144 Chapter 144: Kingdom or Academy?

Sleep was absent in the academy as the members of Heroes Council along with their volunteers patrolled the silent city. All the vendors have been alerted of the possibility of an attack which made them abandon their work and rest inside their warm houses.

When asked whether they wanted to move to a safer location? They shook their heads as they said, "We believe that you will protect us" which just made the students' hearts swell in pride.

Hazel was patrolling the courtyard alone, scanning her surroundings as she walked by. As time ticked, her heart grew more anxious making her fret about her plan. Now that she thought about it, she felt like she was missing something.

When she had conveyed her worries to Jinha, he had flicked her forehead and said, "You are worrying too much which is making you doubt your plan."

Hazel pursed her lips as she knew her unease had nothing to do with her worry. Even after going through the map and what she had heard a million times over her head, she still couldn't find out what she missed. 

Her heart was slowly getting immersed in anxiousness and trepidation that she felt something bad was along the way. 

She just didn't know which way? Was it the kingdom or the academy?

She looked around at her classmates, teachers, and the vendors who were having their full trust in them - Heroes Council.

She bit her lips as she thought of his sly face. She was tempted to run off to her kingdom just so she could see him safely in front of her eyes. She touched her forehead where his lips lingered before he walked away from her. 

His blurry back image, walking away from her, was instilled deep in her mind. It felt like she wouldn't see him again...which was just plain ridiculous.

'Hazel, knock it off. Maybe Jinha was right, your emotions are drowning you to hopelessness.'

She exhaled and looked up to see a group of students walk past her, smiling at her. She smiled as her mind diverted to what happened earlier in the day. When they announced about the possible danger, surprisingly only a few wanted to leave to check on their families who were living near. 

The rest wanted to stay and protect the academy even at the cost of their lives. The ones who were leaving were reluctantly packing their luggage. They only smiled briefly when the Principal promised them no expulsion.

After all, it wasn't easy to enter the academy. They wouldn't want to lose their hard-earned seat.

With many coming forward, it made things easy for the Council members. Many were tasked with scouting the city while there were many scouting the academy grounds.

Hazel suddenly paused when she heard a breaking noise. Her ears twitched as the noise was awfully close to hers. Why didn't she sense anyone behind her?

Instantly she turned around and scanned her surroundings, there was nothing. 

Knitting her brows, she slowly continued walking forward. Her hands went inside her cloak, gripping the hilt of her dagger. 

Her senses were heightened to its ends that she finally felt a pressing gaze targeting her, making her shiver slightly. Soon, her eyes widened when she heard footsteps approaching her making her clutch her dagger.

Right when she felt the culprit near, she turned around and slashed blindly eliciting a groan from the culprit.

"President?"

Hazel moved her hand away and saw Harold sitting on the floor with shocked eyes. His hands touched his cheek, which had a deep bleeding cut.

"Oh my!!" Hazel hurriedly kept her dagger away and helped Harold up. She touched her cheek worriedly and murmured, "Sorry, I thought someone was about to ambush me."

She hurriedly took out a tube and put some medicinal cream on his cheek. 

"There you go, all done" Hazel smiled apologetically at him making him shake his head.

"Why did you think that someone was going to attack you?"

Hazel pursed her lips and said, "Because I felt a strange gaze on me. It gave me a very uncomfortable feeling."

Harold knitted his brows and looked around, "There is no one here"

Hazel sighed, "I think I'm going paranoid from all the worrying."

Harold chuckled.

Then she tilted her head and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Harold scratched his head doubtfully, "I thought you called me over."

Hazel frowned, "I never called you here." Then her eyes widened, "Which part were you overseeing?"

"Near the dormitory"

Hazel widened her eyes, "The one near the forest?" to which he nodded. She looked at him urgently and said, "Let's go, quick" 

Before he could say anything, he saw Hazel running off. 

Hazel was cursing in her mind. The dormitory had a spot that was sealed off by the Principal but it still could be used to enter the forest. She had allotted a lot of people to survey the location but as she made her way, she couldn't find anyone.

'Where is everyone?'

As soon as she entered the building, she felt something wrong in the air and signaled Harold, who was following her to be silent. She looked around inside the dormitory and ran towards the sealed exit. 

She hadn't pressed the crystal yet as she didn't want to alert everyone without confirming anything. After all, they were two people, she would get enough time to alert everyone if what she thinks happened.

She looked behind her and gestured at Harold who nodded his head. Turning around, she stepped into the quiet corridor, frowning when she smelled something weird. 

"Do you smell that?"

Harold paused to sniff the air and shook his head, making her frown, "Strange"

She glanced around and saw no one which made her ask, "Didn't you assign anyone here?"

He nodded, frowning equally.

"When I heard that you called me forth, I left the sealed exit towards the two new volunteers before coming to you."

But he glanced around, "Strange, there were supposed to be many people guarding here."

Hazel nodded as she gripped her dagger tightly. She could feel something wrong here. As her fingers inched towards her bracelet, she heard Harold say, "Let's alert them after checking the sealed exit"

She looked at him and nodded. As she neared the sealed exit, the smell had gotten strong making her mind dizzy. Suddenly she froze when she saw the number of students lying on the ground in a pool of blood. 

Her face was attacked with a cold night breeze and what she saw almost made her stagger.

The sealed exit was burst open, and there were a couple of figures in black, entering through the exit. How could she not recognise them? 

The reapers were here. She frowned when she saw someone standing along with the reapers. 

It was as if they read her thoughts, they turned towards her simultaneously. 

Hazel hurriedly took her weapon to fight when she felt her vision blur. 

'What?'

That's when she smelled something familiar in the air. Her eyes looked towards the corner where something was burning. The scent from those woods when inhaled for a long time, would make one lose strength.

Hazel gritted her teeth as she willed her hand towards her crystal when someone caught hold of her hand and said, "No, you don't"

She glanced at Harold in shock, "You-"

Before she could continue, her body sagged forward and her eyes closed. Harold caught her and held her soft body tightly against his and looked at the reapers.

He coldly said, "You have got what you wanted. Now, stick to your words." making the figure in the shadows grin. 

....

Crystal Kingdom

Usui stepped out of the meeting looking ashen by the news. He was slightly happy when he heard the sightings of demons around the kingdom.

It just meant that she would be safe which was what he wanted. He just hoped that she will only realize this late after he's done protecting as he promised. 

He looked at Zelal, who was yawning, and said, "We need you to come up with a well-thought-out plan."

Instantly sleepiness left him as Zelal looked at him excitedly, "Are they coming here?"

Usui nodded grimly.

He exhaled as part of his heart was also worried about Liz. Now that the danger was upon them, they could finally relax and fight calmly.

"Leave it to me" Zelal grinned.

Usui glanced at his brothers who liked to be in his shadows. No one knew that all the wars they fought were because of Zelal's strategies. Usui was in charge of just the battle which was laid out brilliantly by Zelal.

Minutes back, in the meeting, everyone except the king was surprised to see Usui enter the room. He came in and sat like he was the prince of the kingdom (which he would be in the future, Ahem!)

He furrowed his brows as he heard about all the information which only pointed out one thing - They should be ready for battle. 

He smiled as he thought about her plan. He was glad that he took up the mission to come over here. Or just the thought of her being here, protecting her kingdom would be enough to make him go crazy.

It was time for him to prove his love and commitment towards her.