Chapter 74 - Risks (1/2)

Lydis wasn't sure how much time had passed when she awoke but she was certain of one thing. The academy was in chaos. Somewhere beyond the room that held her people were shouting, some were cheers while others angry. Valfafer had disappeared as did Ui. She looked at the door and noticed it was wide open. Strange.

Swinging her legs over the side she waited for the pain and nausea to set in but instead she felt nothing. Sighing, Lydis jumped off from the bed, her bare feet hitting the cold floor gently.

As she walked to the door the shouts only grew louder. Following the turns of the hallway, Lydis soon found herself in front of a door. Big and dark brown in color, it resembled the doors to the dorms. Checking all around her Lydis reached for the handle and pulled.

With a rush of air she was suddenly in front of a mob. As they stood behind her Lydis didn't have time to react until her eyes locked with Haven's.

”!?”

Lydis had opened her mouth to speak but no words came out, not even a noise. Confused, Lydis tried to say more but a member of the mob pushed past her. It was a mother, no older than thirty. In her arms she held a picture of a small boy. His crooked smile and dimples resembled the face of the woman. Through tears and anger, the woman thrust her picture closer for Haven to see.

”Look! Look at my boy! I sent him there hoping for him to live a better life, who knew I'd be sending him to his death!? If, if-” The woman broke down in tears, her wails lost in the crowd.

Lydis wasn't sure when the woman disappeared but another soon took her place. Wives and husbands, single parents and family all threw their feelings at Haven. Some with insults while others demanded an explanation. But, the one thing that they all shared was the consensus that Haven was to blame for their children's death.

Lydis looked behind her and found that there was no door, just the mob. The nearest building was too far away so how had she gotten there?

”Citizens, friends, family. The time has come!”

With those few words the entire mob shouted. If Lydis didn't know what was happening, she might've thought them to be members of a wild tribe. Hooting and shouting in a crazed manner.

On the platform in front of Lydis, Haven was kneeled over, her face battered and bruised. Her school uniform had been stripped and replaced with filthy rags. The smell of rotten food and feces slid off Haven. Fresh wounds littered her arms and legs, the same plump purple patches on her face covered her body.

Lydis reached for Haven but the platform suddenly began to rise.

The mob cheered again. This time objects began to be tossed at Haven. Trash, pieces of scrap metal, old food, torn shoes, really anything that anyone could find laying around they threw.

Haven looked up with dull eyes. Yes, this much was natural. If she couldn't handle this then what was the purpose in teaching for thirty years? To soak up all their hatred and anger, Haven would leave them with their sadness and grief so that they could move on. Emotions like anger stayed for a long time while sadness could be healed, mended through life and love.

Even when someone's spit landed on her face, Haven didn't flinch. Instead she looked at the mob and smiled warmly. Yes, she would take it all. She would bundle everything and take it with her when she died. This much would only be the beginning to atone.

Haven opened her mouth to speak, her soft voice seemed to overpower the mob's crazed chants of death for a moment.

”People of Caratas, I beg you, do not harm the other teachers of the academy. I am the only one guilty. T-”

”Cut the crap murderer!”

”We won't listen to you traitor!”

”Death!”

”Death!”

The mob began chanting once again. Haven smiled and hung her head.

A few members of the mob saw Haven's sad smile that had seemed to say, 'This is the way it should be'. Lydis's eyes widened at the stupidity of the people. Even if they lost a child, to blame the savior of hundreds more was too much. Without Haven the whole dorm could've been slaughtered before the other teachers arrived yet no one cares to defend Haven.

Lydis always knew that the world of adults was cruel and twisted but not to the extent that everyone was a blind sheep, dancing to the whims of the government, or Central in this case.

”And now ladies and gentlemen, death!”

The man next to Haven took a long sword handle from a pillow next to him. Holding it up to the sky, the handle slowly began to grow about a meter and a half.

Two more men appeared on the platform, one on each side of Haven. Grabbing her arms, Haven was forced to straighten her back.

”Now, this won't hurt too much.”

The man raised his weapon directly over Haven's head, aiming it so that it aligned directly in the middle. The crowd stopped chanting for a moment as the man violently jabbed the pointed pick downward, but he suddenly stopped.

Haven and the man twisted their heads to look at Lydis, their faces warped with long smiles.

”You're just going to watch Lydis?”

”Don't you feel any guilt?”

”Lydis…”