Heidrick,leaned against a corner, arms crossed, his face unreadable.
His piercing gaze swept the room before he shook his head, letting out a quiet sigh.
His movements, subtle but deliberate, caught the attention of Revol.
Revol, approached Heidrick,
“What’s on your mind, Judge Heidrick? You’ve been quiet since the meeting began.”
Heidrick glanced at him,
“This ship. It’s becoming something I had hoped to avoid—a battleground for egos and factions. The skirmish in the Practice Room was the beginning, But, they just want to fight and battle here.”
“Making it a graveyard for everbody...”
Revol nodded,
“It was bound to happen. The tensions between the Third Circle and the Frost Elves have been simmering for some time. But this...this is different. They won’t let it go.”
Heidrick shook his head and said
“And turn Blue Hope into a warzone? That’s unacceptable.”
Revol closed his eyes for a second and then added
“If you don’t intervene, it will happen. The factions will see this as an opportunity. The Third Circle and Frost Elves aren’t blind—they’ll double down. Each side will call in their allies, and soon, the entire ship will be split into camps. We’ll have a battle on every level.”
“Many people will die because of these battles.”
“I do not care about the people who are in this and scums that live off sucking out blood from the others.”
“But, commoners and lawful people should be not sacrificed for their battles.”
Heidrick’s jaw tightened
“And what do you propose? Stop that.
“That we march the guardians into their midst and force a ceasefire? That we make enemies of both sides?”
Revol hesitated, glancing around to ensure no one else was listening.
“No. That would only make things worse. But we can’t sit back and let them tear the ship apart either. We’ll need to use everything we’ve got—all the guardians, all our influence. And if that doesn’t work, you’ll need to step in personally.”
Heidrick arched a brow, his gaze sharp.
“Step in how, exactly?”
Revol straightened, his tone firm. “You’ve always had a way of commanding respect—even from those who don’t agree with you. If you publicly denounce their actions, if you call for unity, they’ll have no choice but to listen. And if they don’t, well...your presence alone will force them to think twice.”
“Even those organization would not want to fight against a proper level five peak mage...”
Heidrick let out a bitter laugh,
“You think my name alone can stop a war? That the factions will suddenly abandon their grievances because Heidrick of Blue Hope says so?”
“Using my powers against them would not only make them my enemy but it would make their factions my enemy.”
“Being a level five would not be enough in that case.”
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Revol shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
“Maybe not. But you’re not just a name. You’re a symbol. To some, a leader. To others, a threat. Either way, you have more power than you give yourself credit for.”
The room fell into a brief silence as Heidrick stared at Revol, weighing his words.
“If I step in, it won’t just be words. It’ll mean taking sides, whether I want to or not. And once that happens, there’s no turning back.”
Revol nodded slowly.
“I know. But what’s the alternative? Letting them burn the ship down around us? You’ll need to decide, Judge Heidrick. Because if you wait too long, the choice will be made for you.”
Heidrick turned away and speak without looking at Revol.
“For now, we wait. Gather intelligence. Monitor the factions. If there’s a way to resolve this without bloodshed, we’ll find it.”
Revol’s expression darkened. “And if there isn’t?”
Heidrick’s eyes hardened,
“Then I’ll do what I must to protect this ship—even if it means dirtying my hands.”
Revol nodded, a faint glimmer of respect in his eyes.
“Understood. I’ll start coordinating the guardians. We’ll be ready for whatever comes next.”
As Revol turned to leave, Heidrick called after him.
“And Revol...keep this between us for now. I don’t want panic spreading before we have a plan.”
Revol glanced back, a hint of a smirk on his lips.
“Of course. You know me my Judge and Captain, I don’t talk unless it’s necessary.”
The morning air on Level Four of the Blue Hope was heavy with tension. The eerie silence that marked the early hours was shattered by the crackling of magic and the echo of screams.
Two small magical organizations, Moonborn and Nightshield, had descended into open conflict. Both groups were modest in size—only ten to fifteen members each—but their leaders, level three mages Manil Mevlos and Afrias Negate, wielded power far beyond their numbers.
Moonborn, with their darkened robes and glowing sigils, hurled bolts of shimmering energy at the crimson-cloaked members of Nightshield, whose barriers shimmered with a deep red hue.
“Push them back!” shouted Manil Mevlos, his voice cutting through the chaos.
His hands glowed as he conjured a spiraling sphere of silver energy, launching it into a cluster of Nightshield mages.
Afrias Negate sneered as the spell exploded against his barrier.
“Is that all you’ve got, Mevlos? Pathetic.”
He turned to his own men.
“Cut through them! Show no mercy!”
Spells collided midair, creating bursts of light that scorched the surroundings.
Civilians screamed, ducking for cover as stray blasts tore through walls and shattered windows.
Guards arrived moments later, their armor gleaming in the dim light.
One of the officers raised a hand.
“By order of the Blue Hope Guardians and Judge Heidrick, cease this madness immediately!”
But Moonborn was beyond listening.
One of their members, a young mage with a crazed grin, turned and flung a bolt of energy directly at the guards.
The spell struck with a deafening crash, and two guards were flung backward, their armor scorched.
“Damn it!” the officer growled, drawing his blade.
“They’re attacking us now! Defend yourselves!”
The guards fought back, but they were outmatched.
Moonborn’s members attacked with reckless abandon, while Nightshield took advantage of the chaos to slip away, disappearing into the alleys and leaving Moonborn to take the brunt of the confrontation.
Amidst the carnage, Revol and a team of elite guardians burst onto the scene.
Revol’s eyes swept over the devastation—the fallen guards, the injured civilians, the still-raging battle between Moonborn and the remaining defenders. His expression darkened.
“Form up!” Revol barked, his voice cutting through the noise.
“Contain the area and protect the civilians. I’ll deal with the leaders.”
“Yes, sir!” the guardians replied in unison,
Revol stepped forward,
He raised a hand, and a shimmering golden barrier erupted around him as a barrage of spells from Moonborn members streaked toward him. The attacks fizzled harmlessly against the shield.
“Enough!”
Revol roared. His voice carried a magical weight, shaking the ground and freezing the combatants in place for a brief moment.
Manil Mevlos, who had been retreating toward the residential district, snarled.
“Who are you to interfere? This isn’t your fight!”
Revol’s eyes narrowed. “It became my fight the moment civilians and guards were caught in your crossfire.”
He strode forward, his aura radiating power.
“Stand down, Mevlos, or I’ll make you regret it.”
Mevlos responded with a sneer, raising his hands. A massive orb of silver light began to form above him.
“Let’s see if you can back up that arrogance, guardian!”
Revol sighed. “So be it.”