The container trapping the boys in shakes and jolts as it's set down somewhere, rattling the boys in the process. Voices can be heard from the other side.
"I'd say this means we've landed." Vil says.
Whirring and the sound of air being released fills the container. The door opens and the boys have to shield their eyes from the bright light outside.
"Uhh, hey, everyone. Welcome to the dark and gloomy Island of Woe and Styx headquarters."
The boy's eyes widen when they recognize the person standing outside the container. Charon troopers stand on either side of him. Though he wears a dark gray lab suit instead of his usual oversized hoodie, his flaming blue hair makes him very distinguishable.
Vil narrows his eyes. "You."
"Yep. Idia Shroud, acting director of Styx." Idia waits for their shocked reactions but doesn't get any. "Really? That's the best you've got? No, 'Say whaaat?or Dude, no way?'"
Azul folds his arms. "I'm so shocked, I'm actually calm."
"Granted, we already guessed there was some connection between the Shroud family and Styx on our way here." Vil quirks an eye. "But you're the acting director? That's not some tangential link."
Leona hops out of the container. "Hey, Radish Sprout. You can start by explaining just what's going on. You didn't even fly me economy class. Just jammed me into a cargo hold like a sardine in a tin can." The lion growls. "You better have a real good reason, or you're gonna need dentures when I've finished with you."
"Yikes, those are some scary fangs." Idia takes a step back. "Look, I'm gonna go over everything. Just cool your jets."
Jamil glares at Idia. "You attack our school, abduct us against our wills, and you want us to 'cool our jets?'"
"No one would cool said jets after hearing that!" Riddle steps forward. "Do you want to lose your head?"
A Charon trooper raises his spear, electricity cackling around it. "Detecting a buildup of magic in Subject A. Readying stun to render subject unconscious."
"Woah woah woah." Idia lowers the troopers spear. "Pause that. I think our Night Raven College visitors are forgetting something."
The boys only glare at Idia.
"Where are you again? And who am I again? I'm the boss." Idia narrows his eyes, looking very serious. "You don't hurt me, I don't hurt you. Capiche?"
Ortho nods as he hovers by his brother. "As long as you follow my brother's recommendations, your chance of sustaining an injury drops by fifty seven percent."
Vil rolls his eyes, placing a hand to his hip. "Very well. Since there aren't any better options, I'll comply and behave. Well? After forcibly detaining us, I trust you at least have the decency to serve us some tea?"
"The way you're acting doesn't remotely suggest compliance OR good behavior, but whatever." Idia waves a hand and starts walking down the long hall. "Come on, everybody. Follow me. Ortho, have some tea ready by the time we get to the conference room. TIA."
"Rodger."
Back in the Headmage's office, you and the rest of the boys stare at Malleus with wide eyes. Rook finally says what everyone is thinking.
"Are you suggesting what I think you are? That Idia Shroud, housewarden of Ignihyde, is the Watchman for the Island of Woe?"
Malleus shrugs. "Yes. Mind you, 'Watchman' doesn't refer to a single person. It's a title given to a certain family. I believe the current head of their family is Aidne Shroud?"
Lilia shakes his head. "No, she passed away. Now it's Aidne's son, Idia's father."
"I see." Malleus hums. "Human generations pass so quickly."
"Well, the Watchman role was actually converted into a formal organization." Lilia continues. "They go by Styx nowadays. It's a rather recent development, of course. Why, they only became Styx around a century ago, as I recall."
"Wait, slow down a minute. I'm gettin' confused." Ruggie scratches behind his ear. "Leona's mentioned that Idia's family is part of some megacorp... But now you're sayin' that's just a cover? And they're secretly the bosses of this Styx group that kidnapped the guys? And they're also called the Watchman of the Island of Woe?"
Lilia nods. "Indeed. While the Watchman has become something of an urban legend by now. Back in the old days, when mages were called witches and wizards, they were feared across the land. People believed the Island of Woe would punish any wizard who abandoned their principles and went mad with power."
"One of my family's history books claims that the group is so ancient, they date back to the Age of the Gods." Malleus adds.
Gods? You think back to your dream, the temple made of clouds and the people who were there. Were those people the gods Malleus is talking about?
"The relationship between magic and blot hadn't been established at that time." Malleus explains. "According to my history book, people believed overblots were disasters that occured without warning. The Jupiter family forebear sealed those disasters away on the Island of Woe and brought peace to the land. A watchman was tasted with keeping those disasters from plaguing the world again. That person was one of the Shroud's family ancestors."
"That sounds less like history and more like myth.
It's all on such a grand scale." Cater shakes his head. "Ya boy Cay-Cay can barely keep up."
Lilia chuckles. "Mind you, humankind never stopped researching magic, eager students that they were. Time marched on, and at some point magic became safe to practice. The witches and wizards of yore became known as mages. Nowadays, mage licenses are international. Mages are globally recognized as contributing to the betterment of society. And governments passed laws and forced agencies to discipline magic abusers who caused trouble for people over time, the Watchman of the Island of Woe faded from the history books. But the group continued their research on the disasters, or blot really, as the organization Styx."
"We were aware that Idia was the son of the Shroud family, yes." Trein folds his arms. "But this is the first time I've heard of a connection between them and Styx. I've read just about every notable work on magic history, yet I've never seen any of this discussed."
Lilia turns to the professor. "Ah, but see, you're limited to the texts that survive among humankind. Humans and fae stopped intermingling quite a long time ago. Plus, different cultures and species pass down lore in different ways, not every truth is written down. There is no shortage of historical narratives that have been twisted to suit someone's agenda."
"This makes me wonder..." Trein places a hand to his chin in thought. "Was the headmage aware of Idia's connection to Styx? Does that mean he wasn't able to work with the Shroud family to avoid this scenario?"
Malleus shrugs. "Who can say, really? Even if he had known, he wouldn't have been able to stop them."
"As for Styx," Trey steps forward. "Why did they capture a group of overblotters? What's their plan?"
"Based on what Lilia said, I doubt they'll treat them hospitably." Jade answers. "If they're lucky, they'll only be examined. If they're unlucky, they'll become test subjects. And if they're REALLY unlucky, they may already-"
"Woah, hey!" Kalim interrupts. "Don't even joke about that, Jade."
"Y'know, there's one thing that's buggin' me after hearin' all this." Floyd tilts his head. "Those goons rolled up and blasted half the campus. There's tons of witnesses, right? Someone must've got 'em on video. Seems to me like they're not tryin' to stay very secret. Maybe they don't care. Or maybe they have some REAL reliable way of cleanin' up after themselves."
The room goes quiet.
Ruggie folds his arms. "I don't like the sound of that one bit. I say we worry about our own skins 'stead of wastin' time on the others."
Trein sighs. "While Bucchi's wording leaves something to be desired, he does have a point. We don't know where the Island of Woe is, which means we cannot pursue our kidnapped students. I want all of you to return to your dorms and conduct a roll call. check for any injured students and report back to me."
"Yes, sir."
The boys trickle out of the room until Rook is the last one there. He looks to the window with a frown.