Rise Of The Lesser-Blood

Blackspear Academy, Headmaster’s Office

The headmaster’s office was quite huge, with many shelves lining the walls filled to the brim with books and ancient scrolls.

There was a large oak desk that had a smooth, dark surface, but the man sitting behind it did not look like an old scholar. The Headmaster looked to be a young man in his early twenties, with messy dark hair that fell over his eyes. Oddly enough for someone of his status, he was dressed in a simple linen shirt and a pair of dark trousers that were completely worn out.

Standing on the opposite side of the desk were Cecilia and Peter. Both of them were wearing the brand-new dark academy uniform, with the black jacket featuring the official school crest on the breast pocket. Wrapped tightly around their sleeves were the special red armbands embroidered with the crest of a headless horseman, marking their status as members of the Horsemen. Peter stood perfectly still, his face hidden behind his usual devil mask, while Cecilia leaned against a bookshelf, looking a bit anxious.

A small runetech communication device sat on the center of the desk, emitting a faint glow. Instructor Sterling’s voice was coming out of it, carefully describing the situation they had encountered down at the marshlands campsite.

”We need your advice, Headmaster,” Sterling’s voice echoed through the device. ”The situation is highly unstable. One of the divine servants managed to temporarily stall the mana beast so that we could escape back to the dome. However, I must note that the creature’s mana density was incredibly deep. It has probably been alive for hundreds of years, silently overseeing that uncharted land.”

The Headmaster leaned back in his leather chair, tapping his fingers lazily against the oak wood. ”And what did the students say was happening out there?”

”Thomas and the young lord swore the mana beast was fully capable of speech,” Sterling reported immediately. ”They claimed it told them its actual name was Subject 4314. Thomas also noted that the beast was on the verge of evolving, and that is why it was aggressively siphoning off their mana to fuel its evolution.”

The Headmaster’s gaze sharpened slightly, but his voice remained relaxed. ”Sterling, stand by at the camp. Do not let any of the academy students leave the safety of the campsite dome under any circumstance.”

”Understood, Sir,” Sterling replied, and the runetech device snapped shut, the blue light fading completely.

The Headmaster turned his eyes toward the two elite seniors. ”I think the freshman excursion should be cancelled entirely. The risk is becoming too high.”

”I disagree,” Cecilia spoke up immediately, straightening her posture. ”An academy excursion has never been cancelled before in the history of the school. It would show weakness to the Church and the rest of the houses against you.”

From behind his devil mask, Peter offered a quiet nod of approval, agreeing with her statement without saying a word.

The Headmaster sighed heavily, shaking his head at them. ”You don’t seem to care about your bother’s life at all Cecilia.”

”Julian can take care of himself,” Cecilia said confidently, waving her hand dismissively. ”Besides, that kid and I survived the forgotten ruins of Delsadra for a full week when we were still unawakened children. The marshlands are nothing compared to that place. It is the other one I am actually worried about.” She paused, her expression turning serious. ”With the presence of Deacon Eider and Deacon Seth down at the campsite, I am worried Thomas might be in grave danger.”

The Headmaster smiled darkly, a cold confidence settling over his youthful features. ”Even the Holy Church would not want to face the massive war that would begin because of that. No one would ever dare try to kill a student of my academy, especially not the Church.”

His complete disregard for the supreme power of the Church was frightening, but Cecilia simply smiled. She stood up from her chair, smoothing over her dark uniform jacket.

”Tell his majesty that my father wishes to talk to him,” Cecilia said, her tone shifting into a business-like weight. ”There is serious trouble near the border. Our scouts caught spies trying to infiltrate the borders of Samra.”

The Headmaster’s face instantly hardened, the lazy expression vanishing completely. ”Alright. I will notify the King immediately about the border breach.” He then reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a sealed parchment. ”The leader of the horsemen sends his greetings, by the way. His travels outside the kingdom will end soon. He also specifically sent this letter for you, Cecilia.”

Cecilia rolled her ebony eyes in pure annoyance. ”Why would he write to me when I have told him time and time again that I am already betrothed?”

The Headmaster simply smiled at her reaction. ”You are dismissed. I will be disappearing once more after today. Only you and Peter are allowed to contact me directly while I am gone.”

Peter stood up from his bench, and both seniors offered a respectful bow to the young Headmaster before turning on their heels and leaving the massive office, leaving the hidden ruler of the academy alone in the quiet room.

The young Headmaster fiddled with his runetech device.

The black stone rippled, glowing with a soft gold light as the link connected directly to the palace.

”Father,” the Headmaster said, crossing his legs as he leaned back comfortably. ”The marshlands trip just got complicated. An ancient mana beast that calls itself Subject 4314 attacked my freshman group, it was Thomas’s group but they managed to narrowly escape with their leaves.”

The device stayed quiet for a long moment before a deep, heavy voice answered back.

”Interesting.”

”As you know the Church also sent Deacon Eider and Deacon Seth down there to monitor the camp,” the Headmaster continued, picking up an old parchment to fiddle with it. ”They are definitely tracking Thomas. But after the recent incident i told the instructors to lock down the perimeter so nobody leaves the campsite, until further notice.”

”Good.”

”Also, Cecilia’s father wants an immediate meeting with you,” the Headmaster added, his face turning a bit serious. ”Their scouts just caught some foreign spies trying to infiltrate Samra.”

The gold light on the device flickered once before the King gave his final word.

”Noted”

The line snapped shut, leaving the office completely quiet again.