A Bored Lich

"What I want," Elero said, shoving Thomas away. "Is to take down that asshole, Jackal Von Trike." She sat up. Her legs might have been destroyed but her resolve remained ironclad. "I want to dismantle everything he's built, his political faction, and destroy his allies." The faintest threads of bloodlust emanated from her, thickened with old scars and tears.

Elero stood to full height, becoming a silhouette in the setting moon. The only part of her not covered in shadow were her legs, which an icy blue mist, life essence, escaped from. "I charged ahead because none of us can outsmart Jackal. Doevm maybe could have, but he's stuck at the Magic Academy. We need strength to overcome Jackal's intellect, and to get stronger we must push ourselves close to death. That's exactly why I charged ahead with the nobles."

Frey smirked. "I know that feeling well but strength pales in comparison to intellect. That's why I can't win against Doevm. You need to play this better. You have two allies: me and Thomas. Doevm told me to get stronger while he works on breaking out of the Magic Academy. If we keep our heads down, maybe Jackal won't set his sights on us. Then we can get stronger in peace."

"I don't want peace, I want to fight," Elero and Frey stepped towards each other but Thomas stepped between them.

"First…" Thomas chimed in. He took out the note and flicked it, creating a crease between two of the hurriedly written words: "I think we should find the person who wrote this. Whichever path we take, whether we grow stronger in peace or go fight him now, there is someone out there supporting us from the shadows. If not for this note, I don't think that we could have gotten out of the Knight's Academy. We would all be lying on the ground."

Frey shrugged. "Maybe Doevm gave it to you before he was taken."

Elero shook her head: "I doubt that Doevm could have thought that far ahead in only a few seconds. Is that really a possibility?" Frey and Thomas nodded.

"It's possible, but I don't think he wrote it," Frey said, pointing to the messy words. "Doevm has been teaching me how to read." He pulled out a book from his spatial ring. Opening it up, the group saw notes on each and every margin, tracking Frey's progress and how to help him learn at a faster rate. "Doevm's handwriting is perfect, unlike the note, which is barely legible. He's also a fast writer so he wouldn't mess up even under pressure."

Thomas sighed and took the note back: "I guess that leaves us with the only option, making a list of suspects. Who do we know that is both on our side and could have known that this was coming?" He rubbed his chin. "Let's look at the evidence so far." He signaled for the others to come closer, and they did. "We have this note." He looked from Elero to Frey. He had their full attention. "S-so do you guys have any ideas because I'm already stumped?"

They let out long sighs, blowing Thomas's false confidence over as if it were a flimsy house of cards. "Listen…" Elero said, looking to Frey. "Have it your way. We'll train while keeping our heads low, but I'm on a time limit." She took out a water sac and downed the contents. She grimaced and smacked her lips together. "Goddess that's awful." She shoved the cork back in and stored it. "So that's it? Our plan is to get stronger?"

"Good enough for me." Frey shrugged. "Only I did have one question…" He looked to Thomas and clasped his hands together. "I'm going to try very, very carefully to word this the right way." He turned to Elero. "The last thing I remember back in the Knight's Academy was me and Thomas carrying you out. We were hurrying but the smoke sapped our strength. Just when I thought we couldn't go forward any longer, some unknown force pushed us forward and out of the window. I saw something gray and heard a pained groan. Elero, do you know what happened?"

Elero shrugged. "No idea. I was pretty out of it."

"Sure." Frey said, taking a deep breath. "If you ever remember, let me know. So…the plan is that we try to find the person who made the note. Meanwhile we will weaken Jackal whenever we can, and then go for his throat after Doevm breaks out. Good?" Thomas and Elero nodded.

Then their world turned silver, their minds spinning as they blinked and were standing in front of the Knights' Academy together with other confused students. A severe nausea made their knees buckle and their hands fly to their stomachs. The Generals appeared at the top of the Knights' Academy's stairs.

"What in the name of the Goddess happened while we were away?" General Alexander's voice boomed. "Instructors!" Three copper blurs flew over the crowd, coming to a stop at the base of the stairs. Mr. Quinn, Mr. Bruke, and Miss Vessa all bowed before the Generals. Mr. Quinn forced Jackal's head into the ground, having brought the noble with him. A muffled squeal came from within the crowd, Molly's as she witnessed this. She tried to stand but her face turned green.

"Report," General Marble barked.

"While the Generals were indisposed," Mr. Quinn began. "The test began, starting with the nobles charging into the building. Meanwhile this man," he let Jackal drag his face out of the dirt, who brushed himself off.

The noble stared at the Generals as if looking at any other man he might pass on the street. "Jackal Von Trike built fires around the building and blew the smoke in. Because most exits were sealed, the smoke incapacitated and nearly killed all that were inside. I was just about to-"

General Marble raised an eyebrow. "I hope that you are not denouncing this boy for his brilliance."

"Sir?" Mr. Quinn stammered. "He nearly killed students, which went against the rules. How can he not be punished?"

Even over the sounds of groaning students, they heard the General curse under his breath. "The rules are too soft. We are under court order to push our students harder. They must become stronger at a faster rate. This test is Jackal's victory for uniting the commoners and executing such a ruthless tactic. Let him go."

Mr. Quinn stood there, still holding Jackal in a death grip. "Can I assume this policy will be enacted in all tests to follow?"

"Unfortunately yes," General Von Trike said. "Risks will need to be taken. I expect the number of casualties to double. "

The instructors recovered from the shock and bowed. Jackal turned on his heel and strolled back towards the crowd. The commoners, who had previously lowered their heads in their hands in shame, now looked at Jackal with a new light, an angel that descended into their ranks.

"All of you take the rest of the night to sleep and get healed if you require it," General Alexander said as he descended the stairs, heading towards Thomas, Frey, and Elero. "And the last matter is disciples. Most of those chosen as disciples have been notified through writing but seeing as my chosen disciple, Doevm, was taken, I was granted the ability to choose others: Frey and Thomas."