Chapter 11 Chapter 11: The Academy's Response
The Academy's Response
The countdown remained burned into my mind. [Hidden Disaster Approaching.] [72 Hours Remaining.]
Even after the system disappeared, I couldn't stop thinking about it, seventy-two hours.
Three days, that was all the time left before something terrible happened, something connected to Lyra and something connected to the Crimson Monarch.
The morning sun rose over the Imperial Arcane Academy, but the atmosphere felt completely different from before, students walked through the campus in groups.
Nobody wanted to be alone, not after what happened and after the dark mage attack.
Every conversation revolved around the same topics, the assassins that attacked and the mysterious darkness in the sky, and Lyra.
Especially Lyra.I walked through the academy courtyard while keeping my Phoenix Eyes inactive.
After yesterday, I needed a break, my head still hurt from constantly using the skill.
Yet even without it, I could feel the tension everywhere, several buildings remained damaged, workers and earth mages were repairing broken walls.
Large cracks still covered parts of the courtyard.
The academy looked wounded, but it was healing, just like me.
"Rowan!" I turned. Mira ran toward me. Her face immediately brightened after seeing me.
"You survived another day." I laughed. "Good morning to you too."
She crossed her arms. "Don't joke." Her expression quickly became serious. "People were worried."
I smiled faintly, people worrying about me still felt strange.
In my previous life, almost nobody cared. In this life, the original Rowan had been ignored by nearly everyone.
Yet somehow things were changing. Mira sighed. "The academy announced a special assembly."
My eyes narrowed. "An assembly?" She nodded. "All students and professors must attend."
Interesting, that wasn't normal. Not even slightly. The academy rarely gathered everyone together.
Only important events justified it.And after last night's attack...I had a feeling I already knew why.
One hour later, the academy's Grand Assembly Hall was packed, Thousands of students filled the massive chamber.
Professors stood along the walls while the atmosphere buzzed with excitement and anxiety, everyone was talking and was speculating.
I found a seat near the middle.Exactly where I preferred. Several students noticed me immediately.
Whispers spread. "That's Rowan." "The one who fought the assassins."
"He survived, " "How?" I ignored them. Across the hall, I noticed Lucas.
His face darkened the moment our eyes met, Good.BLet him be angry. I was done caring.
Then another presence entered. Lyra. The hall instantly became quieter.
Students stared openly. Some looked impressed. Others looked intimidated.
A few seemed afraid. Lyra ignored all of them. As usual.
She walked calmly through the crowd before taking a seat several rows away.
For a brief moment our eyes met, then she looked away.
Yet something felt different, very different that I couldn't explain it.
But the system warning from last night kept replaying inside my head.
The Crimson Monarch Has Chosen A Vessel, and that vessel was Lyra.A chill ran down my spine.
Then suddenly—The doors opened. Silence spread through the hall.
The professors had arrived. At the front stood Academy Director Aldric.
A powerful archmage with silver hair and sharp blue eyes.
Normally he looked calm, today he looked tired, very tired.
He stepped onto the platform. The hall became completely silent.Then he spoke.
"Students." His voice sounded loud throughout the chamber.
"Yesterday, our academy suffered an attack."
Nobody moved and no one could say any word, but instead, the director continued.
"Dark mages infiltrated academy grounds." Anger flashed across his face.
"An unacceptable failure." Murmurs spread through the crowd. Many students looked frightened.
Others looked furious, the director raised his hand. The room became quiet again.
"However..." His voice strengthened. "The academy still stands."
Thunderous applause erupted immediately, students cheered and the professors nodded proudly.
The director allowed the reaction to continue before speaking again.
"The Imperial Arcane Academy has survived wars, invasions, political conflicts, and magical catastrophes."
His gaze swept across the hall. "And we will survive this as well."
More applause followed. For a while, some of the tension eased, then the director's expression became serious.
"Several professors were injured." The hall grew silent.
"Many students were placed in danger." His eyes hardened.
"The perpetrators will be hunted down." Cheers erupted once more.
The director nodded. "Now." A small smile appeared.
"There is another matter we must address."
The atmosphere shifted instantly, students leaned forward.
Curiosity filled the room, I already had a bad feeling. The director continued.
"During the attack, two students displayed exceptional courage."
Oh no. I already knew where this was going. The director raised his hand.
"Lyra Valeheart." The hall exploded, with Loud cheers and applause, filled with lots of excitement and emotions.
Students practically jumped from their seats, Lyra remained completely calm, i course she did.
The director smiled.
"Despite overwhelming danger, she protected fellow students and successfully drove back multiple dark mage operatives."
More applause followed. Then his gaze moved, towards me. My stomach sank.
"Rowan Ashford." The reaction was even louder, students erupted.
Some shouted my name, others cheered, a few looked completely shocked, I wanted the floor to swallow me.
The director continued.
"Despite being directly targeted by the attackers, Rowan fought bravely and defeated numerous enemies."
The applause became deafening. I could feel thousands of eyes staring at me.
This was exactly the attention I didn't want. Especially while assassins were still hunting me.
The director smiled."Please come forward."
Wonderful. Just wonderful. I stood. Across the hall, Lyra stood as well. Together we walked toward the stage.
The applause continued.NI noticed Lucas glaring at me the entire time.
His hatred practically radiated from his body, good, I whispered, let him watch.The original Rowan deserved this moment.
We reached the platform, the director raised two medals.
Silver medals engraved with the academy crest. "These honors are awarded for exceptional bravery."
He handed one to Lyra, then one to me. The metal felt surprisingly warm.
Students cheered again. For a brief moment, I actually felt proud.
Not for myself, but for Rowan, The real Rowan. The boy who suffered for years,, the boy everyone mocked.
The boy nobody believed in, this recognition should have been his, not mine.
A strange emotion tightened my chest.Then the director spoke again.
"Furthermore..." The crowd quieted. "The academy has begun implementing new security measures."
The mood immediately changed, students listened carefully.
This part mattered, the director gestured toward several professors.Massive magical screens appeared above the stage.
Gasps sounded loud throughout the hall, The screens displayed glowing maps of the academy, and protective barriers surrounded every building, dormitory and all training grounds.
The director pointed at them. "Additional defensive formations have been activated."
Several students looked relieved, others looked impressed.
The director continued."New detection arrays will identify unauthorized dark mana."
Another screen appeared, showing hundreds of magical runes.The complexity was incredible.
Even I couldn't understand half of it."The academy will also conduct routine inspections."
Murmurs spread. Nobody seemed happy about that. The director ignored them.
"Your safety comes first."Nobody argued. After last night, everyone understood.
The assembly continued for nearly another hour. Professors explained emergency procedures.
Evacuation routes, defensive protocols,, and new regulations.
By the time everything ended, students looked exhausted, Yet there was something else too, the attack had frightened everyone.
But it had also united them, and that made the academy stronger.
The next several days felt strangely normal, at least on the surface, classes resumed, and training sessions continued.
Professors returned to teaching, and students returned to studying, the academy tried its best to move forward.
Yet under that normality, the tension still remained, especially because of the countdown.
The system kept updating it. [68 Hours Remaining.] [63Hours Remaining.]
[59 Hours Remaining.] Every notification increased my anxiety. I still had no idea what would happen.
Only that it involved Lyra, and that it would be bad, very bad.
Three days after the attack, combat Theory class, Professor Verdan stood before the students.A massive magical projection floated behind him.
"Today's lesson focuses on crisis response. Nobody complained.Recent events made the topic extremely relevant.
The professor pointed toward the projection. "When facing overwhelming threats..." The classroom listened carefully.
Even Lucas remained silent.For once.NThe professor continued.
"A mage's greatest weapon is not power." Several students looked surprised.
"What is it then?" someone asked.NThe professor smiled.
"Judgment." The room grew thoughtful.
I found myself agreeing, power mattered.
But without judgment? power became useless. Or dangerous.
The lesson continued and lasted for hours, before the classes finally ended, students poured into the hallways.
With excited conversations immediately returning, with plans, training and normal student life, at least for everyone else. For me? Nothing felt normal anymore.
Not with the countdown ticking closer and not with Lucian searching for me and Cedric plotting against me.
That evening, I stood alone on one of the academy balconies, The sun slowly disappeared beyond the horizon with orange light painting the sky.
For a brief moment, everything looked peaceful, then footsteps approached. I didn't need Phoenix Eyes to know who it was.
Lyra, she stopped beside me. Neither of us spoke immediately.
The silence felt surprisingly comfortable Finally she broke it.
"The academy feels different." I nodded. "It does."
She stared at the horizon. "People are afraid." "Can you blame them?"
"No." Her answer came immediately, Then something caught my attention.A faint crimson glow, so fast most people would miss it.
But I didn't, my heart tightened. The Crimson Monarch. The connection was growing stronger.Exactly like the system warned.
Did Lyra notice?NIf she did, she gave no sign. Instead she asked quietly.
"Do you ever feel like something is watching you?" The question nearly made me freeze.
"What?" She frowned slightly."Nothing." But her voice sounded uncertain.
Ever since I've met her, she looked only worried today, genuinely worried.A bad feeling settled in my stomach.
The countdown flashed again. [48 Hours Remaining.] Everything was happening too fast.
That night, the academy slept and some students rested.
Professors relaxed, the campus appeared peaceful. Yet far beyond the academy walls...
Darkness moved, inside a hidden chamber under the capital.
Several cloaked dark mages knelt before a massive stone throne, the atmosphere felt suffocating and terrifying.
One of them spoke. "The preparations are complete."
Then a deep voice sounded d through the chamber.
"Good." The cloaked dark trembled. The voice continued.
"The vessel awakens." Fear spread across the room. Nobody dared respond.
The voice laughed softly, a sound filled with ancient hunger.
"Soon."The chamber shook, dark magic energy flooded the room. "Soon the seal will break."
Back at the academy. I suddenly woke up, my entire body drenched in sweat. The system flashed violently before my eyes.
[WARNING.] [WARNING.]
[WARNING.] My heart pounded. Then the next notification appeared. And every trace of sleep vanished instantly.
[Hidden Disaster Countdown Updated.] [24 Hours Remaining.]
I shot upright in bed. Twenty-four hours. Only twenty-four.
Then another notification appeared, the final one. The message that made my blood run cold.
[Emergency Quest Generated.] [Objective: Save Lyra Valeheart.] [Failure Result: Academy Destruction.]
For several seconds, I simply stared while unable to breathe and think properly.
Then the system revealed one final line. And my heart nearly stopped. [The Crimson Monarch Is Already Inside The Academy.]
