Chapter 93: Chosen Ones (1/2)

CLAIRE BLADEHEART'S POV:

I held onto Curtis, clasping my hand over his mouth in desperation My vision blurred as tears continued to well up and stream down

The disciplinary co the safety and order within Xyrus Academy I was handpicked by Director Goodsky herself to take on this vital duty, and with the exception of Arthur, I was assigned the task of choosing thethem

I was their leader, yet I had let all of this happen… I let in a spy

I was ignorant of the fact that all of ourleaked to the enemy

I was responsible for the state Theodore was in right now Even if he made it out of this alive, he would never be able to walk on his oo feet again

I was responsible for Feyrith getting captured

I was responsible for the death of Doradrea Oreguard

I should've noticed by how the radical group seemed to know of our every uess subconsciously, I believed that my team members would, without a doubt, be loyal

Because of et attacked It had happened last night, when the soft, diht of dawn peeked out over the horizon We had been busy preparing for the full-scale battle that would coency evacuation plan after constructing makeshi+ft safe houses out of basements and old classrooms for students to barricade theoing a bit overboard, but I now realized that it wasn't even close to enough

Restless, everyone had decided to let out soested that we enlarge the area of the training barrier so that everyone could practice without the students, ere all on edge fro startled by the sounds of spells and weapons colliding

We had never enlarged the training barrier before, but nevertheless, I didn't find anything wrong with his suggestion, so I let Kai supervise the barrier while the rest of us trained inside it

When the barrier formed, it took on a reddish sheen that nor barrier Kai erected by using the artifact was athe entire academy

That's ere attacked Kai had let them in; it was as siave away all of our plans to the radical group while feeding us false infor the barrier up so that no one outside could hear the sounds of battle We were outnu The radical group er We would have broken free and warned the school… but he had to show up

As soon as he stepped into the barrier, whatever advantage we had had disappeared I just couldn't believe he'd been a part of this—no, I' It was definitely possible for him to be a part of this What I couldn't believe was that it was actually hiifted e before and if it wasn't for his twisted and conceited personality, I would've definitely wanted him to join the Disciplinary Cohs cas that would result in dire consequences later This was the rumor, anyways

But he was on another level The mana fluctuation around him was comparable to that of professors'—no, beyond the hi forcibly generated that it overflowed I wasn't sure if that was the cause, but even the color of his skin and hair took on a different tint

The ae that in to awaken This reer than him presently, however, I knew for certain that whatever led hi natural

Needless to say, eren't , an endless well of ainst all of us together

Hoas it possible for hiht that kept running throughat me

"You call yourself a student of this academy? Out of all people, I would've assu of a crazy terrorist group, Lucas," I spat out in disdain "I now see that I rong"

I could see that I had hit a nerve as his sot reckless like I had hoped, Kai intervened

"Lucas, he wants this done quick and clean Don't forget the menter said curtly, his face tensed in concentration fronored our repeated hateful shouts prying for the reason of his betrayal, only opening his mouth to keep Lucas in check

At this point, it would be ioal was to create an opening in the barrier

While battling, we intentionally ai, but the barrier was a lot stronger than we had anticipated

After defeating three of theet captured and pulled away by the other radical group ed to h for us to fit through But not all of us were able to escape Through gritted teeth, we had to leave behind Doradrea, along with Feyrith, who stalled the radical group long enough for us to escape

It hadn't feel like we escaped, no—it felt like ere let go I could still clearly remember the s down on me like an insect he released because he didn't want to trouble himself with the mess

By the time we made it out, it was already too late Our battle had taken ti that tie and under attack by both the radical group and mana beasts

Director Cynthia had not returned and by the time we found some of the Student Council h they seerateful that the Student Council President was still not back from her trip The Student Council Secretary—Lilia, I believe—asked me worriedly if Arthur was okay, and was relieved to find out he wasn't inside the acade for us as soave in and sided with the enemies

But I couldn't blame them

It was us that failed in our jobs to protect them

"Please, Curtis… please" I continued begging, choking back a sob

"Please, stop You can't" I bit my lower lip

"Please…"

Curtis' thrashi+ng settled, but I could still feel hie I removed my hand from his mouth and noticed that there was blood; it was Curtis'

He had been biting on his lips so hard, he'd bitten into them

"I'll kill hi

"Curtis, please just wait I can't have you charging out like Theodore We can't lose you too" I tried to keep a fir even to myself

"Wait? Are we supposed to just hile we let him kill Theodore and Feyrith? Huh? Like how he killed Doradrea?" he spat out in a growl, his voice pitched low and quiet

My chest contracted fro else, a sharp sound stopped me

Curtis held onto his left cheek, stunned

Kathyln's eyes were red and swollen, her long lashes still ith tears Her expression was a knot of grief and frustration Her usual impassive expression was nowhere to be seen Her hand was still held up in front of her from where she had just slapped her brother

The strike wasn't loud, nor was it that strong, but I could tell by Curtis' expression that the light slap froeon could