80 Chapter 80: Night Falls

Royal City

The evening sun cast long shadows on the ground. The slanting rays of the setting sun gave a warm orange tinge to the sky. The Heroes walked through the well-illuminated pathway from the lights from the stalls. The candles stood midair in each stall as the vendors sold their stuff.

Laughters, chatters, noises, teases, and hoots were heard across the area as they watched students gather in front of stalls. Even some couples were seen holding hands as they wandered across each stall. 

On seeing the Heroes walk around, students nudged each other before greeting them. Some even kindly offered their share of food, which they rejected politely. One would imagine that their status made them respectable in front of all the students but it was not only that - strength, looks, personality, they excelled in all of them.

The boys ogled the girls from the Council while the girls treated the boys as their eye-candies. 

Overall, everyone loved the Council as they were friendly and unbiased to each one of them. The scholarship students were extremely grateful to them because the Council was the sole reason, the rich didn't disdain them and treated them equally. Else, one could imagine the calamity befalling them.

On seeing all of them together, the students couldn't help but squeal loudly. They thought it was their lucky day witnessing all of them together as it was hard to witness unless on morning assemblies.

Watching their Heroes taking a stroll in the city, one would think they were out to enjoy the dusk rather than out for a mission.

As they passed through the stalls amidst the ogling eyes. They approached the center of the city where the teleportation gate was situated. Seeing their guardians standing there, a sense of safety enveloped everyone.

Recently, as the attacks have increased and many returned with grave injuries, the students felt insecure in the place they were supposed to feel safe. Hence, the academy had warned everyone to not wander late at night until the matter was resolved. That warning only caused many to be wary.

The scariest yet mysterious fact was that the students who have encountered those situations seem to forget everything related to that incident. They wake up with grave injuries questioning others what happened. At first, the academy didn't give the incident much importance thinking it was a drunk fight. But, things began to change, when the incidents became frequent.

The incidents garnered the attention of all the instructors that they collectively approached the principal. Even after the warning, the cases didn't reduce but increase so much that the academy made the students return before night falls.

' As long as it was a student of Royal Mages Academy, they will reach the same end as others.'

Things took a turn when an instructor was attacked on his way to the academy. The instructor was found on the entrance of their gates, with several wounds all over his body. They could see the torture the instructor had to go under to have difficulties in breathing.

Finally, Principal Vernon couldn't help but order the Heroes to return quickly. One by one they reached the campus safely without any interference. They tried to collect details from the victims and look at their injuries but it was a dead-end for them. So, they waited for their President to arrive before deciding on their next actions.

The students sighed in relief as they watched the group of ten ... no twelve walks around the city. They couldn't help but murmur as they asked about the identity of the two people among their Heroes.

"Who are those new faces?"

"Why are they walking with the Heroes group?"

"Why are their faces covered in hoods?"

Murmurs erupted in the crowd as they discussed the new arrivals. When two girls whispered, "Did they ask outsiders for help?"

Hak stopped in his movement and turned to walk towards the girls. On seeing the gorgeous man walk towards them with a deep stare, the girls flinched. He stopped in front of them, observing them, making the girls grab each other tightly in fear. 

Half a minute later, a smile appeared on his face as he bent his level to theirs, scaring them with his towering figure. They were close to tears when they heard him ask, "When did we, Heroes, need outsider's help to deal with our matters?"

The girls widened their eyes in shock, before looking at each other. Hak asserted, "Right?" 

They gulped as they stared into his eyes and rattled their heads vigorously. They watched as a guy came over and pulled him away from them, finally giving them space to breathe. They saw Zeno pulling him by his collar, dragging him back to the group.

"Stop scaring them."

Hak protested, "I was just clearing their doubts."

Liz sniggered, " Sure, it definitely didn't look like a big guy was bullying small girls."

Jinha laughed as he looked at the new additions and said mildly, "Well, the people who caused this situation seems to not care."

Feeling that they were being ridiculed, Zelal said, "It's not our fault that you guys looked weak that they had to even come with that ridiculous question."

Liz asked him dangerously as if she would prove him, right there, whether she was weak or not, "Who did you call, weak?"

Feeling her anger, Zelal pursed his lips as he hid behind his brother and murmured weakly, "No one"

Jinha squinted his eyes at Usui, who had his eyes wandering around the place. He snorted, " It was a good idea to hide their faces or we would have to protect their pretty faces from getting scratched."

Usui clenched his jaw and angrily raised his hand to pull down his hood when he received a glare from Hazel, making his hand fall. He glared at him and said, "It's not like we need your protection. It was you who made us cover our faces."

Liz shrugged, "Its good that the news about their transfer would only be announced tomorrow."

Jinha sighed, " A pity! we could have enjoyed all the love he would have been showered upon."

Liz grinned, "We can still enjoy it tomorrow. A transfer from our rival academy is bound to cause some ruckus. I'm sure they would love them more when they know they were the reason behind these incidents."

Zelal pursed his lips as he could feel the sarcasm drip in her words. He shrugged and winked at her as he said playfully, "They can try and fail miserably. The only shower of love I want is from you."

Liz grimaced at his words before turning away from him.

The long shadows of the evening dissolved into the gathering darkness of the nighttime. The cold night breeze swept through their bodies, making them shiver. They reached the gate and watched as the students started making their way towards the academy.

Since the Silver Mages had dared to attack us, they should be prepared for the consequences. Everyone swore to make them pay ten-fold at the disaster they have inflicted upon them. 

They have to know that the Royal Mages wouldn't take things lying around, they would make others suffer. Hence, they had decided on a sweet plan to return the favour by splitting up and attacking them together in one night. They wouldn't be like them hiding their faces behind a mask. They were cowards to hide and attack our students. 

Five of them – Hak, Loki, Ren, Zeno, and Reyna decided to give a surprise by visiting their academy while the rest- Jinha, Hazel, Liz, and Harold decided to clean up their city.

They had decided to not involve the brothers as they were originally from their academy and the main reason behind these incidents. And, because it wasn't their fight. 

The decision didn't sit well with the brothers that they protested against so hard. Zelal created a ruckus saying that he wanted to take part while Usui being all too silent, stared right into Hazel's eyes pressuring her silently to agree. 

Finally, they had to comply with them tagging along but staying out of the fight unless they are needed.

Jinha smirked as he spun his spear on his hand and said, "Be good boys and stay out of our way."

Zelal huffed, "Who knows? Maybe you would need our help?"

Harold smiled but the smile didn't reach his eyes when he declared, "That wouldn't happen even in your dreams." 

He cracked the bones in his hand as he waited for further instructions but before they could move.

Zeno frowned, "Where are the twins?"

Everyone looked at each other before turning behind, looking at the path they had come from. They shook their heads in unison when their gaze fell upon a sight.