monarch’s agreed and picked their two people… When the war seemed to be lost the kid came back with those soldiers… Those eight soldiers were called Espions… They each had codes… Phoenix… Aurora… Titan…  Unicorn… Tinkerbell… Wasp… Apollo… and the leader of the Espions The Ancient Walker or you might know him as the King Of War.”

How does he know confidential information of the war? Even if he is the newly appointed general this information should at least take him a year to get. 

Without a thought I unsheath my sword and did my stance, “Who are you?” He knows too much for a normal kid. I was so focused on Alter that I forgot that Charlotte was even here but as well as Alter she was different. ‘Dammit’ were the thoughts that appeared in my mind when I saw Charlotte in her zero ring phase. 

Charlotte walked towards me, unleashing her aura with her every step the rocks on the ground shaked. No need to falter here, I told myself, gripping my sword even harder. When I blinked Charlotte was already in front of me reaching her hand towards me as if something was behind me. 

Turning my head as fast as I could I caught a glimpse of something… no a figure which was neither human, elf, half, or dwarven. It was something I thought I wasn’t going to see again. Then I was across the arena, my back against the broken wall.

ALTER VIOLET

I used telepathy to communicate with Charlotte, ‘Charlotte there’s a person coming in route towards us. Use your Zero phase and protect Freyja.’ Without a signal needed Charlotte started to activate her zero phase. Her hair turned teal, her eyes were royal blue. 

This aura was stronger than the professor and she knew that. Freyja’s expression betrayed her that sweat was coming down her face. On the other hand the unidentified aura got closer and closer to us. 

‘All I have to do is distract her from Charlotte and then I will take care of the rest,’ I told myself, trying to follow my plan closely. Charlotte had already made her move, getting closer and closer to Freyja that when Freyja blinked, the princess was already face to face with the professor.

And yet the unidentified aura had already been behind the professor taking action to kill her but Charlotte stopped the unidentified person to harm her. As a result, Freyja was sent across the arena because of the clash that the princess and the aura had. 

A cloud dust was formed where the clash had happened, ‘Charlotte are you okay?’ I asked, concerned about her since she can’t control her ring phase. Desperate about the situation, I used wind magic to clear the cloud dust.

As the cloud dust was being cleared a voice rang in my mind, ‘A-Alter please r-run.’ Charlotte’s voice sounded like she had no air to breathe, ‘T-this is a h-higher b-basilisk…’ There was a long quiet moment, ‘we d-don’t stand a c-chance.’ At the moment I could see how the higher basilisk was holding Charlotte by the throat. 

A wide grin was on the basilisk face as he held the princess. Anger boiled inside me, clouding my thoughts, I used the mana in the air to use my ability. Abeyance, I whispered with fury, using this ability to stop time at the palms of my hand. 

Using the lightning affinity to make a blade that cut through his hand dropping the princess, I grabbed her and moved her next to Freyja who was already getting up. 

Freyja glanced at me with demented, “Alter, how did you do that?” 

My tone turned cold, heartless. “That is something I will tell you later, for now take care of the princess until the Espions make it here.” I handed the princess to the professor without staring at her. 

I rotated to face the wounded basilisk. Memories started to flood my mind. Memories that brought only pain and sorrow to me, but that didn’t matter anymore. The academy was being attacked, innocent people were being killed. If I don’t make a choice fast, more will die. 

I can’t be skeptical about my payment for using this ability. I won’t let anyone else go through what I went through. Putting the ring close to my mouth, not wanting anyone else to suffer, I whispered into the ring. 

“Activate Aether Phase: Ancient Walker.”

The motes of mana swirled around me like a tornado. Awaiting my command like a soldier would await the king's orders. With a flick of my wrist I could release all four elements if I wanted too. 

Additionally, the basilisk seemed unfazed by the attack. No, rather he seemed to know how the attack worked on him. Charlotte was correct, we probably didn’t stand a chance against this basilisk but now I have activated my aether phase. I could take on many armies of basilisk without breaking a sweat. 

“Where did you find that ring? Human.” He did not appear to care about his wound but he cared about my ability. “That is none of your business basilisk.” I let out making a lightning blade. 

[Alter… Let out more of your power…]

This voice!? I held my hand to my head, “It’s too early for this… I have to end it fast before I lose control.” I whispered to myself. Before I could regain my composure, a gigantic fireball was headed to my direction. 

“Void Bending” I muttered, pointing my finger to the mana spell in front of me. The fireball disappeared without any trace of it. I felt a burning gaze coming from behind me, it’s the professor, I told myself as I kept walking towards the basilisk confused on what happened to his spell. 

“Mana dispersion?” His voice betrayed his face expression, fear. “Is the mighty basilisk in fear from a single mana spell?” I said in an excited tone, ready to kill him mercilessly, ready to dye my blade in his blood. I could feel a smile creep on my face. Then I knew what was happening… I have lost control of myself…

JULIETTE RILEY

The monarch’s had called every single Espion back from their missions. Luna and I had been in the council building all this time rearranging our fortresses for the past few months. 

Walking into the council room, we only saw three monarch’s, Londorwin, Lerasea, and Orielion. Leaving the Elion’s monarch’s out of this meeting, it seems that they had to go back to their kingdom and sort some things out. 

We kneeled and the monarch’s talked, “Luna, Juliette. You are the only Espions that are able to be dispatched more quickly than the other Espions.” King Vamir and Queen Sylvar appeared to be concerned about this particular issue. “Both of you are to go to Ifesia academy and eliminate the threats there.” 

“Threats in Ifesia Academy?” I said, feeling uneasy about this situation. The monarchs realized my uneasiness but continued, “Yes there is an active battle in the academy of students and what looks to be high-rank basilisk.” 

Luna’s brows were forward, gripping her hand so tight that blood spilled. “Luna, don't worry the general will be okay.” Luna calmed down before talking in a serious voice, “If I may your majesties, who sent the message?” 

Queen Mabalyn hesitated to talk, “It was one of the professor's device but Charlotte BamFord was the one who announced it.” Vamir gritted his teeth. Without any more explanation, Luna and I started to activate our ring phases while walking out the council room. 

A voice started to talk in my head, it was Luna using her telepathy spell, ‘You go first Julie, I will take some soldier with me but I need time so you go first,’ I nodded and left as fast as I could on the way to the academy. 

CHARLOTTE BAMFORD

“The Espions are in their way professor.” I said, trying to stand and look for Alter. From what the professor has told me it’s been half an hour since I got unconscious. The mana around me was being pulled away from me by a strange force, it felt like my own mana was being pulled out from me. 

I concentrated on my surroundings, sensing two auras that came from the sky, a strong one and a powerful one and many other auras around the place where the shelter was. I made up my mind, “Professor, let’s go to the shelter, there seems to be many unidentified auras there.” I knew that Alter didn’t need my help and I would only be a burden to him.

With the power that I have now, I may not be able to keep up with him. For that I have to get stronger to be able to fight on his side but for the moment I’m only going to do what I can do, protect those who need it.

“Professor help me keep these basilisks out of shelter.” Activating my zero phase again while running towards the shelter being attacked by the monsters. “Of course princess,” was the response I got from Freyja as she coated herself with mana.

Seven low-rank basilisks and two mid-rank basilisks. The professor should be able to handle those low-ranks while I take on the mid-ranks. 

Without telling her, she went straight towards the low-rank basilisks while I let my plant spell finish. Creating a poison vine sword, striking one of the monsters injuring his chest. 

“This elf is stronger than these teachers.” Said the humanoid basilisk wearing a black armor. Touching his wound as if he has never been hurt in a long time, his eyes lighten up like a flame in the darkness, pointing his finger at me and introducing himself like a noble to a commoner. 

“I, Buckmour, challenge you to a one-on-one elf.” Buckmour pointing his finger in my direction waiting in excitement. “It would be better for the both of you to do a two-on-one. But I will bite. Deactivating my poison vine sword and pointing it to my enemy. “I, Charlotte Bamford, accepted Buckmour’s challenge.”  

Buckmour look at his companion, “there you have it Dummard, don’t go and interfere in my one-on-one or I will kill you myself.” His brows went forward as he stared long and hard at the other humanoid monster named Dummard. “Alright fine I won’t interfere with your ‘one-on-one’.” His words gave me a little assurance that I might have the chance to kill him without any interruptions.