Reinhart let out a soft sigh as he stood upon the rooftop of his slowly decaying department, looking out into the open and looking at the mountains and vast greens enclosing the institution. Closing his eyes, he could do nothing but think about how Duran was defeated in combat.
"Lord Reinhart, what are we going to do now? We are losing allies by the minute and soon...we will fall like Squad IV did," Eden asked, walking toward Reinhart and gently grabbing his sleeve.
"When does this all end? We all saw it, so what's there still do deny?" Sully asked, stepping forward and finally letting her voice be heard.
Eden and Grisha looked over at Sully, yet Reinhart's back remained turned. The two girls watched as tears rolled down Sully's eyes, her emotions too much to hold inside anymore. She sniffled and buried her face into Cotton's fur, her bunny companion placing her head upon Sully's shoulder.
"Why are you still denying? What has Nox done to you to make you hate him this much?" Sully asked, looking up at Reinhart for answers.
"What has he done for you to like his company so much? He's barely shown up around this damn institution until now! He trapped us in this hellhole and you expect me to side with him? Open your eyes, Sully!" Reinhart yelled, gripping the edge of the roof with frustration.
"My eyes are opened!" Sully screamed, stomping her feet upon the ground and fell to her knees. "It's opened...it's yours that aren't...you're dragging all of us down with your sunken ship.."
Reinhart grit his teeth and turned around to look at Sully, glancing down at her sobbing figure on the ground. He walked over to her and kneeled down in front of her, reaching out to her. "Sully—"
"Don't touch me!" Sully cried out, swatting Reinhart's hand away then quickly rose to her feet and glared at Reinhart. "It was you who told Leonidas where he was...it was you who ruined Nox's life...all because Bethel loved him and not you.."
"None of what Nox went through... would've happened if you had just left him alone!" Sully screamed, yanking her Squad XII bracelet off her wrist and threw it at Reinhart's head. "Don't ever contact me again...I never want to see your face ever again, Traitor. You are the very Spirit of Archer..."
Eden gasped at Sully's words, taking a step forward and calling out her name, but Reinhart stopped her with his outstretched arm. Eden looked down at Reinhart, watching him rise to his feet then looked ahead to see Sully running inside the Department.
"Leave her be...she's just highly emotional right now seeing the death of her teacher. She'll come back to us. After all, we did save her life that night," Reinhart said, walking back toward the edge of the roof and leaning over the barricade.
Grisha let out a deep sigh, rubbing the back if her neck and closing her eyes. "I'm going to go let out some steam...shit is getting too stressful around here now."
Eden watched as Grisha walked off as well, the tensions between her out squad at an all time high with the death of Duran spreading like wildfire. She let out a soft sigh and walked toward Reinhart, deciding to stick by his side while he processed everything that happened.
Sully softly weeped as she sat upon a bench next to a vending machine full of her favorite snacks, hugging Cotton tightly for comfort as she cried alone. She heard footsteps approaching her, looking up from her sorrow and noticing Anna standing in front of her.
"M-Ms. Anna..." Sully said softly, wiping her eyes and sniffling softly. "How did you find me..?"
"Well, you can call it a hunch...I heard you screaming at Reinhart and heard some valuable information.." Anna replied, walking toward her and taking a seat next to her, setting her clipboard down on her lap.
There was silence between the two for a moment, the sounds of distant rubble falling upon the ground echoing through the empty halls. Sully took a moment to gather her thoughts then took a deep breath, exhaling slowly and calming her mind.
"Are you ready to talk?" Anna asked, clicking her pen slowly and looking over at Sully with a curious gaze.
Sully nodded slowly, her gaze remaining upon the ground. "So...uh... Five years ago when Nox first arrived at St. Morgan Academy, Reinhart immediately didn't like Nox at all.."
"Why's that?" Anna asked, writing down Sully's testimony on a sheet of notebook paper.
"Well, at the time...no one knew Nox was royalty. We had all thought he was a commoner. He had no background, no history, only the name Nox Winters and the background he gave us about him living in an foster home with Flynn," Sully explained, lifting her gaze out the window in front of her.
"However, everything Nox did...was royal. The way he walked, spoke, ate, even laughed...It was all perfect. Because of that Bethel took a heavy liking to him...and that's when Reinhart began to really hate Nox," Sully continued, a memory from five years ago playing in her head clearly.
〘October 12, 2X90〙
Reinhart sat in the Zodiac Clubroom in a chair at the far edge of a glass table, looking ahead at me with a smug expression. Bethel watched the two of us while filing her nails, one leg crossed over the other with a curious expression upon her face.
Sully shyly held Eden's arm and stuck close, feeling the growing tensions between me and Reinhart. Eden gulped slowly, clearing hear throat softly and glanced between me and Reinhart as we stared down one another.
"Geez, Reindear...you're gonna give Noxie a heart attack if you keep staring at him like that. Besides, is there a reason why you're waiting his time with a meeting?" Bethel asked, watching Reinhart rise from his seat and walk toward me.
"It seems like this commoner...has forgotten his place in this hierarchy. Look how she calls your name...'Noxie'..." Reinhart said in disgust, spitting upon my shoes that my foster mother gifted me and slipped his hands into his pockets. "I don't know what you did to Bethel to make her delusional, but the games end here..."
I stared down at my shoes and glanced back up at Reinhart, scoffing lightly at him then kneeled down, pulling a handkerchief out of my pocket to clean my shoe. "Is it my problem that Bethel has emotions of her own? Am I her keeper and make sure she stays loyal to you?"
I rose onto my feet and tossed my dirty handkerchief into his face, staring into his irritated eyes with faintly glowing golden eyes, leaning closer to his ear. "Maybe if she's starting to like me more than you, it must mean that she sees me as more fitting...than some stuck up archer...who can't land a bullseye.."
Reinhart's eyes darkened at my taunt, watching as I backed away from him. A low growl began rumbling in his throat, his hands clenching into fists inside his pockets as a glare of disdain filled his eyes.
"I would love to stick around for this party of Royal Disappointment, but someone like me...has much more important business to handle," I said with a sarcastic wave, walking away with my hands in my pockets.
〘Present Day〙
"Wow...their rivalry runs that deep?" Anna asked, looking over at Sully and setting down her pen to listen to her story.
"Mhm...and after that day, Reinhart vowed to do whatever it took to destroy Nox. No matter the cost," Sully said softly, fidgeting with her fingers and closed her eyes, lowering her head.
Anna took a deep breath and exhaled softly, looking forward out the window with Sully's testimony in mind. She looked down at her clipboard at the information she collected, an idea hatching in her mind and closed her eyes.
------------------
I stood in the middle of the Virgo Department ruins, looking around with a deep exhale, the words of Duran echoing in my head repeatedly. I lowered my head and closed my eyes, sighing softly once again as new pieces of the puzzle began to arise.
'Who told Leonidas where I was..? Merin..? He's the likely suspect, but...he already has the Crest of Arcane. Why would he need my Crest..?' I asked to myself mentally, opening my eyes and looking up at the sky as I went into deep thought.
"Well, well..~ It's not like you to be so lost in thought, honey..~" A familiar voice said, her footsteps slowly approaching me with the sound of an umbrella hitting against the ground like a cane.
I looked over to my left, noticing Bethel approaching me wearing a beautiful white dress with a white fur collar coat drapped over her shoulders. I scoffed softly at her with a smirk, watching her gesture for me to follow her.
I began to follow Bethel out of the ruins of the Virgo Department, the two of us taking a stroll into the Virgo Courtyard and took a seat upon a bench. Bethel closed her eyes and stretched her arms with a light grunt, looking over at me with a smile and noticed me staring off into the distance.
"Nox...it's over now. Our side has surrendered, so we aren't enemies anymore. There's no need to keep your distance around me," Bethel said, leaning toward me and placing her hand atop of mine with a soft smile.
"That night..." I began, memories of my past returning as static from a TV screen in my mind as I tried to remember what all truly happened the night of my Fosters' fall. "The night my Foster home fell...did Leonidas really go there?"
Bethel's gaze immediately softened, her hand subconsciously giving mine a squeeze from raw instincts. She lowered her gaze slowly, a memory playing in her mind about the night of the fall of the Fosters. "Yes...he went there.."
I scoffed lightly, my lips curling into a small smirk, my eyes flashing mama blue. "So that old bastard wasn't lying..."
"Huh? Who?" Bethel asked, leaning forward to look me in the eyes then sat back as I met her gaze.
"Be completely transparent with me...who told Leonidas where I lived. Because of them, my foster parents died, a piece Flynn's soul died...and because of them..." I began, my shaking hand slowly being placed atop of hers. "My brother...died. Bethel...tell me who did this..."
Bethel could see the pure fury upon my face, her heart skipping a beat as she stared into the fire in my eyes. She lowered her gaze once again, not being able to maintain eye contact then bit her lip and glanced to the side.
"It was...it was Reinhart. He found out where you lived by following you home the week before...I honestly tried to tell him it was a terrible idea, but..." Bethel answered, looking up at me with her usual big eyes.
I looked ahead once again, a piece of the night of the Fosters' fall playing a bit more clearly in mind, my eyes flashing mana blue once again. "So it was him...I always knew he hated me, but to this extent? That psychopath has lost his marbles...and dares to flash me innocent grins..."
Bethel exhaled softly and continued to hold my hand, looking down at our hands and felt my returning squeeze. "Nox..."
Now that I knew who the true perpetrator was, I knew I had to prepare to finish what was started five years ago. It was time for this institution to be judged, to be cleaned of transgressions...V.J.I needed Retribution.
Fitting how Reinhart and Leonidas are my last two greatest enemies left, almost as if I subconsciously knew they were the main ones behind my downfall. Now, the last three days had just become even more... interesting.
--------------------
The day went to pass, the sun beginning to set and I stood upon the rooftop of the Libra Department, leaning against the barricade and staring down the Sagittarius Department. Everything in my spirit was telling me for years that the attack was planned, a random attack like the Fosters' Incident couldn't have been a coincidence.
I glanced over at my Shadowmare and Harpy, my eyes flashing mana blue as Ragnarok's whispers finally began to win over. For once...Genesis and Ragnarok agreed upon one thing, it was now time to take grand action.
I took out my phone to call Rozalin, placing the phone to my ear and glancing over at the Sagittarius Department once more. "Rozie...since you did a great job today with Duran, I'll reward you. Go to Naju's Laboratory, I'll be there soon.."
Hanging up the phone, I lowered my hand over the barricade, tilting my head slightly with my eye twitching with irritation. Today was the day I vowed...to end the Spirit of Archer for good, to break the cycle of betrayal from my home.
"Things have been getting quite crazy lately, but it seems that everyone is on Nox's side at least," Moon-li sighed, leaning forward against the cafeteria table and picking at her food.
Eun-Song nodded, looking around the cafeteria and noticing everyone being cautious and whispering amongst themselves. "By the way...did you hear that Reinhart hired Leonidas to go assassinate Nox five years ago..?"
Moon-li paused from her picking, her eyes rising up to look at Eun-Song, her spoon falling out of her hand onto the table with a metallic ring across the cafeteria. "What..?"
Eun-Song looked around after Moon-li dropped her spoon, clearing her throat as she noticed a few people glancing at them. She leaned forward against the table, holding her hand over her mouth to whisper to Moon-li.
"Apparently, Reinhart was so jealous of Nox having most of all of Bethel's attention that he hired the dean to kill Nox. Seven said that Reinhart figured out who Nox was from his tattoo," Eun-Song revealed, squeaking as she felt an aggressive hand grip her shoulder to pull her back.
"Spreading false rumors, Myong? About my Squad Leader of all people?" Grisha asked, staring down at Eun-Song with a glare.
"I was just saying what I heard...geez, no need to get all defensive. Especially if it isn't true," Eun-Song muttered, rolling her eyes at Grisha and picked up her spoon to begin eating.
Grisha swiped Eun-Song's tray off the table, the metal tray hitting the floor and the glass shattering against the tiles. The peers inside the cafeteria stopped what they were doing to look over at Moon-li and Eun-Song's table, noticing Grisha and Eden standing before the two.
Chester looked over at the four girls with a raised brow, continuing to bite down upon his burger and hummed softly as he studied Grisha. Queen looked up from texting Luciel and Fleur, her gaze moving over to Grisha and sensing something was off.
"Hey, I don't know what your problem is, but you don't know what you're getting yourself—" Eun-Song began, gasping as Grisha gripped her neck and rose her from her seat.
Moon-li stood up quickly, but Eden held her scepter toward Moon-li, roots sprouting from the ground and restraining Moon-li in place. Moon-li glanced back over at Grisha and Eun-Song, gritting her teeth as she thought of any plan to save her friend.
"Hey, you think I care about you being a Council member? The rules have changed...to maintain order, Lord Reinhart has instructed us to kill all who ally with Nox," Grisha revealed, staring Eun-Song in her terrified eyes.
Gasps and murmurs filled the cafeteria, everyone bewildered by Reinhart's dark plans to end Judgement. Suddenly, the doors swung open, everyone looking at the entrance of the cafeteria to see Ms. Anna with Sully behind her.
"She's lost her mind..." Grisha hissed, shoving Eun-Song to the ground and stormed toward Sully. "Hey!"
Anna lowered her glasses and gazed at Grisha, her eyes glowing a mystic orange hue and manipulating Grisha's bloodstream. Grisha grunted heavily as she was forced to stop walking, her body freezing in place as if she was forced into becoming a statue.
Grisha looked over at Anna with strained grunts, clenching her teeth with frustration. "Number 4..."
Anna pushed her glasses back up, releasing Grisha from her spell and scoffed softly at her then turned toward the rest of the cafeteria. "It has all been revealed to me. There's no point in hiding the facts anymore, I have the truth."
Chester looked over at Anna, noticing her raising a stack of papers in the air, squinting lightly and noticing they were autopsy reports. "Autopsy..?"
"Autopsy? Like the reports? Why would she have those?" Queen asked, looking over to Chester with confusion.
Anna listened to the whispers of the students within the cafeteria, walking past Grisha with authority and slammed the stack of papers upon the ground. She looked around the cafeteria with a disgusted expression, tapping upon the reports.
"There's a reason you all haven't seen old teachers like Naju Hachiman or Clive Lee until now...it took me a while to make sense of it all, but I understand why," Anna began, looking down at the reports and gripping the first page with anger.
"They were killed...and doing autopsies upon them it was shown that they were killed via Crest! There is only one crest user in this institution and it's the dean! Leonidas Pride! He killed Naju and Clive, and now they've been reborn as Angels of Judgement," Anna revealed, looking back up at the students and bit her lip.
Grisha stood up from the ground quickly, staring at Anna as if she had lost her mind then glanced over at Eden, noticing her lost expression as well. All of my cards were now set, and all I had to do was set my own final piece for Total War to truly begin.
"Are you sure about this? Turning Rozalin into a Special Grade Monster could have unknown results. Especially using a Shadowmare and a Harpy as materials," Naju questioned, looking over at Rozalin patiently waiting inside her pod with a smile on her face.
I looked over at Rozalin as well, sighing softly through my nose and nodded. "It's better to make one of my own than to hatch one and have it go berserk on me. I trust Rozalin..."
"What do you even plan on making with this combination? Wait...don't tell me you're actually planning on creating...Dark Pegasus..?" Naju asked with deep curiosity, slithering over toward me with prying curiosity.
I glanced over at her with a light smirk, chuckling softly at her then looked back over at Rozalin in her pod. "You're still as bright as ever, Ms. Hachiman."
Naju chuckled at my compliment, walking over to her computer to get the Fusion Process started, typing quickly on her keyboard. "I already know that, Your Highness..~"
The stage was now set for my plan to take down the Sagittarius Department in one night then to destroy the Libra Department so Leonidas won't have the chance to enter either Naju's nor Anna's Lab. I had everything planned out, destroy Reinhart first then kill Leonidas on V.J.I's Judgement Day.