Shouting and crying people along with the barking of orders among guards and soldiers echoed throughout the streets outside of the Eroan embassy. Some of the servant staff were ordered away from windows as they tried to peek at what was going on.
Kalliope stood with the embassy guards and tallied up her men. Unfortunately she was at least two heads short. Two of their King's Shadow subordinates were unaccounted for and were likely on or near the academy grounds. Whatever was going down must have prevented them from bringing word to her.
She silently cursed to herself because she felt responsible for their well-being. If they had gotten hurt while following her orders to monitor the academy grounds, then she would be directly responsible for anything that happened to them. Of course, in their line of work conflict was inevitable and often led to death or injury... She was still concerned for them.
Though Lucius thought of his men as tools, Kalliope simply couldn't. She had to make sure they were okay. All of her attempts to reach them through their communication crystals provided no answers. It could mean they were already dead or too injured to respond. Or it could mean they are surrounded by a high concentration of mana and the messages couldn't get through.
"Lyrah, Lady Rubellia," Kalliope whispered, "Stay here, I have to get to the academy. Some of my people are missing."
"No," Rubellia cried out, trying to grab her by the wrist. "It's so dangerous out there... if you get hurt..."
"That's my job. It is also my job to make sure my men are alright." Kalliope answered, cleanly breaking away from her grip.
Since the door was already barricaded shut, she immediately headed to an upper floor. Once there she opened up a window, double checked that her equipment was equipped and that she was wearing her armor properly. Satisfied that she was up to snuff, Kalliope leapt out of the window and landed solidly in the streets of the city.
Another spell struck her shoulder blade, but adrenaline, her enhancements, and the shifting kept her from feeling too much of the pain. Gritting through it, she finally made it over the top and was able to land safely on the other side.
Once over the top, she saw a number of students and staff holding off against the robed attackers. Kalliope rushed over since her [Iron Claw] was still in effect and slashed across the back of a few of them, cutting through their skin and bones like butter.
"Lady Kalliope!" One of the students shouted. They appeared to be one of the Marked Ones that attended Wally's classes and had recognized her.
Kalliope gave the students a quick nod before asking, "Where are the other students concentrated?"
They all pointed to the main building where they had been trying to get to while being harassed by arrows, fire spells, and the odd robed fanatic. Based on their screaming and shouting, this seemed to be a mass attack by the same people that have been terrorizing cities and villages all over the continent.
"Alright, let's get there as well. We need a solid location to hold on," Kalliope stated quickly. She could feel her adrenaline leaving her and the pain in her back was beginning to intensify. "Has anyone seen any beastmen?"
All of the students shook their heads, making her curse in frustration. She could not smell them either. With all the smoke and blood in the air, it was nearly impossible to differentiate between the various other smells.
She shook her head clear and rushed towards the main building with the people she rescued. On the short trek there, she had to use four of her five daggers that she kept strapped to her thigh which left her with one more there and then one in each boot. By the time they reached the building, the pain in her back was almost unbearable.
The students and staff inside the building saw them and allowed them entry. Once inside, Kalliope immediately noticed one of Lucius's least favorite people: Thomas von Petra. They locked eyes for a moment before she felt her vision go blurry. The pain and stress of fighting and running with her injury became too much and her body gave out the moment she was able to rest.