Deep in a dark forest just north of the Celestial Empire, a run-down cabin stood in solitude, surrounded by dense trees. The sudden appearance of a large, glowing portal shattered the peaceful quiet of the night.

Numerous people in torn casual clothing emerged, their bodies covered in scars, wounds, and bruises. Among them, one figure stood silently at the back, exuding an air of authority.

[Groaning pains*]

“Take them into the basement,” Vincent ordered, his voice cold and emotionless. “I’ll be out for a bit.” He turned and vanished into the dense forest, leaving his underlings to carry out his command.

Not far after Vincent left the group, his footstep became growingly forced, his hand reaching out toward the trees for support. He falls to the ground, using the tree he leans his back against it.

His eyes slowly flickered open and shut before a shadowy, human-like figure appeared. Vincent, barely audible, rasped out, "Master!" Thanatyr stared at him.

"VINCENT!" Thanatyr's voice boomed into his mind. "Your unwillingness to serve me is still present after all these years?" Thanatyr continued, its voice now lower in volume.

Thanatyr laughed at him. "No matter, you're still useful to me as long as you continue being my hunting dog." He chuckled before glancing back in the direction of the cabin. "Vincent, watch that boy closely. There is something about him, something dreadful."

"Use the eye of Fultar to get the truth out of that boy regarding the beast," Thanatyr instructed, hesitating momentarily. "And try to find out everything about the kid that seems out of the ordinary," he added, his voice betraying a slight hint of worry.

"I will return now. Make sure you get what I need from him," Thanatyr mentioned leisurely. "Then erase our track, our existence should stay in the shadow of this world, for now” As he was about to leave, Vincent's voice came from behind.

"Master! Was it necessary to destroy the building?" His inquiry piqued Thanatyr's interest. "Do I need a reason to kill a few bugs?" he replied mockingly.

Vincent with a weak and trembling voice uttered, “But our people are still in there—” He breathed hastily, “And… the innocent stu—” Before he could finish, Vincent felt an excruciating pain all over his body.

"I don't like how you speak to me, Vincent," Thanatyr growled. "As I said, you're still useful to me as a hunting dog." A shadowy tendril wrapped around Vincent's neck. "And dogs don't need to ask questions—they only need to obey. Do you understand?".

Vincent can only nod his head in submission, his neck was released from the tendril. Vincent was visibly in pain trying to breathe properly. He looked up and his master was nowhere to be found.

[Back at the Academy]

Professor Wuldor and many of the professors away with him stood among the ruin of his once prestigious Academy, Wuldor stood in anger, his eyes darted left and right but only destruction awaited his vision.

Hundreds of students sustained injuries of various degrees, and the number of students who lost their lives is in the double digits.

Wuldor spotted his daughter covered in bandages and softened. He rushed toward her, "Selena!" charging like a bull, only to be blocked by Selena's wind spirit. "Dad, I'm fine," she reassured him as Rowan sat beside her amidst the rubble.

"Dad, they took Rachel and Davis with them," she continued, her voice laced with regret. "Their leader was stronger than me. I'm sorry," Selena blamed herself for failing to prevent Davis and Rachel's kidnapping. She then narrates to him everything she knows.

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The entire time Rowan sat angrily to the side, consumed by regret. "I should've been there for them," was the only thought that echoed in his mind. The entire event became the most talked-about topic in the Empire.

“It’s all right Selena, it's not your fault, you did your best” Wuldor thought for a long while, he would understand why Rachel got kidnapped as she is part of the Royale Family but Davis too.

Every scenario and reason he could conjure came down to one: "Their target was Rachel, and Davis got caught in the crossfire." His reasoning was logical but unbeknownst to him, it was the other way around.

Many of Vincent's underlings were captured due to Thanatyr's hasty escape. They’re to be given to the Royale family for questioning due to the whole situation regarding Rachel.

Principal Wuldor was called away, but before leaving he left the other professors to help with the aftermath. Wuldor walked into a conference room where the other pillar patriarch awaited.

“Herald Wuldor, please have a seat” Aldric the Blackthorn’s patriarch spoke up, gesturing with his hand at the chair. Principal Wuldor did so and noticed the other gazes fixed on him seemingly awaiting a report.

“I’m as stuck as every one of you on how this has happened” Wuldor stated, before continuing with a serious tone, “My daughter Selena has told me about a man using reinforce wire that led the entire attack”

He let out a sigh of frustration. "As for their goal—I believe their target was the Royale Princess, and they not only succeeded but also captured one of our top talent students, Davis."

"Wait, Davis got kidnapped?" Garrick was surprised to hear the news. He had assigned Amy to be his bodyguard for this exact situation and yet she failed to notify him about something this big.

"Davis? Mr. Garrick seems to be rather close with the boy. I wonder how far they have gone," Aldric Blackthorn said, his intentions clear.

"Better than you, that's for sure," Garrick retorted. The two started arguing until a voice shouted for them to pipe down. "Enough! You're pillars of this Empire, and yet you bicker like children. We have bigger things to deal with right now," Draven Roycroft calmly raised his voice.

The two stared at each other before bowing down. "Yes, your Majesty."

Draven Roycroft continued, "If Principal Wuldor's assumptions are correct, then my daughter Rachel is the target of their attack, and Davis Edwelt's life is in far more danger than hers. We need to act fast."

"If they're able to attack the Celestial Academy and succeed so easily, then they mustn't be underestimated," Alistair Helsar, the leader of the Magic Tower, chimed in. "For once, after centuries, I propose we work together to calm the citizens and punish the perpetrators." The others shared a glance before unanimously agreeing.

Rowan walked back to the dormitory. The Academy had been hastily rebuilt; being the center of the Empire, it was a landmark in itself. As he passed Davis's room, he heard a noise coming from inside.

Woof*

Skye was able to sense Rowan's scent and barked happily, trying to catch sight of him. K had brought Skye with him once to dinner with Rowan, so Skye knew him from just his scent.

Rowan couldn’t open the door, and knowing that Davis wouldn’t be coming back soon, he kicked the door open to get Skye. Skye jumped with joy and rushed to Rowan, pushing his body into him as a form of affection.

Soon, Skye walked outside, his head turning left and right, seemingly looking for Davis. Rowan picked Skye up and brought him back to his room after he fixed the door.

"I'm sorry, Skye, but—" his voice caught in his throat, "Davis wouldn't be coming back anytime soon." As he talked, Skye sat patiently, wiggling his tail giving Rowan a sense that he could understand him.

"Davis and Rachel got kidnapped by some unknown people and—" He let out a sigh of sadness, speaking with uncertainty, "The professor said that Davis isn't their target, and his life is highly at risk. He… might not return."

As Rowan spoke about what happened to Skye, the dog's tail visibly slowed down before stopping completely. Skye, though young, was the son of the mythical beast Fenrir, and he could discern most of what Rowan was saying.

Skye drew closer and climbed into Rowan's embrace, his whimpering regarding the news about Davis clear. Skye had lost his family once, and Davis had taken him in. Now, Skye feared he would lose his family again.