Chapter 70 - The Decision (1/2)
Lydis sat quietly in her tree, the number of teachers surrounding the dorm had increased to dangerous levels. If she didn't find a way to rejoin the other students they would suspect her immediately.
”Ui, go scout for a bit, I need to know when I can make a move.”
”Yes Master Lydis.”
Ui crawled off Lydis's shoulder and jumped off, it's wings faltering for a second before stabilizing. Flying through the lush trees, Ui quickly disappeared from Lydis's view.
A few moments later the back of the dorm exploded. Multiple explosions thudded inside before the wall burst open, thick purple smoke wriggling free.
The back exploded again.
Teachers were rushing to the explosion, Hal and two others staying to protect the children.
”W-what's going on?” Lydis felt a surge of dense slyphir hit her face, the trees around her rumbling and swaying with each impact. Suddenly the back lit up with a bright light. Lydis had to cover her face with one arm, the other clinging to the tree so she wouldn't fall.
”Contain it!”
”Move! Move! Move!”
The teachers were working to contain the slyphir explosion. If it continued, the children in the front could be effected, ruining the year's batch of soldiers.
Lydis watched with a sad interest as the teachers were slow to organize and suppress the wild slyphir. Their coordination needed a lot of work, especially considering that very few of them were at the green stage. Most of the teachers were suppressed by the rampaging slyphir, using everything they had just to stay standing.
From the thick plume of purple slyphir, a small object shot out. Rounded and metallic, the slight gleam of it's surface caught Lydis's eye.
Using the chaos and explosions as cover, Lydis made her way to where the object seemed to have landed, her footsteps still cautious and silent.
Hidden beneath a bush, the object emitted thin wisps of purple slyphir which dispersed quickly into the air.
”Strange...” Lydis crept up slowly, wary for any traps or hidden weapons. As she neared the metal ball, the remaining purple slyphir finally disappeared, leaving nothing but thin traces of it's powerful force. Lydis used a nearby twig to press the metallic ball.
After waiting a few moments of testing, Lydis weighed the pros and cons of touching the object.
It didn't contain any slyphir she could detect and wasn't responsive to hard hits but, she'd never seen anything like it before. The metallic surface seemed to swirl slowly, like it was alive but whenever she struck it, the ball wouldn't break nor stop swirling.
It looked like it was trying to devour itself while also growing.
Lydis hesitated for a moment before deciding. Whatever it was, it'd come from the explosion and it had survived. Worthless or not, it should hold some value.
Reaching over with one hand, she paused a few inches from it. Something inside of her was stirring, the previously suppressed slyphir had begun to act up.
”Sh-”
Lydis opened her eyes to darkness. At first she thought that night had fallen but the silence and solid darkness was not something possible in the real world. Light from the moon and the dorm would show even at night.
”Lydis…”
From the darkness, a slightly lighter figure walked towards Lydis. Her black goo dripping occasionally.
”Ebi, why am I here? Didn't you say that it was dangerous to contact me in the academy?”
”It wasn't me but the other one. They called you here. Come.”
Ebi turned around and disappeared. Lydis had no choice but to follow, her feet felt nothing but after a few steps she could feel solid ground beneath her. Abruptly she found herself in front of a door's outline. The light behind it shinning through.
”Enter.”
The same gurgled, sickening voice from her brief encounter before rang out from behind the door. Lydis pushed the door and instantly found herself in a room full of light, the floor covered in a vibrant red. The path had turned from black to white as well.