"It's finally happening! It's finally happening! They have ordered them to attend Teras. We are going to be stuck with the bloodthirsty monsters for a whole year." Thomas one of the many students studying in Tesar whisper shouted running to the group of his friends.
But obviously, the news reached everyone's ears within the room, earning gasps and shudders of fear and awe.
"Oh my god! They are going to kill us!" One of the girls shrieked while some nodded, others rolled their eyes at the dramatic behavior. Yet their hearts did start beating faster repressing the feelings of terror that rose upon the mention of them.
The Seven Virtues watched the spectacle from above, the seven of them leaning against the balcony railings looking down at the common room happenings.
"They must've really maddened the gods this time," Kieren murmured observing the students' behavior.
The others nodded agreeing with him.
Liberality straightened from her post before looking at them determined.
"We have to make sure they feel welcome, you all don't make it as unbearable as the last time." She admonished her finger pointing at each of them.
"Careful Celene, your true thoughts are showing. You are just eager to meet that greedy bastard." Diligence teased a smile working its way to his face.
Celene just huffed in return refusing to grace him with an answer, but the blush staining her cheeks gave her away, but the others cleverly kept quiet not further poking the bear knowing it was a dangerous zone to step into.
"Let's admit it, we all just love to annoy the seven idiots. You know how they get when we ruin their fun." Humility spoke cocking his head to the side an eyebrow raised urging them to admit the truth.
"And you also know how they get with their revenge." Abstinence muttered, her tall frame shuddering in revulsion as she remembered what happened the last time. The others agreed, it had been a nasty affair.
Four centuries ago, due to an important council, the Sins have been invited to take an audience so they would be included in the decision making, along with them. But as always both groups did not look eye to eye, prolonging the meeting to an entire week.
The Virtues were unable to help themselves had kept an eye on the Sins throughout the time, especially when they started affecting others with their powers.
While they gathered power discreetly, the Sins did not care for such measures, they would influence, manipulate, and corrupt as such their powers far greater than anyone could believe. Displeased with their behavior Lukas had proposed that they stop them from harming taking advantage of the students at least.
And hence following and agreeing with him they had interrupted the since, proving them to be a hindrance at every point. At first, the seven had ignored them, either huffing or pouting, but had complied with their wishes.
But it was the last day of their stay they've found the real nightmare.
Lilith, Aaro, and Amara going on a rampage of infecting everyone with sloth and lust disturbing the whole academic process and creating disturbing situations between even teacher and students, Nicholos extracting every sense of pride within the top students and their best teachers reducing them into quivering messes, Lucien and Damien turning everyone against each other making them give in to their greed, as they stole and fought and girls and boys almost killing each other due to Envy's haze of jealousy.
Gluttony had raided their warehouses, and kitchens emptying any eatable resource from there, his indulgence in gluttony far worse than they've ever seen as he compelled the students to finish everything within a day.
Then at the end of the day when they finally returned to the academy, the Virtues had gone dizzy with rage something so unusual for them, it had taken all them all their powers to calm everyone down.
But the damage had been done, Teras was closed for almost five years, nobody willing to come back, the higher-ups having to replace every resource that has been destroyed.
It had been a nightmare. And it had not even been worth mentioning for the culprits. They've just shrugged their shoulders when questioned, 'Just a little prank,' they had said.
"Yeah, we can't let something like that happen again. The dean had given explicit orders. We are not to provoke them in any case." Kindness warned looking at his family seriously.
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"Understood." They all nodded.
While the Seven Heavenly Virtues looked forward to their nemesis's arrival the higher-ups in the school were worked into a frenzy.
"Those beasts cannot be allowed in here!" A white-haired old man raised his voice banging hard on the table to prove how against he was of the newest situation.
"Master Linkon, you are in no position to banish them from the premises. They are one of the most powerful creatures in the world, they have the most qualifications to be here." Another scolded, not giving any face to the elderly professor, and as expected his face turned a deep red at the humiliation.
"Are you suggesting you can control them, Master Malcolm?" Master Linkon sneered back eyeing the other viciously.
"Anyone who has intended to control had never fared well. I would not casually blurt such words out Master Linkon, I fear for your life." Malcolm calmly spat back taking pleasure in riling up the old man, having never liked his ideals.
While the two argued the other professors were torn between the two, some wanting to side with the old man the others on the young professor but as Master Malcolm spoke, it is not wise to stand opposite to the sins.
"Enough!" Then a deep voice commanded effectively silencing everyone.
"They will arrive here early next week. This is a direct order from the Celestial Heavens. Abide by the rules, do not cause unnecessary chaos." With that, they were all dismissed and Master Linkon was the first to storm off having no face to remain seated.
Now sitting alone the Dean sat in silence and inexplainable excitement dancing in his eyes.
"They are finally about to come. Now my establishment has every powerful creature on earth." The whisper left his chapped lips in a deranged tone an almost manic look flashing behind his eyes.
"It is finally my chance."
It was unknown what the headmaster muttered about.
~~<<>>~~<<>>~~<<>>~~
Deep within the ground under the Academy of the gifted were spelled caves, the stone walls adorning seals of protection, the white chalk contrasting against the dark walls.
Inside stood five figures covered in entirely black-robed, even their faces covered revealing only pairs of same black-colored orbs.
They were standing around a round stone table, ancient parchments staring back at them.
The pictures represented fourteen figures, the five's eyes looking over them greedily shining with hunger as they absorbed all the knowledge within them.
But one of theirs still held slight hesitation, unsure whether they were doing the right thing.
"Are you absolutely sure about this?" He asked his voice scratchy as if he's not tasted water in centuries.
"Absolutely. He always upholds his deals. We will not be deceived." The one in the middle murmured never taking his eyes off the parchment, trembling wrinkly hands with rotten nails lovingly caressed the old paper excitement flushing through his being as he envisioned the future he would have.
"We just need to wait now. Their arrival is destined and it will be our salvation."
The others nodded believing their leader, desire for power sparking to life within them.
It was time the cycle changed, they would make sure of it.
'Chaos about to erupt would haunt the centuries about to come.'
~~<<>>~~<<>>~~<<>>~~
Celene the virtue of Liberarity walked through the special dorms making the final preparations for the new arrivals. They only have one week to make the empty rooms more presentable, hence the workers assigned rushing back and forth trying to make each second useful.
Nodding in approval Celene ticked off the last on her list closing the file, satisfied with her work. Now all she had to do was wait till the rooms are ready before checking on them one final time.
As the vice-President of the student council, it was her duty to look upon every student's comfort, making the President's work much easier. Every virtue was a member of the student council their privileges much higher than the others, making them responsible for the rest of the student body. That is of course except for the new addition to their school.
Celene was sure they would form their own rules as soon as they step in but since the virtues were there she was sure the sins would be barely controlled. Which was all they needed.
Stepping out of the building walls into the lush gardens of the academy she took in a breathe enjoying the fresh air.
Their school was magnificent, tall ivory buildings structured like castle towers, greeny gardens filled with life and flowers, this was her favorite place in the world. And having been in here for centuries, she took pride in its renovations and improvements.
But remembering the sins dampened her mood. The lot entirely loathed her home, having no patience or the desire to enjoy the beauty of it. Celene feared for the chaos they would bring along them but at the same time, she looked forward to their arrival.
Like their own, the sins were the only bunch who knew what it is like to spent eternity on earth. Other creatures such as witches, warlocks, shifters all lived long but there would always be a day when they would perish.
The virtues and the sins had different views of the world but yet they were kindred beings.
Her nemesis, Lucien the sin of Greed was the one she missed the most. His handsome features, solemn and sometimes sad countenance made her want to get close to him yet she knew it was all wishful thinking. The man loathed her presence.
Unlike her family who looked forward to their arrival the sins entirely rejected their presence, hence the cold and fiery war between us, wanting them close yet so far.
But entertaining all the same.
"Celene!" The yell gained her attention making her look to the side seeing both Lukas and Nero making their way towards her.
"Daydreaming again?" Diligence asked making her want to punch him in annoyance, the man always made fun of her.
"Shut up Lukas, do not speak as if you have been not anticipating Lilith's arrival. Both of you love to torment her." She snarked back crossing her arms over her chest looking at them knowingly.
"But what I do not understand is why do you not pester Aaro, he too is Sloth, why only Lilith?" Celene questioned genuinely curious.
"Aaro is such a bore, he prefers to do nothing all day long, we only have to worry about his heavy influence on others, but there is something different about Lilith as if she is not fully her sin," Lukas murmured and Nero silently agreed the feeling much stronger to him.
"Oh don't be silly, she IS sloth, how can anyone be half of what you are?" Celene's brown eyes widened shaking her head, lovely blonde curls flying at the movement as she eyed them in disappointment. She was expecting a much more interesting answer not something so absurd.
"Hey, you are the one who asked." The two protested seeing the judging look on her face.
"Alright, alright, I'm in the wrong. I've got some work to do. I'll be going then." She waved running off making them huff at her fickle ways. Always having little enthusiasm in her interests, easily distracted by the next thing, well except for her weird infatuation with Greed that is.
"Come let's find the others," Nero spoke dragging Lukas along with him.
They too had work to do.
And so the excitement within the school ensued, teachers, preparing for the worst, The Virtues waiting in patience, and finally, the student body bustling in excitement with rumors and stories of the sins macabre ways.
They spoke of their annihilation of the Great Goddess of Wealth's beloved country, they spoke of them abolishing churches and other holy spots, they talked about them corrupting the earth with their powers.
The rumors carried on, some true, some exaggerated yet the numbers increased as the week neared its end, the weekends spent relaxed, yet the air buzzed with nervous energy.
All the student except for the student council has only been within the academy for a few centuries, having not ever laid eyes on The Seven Deadly Sins their excitement was expected.
Yet the undercurrent of plans and bitterness that spread was wholly unwelcome. It was not accurate whether this punishment bestowed upon them would be a chance at a better future or the push to their impending doom.
~~<<>>~~<<>>~~<<>>~~
'The rumors are not always true, but they form out of nothing either...'