Aethelos: The Bastard of Light

The walk back to the academy was silent. No one spoke. Their footsteps echoed between the trees as the morning light grew stronger. Everyone carried the weight of the night in different ways. · Yana quietly moved closer to Lygar and whispered: · “Eli looks tense… distracted. He doesn’t seem okay.” · Lygar answered without lowering his voice enough, his usual sharp tone: · “He almost died at the hands of a Noxian who humiliated a teacher. Of course he’s traumatized. Not everyone has the same emotional strength.” · Yana stayed quiet for a moment and then simply nodded. · “Maybe you’re right.” · When they finally passed through the academy gates, Brock stopped and looked at Eli. · “You’re going to speak with Director Joseph. · Lygar, Yana… we have a mission in two hours. I want you ready. Try to rest as much as you can. We’re going to be walking a lot.” · The two of them nodded and headed toward the dormitories. · Lito, still adjusting his damaged uniform, stepped forward. · “I’ll accompany Eli to the director’s office.” · Brock watched him for a second longer than necessary. · “…Hmm. Alright. Thanks for the help. I’ll go prepare the mission map.” · Eli looked at the tutor. · “Can I go on the mission with you too?” · “I think that’s enough missions for you for now,” Brock replied. “Do the report and try to rest.” · “But talking to the director won’t even take an hour. I can—” · Brock stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder. His expression was serious, almost severe. · “Eli. After what you faced, you need time alone. And rest. Okay?” · Eli didn’t answer right away. The thought crossed his mind that Brock knew more than he was letting on — about Zakrom, about the infiltrator, about everything. Being left out of the mission felt too deliberate to be just concern. · Before he could keep thinking, Lito’s voice cut through the moment: · “Hey, kid. Come on. We’re going to the director’s office.” · In the corridors, the professor slowed his pace until he was walking beside Eli. His tone was almost casual. · “So… apart from that tyrant at the end, was the mission easy or not?” · Eli only nodded, reluctant. · Lito let out a low laugh. · “You don’t need to take everything Brock says so seriously. He only did that because it’s procedure. So you don’t talk about it with the other students. But you can talk about it with teachers you trust… like me.” · Inside, Lito studied every micro-expression on the boy’s face. · Did I manage to lower his guard? Did he see anything else? I need him to tell me everything. · Eli sighed, still looking straight ahead. · “The mission was going well… until there was another terrorist invasion.” · Lito feigned surprise, eyes widening at the perfect moment. · “Oh no, really? But how do you know? Wasn’t it just that one guy? Was there anyone else?” · Eli slightly raised an eyebrow. · “There was a group. I even fought some of them. But Zakrom killed them all. They seemed to be working for him.” · At that moment Lito stopped, grabbed both of Eli’s shoulders, and forced the boy to look at him. The smile was gone. His voice came out low and fast. · “We’re here. · You just have to say exactly that: Zakrom, the leader of the terrorists, entered, killed his own men, and threatened you. Nothing more. · From here on… leave it to us.” · Eli remained silent, his shoulders still held by the professor’s hands. · In front of them, the door to Director Joseph Ville Light’s office was waiting.