By the school stables, Riddle stands outside. He brushes a horse as it paws at the ground and whinnies.
"What's the matter?" Riddle looks to Silver. "The horses are rather agitated today."
"Maybe a big storm's coming." Silver shrugs. "Animals can sense when something's not right."
A loud bang shakes the earth. The horse rears on its hind legs and kicks at the air, neighing in distress. Riddle grabs the reins and tries to hold the horse steady while Silver calms it down.
"What was that?" Riddle asks.
Silver only stares at Riddle, not knowing what to say. Footsteps come rushing towards them. The two boys see Sebek approaching.
"Silver! Riddle!" Sebek comes to a stop beside them. "Are you hurt?"
"We're fine." Silver answers. "Is everyone else alright?"
"Yes. All club members and horses are safe and accounted for." Sebek runs a hand through his hair. "What was that noise. And those tremors?"
"I don't know." Riddle shakes his head. "My guess is that the school's barrier is under attack-"
Riddle's eyes widen as he sees a group of figures approaching. They cut through the air swiftly on metallic hoverboards and carry spears at their sides. They stop just before they hit the ground and hover above the grass.
"Hexa Team, reporting in. Subject A is in our sights. Moving in for capture."
Sebek marrows his eyes. "Just who are these intruders? I've never seen their armor before!"
"They're not our allies, that's for sure." Silver adds.
Riddle steps forward, staring down the intruders. "I'd like to ask you something. Did you obtain permission from the proper channels when you came onto campus?"
The intruders don't respond, seemingly taken aback by Riddle's question.
"Entering campus without permission is strictly forbidden." Riddle glares. "You are in serious violation of the rules! By my authority as Heartslabyul housewarden, I authorize the use of magic on these intruders! To battle!"
Both Silver and Sebek take out their bright green jeweled pens. "Rodger!"
"Subject A is hostile. Requesting peprmission to engage."
"Permission granted."
Riddle charges at the intruders. "You dare to set foot on our territory without authorization? Now you have nowhere to run!"
Riddle fires the first shot but it does nothing against the metal armor. Silver and Sebek fire powerful blast of magic but they do little to nothing.
Sebek dodged an attack. "I've hit them with loads of spells, but they remain undaunted!"
"Maybe their equipment nullifies magic." Silver suggests, eyes narrowed. "This doesn't mode well for us."
One of the intruders circles around Riddle, aim his spear at him. Electricity sparks as it gathers around the spear. "Technomantic capture beam fully charged. Firing."
A beam of magic fires at Riddle, striking him in the back. Riddle cries out and falls to his knees. The people on the hoverboards circle in close to Riddle.
"Subject A subdued. Securing now."
Riddle clenches his fists and roars at the sky. Fire swirls all around him, making the intruders back away.
"Target has resumed hostile activity. All personnel, fall back."
"You brought me to my knees..." Riddle glares daggers at the intruders. "YOU HAVE SOME NERVE! I'LL HAVE ALL OF YOUR HEADS FOR THIS!"
One of the intruders backs away as he aims his spear at Riddle. "Technomantic capture beam fully recharged. Firing."
The blast of magic hits Riddle in the chest and he falls back unconscious. One of them scoops Riddle over his shoulder.
"Target is subdued. Securing and returning to HQ."
As soon as they came, they leave. Flying towards the other intruders gathered in the sky.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Sebek chases after them. "WHERE ARE YOU TAKING RIDDLE?"
Silver places a hand to the boy's shoulder. "Stop! Sebek, look at the sky. There are more of them flying around the school."
Sebek narrows his eyes as he observes.
"It seems to me they were after Riddle from the start."
Sebek nods. "I concur. They referred to him as the 'subject' from the moment they landed, and barely gave us a second glance."
Their eyes widen in panic. Sebek turns to Silver with worry in his eyes. "Are they targeting all the housewardens?"
Silver runs a hand through his hair. "Hard to say, but we'd better get back to Diasomnia right away."
"Leonaaa." Ruggie calls out as he walks through the botanical garden. "I know you're in here. Your History of Magic report was due today, and ONCE AGAIN you failed to turn it in. Professor Trein almost burst a blood vessel. Now he's on MY case, telling me to bring you in. Think about what you're putting ME through!"
Ruggie stops as he hears a whooshing noise coming closer. His ears twitch.
"Huh?"
A loud crash echoes through the garden. Ruggie crouches and shields his head as glass rains from the ceiling. It clatters all around Ruggie but never actually hitting him. Looking up, Ruggie spots Leona lazily walking towards him.
The lion scoffs. "C'mon Ruggie. You're a sophmore. You should know how to insta-cast a barrier by now."
People on hoverboards fly through the hole in the glass ceiling, coming to a halt in front of the two.
"Penta Team, reporting in. We've got eyes on Subject B. Moving in for capture."
Ruggie growls as he flattens his ears. "What's WITH these guys? I know I've never smelled 'em before. I'd remember a stench that bad."
Leona narrows his eyes, looking at a symbol in their gray scarves. "Wait, that insignia on their suits..."
"I dunno who they are, but they gotta be nuts to take you on." Ruggie grins. "I'll draw their attention. Then you blast 'em and-"
"Nope. I surrender."
Ruggie's eyes widen. "Wait, what?"
One of the intruders lowers to the ground, holding out a hand. "Turn over all magical items in your possession."
Leona takes out his pen and shoves it to them. "Here. That's my magic pen."
Ruggie glances questioningly to the lion. "What are you doing? There's only three of 'em. You could take these guys in your sleep!"
"Shhh. See their vests?" Leona gestures with a thumb. "Those aren't padded with wads of cash, you know. That's anti-magic plate. Don't do anything to get on their bad side."
Ruggie looks to them in shock. "Anti-magic plate? That's what magic marshal uniforms are made of."
"Familiar, are ya?" Leona smirks. "What, did you have a run-in with the law back home after pullin' some magical stunt?"
Ruggie scratches his neck. "Maybe. Waaay long ago. But this ain't the time for a trip down memory lane. We're in serious trouble!"
Leona narrows his eyes at the intruders. "I've seen that insignia on their suits a few times before, when I was at the palace. I think these guys are Ferrymen."
"Ferryman?"
"Look." Leona sighs. "Just keep your tail between your legs and don't do anything funny."
The intruders hover closer to the lion. "Object confirmed to be official Night Raven magical equipment. Subject B shows no signs of hostility. We request you come with us."
Leona rolls his eyes. "Yeah, sure. But you better ferry me in style. I'm a delicate prince, you know. I get motion sick real easy."
Leona steps closer to the them but Ruggie grabs his arm. "Wait, Leona!"
Leona glances at him through the corner of his eye. "Ruggie, you're in charge of Savanaclaw 'til I get back. Keep things runnin'. Then again, I can't be sure I'll come back at all."
Ruggie's eyes grow large. "What-"
Leona hops onto one of the hoverboards and they take off, leaving a bewildered Ruggie behind.
"Just hold on a sec'! Leona!"
The board game club members meet in one of the classrooms. Idia and Azul play a game of chess.
Azul smirks as he looks to the flamed haired boy. "Your move."
Idia looks to the board. He moves one of his pieces and grins. Azul clears his throat. "That was a good move."
The whole room shakes as a loud bang echoes through the sky. The chess board rattles and falls off the table.
Idia throws his hands in the air. "I was totally winning that match. Now the chessboard's all messed up!"
"That hardly seems relevant right now!" Azul shouts. "This is clearly an emergency!"
Idia looks to his brother. "Ortho, give me a sitrep."
Ortho nods. "Rodger."
Ortho's eyes glow as he scans the school grounds. "The school's barrier is under heavy fire from technomantic beams. it is already breached in several places. Multiple non-campus bio-readings detected within school grounds."
"Intruders?" Azul asks with wide eyes.
Idia frowns. "How many?"
"Presently detecting fifteen life signs, plus additional heat signatures in the air. Intruders may increase in number."
Idia hums to himself. "So they got beams that can breach the school's barrier. What about their gear?"
"Gauging from height and movement speed, they are either on brooms or technomantic flying machines." Ortho summarizes. "They are also firing magic projectiles and electric technomantic beams. Based on the performance of their mobile apparatuses, and their technomantic energy circuits, this is Styx made gear."
Idia groans. "This sucks. Guess that means they're Ferrymen."
"How are you two so calm?" Azul exclaims. "Our school is under attack! We need to contact the other housewardens and-"
"Three flying objects approaching rapidly." Ortho's eyes flicker to the wall.
Azul backs up and looks to the wall Ortho stares at. Idia only puts his hands in his pockets and sighs.
"Landing in three, two, one..."
The room shakes with a bang as almost the entire wall is blasted off. The people on hoverboards float in and scan the room.
"Nona Team, reporting in. We have visual on Subject C. Idia Shroud and the technomantic humanoid Ortho also sighted."
Azul narrows his eyes. "It appears we're out of time. All freshmen, evacuate!"
All the students rush out the door. Azul takes out his magic pen. "By my authority as Octavinelle housewarden, I authorize-"
"Chill, Azul."
Azul whips his head to Idia. "What?"
Idia takes a step forward, nodding to the intruders. "Don't try and put up a fight. Just stay cool. That's the Charon spec-tech unit."
"What now?"
"Specifically, they're members of Charon, a special technomantic security force with Styx." Idia glances at Azul through the corner of his eyes. "Just take your hands off your magical pen and put your hands behind your head."
Ortho hovers next to Idia. "As long as you follow my brother's recommendations, your chance of sustaining an injury drops by eighty seven percent, Azul Ashengrotto."
Azul looks from the two brothers to the intruders. "Alright."
The Charon lower their spears. "Target has surrendered. We request you come with us."
Idia lets out a dramatic sigh. "Dude, you guys are being way too rough. You're gonna get sued one of these days. You're not even going after a Phantom here. This guy's a generally reasonable person. Couldn't you at least talk with him first?"
"We are prohibited from disclosing mission details."
Idia groans at this. "Here we go with the 'prohibited' stuff."
One of the Charon hovers closer. "Your presence has been requested at Styx HQ, Mr. Shroud."
"Huh? They want me?" Idia tilts his head. "Are Mom and Dad out of town or something?"
"We are prohibited from disclosing the location of personnel."
Idia sighs again. "K. Uh, I mean, roger." Idia waves a hand as he walks to the Charon troopers. "Let's go, Ortho."
Ortho cheerfully follows. "Coming, Idia!"
"Idia, what is going on?" Azul stares wide eyed. "Why would they want YOU?"
"I'll tell you later. Basically, 'do nothing' is the optimal strat for this random event." Idia hops onto one of the hoverboards. "Geez. There's a ranking-based event for my fav character today. I was gonna push it hard."
Idia sighs as the Charon troopers take off through the busted wall.
"This sucks."