It had been two weeks since the trip to the beach, and Aurora, Ygriv and Tulipa were back in classes. Aurora and Ygriv were in History class, while Tulipa was in Elementalmajka. They were all lost in thought, thinking about the Faedell Taking and the hard decision that they had to make. They knew that the ritual was fast approaching, and that they had to be prepared for what was to come.

Suddenly, Headmistress Friedham's voice echoed through the halls, calling all of the students to the A'tiquae Hall. Her tone was serious and resolute, and Aurora and Ygriv exchanged nervous and terrified looks.

They made their way to the hall, their hearts pounding with fear. They knew that something was wrong, and they couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that settled over them.

As they entered the hall, they saw that all of the students had gathered there, their expressions serious and concerned. They made their way to the front of the hall, where Headmistress Friedham was standing, her expression grave.

"I have an urgent announcement to make," she said, her voice serious.

"I have an urgent announcement to make," she said, her voice serious. "As many of you may know, the Vaxans have never been a very friendly nation. They closed their borders months ago, and we have not been in contact with them since. However, we have just received news that they have declared war on the Faedell System. They have already invaded two planets, Clearelf and Lochby. There have been casualties, but our military forces are working on it. It's only a matter of time until we see the first attack ourselves."

Aurora, Ygriv, and Tulipa exchanged nervous glances, knowing that the war being let loose meant the time of the Taking was closer than ever. They knew that they had to be prepared for anything, and that they had to do everything in their power to save the Faedell System from destruction.

The students listened intently, their expressions showing concern and fear. Some merellians and altiddans were crying, some others were furious. Students gasped in shock, and Aurora felt a sense of panic rising within her.

"What can we do?" a student said, her voice shaking.

Headmistress Friedham looked at her sympathetically, understanding her concerns.

"We must do everything in our power to protect our kin," she said. "And that includes you, the Majkakins in training."

She went on to explain that the Academy was taking steps to increase security and to prepare for the coming attack. She told them that they would be working closely with the Faedell System's military and that they would be doing everything in their power to stop the rebels.

"But we cannot do it alone," she said. "We need your help."

The students looked at her, their expressions serious.

"We need you to be strong," she said. "As students, you’re not supposed to participate in any type of dangerous activities. But if the time comes, and if there’s no other exit. We want you to fight. Fight for your life, for your friends, for your homes and for the school. Fight for your kin. It doesn’t matter where you come from, or who or what you think you are, but what you’ll do when the hour is nigh."

The students nodded, a sense of determination evident in their expressions.

Headmistress Friedham nodded, looking serious.

"Good," she said. "We have a lot of work to do. But I know that we can do it together."

As the students made their way back to their classes, Aurora, Ygriv, Tulipa, and Ilja exchanged nervous glances.

As the days passed, the Academy turned itself into a fortress. The faculty members worked tirelessly to put up and reinforce barriers around the school using Protecta Totalitarum, the most powerful protection spell known to majkakind. The light orange barrier surrounded the school like a bubble, but once set, it turned transparent, allowing the students to see the world outside, while keeping them safe from harm.

All normal classes were suspended until further notice, and students began taking mandatory defense classes. They did what they could, depending on their abilities, some practicing attack spells and tactics, while others focused on defense. Tulipa used her elementalmajka to summon vines and Aurora taught her some tips on how to do it better. Ilja became really good at his flame majka, and he helped other students who also used fire magic to improve their skills. Aurora improved her spellmajka and her defense magic, her barriers stronger than ever. She even learned some illusion spells from Professor Astrid that could come in handy for her. Ygriv became an expert in Alchemy thanks to his private lessons with Professor Verni, and he had a wide range of flasks and potions that could help him in battle. He also had better control of his Golden Touch, but he continued to wear gloves, just in case. But this pair was nicer, as it was a gift from Luria herself, with Ygriv's initials embroidered in golden thread on them. In one of his trips to the library, he found a book of conjures, and one of them was a spell that conjured daggers, which he started using and practicing on different targets on the field.

As the days turned into weeks, the Academy became a veritable fortress, with the faculty members working around the clock to keep the students safe. The students themselves became more and more skilled in their defense and attack spells, with some even discovering new abilities they never knew they had. The Academy grounds became a battleground, with students practicing their spells and tactics on each other, honing their skills for the inevitable battle to come.

Despite the danger and uncertainty of the situation, the students and faculty members of the Academy remained strong, united in their goal to protect their home from the unknown enemy outside.

Three days later, everyone was lost in their own thoughts, and there was a sense of unease that hung over the school, but life went on, somehow.

Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the school, causing everyone to jump out of their seats and rush to the windows to see what was happening. They couldn't believe what they saw. The sky was filled with flying ships, most of them with the emblem of the Vaxans, descending upon Aelhollow city.

The students watched in horror as the ships began firing lasers at the city, causing explosions of different colors, with some ships being shot down by the military and the townsfolk. The earth shook, fire flowed everywhere, water flooded certain zones of the city, and some people used their powers to fight against the Vaxan soldiers. Cries and screams filled the air, creating a cacophony of horror that sent chills down everyone's spines.

The students were terrified and panicked, as much as they had prepared for this, most of them were kids. The first years were being comforted by the third years, who were trying to keep everyone calm and organized. They started gathering their belongings and changing clothes, preparing for the worst.

The faculty members quickly mobilized, guiding the students to safe areas of the school and reinforcing the barriers around the Academy. They worked tirelessly, using every ounce of their skill and knowledge to keep the students safe.

As the night wore on, the sound of the battle outside slowly faded away, leaving behind a silence that was almost deafening. The students and faculty members of the Academy waited anxiously, unsure of what the morning would bring. They knew that the war had begun, and that they were now at the front lines of the fight to save the Faedell System. The time had come for them to stand together, to be strong, and to fight for their kin.

In the middle of the night, Ilja was jolted awake by a loud thud he heard outside his dorm room. He lay there for a moment, trying to shake off the grogginess, thinking it was just a part of a nightmare. But as he listened more closely, he could hear the sound of muffled shouting and the faint rumbling of engines.

Ilja knew that the Faedell System was at war, and he knew that the Academy was a target. The thought of an attack on their home filled him with fear and dread. He quickly got up from his bed, and ran to the window, hoping that it was just his imagination.

But what he saw outside sent chills down his spine. A giant army of ships and soldiers, all gathered up in the horizon, and walking up the hills to the Academy. The ships looked menacing, with their dark hulls and glowing red lights, and the soldiers looked even more terrifying, with their black uniforms and weapons.

Ilja felt the panic of the moment hit him like a ton of bricks. He knew that they had to act fast, or they might not have a chance to defend themselves. He quickly got dressed and started waking everyone up, knocking on every door there was, and noticed there were other students doing the same, they must have heard the army just like him.

As he went from room to room, Ilja could see the fear in his classmates' eyes, and he knew that he had to be strong for them. He told them to get dressed and meet up at the Hall. He knew that they had to prepare for the worst, and that they had to be ready to fight for their lives.

The hallways were chaotic, with students running around, trying to gather their belongings and make their way to safety. Ilja tried his best to keep everyone calm, but it was difficult. The sound of explosions and gunfire echoed through the halls, and the walls shook with the force of the attack.

As he got to the A’tiquae Hall, Ilja could see the army approaching from the window, their weapons at the ready. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, but he knew that he had to be brave. He looked at his classmates, and saw the fear in their eyes, but he also saw the determination. They were ready to fight, to protect their home and each other.

Guide Luria and Headmistress Friedham gathered all of the students in the A'tiquae Hall, trying their best to comfort them and prepare them for the worst. The students were nervous and afraid, but also angry and frustrated at the same time. They knew that they had to be strong, and that they had to fight for their lives.

They could hear the sound of the army getting closer, and they knew that they had to act fast. The faculty members were doing everything in their power to protect the students, but they needed help. Aurora, Ygriv, Tulipa, and Ilja exchanged nervous glances, knowing that the moment had come. They had to be strong, they had to be brave, and they had to do whatever it takes to protect their home and each other.

Aurora's heart was racing as she watched the army approach. She had prepared for this moment for weeks, but now that it was here, she felt overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty. She looked at her friends, who were equally nervous, and took a deep breath.

"We can do this," she said, her voice steady. "We've trained for this. We know what to do."

Ygriv nodded, his face determined.

"We can't let them take the Academy," he said. "We have to fight."

Tulipa and Ilja exchanged resolute glances, but they knew that they had no other choice. They had to fight to protect their home and their kin.

The students gathered their wands and other equipment, and prepared themselves for battle. They knew that it would be difficult, but they were ready to do whatever it takes.

As the army approached, the students and faculty members of the Academy stood together, their hands at the ready. They could hear the sound of the enemy soldiers getting closer, their weapons at the ready.

And then, the battle began.