Soon enough, the cart stopped. Their face cover was lifted. The three had been ready to act but the scene took all the fight out of them.

They had reached the Wayhub, which was surrounded by hundreds of mercenaries and other folk, and none from the Academy. Four more guards had surrounded them, two on each of them, as they were led into the building, and down to the holding cells.

These weren't the cells for delirious sick people. No. Those could still be managed. As the shackles snapped on, Denerik lost all connection the world, like a limb had been cut off. Their handcuffs had restricted mana, but these new shackles completely cut it off.

Miriam had started struggling, realizing where they were. There was another team in the cell, already shackled, their faces bruised and bloodied. One of them, an older woman, spoke up,

"Don't bother. These are monster pens. You'll have a better luck wrestling an ogre."

"Arghhhhhh!!"

"What happened?" Aldy asked.

The three occupants looked at each other, at a loss for words. Numerous expressions passed between them, until one finally spoke.

"The Gate is gone. We are stranded here. Possibly hostages for leverage."

"The Gate is gone?"

"Yes, went up in a massive explosion. Don't know how we are alive, since theory says we should have been shredded by the chaotic currents. Didn't you feel them?"

"We did." Miriam replied, "Our armor protected us from that massive gravitational flow. I had hoped it was something else. Still can't move properly."

"Right. Be glad you didn't pass out. Most did."

"How did you know?"

"Well, we are the elite team, for what it is worth. Fought them assholes, atleast for a bit, until we were overwhelmed."

"Damn this! It's not fair!"

"Aye, never thought I'd get my ass whooped by some nobodies..."

"This sucks..."

...

Time passed. The six became nine, as another basic team was locked in with them. There wasn't much news either, except the fact that they were clearly hostages. They had been fed once, simple fair of bread and soup. The other two groups had obviously fought, sound asleep now.

The chains kept their mana locked, making Denerik feel tired and grumpy, suppressing any drive to communicate beyond the bare minimum. Still, Aldy and Miriam engaged him, trying to keep the spirits up.

"Number 2, don't be so glum. We'll get through this."

"Yes. We need to be ready to act, just in case. Think of your brother, Baldy. What will he say seeing you mope like this.."

"Heh, Baldy... suits you..."

Denerik thought back to his own journey, and his presence there. Him and his twin brother had been so close since birth - playing together, adventuring and fighting beasts off their manor's woods, and honing their skills against each other. He certainly wouldn't approve of rolling over - something about losing to undeserving commoners.

"We are rivals, you know. Comm and I."

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"I know. Von Buchanoir bloodline is well-known for their bloodthirsty methods, no offence." Aldy replied.

"Twins?" Miriam asked, understanding dawning upon her. "Sheesh..."

"Yes, sometime triplets too. Only one could ever become the heir. Only one attends the Academy. I wasn't meant to be here."

"The accident?"

Baldy nodded.

"Me either." Aldy replied, "I was a lowly knight of the D'viers. But you did want to study here, right?"

"I don't know anymore. We competed. All our lives. The traditional values dictated that only a trial by fire is acceptable. The winner takes all."

"And you lost?"

"Yes, technically. To be completely honest, I don't really know which one of us is stronger. We are too close, and too familiar with each other."

"What do you mean? You gave up?"

"Not exactly, no. I didn't want the burdens of administration, nor the life of intrigue and politics."

"Your brother isn't much better at it either." Aldy added, obviously goading.

Baldy grinned, "Oh for sure, he hates it too. Since he won, he had to do it. He certainly has the brains and discipline for it... er, most of the time."

"I'm jealous, Number 2. I wish I could offload my duties too. Mother would kill me..."

"You should have seen my father's face. He let us decide amongst ourselves, but that smile when he shaved my head. That scheming geezer..."

"Pardon my curiousity, Denerik. Wouldn't von Buchanoir also be invited to the pre-gathering?"

"I'll tell you if you tell me. I'm sure Warren D'vier was to attend this year, was he not?" Baldy replied, eyes squinted.

"Indeed. He was my dearest friend, my brother. He died in that cave. There's nothing that'll bring him back." Aldy replied, growing somber. "Sometimes it feels like I killed him. I took his spot and soon the world will forget him. Only me, alone..."

"I'm sorry. I hope it gets better."

"Oh, Aldy..." Miriam wrapped the one hand around Aldy, as well as she could.

Baldy went quiet, thinking back to the day he got the news. For a moment, the dread of almost losing Comm overwhelmed him. He had forced the role upon the boy, who would have certainly attended the gathering, were it not for their long-standing promise of one last adventure.

The melancholy stealing what little warmth had not been assaulted by the frigid chains. A deal was a deal though. After a long frigid pause, Baldy spoke,

"My brother and I, we went on our farewell adventure, one last memory before he had to truly grow up and become the heir, do all things proper. My father had my admission letter by the time we returned..."

He had had so many plans. Probably so did Aldy. And everyone else in the class. Finding other folk stuck in the same situation was comforting in a way. All his love for experimental discoveries and seeking mundane novelties would need to be reworked.

"We'll get out of here and make something of ourselves, my friend. Let's not give up. Not yet."