Augustine dodged an incoming sword.
The butler wore a cold and unfathomable expression, which had made his opponent feel even more eerie. Gilg sneered, throwing multiple knives at the butler. Meanwhile, Augustine avoided every single attack with precision. Despite the muscles on his body, he was able to move like a phantom scurrying through the shadows.
Gilg gritted his teeth. "Is it so difficult to kill a member of K?"
Augustine flicked his eyes at the member of M. "I am no longer in that organization."
Gilg's brown eyes had widened. He stopped throwing his knives, trying to process the information. Is it possible for him to leave K? I thought that all members of K were loyal as hell?
Taking advantage of his opponent's thought process, Augustine advanced. He took out his hidden sword, ripping it off from his belt. Mercilessly, he sliced at his opponent's vitals. Despite losing to Azalea in the swordsmanship tournament, Gilg was quick on his feet.
"Dammit!" He swore.
Ten minutes ago, he was running around the school, trying to find his old buddy Tetra and meet up. Instead, he ran into Augustine—who was a familiar face.
After all, both of them used to be in the organization "Reincarnator". However, after the organization split into two factions, they parted ways and never saw each other again. It was a shame—and yet, not much of a shame. It wasn't like they ever interacted with one another.
Both had their motives in trying to kill the other.
They wanted to prevent the other faction from completing their goals! Augustine despised members of M, since they not only disrupted his plans, but are also wolves in sheep's clothing. Meanwhile, Gilg needed to prevent K from changing the plot lines. If they kill Lucilline Rubius instead of the main characters, then how would the heroine and male lead get together?
When Azalea and Daphnne married in the original novel, the two went on a conquest to bring light to a new era. Indeed, Lydia Kingdom had turned to the better.
If they don't marry and fall in love, then none of those would happen!
Wouldn't that influence the plot line too much?
"Die!" Gilg gritted his teeth, blocking a blow from the butler.
Augustine remained indifferent and unmoved. His silver eyes seemed to cut through every bone and marrow, even the smallest speck of dust.
The two clashed their swords, and sparks of metal sprang outwards.
*****
Lucilline and his group had rested.
According to the time spent on evacuating all of the noble people, the Royal guards should have been informed, and should be arriving any moment. Royal guards were knights running under the Royalty faction. They mainly fight for any horrible disasters, which includes demon invasions.
"Will we be fine?" Daphnne shivered.
Percival glanced at her. "Didn't you kill a demon? You should be fine." He tried to move, but his broken made him hiss out in pain.
Lucilline worried for the brown-haired nobleman. He sighed, ripping a portion of his own black sweater. He took the black fabric, then hung it around Percival's neck and arm, making it look like a brace. "Don't move right now, you're badly injured."
The brown-haired nobleman did as he was told, nodding diligently.
November saw this, but didn't say anything.
She allowed the silence to pursue a big longer before saying, "I wonder how did the demons even enter the school? It felt like they just appeared out of thin air."
Lucilline pursed his lips.
Only Azalea answered her, "Perhaps, there was some sort of concealing magic...?"
November bowed her head, "But only mages are known for casting magic spells, right?" Her small body began to shake. "Do you think that it was the mages who let the demons invade the school-"
All of a sudden, the small girl felt a strong gaze fall onto her. November shuddered, then looked at where the gaze came from. Lucilline's golden eyes were sharp, and seemed to cut right through her, as if she was merely melted butter. That harsh gaze suddenly softened.
Lucilline smiled, revealing his gentle and beautiful nature, "Let's not assume anything right now," He turned away to the others, "We should focus on evacuating the people first."
Azalea nodded, "I agree! I will help you, Lucilline."
Daphnne nodded alongside him. Percival agreed.
November had to go along with the flow.
They went into the gymnasium, where many weapons were stored in preparation for the swordsmanship tournament. It was a shame that all of these preparations were ruined, due to the demons invading. Each of the teenagers took up a sword.
Lucilline handled a sharp and yet thin sword, with the blade glimmered in the shade of moonlight. The hilt was carved with a beautiful design of roses surrounded by vehement thorns.
"I prefer using spears..." He sighed, "But this will die." He took a closer look at the sword, then held his breath.
"This is such great craftsmanship." Lucilline sighed. His face softened, with his beautiful contours matching his pale peach blossom eyes, and his slender lips. "If I were to know who created this masterpiece, I would have directly given them thousands of golden ingots."
Azalea, "..." Lucilline has so much money, he's practically wasteful with it.
His white hair fluttered along with his emotions. He picked a sword from the pile, "I will take this one." Azalea turned to look at everyone else.
Daphnne discarded her old sword. She picked a brand new one. She also picked a new sword for November, with the latter holding onto it to defend herself.
Percival swung his sword lightly with his non-broken arm.
He hissed when his broken arm was aggravated. Lucilline watched him worriedly. At last, the black-haired nobleman couldn't stand it anymore, and ran over to the only son of Duke Delta.
"Stop moving." Lucilline ordered. His beautiful face was clouded with concern.
He grabbed the sword out from Percival's hands, throwing it to the side. "You don't need this. Just rely on me to protect you." Lucilline's eyebrows were scrunched, and his lips were bitten into a deep colour of cherry red. His golden eyes were hazed over with a gloss of grievances. With all these characteristics added together, he resembled a flower showered in the crying rain.
Percival: !!!
His cheeks burned, and he jumped on the spot. Percival felt his heart resounding palpitating beats throughout his chest. He felt like his heart might just jump out at any moment!
Feeling flustered, Percival nodded. "I-I will do as you say, Lucilline."
In the background, Azalea watched their little scenario play out. The white-haired teenage boy bit his lips, with his amethyst purple eyes glistening in envy. I also want Lucilline to pay attention to me. He suddenly recoiled. Why in the world do I have such thoughts? Azalea shook his head, wanting to disperse these horrible thoughts.
He is not jealous of Percival at all! He is not envious!
"Az?" Daphnne saw her childhood friend shaking his head, as if a bug was clinging onto his hair. She shut herself up. It looks like Az is contemplating something important.
Meanwhile, November just kept silent.
After getting their weapons, the group of students ran down the school's corridors. Every step they took, they could feel the resounding tension of demons trampling the building. The building of which they'd known for so long was being destroyed.
Walls collapsed, and ceilings were cracked.
Lucilline ran past a classroom. It was his homeroom, where Miss A. used to teach the students, and then shiver whenever she failed to wake him up from his slumber.
Now, it was in absolute shambles.
The desks had been crushed into obliteration. The podium where Miss A. taught the lessons was cracked into halves, practically becoming unrecognizable. The chalkboard was snapped into smithereens, and a giant hole was crashed through the wall, with winds scurrying inside the unidentifiable classroom, from the outside.
Lucilline held his breath. He could barely hide the gloom visible on his face.
Azalea saw this, and comforted him. He held Lucilline's spare hand, trying to reassure the latter. Lucilline was surprised at the contact, but didn't say a thing.
The white-haired teenage boy seemed to gain more courage.
He held his breath, and tightened his hold onto Lucilline's gloved hands. "Don't worry, Lucilline. We can get through this together."
Lucilline looked at him with his golden eyes. Slowly, he nodded, "Mn."
A part of his heart seemed to become warm, and slowly strengthen.
"Let's get moving. There are still people who need rescuing." The group of teenagers ran past several corridors. They encountered many noblemen, who were fleeing from the scene. Lucilline and Percival had directed them to the safest route to the exit.
Many of the noblemen managed to flee to safety.
"Is that all?" November was timid. She had no idea how she managed to survive for so long.
"I think that that's all of the noble people." Azalea nodded.
"Then let's escape as well." Daphnne stated the obvious.
The group of teenagers walked down the hallway. All of a sudden, a clamour of metal came from outside the broken school.
"Is that-" Azalea's eyes widened in shock.
From looking out the window, he saw an army of knights. They were all dressed in fancy white armour, with the chunks of metal plated to protect their vitals. The knights walked in unison, standing straight with a handsome posture. They saluted in front of the academy.
"Attention! The Royal Knights are here to tend to the demons!" The army of knights roared.
An applaud of the noblemen had cheered for them.
Azalea's eyes shone when watching the knights. This is what I would like to be when I grow up. The knights which he'd admired so much is here to save them!
"We can leave the demons to the Royal Knights." Lucilline stated. "Let's get going-"
All of a sudden, a loud crash interrupted him. A demon raced past the corridor, with its pools of void-like eyes falling onto their figures... It was the same demon who ran away from Lucilline, Daphnne, and Percival earlier...!
Lucilline remembered the horror that that demon had showcased; its unrivalled power, speed, and agility. It was able to strike fear into any normal person's heart.
Its shadow-like limbs danced wildly on the walls.
The demon climbed onto the walls, running past many paintings and portraits. Its lips were sealed shut from the thread, but it rose with a ridiculous arc. In a flash, its body spun on the spot. The demon landed behind November. It slowly raised its head, with dark puddles of ink spilling down its void-like eyes.
November couldn't even react—
A loud rip torn through the school!
The demon smiled, as a fountain of metallic blood sprayed everywhere! November's purple hair had flown everywhere, as her scream rung loudly across the hallway. Her left leg was torn off of her thigh, with crimson blood staining her dress in its violent colour.
"M-My leg..." November could hardly breathe. She clung onto her chest, as if something was suffocating her by the throat.
She used to be able to move her left leg... but now it's gone...
The sword that she carried for self-defence was dropped onto the ground with a soft clink.
"Azalea!" Lucilline's brain moved very quickly. "Go get November to safety right now!" Azalea—the white-haired teenage boy was the only one who could freely move. Daphnne was a girl and wouldn't be able to lift November quickly enough. Percival's arm was broken. It could hardly move, much less than to carry a girl.
Therefore, Azalea was the only answer.
Azalea understood. He quickly picked up November from the ground, placing her arm over his shoulder. He could only hope that the girl wouldn't lose enough blood to die. He has to get her to the Royal Knights before she loses too much blood...!
The demon's eyes thinned, as it allowed Azalea and November escape.
It seemed to have lost its interest in its earlier prey. It turned out to look at Lucilline, Daphnne, and Percival; the three students.
"We meet again." Lucilline pursed his lips.
His liquid gold eyes seemed to harden into solid, and he pointed his sword at the demon. "Last time, I couldn't finish you off." This time, I will for sure.
The demon seemed to want a rematch as well.
It took a step forward, then—
All of a sudden, its shadow arm exploded into smithereens.
Everyone at the scene were shocked. This included the demon. It was stunned, and could barely understand what was going on. All of a sudden, its remaining arm had exploded into a pool of blood as well.
Suddenly, the demon understood.
It was going to die from this unknown source.
"What is happening?" Daphnne was shocked. The demon lost both of its arms, and let out a muffled scream. It fell onto the ground. Slowly, its body began to corrode into ashes. The demon was aware of something, and its puddle of void-like eyes diluted.
The demon panicked.
Its mouth stretched through the binds, struggling to break free. The stitches were stretched, and were on the verge of snapping...
All of a sudden, the stitches broke free!
The demon spat out blood, with an ugly metallic scent permeating in the corridor. It finally broke free from the stitches...!
At this point, its body had burned into ashes... all the way up to its torso!
It only had a few more seconds for talking.
"I was betrayed!" The demon crawled. "This wasn't supposed to happen... Why did she trick me? I'm not supposed to die like this...!"
Lucilline saw his chance upon seeing the demon's despair.
He quickly asked, "Who is she? Who ordered you and the other demons to invade my school?"
The demon's legs had long since disintegrated. Its abdomen vanished, with only his neck and head above remaining. "That's right... who did set me up?" It laughed out blood. "We're both demons, but I'm far more inferior than her."
"Name!" Percival demanded. He was sweating from the tension.
The demon's neck disappeared. Only it's head remained...
"Her name...?" It laughed. Its chin vanished. "I cannot say. But... if you were to guess... remember the word remembrance." It's eyes were bloodshot, and seemed to vanquish every single speck of happiness on the spot. Chills were set into the teenagers.
The demon's forehead dissipated into ashes. "Remember that word! Remembrance!"
Finally, the demon vanished.
Lucilline bowed his head. Even though the demon died, he didn't feel a single spark of victory. Instead, he felt a strong heavy sense of defeat.
"...remembrance?" Percival was confused. "Whose name has something to do with remembrance?"
"Do you think that we know the person who let the demons invade?" Daphnne asked. "Otherwise how else were they able to sneak inside the school?"
Meanwhile, Lucilline was focusing heavily on the possible names.
Remember... remembrance...
Remembrance... month of remembrance...
The month of remembrance..?
"November!" He turned around, and called. "The month of remembrance is November—" Lucilline's golden eyes dilated, as he remembered that the purple-haired girl was alone with Azalea; the male lead.