"Are you ready for patrol?" Liliana's voice cut through the silence, pulling Noah from his thoughts.
He blinked, slightly startled, and looked up at her.
"Patrol? It starts now?" he asked, stoked but surprised.
Liliana chuckled, her green eyes twinkling.
"Yep, no time to waste. Don't worry though, I'm your partner."
She gave him a reassuring smile, her pink hair bouncing as she adjusted the cuffs of her uniform.
Noah stood up, brushing off his pants and re-adjusting his shirt and tie.
"So, how are we divided up? What's our area? I thought there'd be some sort of briefing before we got thrown into this."
Liliana explained as they walked towards the exit.
"There are six cadets in the Vanguard right now, split into teams of two. Each team gets a specific area to patrol. One team is assigned to Ironwood Hall, another to Silvercrest Hall, and the last patrols around the Tuition Cube.
Since there are already school guards and knights stationed around the town center, we don't need to patrol that area. But, we still have to keep an eye on the academy grounds and the nearby halls."
They were supposed to maintain order within the academy, but Noah knew better than to take things at face value.
Beneath the surface, danger lurked, and the cult tied to the Second Act was something he couldn't ignore.
They'd decided earlier that the knights would handle the town center, ensuring no trouble would breach the academy from that side.
But Noah couldn't shake the nagging thought that had been clawing at his mind for days now.
'Knights aren't all trustworthy...'
He knew enough about how this world operated. The game's storyline was steeped in betrayal, hidden agendas, and people working for factions that were anything but noble.
The cult that was tied to the Second Act had their claws in everything, and it wouldn't be surprising if some of the knights stationed in the town center were already under their control.
'The cult has a way of infiltrating high places, using positions of power to move unseen,' Noah thought, his eyes narrowing as he glanced around.
The academy wasn't just a school; it was a hub of influence, drawing the attention of powerful families, politicians, and, of course, hidden enemies.
Smuggling, illegal items, secretive meetings—any of it could be happening right under their noses, and the knights wouldn't even need to bat an eye if they were complicit.
He didn't voice his concerns, though. Liliana wouldn't understand, at least not fully.
She was bright and full of energy, but she didn't think in layers the way Noah did. Find adventures at m v lem|p-yr
Everything she saw was straightforward, clear-cut—patrol the grounds, catch the troublemakers, and call it a night. But Noah knew better. The enemy wasn't always out in the open.
It was a gamble, but it was the only chance he had. He couldn't afford to wait for someone else to handle it.
The cult's influence was like a disease, spreading through the academy's ranks, and if he didn't act soon, the infection would take hold, just like in the game.
Noah nodded, listening closely. "What exactly do we do on patrol? Like, what's our job?"
"Well," Liliana began, "our job is to maintain order. We're basically the academy's internal security. If we come across any suspicious individuals or students causing trouble, our first step is to assess the situation.
If they pose a threat, we're allowed to engage them, but we have to be careful.
We have special cuffs that can restrain people by stopping their mana flow and locking their mana core. It's a failsafe in case anyone tries to use magic against us."
She pulled out a pair of sleek, silver cuffs from her belt pouch, showing them to Noah.
"These are specially designed. Once they're locked on, no one can access their magic unless someone with the right authority releases them. It's all about neutralizing the threat without causing unnecessary harm."
Noah raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what if we face enemies? Actual enemies, not just rowdy students?"
"If we do, we fight. We're expected to subdue any hostiles, but only as much as necessary. We're not knights, Noah, but we do need to know how to protect ourselves and the students. If things get too dangerous or out of hand, we signal for backup.
There's always a team on standby for emergencies, and we're equipped with communication crystals. It links us directly to the other Vanguard teams and faculty in case something goes really wrong."
She paused for a moment and then continued, "In case of emergencies, we can also evacuate students if needed. The first priority is always their safety, not winning a fight."
As they continued walking, Noah mulled over the information.
Patrolling halls, keeping students safe, possibly encountering threats—it was more complicated than he'd thought.
Liliana broke his train of thought. "By the way, you and I are patrolling Silvercrest Hall tonight."
Noah stopped in his tracks.
"Silvercrest?"
His face shifted, and he let out a small sigh.
"Yeah," Liliana said, smiling, "That's where the nobles stay."
Noah's thoughts drifted for a moment.
Silvercrest Hall meant one thing: Ariana.
She had been ignoring him lately, and he couldn't figure out why.
Did he do something wrong? He hadn't even had a chance to talk to her.
The idea of seeing her tonight made him feel uneasy, but he pushed the thought aside. He had a job to do.