Inside the Grant Academy, or what was left of it.

It took more than one and a half months for all the staff and cleaner crews hired by the school administration to remove all of the corruptive and corrosive liquid left by the shapeshifting and almost unkillable monster released from some secret underground passage. But even so, there were still many areas where they had to shut off using expensive sealing arrays to keep the extremely toxic gas and smog released by the flesh of the monster from leaking out and damaging the school buildings and infrastructure some more.

Almost no students still remained in the school, almost. All the students that came from rich and privileged families went back to their families, and most of the students that came from normal families went back as well - all those remained were students who came from normal and even civilian backgrounds that were hardworking and willing to take some risk to work for the academy during this time to earn some stipends and lessen the load of tuition - since this was a special opportunity during a dire time, the monetary values of the stipends were quite generous.

Under the crimson rock castle of the Hellbruck House, there was a huge spacious dungeon with very limited lighting but an abundance of chains, locks and even instruments of imprisonment, interrogation and even torture. This place was usually locked up behind several doors, not accessible for any students and was restricted for the absolute majority of the staffers of the academy and even those that work for the Hellbruck House. And right now, one man was locked inside of a metal cage with all of his limbs chained up, and a metal medallion with a restraining array engraved on it placed around his neck. On the bars of the metal cage, there were also symbols engraved. Right now, the symbols were giving off a strange purple glow, which was partially fueled by the energy stones buried in the floors and walls, and partially fueled by the energy sucked out from the chained up man.

“Agent Bozeman. It’s been a while.” a female voice resounded inside the dungeon.

“Professor Clarkson.” the man answered in a weak and wheezing voice: “I thought this place was restricted for Hellbruck House staffers only.”

“Well, as a headmistress of the academy, I am able to get around a few rules.” the figure of Professor Dorothea Clarkson was soon revealed under the dim torchlights around the metal cage: “Have you thought about our offer yet?”

“I am going to tell you what I’ve told you and your colleagues a thousand times.” Agent Bozeman scoffed and shook his head: “I don’t know anything. Even if I know the answer I can’t tell you. Ask me something else.”

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“Oh, that’s too bad. But we’re most interested in the answer to THAT simple question. You don’t have to give us the full details on what their names are, what they do and where they live - you can just give us some details that could help us find it out.” Professor Dorothea Clarkson pulled a chair from the side and sat down in front of the metal cage: “We already know about this so-called ‘codex’ you were looking for, turns out some other groups are also looking for it, surprise, huh?”

“Not really.” Agent Bozeman coughed like he was about to break his lungs, then tried to jiggle the chains to make himself slightly more comfortable: “It’s a highly sought after item, one that the Grant Academy had in its possession for this long and yet known nothing about. Guess the ivory tower does dull the senses of appreciation.”

“Well, what do you expect me to say to that, sorry for being among the ones with formal training and best equipped to decipher the secrets of the world?” Professor Dorothea Clarkson smiled and shook her head: “But, do entertain me, what is this ‘codex’ to you? And be careful with your answer, because we have the answers from other surfaced agents from other groups in our custody as well, and we will be very happy to hold it against you.”

“Pfft, what do they even know? ” Agent Bozeman answered with visible contempt: “Did they say that the ‘codex’ is a strong spell book? Or did they think it’s some magical sword from some random ancient magical civilization that could rule the world?”

“Maybe, they gave us some really vivid descriptions on how magical and powerful it is, and how their coven or organization is going to use it to reshape the world in a much better image.” Professor Dorothea Clarkson scoffed: “And what’s your version, I wonder?”

“Well, sometimes things are not about that big a picture, you know?” Agent Bozeman coughed again: “Sometimes it’s just about personal vendetta.”

“Personal vendetta? Such as?”

“Such as - being a bunch of privileged dicks and presuming that the pain and suffering you inflict on others is just what your victims deserve.”

“Oh, and is this about revenge then? How could this ‘codex’, one that I heard is nothing but a simple silver box, help with such a noble and generous goal?”

“Too bad, but I’m going to keep you hanging there.” Agent Bozeman looked up at Professor Clarkson and said with a smile: “You may have to keep guessing, because this is all I’m going to tell you today.”

“Well them. I think I’ve got enough already. Thank you for your cooperation.” Professor Dorothea Clarkson did not flinch at Agent Bozeman’s attempt to agitate her, and walked out of the dungeon with a smile on her face as well.

“Remind me again why we can’t just use the tools in there?” Professor Barnes was waiting outside the dungeon with Glenda Grimes.

“Because we still need to hand him to the law enforcement in one piece, mostly.” Glenda Grimes sighed and rolled her eyes.

“I think he’s telling the truth.” Professor Dorothea Clarkson sighed and said: “The mental block magic is still strong, but we’re slowly getting through - he definitely couldn’t tell us about the personal vendetta thing a few days before...”

Just this moment, a beam of light descended from the sky and landed somewhere within the main building of the Academy.

“What the - who’s using the personnel teleportation portal now?!”