-Roughly Four Years after the Collapse of the DPZ-
The day had finally come; after a long layoff for summer vacation, Cynrik and the members of MyrkLys exited the teleportation platform and, for the first time in four months, stepped back on the VSFA Campus.
Gone were the golden blazers they wore for an entire year, indicating they were Year four Students, and in its place was an impressive Black blazer with golden runes and trim showcasing their status as Fifth Year Seniors.
As they walked through the large City just outside of the main campus, the eyes of the passersby seemed to linger on the members of MyrkLys, who had gone from the height of popularity to practically untouchable within a few short years.
However, by now, Cynrik and Company had grown used to the mixture of glares and snarky remarks.
While they walked, Brance and Gabby held hands and showed their intimacy to anyone who noticed, with the shiny silver ring on the young lady's left ring finger drawing the most attention.
That's right, after an entire childhood and four academy years, Brance had at long last popped the question and become engaged to his childhood sweetheart.
When it happened over summer break, the Pinhurst Mansion had transformed into a festive party house for a whole week in celebration, embarrassing Brance to no end as he was assaulted on all sides by friends and family alike, making similar remarks that boiled down to one statement, "About damn time."
In retrospect, to him, who felt that he, at 17 years old, was far too young to be getting married, it was common practice for young couples to get engaged as young as 12 in Amestria Moor, like when Benny and Melody had gotten engaged, no one batted an eye. Even though they were both relatively young, the heat came down on Brance to do the same thing.
Hell, even Cynrik was only 14 when he got married to the then 16 Selene, so after a lot of introspection, Brance decided it was time, took Gabby to a beautiful flower garden, and asked her to marry him.
Of course, her answer had zero hesitation, but thinking back to the teary sobs, Brance was amazed she could even eke out the word "Yes."
Smiling warmly at the thought, Brance rubbed his thumb on her hand while they walked, relishing how soft it was and ignoring the childish banter from his sister-in-law and brother flying into his head.
Since Brance was constantly bending the light around them so the whole group was invisible, Cynrik gave the command to take to the sky, and everyone lept up before rushing to the top of the skyscraper, which was almost a hundred floors tall.
Roughly 3 minutes later, all six of them touched down on the balcony outside the Headmaster's office and noticed the large glass door was already open, indicating Geralt had expected them to enter the room this way.
However, they didn't go into the office immediately; instead, Cynrik halted everyone outside upon noticing that Geralt wasn't alone. But what they saw in the large office was enough for everyone to struggle with controlling their Killing Intent.
There, lying on the ground, missing one arm and both legs and in a puddle of his own blood, was the seventh member of MyrkLys, Kurza Reed Bralley. Behind him was a group of people bearing a strikingly similar appearance to the young man on the ground, indicating they were his blood relatives.
One was an older, thin man with a long grey goatee who had taken up an imposing and regal position on a chair with his feet propped up on Kurza's back.
"Headmaster Rivia, imagine my surprise when I was informed that my Grand...former Grandson wouldn't be joining our faction after his graduation four months ago, and instead would be enrolling as a Teaching aid staff member at VSFA."
"Being raised and nurtured by the Bralley family comes with strings attached, and mandatory service in our Faction, Holy-Blade Union, is not only expected of our younger generation but also required."
"Up until he met those undesirables from MyrkLys, Kurza was an upstanding member of the family and showed great promise, but the moment he was stripped of the right to become the Competition Team Captain and forced into servitude by that Brat Cynrik Jetlensr, he has undergone a radical change."
"Talking back to elders, rebelling against the family, and now refusing to enter the service of our great faction, tell me, Geralt Rivia, what kind of fucking ORGANIZATION ARE YOU RUNN..."
BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!
Before the older man, Taileek Bralley could finish his rant, a loud concussive boom rattled the room as the goateed man was sent flying into the opposite side and embedded in the thick, cemented structure.
"How about you shut your fucking mouth, old man!"