General Nolan recalled all military personnel inside Laenadur back to the Military District, then he shut all three gates, completely cutting access to the Military District to all. After rallying the troops, I was given a regeneration potion and a strengthening potion to drink, after guzzling both down, I felt sick to my stomach for a minute or two only to feel the potions kick in much better than anything that Aslac gave me in Rullus. Aslac did mention that wizards do brew potions, but they are magically enhanced, making their effects more well...effective. While it did little to physically heal my wounds, it made it so I barely notice them, the pain in my wrists is still there but is nothing more than a dull annoyance now.

All of this took a lot longer than I liked, it took about two hours to get every military personnel in the city to come back and about another two hours to get everyone ready. Nolan, Violet, Chimney, Kala, and I stood in the very center of the district with the rest of the soldiers rallied and ready to save the academy. Violet is drawing circles on the ground with magic runes as well. She is a teleport wizardess, an expert on teleport and portal spells. The only problem she points out is that one portal spell exhausts her and she cannot teleport an army of this size at once since she doesn't have enough energy for it. So she is making a portal to the academy for all of us to go through. And the portal will be used to evacuate the students as well.

Some of the soldiers will be staying here to stop any, if there are any at least, dark mages that happen to cross over. Nolan looks at me. "You feeling okay, Master Seto? You have some color back in your cheeks," he told me.

I smile at him. "Those potions work wonders," I said.

He chuckles lightly and nods. "Indeed they do, but you should still be careful. I suspect that you will only be able to be on your feet for about another hour and a half at most," he said. Oh, that's longer than I thought. To me, an hour feels like too much, thought I had at least 30 minutes at most. But I'm glad he has so much confidence in me, he underestimates my injuries.

"Maybe not even that, but that's why we need to make the time I do have count the most," I told him.

Violet stood back up, backing up a step beside me as she smiled. "Okay, this should be strong enough," she said.

I pat her shoulder. "Great job, Vi. Get started--" I stopped when I heard a riot. Our attention went to the North gate, seeing that it caved in slightly only to be immediately fixed by the soldiers.

"General Nolan! Get out here now!" I heard a voice shout.

"The council," Nolan said. When all three gates close, there is a barrier that forms along the walls to keep people out, it is a defensive measure that was created by the Fyre Brothers. And I'm thankful for the defensive measure since the only people who can breach the measure are the Fyre Brothers themselves.

"Violet, start the ritual, I'll be right back," I said before I started walking towards the gate. The soldiers split the way for me, allowing me to walk unchallenged to the gate. Upon getting there, I asked for the gate to be open. Opening one of the doors instead of both, I went out, the gate closing behind me. Councilmen Zorro, Esper, Harper, Norm, and Vern stood there, all of them but Harper looked irritated. Not only that, I notice the crowd that is drawing here. I give the Councilmen a big smile, "Ahh, gentlemen, what a pleasant surprise--no that's not right--what a surprise to see you here, pleasantness not included. Apologies, lapse in memory, I forgot I can barely tolerate you all. What can I do for you on this wonderful afternoon?" I asked and I saw Harper gain an amused expression as the others were shocked to see me for a few moments.

"Of course it is him!" Zorro shouted.

"Why is it always you whenever trouble starts?" Vern asked me.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Don't mistake, the trouble I generate is deliberate...so that's why it is always me."

I heard Harper chuckle before he covered his mouth with his hand, getting a look from Esper as Norm stepped towards me, looking prepared to fight. "Reopen the Military District now--"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Yeah, no can do. I'm not the one who ordered this shutdown, all I am doing is just promoting it. If you want this to stop, I suggest you speak with the people who hold the ability to stop it."

Norm shook his head. "I refuse to believe that you are innocent--"

I put my hand to my chest, feigning ignorance. "I beg your pardon, hold your tongue! I'm innocent here, I'm being completely transparent with you when I tell you that I gave no order that relates to the current actions of the Military District," I admitted. It was true that I gave no order that involves me shutting down the Military District from the rest of the city, all I did was stand by and let it happen.

"No, that would be General Nolan, but you have to be involved. Whenever there is trouble, there is you," Vern snapped at me. Now I couldn't stop the smile and chuckle that slipped through my lips. They do speak the truth, I've learned that I tend to get myself into trouble...but I've come to terms with that truth and make the most of it now.

I lower my hand from my chest. "Did I explicitly ask to use the Light Mages' military to rescue Fyre Academy from becoming a warzone? Yes, yes I did. But did I order it? No, I did not. I gave him a choice and he picked the right one...he decided to do exactly what I wanted, is that my fault? No, it's not. No, that's your fault for not having his trust and loyalty--" I jerked to the left, dodging a spell that Norm flung at me. The spell hit the gates, exposing the defensive barrier that is protecting it for a moment. I look at where the spell hit and back at the councilmen, mostly at Norm. "Careful! That could have killed me!"

"That was the idea!" Norm shouted.

"Wow, resorting to murder instead of diplomacy, how spineless!" I exclaimed. I couldn't help but smile at how they are incriminating themselves in front of everyone. It is a lot easier to discredit them than I thought it would be if they are pulling stunts like this.

Harper stepped in, lowering Norm's arm and canceling the spell that the council member had warmed up and was ready to fire at me. "Let's calm down everyone, there is no reason for people to get hurt here. Seto, would you mind explaining to us what is going on here?" he asked me politely.

I smiled a bit, I like Harper. He is nicer than the others and more reasonable. "Of course, I'll be happy to explain the course of actions that have brought us to this point," I said before I looked to the other councilmen. "Let's start with the first mistake, the mistreatment of the Elites." I put my hand up when Vern was going to interrupt me. "Don't interrupt me, I'm giving you all the chance to reconcile, so shut it and listen. The Elites are a group of the most powerful mages that are at your disposal...or at least they WERE at your disposal before you threw them aside. They were there as a means for you to help protect your people, but you couldn't even protect them when it counted!"

"War is messy, you can't control--"

"SHUT IT VERN!" I shouted. I felt anger coursing through me, and I knew that I am angry at them. I try not to get mad but these people were being reckless with the lives of my friends and I'm not going to just take that laying down. The thought of what they had done to the others makes me so mad. "It doesn't matter if this is wartimes and such, you could have done so much to better protect such precious assets as the Elites but you didn't! You allowed them to go off and get caught by ambushes that were almost the death of four of them. You allowed them to be in danger when you can protect them--"

"They cannot be controlled!" Zorro exclaimed.

"You didn't need to control them, you needed to unleash them!" I pointed out. "You should have guided them to the enemy and let them unleash their power so you can reap the benefits of their strength. But you all didn't do that, you all just gave them vague orders, not caring what they do or what happens to them. That's not a leader worthy of respect and loyalty, that's someone who doesn't care for the people they lead. You were never a leader to the Elites, that's why you lost their respect and loyalty. A leader, a respective leader, looks after the people who follow them and guides them to success. And I do not doubt that you haven't changed at all in how you treated the Elites, I suspect that you are treating the Aeari Knights the same way. You are going to lose the Aeari Knights just like how you lost the Elites if something doesn't change."

"What are you doing now? What going on with Fyre Academy?" Harper asked me. I guess that does mean more than anything else, but I thought that I already clarified what it is that is going on with Fyre Academy.

I looked to Harper, as he is the only one here that I have some respect for. "The dark mages have pushed the frontlines back so much that Fyre Academy is in danger of becoming the new frontlines. Gods know how many villages and towns have probably been destroyed because of the lack of care and attention the council has paid to the way," I explained before I looked to the others. They looked appalled, almost like they aren't used to someone talking to them in this way. I suspect that is the case since I doubt people will go out of their way to talk to people of this rank like this. "You're lucky Lady Ianite requested Estirian aid, without her, I wouldn't be here trying to save your world from the brink of destruction. I appealed to General Nolan for aid to save Fyre Academy and he agreed without hesitation. The gates are shut to not only prevent you all from interfering but to prevent any dark mage that happens to slip through the portal to lay waste to the city. If Fyre Academy is to fall, if we fail, Laenadur will soon follow suit so you better pray that we succeed. So yes, I did take your military from your control, but you never deserved the right to have control over it in the first place."

"How dare you!" Vern shouted.

"Do you need anything from us?" Harper asked which made the other members look at the old man.

I nodded. "Control over the Aeari Knights would be helpful," I added.

"Granted," Harper said.

"Harper!"

"Go Seto, you have much better uses for your time," he said before I just left them. I didn't stay to hear more of what was said, I just went back into the Military District. And once I did, I saw the portal activated. I smiled, we are so lucky that Violet is so good with teleportation and portaling magic.

Nolan looked at me. "So, how did it go?" he asked me.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Well they weren't happy," I said and he just smiled at me.

"I'm surprised they aren't trying to break in, but yet again they know that nothing can break that barrier," he admitted.

I looked at Violet. "How's the portal?" I asked.

She smiles at me. "It's ready to go, I'll have to stay on this side to maintain it," she told me.

"Understood, stay here," I said before I turned to Chimney and Nolan. "You two ready?" They both nodded, looking ready for the fight ahead. "Alright, let's go."

......

As soon as I stepped through the portal, I was greeted by a very panicked Matthew. The fire wizard ran to me once he saw me. "Where have you been?! The dark mages are close!" he shouted. Oh, that is not ideal. I looked around, noticing that the portal dropped us off in front of the main building of the academy, just by the bridge. I looked around, looking for damage and I can see some evidence of destruction. There are slashes into the sides of some of the buildings, one of the smaller buildings is destroyed and up in flames as it was crushed by a giant fireball. Other sections of the academy are damaged but so far, nothing too serious. There aren't any dark mages around but I can hear fighting going on to the right of the academy grounds. They are very close.

I looked at Matthew, seeing he is panicked and doesn't know entirely what to do. "How much of the campus is evacuated? Where is everyone else?" I asked him as I only see him and Kala here, no one else.

"About half, can we use this portal as well?" he asked me and I nodded. I'm worried that only half of the campus has been evacuated, that's not ideal either. It's dangerous and I worry for the students. Also, I worry about Rowan and her friends, they were quite nice to me and helped me out in my first conscious week in Vienna. I don't want anything to happen to them. "We need help with the evacuations and trying to push back the line. Sabrina and some faculty members are protecting the students inside while Nyara is trying all she can to teleport students to safety. Riley and I have been searching the campus for any stragglers while the others are trying to keep the dark mages back."

I looked at Nolan and he seemed to read my mind. His soldiers have been jumping through, and once I looked to the general, he got to work. Over half of the soldiers are going to the front lines while the rest are going to stay here and protect the students.

Chimney grabbed my arm when I tried to join the frontline soldiers, he pulled me back over to Matt, Kala, and him. "And where do you think you are going?" he asked me.

I stared at him, trying to come up with a believable claim in my head but none of the things that I am thinking of sounded right. I know what he is thinking. "Chim, I can help the frontlines--"

He let go of my head and shook his head. "Not in your condition! The only reason you are functioning right now is due to being drugged with magical potions. That is the only reason you are on your feet right now actually! You promised us that you would let us do the heavy lifting so you could recover, you are not going back on your word," he snapped at me. I looked to Matthew for help, but all I got was a concerned look thrown back at me. I knew that he was going to agree with Chimney and so is Kala.

I let out a sigh and nodded. "Alright, fine, you're right. Damnit..." I mumbled. I hate being seen as weak but they are right. I shouldn't push it. I need to let them handle this while I stay in the background. We don't know how long the potions will last, especially when they are put under the test of combat situations. "I'll go help Sabrina and Nyara, you two help the soldiers."

Chimney patted my shoulder. "Good plan, leave the combat to us. You go help with the evacuation," he told me. With that, Matt and Chimney left with the frontline soldiers and Nolan.

Kala looked up to me. 'You feel weak through our connection, are you sure you are well enough for this?' she asked me through our mental link.

I smiled at her and nodded. 'For now, yes. But I have a feeling that without the potions, I would be unconscious and on the floor. Drugs and such seem to be the only thing that makes it so I can stay on my feet in my condition,' I told her. As we spoke through our mental link, my head started to hurt from chatting with her, and I think she could tell that talking with her was causing me pain, so she stopped. We headed inside the main building where I saw students and faculty throughout the building. Everyone was trying to stay away from the windows, trying to put walls between them and the outside which is smart. The Professors had students huddled in classrooms as Nyara and Sabrina went from classroom to classroom, trying to get the students to a safer place. As I went to look for Nyara and Sabrina, or Rowan and her friends, I stopped in the classrooms and told them about the portal step up just outside.

After going through multiple classrooms, rushing around to try to find either the two master wizardesses or Rowan and her friends, I finally was able to find a familiar face. It was Alya, one of Rowan's friends. "Where's Rowan, Diana, Adrien, and Clark?" I asked her. She didn't look like she knew where her friends were at.

"I-I don't know, we got separated," she said. She looked panicked. I gently rested my hand on her shoulder as the other students were ushered out to go through the portal.

"It will be okay, I promise," I told her.

"Alya, come on," the professor said.

Alya grabbed my arm, looking at the professor. "I-I think I should stay with Master Seto, I want to find my friends," she said. I don't think that is a good idea, sure I welcome the help, but she is a student and I cannot risk her life.

I shake my head. "No, you are going through the portal, I will find Rowan and them and tell them where you ended up. Now go, your safety means more," I told her before she was ushered out alongside the other students. I went through two more classrooms before I turned a corner and almost ran into Sabrina. I grabbed her when she jumped back in shock at my sudden appearance.

Sabrina grabbed my arms, her shock morphed into concern. "Seto, you look horrible, what happened to you?" she asked me.

"Long story, the students? Nyara? What's going on on your end?" I asked her. We let go of each other as she went into the story of what has been happening here. Once the Elites showed up and warned of the pending attack, the campus went on full alert and evacuation protocols. But, the evacuation protocols were obsolete, they weren't designed to handle the sheer volume of students that are here. The protocols were created three years into the creation of the academy, and the population of students has grown substantially since then. That's why the evacuation is taking so much longer than normal. The Fyre Brothers never updated their protocols and we now paying the price for that neglect.

"Okay, so we need more time," I mumbled. The problem is that the front lines are so close to the campus and there are still so many students here in danger. "Take me to where you are doing the evacuation." Sabrina quickly led me to where Nyara and the other faculty members are that are doing the evacuation spells. Once I got there, there was a crowd of scared students waiting for their turn to leave but Nyara and the faculty members who are doing the spells looked utterly exhausted and spent. This system is not going to last much longer with how spent they look.

I look at the chalk magic circle that is written into the flooring, it was a complicated-looking circle, but it could be improved. The problem is...I don't know how it could be improved. I'm not an expert in Viennan Magic Circles and I cannot read most of the language the circle is written in. I put my hand on Nyara's shoulder, telling her to stop and she did. But once she did, she collapsed into me, I hold her up with my arms as she panted heavily, sweat falling from her brow. The other faculty members were in pretty much the same condition, able to fall over from magic exhaustion.

"The frontlines are so close to the campus, how are we going to get the students out of danger?" Sabrina asked me.

"Seto...can you..." Nyara pants. I was able to evacuate the city of Roylra, but I don't know how much I could handle a portal spell in my condition. I flinched when I felt the ground shake from an explosion outside, probably a strange spell or such from a dark mage and that's when this whole thing felt real. Or at least, that's when I felt like the situation sunk in for the students.

"The only reason I'm standing is because of two magic potions. I'm...not confident in my ability to do anything that would be helpful--"

"You're joking right?!" a voice yelled that was very familiar. Well, I found Rowan.

Rowan pushed the students to the front, to me. "You do look terrible, I'm pretty sure we all picked up on that once you walked in. But...you are our only hope, the professors and Nyara have exhausted themselves!" she told me. I stared at her, kinda shocked really. I wasn't expecting for that to come out of her mouth. How much magical energy does it take to maintain a portal? I wonder...

I pull out Nicholas' spellbook from my bag, flipping through the pages till I found the portal spells. I cursed under my breath and immediately saw how these are mid-level to high-level spells. Judging by the current strength that I have right now, I don't believe that I could handle a high-level spell and I promised I would keep to low levels should the need for magic arise. Asking Nyara for an energy boost is out of the question, the woman can barely stand.

I lifted my hand towards the magic circle that is on the flooring. "As soon as this comes up, straight going through it, got it, everyone? I don't know how long I'll be able to hold it," I announced. My eyes glanced at Rowan before I looked back at what I was doing. "Arcana Laenadur dimensia portalo," I chanted as I pictured the Military District in my mind. But once the spell activated and such, I felt my knees buckle along with my vision partially going blurry for a moment as both Sabrina and Rowan grabbed a hold of me as I swayed.

"Seto, you okay?" Rowan asked me. I'm doing a high-level spell, so of course, I'm not alright. I don't know how long I will be able to hold out before I just pass out or something.

"G-Go," I was able to stutter out and people started going through the portal. Sabrina held me upright as Rowan let go.

My eyes looked at her as Sabrina spoke. "I got him, go, Rowan!" she told the student. Rowan looked hesitant to go, but I gave her a small smile, hoping it would encourage her to go. Nyara sat on the floor by my feet, trying to recover as Sabrina held me up with her arms around me. "Here, sit down." She gently lowered me down to my feet, Kala sat down beside me, her paw touching my arm. Sabrina went to her knees beside me, her hand picked my head up as she pushed my hair from my face. "You're so pale, what happened to you..."

"A lot..." I mumbled. I pushed my focus on the portal, seeing that the majority of the students have already jumped through and that was great. The more that jump through, the better. I saw students helping the exhausted faculty members up and through as well. "Sabrina, t-take Nyara and--"

"Nyara and I ain't leaving ya here like this so don't even bother saying it," she snapped at me. I let out an involuntary huff, the potions effects were starting to go away. Well, they didn't exactly last very long. I'm starting to feel my injuries again and for some reason...the pain is so much worse and the exhaustion is almost overwhelming. "Here, drink this." I didn't see what she had, but she forced me to drink it. "It's a magic regeneration potion, it's from the Potions classroom, not enough to get you up and fighting but enough to keep you conscious and coherent which matters more right now." As soon as it hit my stomach, I felt myself pick up. It wasn't a whole lot of strength, but enough that I'm confident about being on my feet. Sabrina helps me up.

I let out a shaky breath. "Thank you..." I mumbled.

"No problem, just stay with me, okay? I need you to stay awake," she said before she went to check on Nyara. My eyes look to the others, seeing that most of the students are already through the portal, just a few stragglers making their way towards it. I let out a soft breath, happy that I was able to help the students. But I flinched when I heard a crash in the hallway, almost like the sound of glass shattering that was followed by a monstrous roar. The students who have yet to go through the portal looked back towards the door in a panic, but I hurried to the door, wondering what is going on.

My eyes looked back and forth, quickly landing on the source of the noise. There were giant windows that adorned the hallway, adding to the aesthetic, but one of them was shattered with the person who was flung through it slumped against the wall, a crater on the wall a few feet above them. I moved out into the hallway to look at them and I recognized them immediately, "Matthew!" I shouted as I rushed over to the fallen Fyre Brother. I grab his arms as his body started to lean to one side. "Matt!" He's unconscious with no wounds that I can physically see on him right now.

"Matt!" I heard Sabrina shout but I look at her.

"No, I got him, you make sure the students and Nyara are through the portal!" I told her as Kala came running over to me. I turned my attention to the fire wizard, as I was doing another once over for any injuries that I may have missed, Matthew woke up. He groaned and I grabbed him to keep him sitting up. "You're alright! Calm down!" I told him when he panicked momentarily. But I saw his eyes widen at something that is behind me. I felt and heard a deep breath hit my entire back. Kala started growling, not sure of what to do so she kept glancing at me for directions. But I turned to look behind me and my eyes widen.

It wasn't small, nor was it medium-sized, it was huge. "I-It's a shape-shifting d-demon, it adapts to any type of magic that is used on it and can change its form to any creature it wants. It's an f-favorite weapon among the dark mages," Matthew mumbled to me as the demon shrunk in size. It went from a huge monster to a much smaller and manageable being. It took the form of a human but its skin was blackened ash and cracked with orange glowing through them. It was almost as if its skin was made of molten lava. It didn't wear any clothes, it was just a faceless being.

"H-How do I kill it?"

"By killing the one who created it, J-James and Phil are doing that now since there is more t-than one of these on the campus made by one mage," Matthew said. So that's what all the struggling outside is about, I put it to the back of my mind thinking that it was just normal fighting. But with this new information, I recognize it as struggling. The Elites are struggling because of these demons and their masters.

I looked at my hand for a moment, thinking. It adapts to any type of magic...can it adapt to mine? Before I could do anything, Matthew struggled to his feet, putting himself between me and the demon. "I-I know what you are thinking and no. You promised us you wouldn't fight--"

I stood up. "Matthew, you can barely stand," I argued. The man has glass embedded in his skin from being thrown through a window, he's covered with bruises and cuts though hard to see with his skin color and armour but I can tell he isn't doing too good. If anything, I look in better condition than he does. Not only that, the demon seems to be made up of fire and Matthew is a fire wizard... "Let me help--" There was a moment when Matthew's knees gave and the demon took advantage of Matt's weakened state. Its hand morphed into a scythe as it bolted at the Fyre Brother. "Arkana ŝildo!" I quickly chanted, throwing a shield in between the two for protection. While I was confident that Matt would be protected, I was shocked when I heard cracks and saw that half of the scythe penetrated through the shield, inches from touching Matthew. "What..." The demon snarled, clearly agitated from having its attack stopped. I grabbed Matthew, pulling him back a few steps as I focused on keeping the semi-broken shield up, keeping the demon trapped.

"It broke..." Matthew mumbled. I gripped Matthew's arms, trying to figure out how the demon was able to get its scythe through the shield so easily. Is it because of how weak I am? Or is it something else? Wait!

The demon broke the shield, jumping at us again. I move Matthew aside, drawing the demonic knife from my belt and slashing it at the demon. It cut across its torso and it shrieked in pain. It moved away from us, holding its chest as the cut bleed. I looked at the demonic knife, seeing no damage to its sharp blade. So...there are more uses for this thing besides it specifically being to kill wizards. It has the same effects on magical creatures as it does on wizards.

Good.

So no magic, I promised I wouldn't. I hold the knife in one hand, almost holding it like I do my sword. Matthew slid to the floor, unable to keep himself on his feet anymore. Kala growled beside me.

"B-Be careful, Seto, it's fast..." Matt mumbled.

"Ready, Kala?" I asked her.

'Yep,' I heard her say. Alright, let's do this. No magic, only this knife and Kala. We all stared at each other for a second before the demon leaped in attack and the fight began.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey guys, so sorry about the lack of updates. I've been super busy with school! But I'm almost done, I'm graduating college in like three weeks I think so I'll definitely be able to write more since I won't have schoolwork to worry about.

Hope you all have good days today and that you enjoyed the chapter! For some reason this chapter was much harder to write than any of the others. :)