The Grand Melee had reached its peak, the arena alive with cheers and shouts as the best combatants clashed in a dazzling display of skill and bravery. King Alduin and Queen Eveline watched with pride from their high balcony, their eyes scanning the crowd and arena, basking in the unity of their people. Prince Malcom stood beside them, his posture regal, his expression carefully composed as he observed the events below. Yet beneath the princely facade, a glimmer of dark intent simmered in his gaze, his mind elsewhere.

Just as a triumphant cheer rose from the crowd, the sky above the arena darkened, and a twisted symbol—a jagged, dark crescent woven with ancient demonic runes—appeared, blotting out the light. It loomed ominously over the stadium, casting an eerie shadow that silenced the crowd as they looked up, horrified. The murmurs of excitement turned to gasps of terror as black-robed figures began emerging throughout the stands, moving with a deadly, calculated precision. The intruders unleashed torrents of dark magic on the defenseless crowd, their shadowy cloaks flaring out as they summoned twisted, demonic energy.

King Alduin's gaze immediately found Thaddeus, his trusted advisor and closest friend, who stood with Lady Sera nearby. Their expressions mirrored his own, tense and ready. In that brief exchange, a silent understanding passed between them. Thaddeus gave the king a resolute nod, his own stance braced and ready for action.

But before any of them could react, Prince Malcom struck with ruthless precision.

In a single, fluid motion, he drew two small, sinister daggers from beneath his cloak. Each dagger gleamed with a dark, obsidian blade, clearly enchanted with Aldric's forbidden magic. They were crafted specifically to bypass even the most powerful defenses, their aura twisted with intent. Malcom stepped forward, quick as a shadow, and plunged one dagger deep into his mother's side. Queen Eveline gasped, her eyes wide as the blade pierced her, the force of the blow staggering her backward. The dark magic embedded in the dagger took root, leeching her strength almost instantly, weakening her until her legs trembled and she collapsed to one knee, a look of agony and betrayal etched across her face.

"Malcom… why?" she whispered, clutching her side as blood soaked through her gown, her once-vibrant powers fading as the cursed magic spread.

Malcom said nothing, his face blank as he turned to his father. King Alduin's expression twisted with horror as he registered the gravity of the scene unfolding before him. But before he could react, Malcom drove the second dagger straight into his chest, the blow landing with deadly accuracy. King Alduin staggered, his hand rising to the dagger protruding from his chest as dark energy crackled around the wound. His eyes, wide with disbelief, searched his son's face, a blend of anguish and fury filling his gaze.

As both his parents crumpled, Malcom took a step back, his expression cold and impassive, as though they were strangers. Without a flicker of remorse, he turned from their prone forms and strode toward the chaos below, where the robed figures were now converging near a portal at the far end of the arena. The portal churned, its dark magic rippling outward as demons began pouring through, each one more grotesque than the last, their twisted forms a nightmarish assault on the senses.

Moments later, Thaddeus and Lady Sera burst onto the balcony, their breaths hitching as they took in the horrifying scene. Queen Eveline lay gasping, blood seeping through her robes, while King Alduin was motionless, his hand slack beside him, his eyes dimming. Thaddeus's gaze darted frantically to Malcom as he joined the gathering robed figures, just before he turned to the portal and disappeared into the flood of demons.

"No..." Lady Sera whispered, her voice breaking with horror as she took in the blood-soaked forms of the monarchs.

Wasting no time, Thaddeus dropped to his knees beside the king. His hands trembled as he placed them over the wound in Alduin's chest, light magic flaring around his palms. He poured his energy into healing, his magic sparking and shimmering, but the dark enchantment embedded in the dagger twisted his efforts, devouring his magic like an unquenchable void. He gritted his teeth, frustration and desperation mingling as he fought against the corrosive energy eating away at his power.

King Alduin's eyes fluttered open, the light in them barely a flicker. With immense effort, he managed to look up at Thaddeus, his voice weak and hoarse. "Thaddeus... my friend... listen..."

"Hold on," Thaddeus whispered, a fierce determination in his voice as he struggled to reverse the damage. "Please, just hold on. I can still save you."

The king shook his head slightly, a sorrowful acceptance in his eyes as he gripped Thaddeus's hand weakly. "Don't... waste your strength... on me. Save it... for her." His gaze flickered toward the arena, his voice almost inaudible. "Protect Selene... she's all that's left."

A pained look crossed Thaddeus's face, but he nodded, clutching the king's hand as he fought back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. "I swear it. I will protect her."

Lady Sera knelt beside Queen Eveline, her expression filled with anguish as she watched Thaddeus's struggle. She looked up at him, urgency in her voice as her own fear flared. "We have to find Elara and Lorian, too. Whatever's happening… it's bigger than we thought."

Thaddeus nodded, his gaze hardening with resolve as he rose to his feet, casting one last look at the fallen king and queen. "We'll go for Elara first, then find Selene," he replied, his tone resolute.

Lady Sera's eyes met his, concern flickering in her gaze. "And Lorian?"

A glint of confidence crossed Thaddeus's face as he answered, "Aric will get Lorian. We can trust him."

With a final, mournful glance at the fallen monarchs, Thaddeus turned, his heart heavy with the weight of the king's final plea. He would honor Alduin's last wish, even if it meant facing the full force of the darkness descending upon them.

***

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Magistar Orion's eyes widened as the twisted symbol of the demons appeared in the sky above the arena, a jagged crescent surrounded by ancient, haunting runes. The air grew heavy, thick with dark energy that seeped into the hearts of everyone watching. Orion's face hardened with grim realization; he had read of this symbol in ancient texts, but to see it now—to see it in his own lifetime—filled him with a foreboding dread. Moving immediately, his long robes flowed behind him as he strode toward the edge of the professor's box, his hand already alight with defensive magic.

Just as he raised his hand to signal the faculty, a translucent barrier shot up around the professor's box, shimmering with dark, shifting hues. The shield locked into place, cutting him off from the arena below. Orion's magic recoiled, sparking against the unfamiliar energy that twisted and crawled across the barrier's surface. He tried to dispel it, chanting a quick incantation, but the magic deflected his attempts, swirling back with a mocking intensity that only dark magic could possess.

"Ah-ah-ah…"

Orion's head snapped to the side, his heart pounding as a holographic image flickered onto the barrier. It was Aldric, or rather, a smug, pre-recorded version of him. The projection smirked, wagging a finger in mocking reproach.

"Ah-ah-ah…" Aldric's voice chimed, distorted slightly as it repeated in a taunting loop, a twisted echo that filled the enclosed space with an air of ridicule.

Orion's jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists. "Aldric, you snake!" he growled, his voice thick with fury as he cast another counterspell against the barrier, its energy swirling and dispersing like water against a rock.

The message flickered, Aldric's recorded face sneering, finger still wagging as his voice continued, preprogrammed and hollow, yet dripping with sinister amusement. "Watch as your precious students die," the recording intoned, "and know you're powerless to stop it. A fitting consequence for your insolence toward me."

Orion gritted his teeth, watching helplessly as the barrier absorbed his spells, each incantation rebounding with little effect. The recorded message looped back once more, Aldric's finger wagging mockingly, the chilling refrain of "Ah-ah-ah…" echoing in the enclosed space.

The Magistar's heart twisted as he looked out across the arena, where dark-robed figures surged into the stands, attacking students and spectators alike. Screams and spells filled the air, while creatures poured through a portal at the far side of the arena, their twisted forms unmistakably demonic.

Orion's fists tightened as he took in the grim reality: Aldric had orchestrated a massacre, and he was trapped, forced to witness the very horror he was meant to prevent.

***

Aric's heart pounded as he stood beside Lady Cerys, taking in the chaos unraveling in the arena. The twisted symbol of the demons hung ominously in the sky, casting a dark pall over the grounds, where students and spectators fought desperately against a horde of pouring demons and dark-robed attackers.

Lady Cerys shot him a look, her face hardened with fierce determination. "We don't have time to hesitate, Aric," she said, her voice cutting through the cacophony of screams and explosions around them. "Get as many students to the safety bunkers as you can. I'll hold the line on the northern side."

Aric nodded, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. A pulse of heat surged through his hand as he channeled his fire magic into the blade, igniting it with a fierce, crackling flame that radiated a fiery glow. "Be careful, Lady Cerys," he replied, his voice steady despite the churn of adrenaline within him.

A rare, reassuring smile flickered on her face. "Stay sharp, Aric. We'll meet again soon."

He gave a swift nod before sprinting toward the south stands, his fiery blade blazing as he slashed through the demons in his path. Flames trailed behind each strike, incinerating the smaller demons on contact, their bodies crumbling into ash before they could even react. As he neared a group of students, his fist ignited, and he threw a punch at an approaching demon, the impact sending it flying back, its charred body disintegrating into smoke mid-air.

"Get to the safety bunkers!" he shouted to the students, his voice cutting through the din of battle. "Stay together, follow me, and don't look back!"

The group, all around sixteen or seventeen years old, nodded with a mix of fear and determination, falling into formation as Aric moved swiftly to clear a path for them. Another demon lunged at him from the side, but Aric was ready; he raised his sword, flames roaring as he brought it down, slicing through the creature in one powerful, sweeping arc. He could feel the rush of his internal magic channeling through his legs, allowing him to move with blinding speed as he stayed ahead of the students, intercepting any threat that dared to approach.

He glanced over his shoulder at them, his voice firm and reassuring. "Stick together! We'll make it out of here!"

As he continued forward, Aric noticed another group of students trapped near a broken section of the stands. They were cornered by a cluster of demons, their twisted forms closing in with malicious intent. Aric didn't hesitate. He vaulted over a fallen pillar, his sword ablaze, and landed amidst the demons with a powerful stomp, a burst of fire radiating from his feet that engulfed the surrounding creatures. They screeched, their bodies consumed by flames, turning to ash within moments.

"Move now!" he commanded the group, motioning toward the exit leading to the bunkers. "Stay close to the others, and keep moving forward!"

As they joined the growing line of students, Aric spotted another demon charging at him, a hulking beast twice his height with razor-sharp claws. Aric braced himself, his fiery sword at the ready, but instead of striking, he allowed the fire to flow through his fists, channeling all of his magic internally. The creature lunged, and Aric met it head-on, driving his fist into its chest with a fiery impact that sent a shockwave through the air. The demon's chest exploded in a burst of flames, its smoldering body collapsing as Aric spun to face the next threat.

He fought with a fierce, unrelenting efficiency, every move precise, every blow powerful. Flames trailed his every motion, blazing with the intensity of his Lord-ranked power. With each step, he rallied more students, directing them toward the bunkers as he moved through the arena, his fire magic blazing a clear path in the chaos.

"Keep moving!" he shouted, slicing through another demon, his voice carrying authority and reassurance. "We're almost there!"

In the distance, he saw a hulking demon bearing down on a group of students struggling to escape. Without a second thought, he sprinted forward, flames roaring up his legs as he launched himself into the air, his sword blazing as he swung down with the full force of his fire magic. The demon let out a guttural scream, its body engulfed in flames as Aric's blade sliced cleanly through it, leaving nothing but ash in its wake.

Aric turned back to the students, his expression fierce yet calm. "Stay close. We're heading to the bunkers. Keep each other safe."

They nodded, rallying behind him as he led them toward the exit. He could feel the heat of his magic coursing through him, his fire-fed strength and speed allowing him to carve through the demon hordes with relentless precision. But in the midst of it all, his gaze drifted toward the portal across the arena, where dark-robed figures stood around Prince Malcom, watching the massacre with twisted satisfaction.

The sight of the prince—one of their own—betraying them in league with these creatures filled Aric with a cold fury. But he forced himself to stay focused. He would deal with Malcom soon enough. For now, his duty was to the students, to getting them to safety and keeping them alive.

Once the last of the students was safely in the bunkers, Aric took a steadying breath, his jaw set with renewed resolve. He wasn't done yet. His mission had only just begun.

Now he had to find Lorian and Elara.