As the school year progressed, the search for the cause of the explosion seemed to ebb and flow. The initial fervor had died down, but a select few higher-ranking members of Helmhold Academy remained vigilant. They couldn't shake the feeling that someone within the school had been involved in the incident, and they were determined to uncover the truth.
The transmutation classes, in particular, drew special attention. The officials discreetly watched the students, looking for any signs of unusual behavior or magical experiments that might point to the creator of the explosion. The instructors, unaware of the true cause, taught their students the basics of transmutation, touching on the manipulation of metals and other elements.
However, the school's understanding of the subject was limited, akin to a medieval-like setting with magic. While the existence of atoms was known due to their ability to see them through magic, the broader knowledge of the elemental chart remained elusive, and it was not widely shared among the students.
Sophia knew that her experiment with nuclear magic had drawn significant attention. The risk of being discovered weighed heavily on her mind, but she was careful not to display any outward signs of guilt or nervousness. Together with Mike, she remained focused on her studies, maintaining a façade of innocence.
As time went on, the intensity of the search waned, and the explosion became just another story whispered about in hushed tones.
As the next semester rolled around, Sophia immersed herself in the world of advanced magical studies, delving into probability manipulation. In her Divination and Scrying class, she honed her ability to see glimpses of the future. With a considerable amount of mana, she could peer a few seconds into the future. This remarkable ability had the potential to be a game-changer in the years to come. With practice, she could use this power to her advantage, making decisions before they even happen.
The Chaos Theory and Magical Mathematics classes proved to be both challenging and enlightening for Sophia. She explored the connection between mathematics and magic, with a specific focus on chaos theory. This branch of study dealt with the complexity of systems and their inherent unpredictability. Sophia learned how seemingly insignificant actions could lead to cascading consequences. Although the mathematical aspects were initially over her head, there were magical items available that could assist her in overcoming her struggles in this advanced field of math and magic.
However, not all classes were met with the same enthusiasm. Mike, in particular, found the Ethics and Consequences class to be incredibly boring.
"OH MY FUCKING GOD, This is so fucking lame! Why the hell would we need these dipshits to tell us right from wrong?" Mike protested, his impatience evident.
On the other hand, Sophia appreciated the Ethics and Consequences class. "You can't be serious, Mike," she retorted a hint of bitterness in her voice. "We don't have the best track record. If there's any class you should pay attention to, it's this one."
"Pass, my morals are simple. I'm the hero; they are the bad guy," Mike replied confidently, not missing a beat. They made their way to the Unicorns Chamberpot for a long night of drinks.
After a long night at the Unicorns Chamber pot, Sophia and Mike drunkenly stumbled their way back to the academy, the weight of the news they had received that night weighed heavily on their minds. The revelation of Elinor's family being placed under house arrest in the capital was a grim reminder of the time limit they were under. The imperial guards surrounding their mansion and the ongoing investigations only added to the uncertainty of their situation.
"Damn it, Soph. We can't just sit here and do nothing," Mike slurred, frustration evident in their voice. "Elinor's family's screwed, and Easton needs our help. I say we make a couple more of those bombs and end this shit now."
"I'm not using nukes again, Mike. The forest has been devastated for months, and they are still looking for..." Sophia couldn't finish her sentence as a cold blade sliced through the bottom of her mouth, stabbing her tongue and rendering her unable to speak or cast spells. The pain was excruciating, and she could only cast it through hand signals.
In the chaotic frenzy, Mike fought back, trying to resist their captors' grasp. A fireball erupted from Valicar's hands, burning a man alive in a second, but the fight was short-lived. In their inebriated state, their reactions were slowed, and before they could react further, magical chains shot out from the darkness, ensnaring their limbs with a bone-chilling grip.
The enemy mages took advantage of their vulnerability, swiftly overpowering them and securing their hands behind their back with unyielding manacles. Valicar's attempts to cast were futile, her hands bound and the wound in her mouth preventing any incantations.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
As the teleportation spell took hold, they felt the familiar sensation of being pulled through space and time. When they materialized in the dark underground crypt, the initial wave of disorientation and fear washed over them. The crypt was dimly lit by a few flickering torches, casting eerie shadows on the stone walls.
As Sophia and Mike struggled against their restraints, Sophia screamed, "FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!" Sophia panicked as her thoughts raced about who their kidnappers could be. The pain from Sophia's wounded tongue throbbed, matching the pounding of their hearts. Amid their desperate situation, she tried to make sense of the abrupt and brutal ambush.
"Calm down. If it was the church, they would have killed us and taken the keys," Mike said, sobering up with adrenaline.
"We are fucking handcuffed, and they cut our goddamn tongue in half. How the fuck are you calm!" Sophia screamed internally.
"Because this is probably the Old Bloods, they're a bunch of pushovers," Mike said, a hint of cockiness in their slurred voice. "I can quite literally beat them with my hands tied behind my back." With that boastful remark, Mike launched a powerful kick toward the nearest person's head, hearing a sickening crack as their foot connected with his skull.
However, Bound and silenced, they could do little to defend themselves the attack only bought them a few moments before they were tackled and overwhelmed, ending up pinned to the floor. Without the full power of their magic fueling them, and with the grace of a drunken athlete, Mike's resistance was subdued.
As the relentless beating began, Sophia and Mike felt their strength waning, their bodies aching with every blow. The pain was excruciating, and their vision blurred from the assault. Despite their brave front, they knew they were at the mercy of the merciless men in red robes, and the situation seemed increasingly dire.
"I can end this," Mike said through gritted teeth, the iron will within them refusing to yield even in the face of such brutality.
"No, not yet!" Sophia's heart raced, torn between the desire to protect Mike and the temptation of making a demonic pact to gain the power they needed to escape. She knew that rushing into a pact in a state of desperation could have severe consequences.
The room felt like a twisted nightmare, darkness closing in around them as their vision blurred from the pain. Blood dripped from their wounds, forming macabre patterns on the cold, stone floor. Mike's earlier defiance had been punished, and the enemies showed no mercy, their faces obscured by shadows as they unleashed their fury upon the twins for their insolence.
When the beating finally stopped, they looked up and saw they were in a dark room surrounded by half a dozen men in red robes. The first one that approached them leaned down to their eye level. "Where have you taken our books to, Imp."
"See, I told you it was the Old Bloods," Mike said casually, summoning the strength to spit a mouthful of blood into the man's face, a gesture of defiance amid the torment they endured.
The leader's expression remained cold and unamused, undeterred by their struggle, and he continued to subject them to cruel torment. Another kick landed with brutal force on their already battered ribs, causing waves of agony to ripple through their bodies. Each breath was now a struggle, their chests heaving with pain.
Despite their dire circumstances, Mike's offer to form a pact lingered as a glimmer of hope, a desperate attempt to gain power in the face of overwhelming odds. However, Sophia had another plan brewing in her mind.
Their bodies writhed in agony, bruised and broken, yet an unyielding glint of determination persisted in their red and blue eyes. Despite the pain, Sophia focused her remaining strength on weaving the emergency signal to Altheack, using her two unbroken fingers. She knew that Altheack was their only hope for rescue, but the chances of their friend arriving in time seemed slim. In that moment of despair, Sophia's mind reached for the threads of probability magic, desperate to manipulate fate in their favor. It was a daring gamble, their last chance for salvation amidst the darkness of the crypt.
Finally, a low growl pierced the room's silence. The sound was both menacing and filled with the promise of salvation. Moments later, the door burst open, and Altheack stormed in, her massive owlbear form unleashing primal fury. Her eyes glowed with a fiery bloodlust, and she roared, a deafening sound that sent shivers down the spines of the attackers.
With swift and brutal efficiency, Altheack tore into the men, her powerful claws and beak tearing through flesh and bone. The room was filled with the sickening sounds of crunching bones and agonized screams. Sophia and Mike watched in awe and terror as their loyal friend became an avenging force, dispatching their captors, ripping them limb from limb. The once merciless men now cowered before the wrath of the owlbear, their cruelty turned against them.
The room was now silent except for the heavy panting of the victorious owlbear. Blood splattered across the walls, and the floor was littered with the lifeless bodies of their attackers. Altheack's wild and untamed eyes locked onto Sophia and Mike, her humanoid form returning as she moved to free them from their shackles.
"Are you both okay?" Altheack asked, her voice soft yet filled with worry as she pushed healing magic through their body.
Altheack's eyes flickered with concern as she assisted Valicar out of the dark room. "Took you long enough." Mike's words were laced with sarcasm, a playful smile on their bloody face.
"Thanks for coming, Alth," Sophia added, her voice expressing gratitude for their ever-loyal friend.
As they walked together, their path illuminated by the dim glow of Altheack's magic, Mike's vow echoed in the air. "I am going to kill them all." His voice brimmed with unbridled rage towards his enemy's, each word laden with a burning desire for vengeance. Unknown to him, the void itself seemed to listen, the dark corners of the world paying heed to the oath made in the aftermath of such bloodshed.