Aethelos: The Bastard of Light

The academy corridors were more restless than usual. Joseph’s announcement still echoed, and the rumor of the invasion mixed with morbid curiosity. · A group of students surrounded Lygar near the stairs. · “Hey, Lygar. That terrorist group… were they strong?” · “Did you guys actually manage to defeat them?” · Lygar straightened his shoulders, an arrogant smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. · “For me it wasn’t difficult. I feel like if everyone were at my level, the academy would be intact.” · That was when Layonel walked past them, hands in his pockets, looking relaxed. · “Oh, really?” he said in a mocking tone. “I just hope there aren’t any terrorists as strong as me… otherwise there won’t be any Lygar who can protect anyone. Ahahahah.” · Lygar turned immediately, eyes narrowing. · “Is that a challenge, matchbox?” · Layonel laughed without stopping. · “Of course not. It would only be one if you were one of them.” · Before the situation could escalate, Brock’s voice cut through the air: · “Lygar. Come here. I need to talk to the group.” · Layonel raised an eyebrow, still smiling. · “Well… it’s not this time that the defeat becomes official.” · Lygar walked past him on purpose, bumping his shoulder hard against Layonel’s. · “It was your lucky day.” · On the other side of the courtyard, Yana saw Eli walking with an anxious step, almost heading toward the training forest. She quickened her pace and caught up to him. · “Eli, wait. Are you okay?” · Eli stopped suddenly, his face tense. He immediately thought of the conversation he had had with Lygar. · “Yana, I didn’t mean to offend anyone, okay? It was just a suggestion…” · Yana frowned, confused. · “Huh? What are you talking about?” · Eli felt immediate relief and forced a weak smile. · “Nothing… nothing.” · Yana watched him for another second and then spoke more seriously. · “Eli… maybe we should talk to someone. Say that what happened in the forest wasn’t terrorism. It was self-defense.” · Eli lowered his gaze. · “I suggested that to Lygar… but he doesn’t agree, Yana.” · Before she could reply, Lygar’s voice echoed from a distance: · “Hey, you two! Come here! The tutor wants to bother us a bit!” · The three of them gathered with Brock in a more isolated corridor. The tutor didn’t have his usual tired expression. He was serious. · “You three are in this conversation for a reason,” he began. “The news is already out. There are people outside connecting the dots between the forest and the attack on the academy. If someone decides you’re a loose end… it won’t be a polite conversation. It’ll be expulsion. Or worse.” · No one answered. The silence grew heavy. · Brock continued, his voice lower but still firm: · “I’ll protect you for as long as I can. But if this grows, even I won’t be able to shield you from a formal investigation. And at that point, your truth may not be enough.” · Yana placed a hand on her chest, her face tense. · “And how do we know if we can trust you?” · Brock held her gaze without looking away. · “That’ll be a risk you’ll have to take. But the way things are heading… it’s dangerous.” · Lygar crossed his arms, his tone full of arrogance. · “Dangerous why? We didn’t do anything. And we even protected you from the terrorists. The truth is you owe us one… and I’m already excluding what a burden you are on missions.” · “Lygar, show some respect, please,” Eli intervened. · Yana, still anxious, spoke quickly: · “Professor, we’re not terrorists. And we didn’t talk to anyone about it, okay?” · Brock observed the three of them for several long seconds. Then he asked, his voice calm and sharp: · “Okay. Is that all you have to tell me?” · Silence settled again. · None of the three answered immediately. · The conversation wasn’t over yet. · But the heaviest truth… would be left for later.