Teachers' Lounge – Zephyrus Academy
On his way to the cafeteria, Damian passed the staff room. The door was half open, and from inside he could hear the sound of quiet conversation. He glanced around.
Several tables were empty; even Professor Limbert was missing. In one corner, Instructor Van was talking with two other teachers. On the center table was a messy pile of letters and documents.
"The neighboring kingdoms are starting to ask about it," one teacher said gravely.
"We can't keep it a secret anymore. Photos and news of this have already spread," another teacher replied.
Damian's eyebrows raised slightly. He suspected they were discussing the ancient painting. Without further ado, he left, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping.
Bulletin Board – Near the Cafeteria
Damian walked down the hallway toward the cafeteria. As he passed a large bulletin board, he stopped in his tracks. Several sheets of the latest newspaper were neatly pasted there, their headlines striking and immediately eye-catching:
Ancient Zephyrus Painting—An Artifact of an Ancient Civilization?
Mysterious Attack Rocks Elite Academy
Who Is Velgrin?
His eyes fell on the blurry photos adorning the front page. There were pieces of the academy's walls destroyed, a faint silhouette visible among the rubble, and a mysterious figure standing amidst the smoke.
Damian took a deep breath. "No wonder the parents are panicking," he thought. This was not an easy situation for the academy.
He stood there for a while, reading several articles. Many were filled with speculation. Some described Velgrin as a former gifted student who had turned against the academy. Others wrote wild theories, including accusations that Zephyrus was hiding something more dangerous than Velgrin's attack.
Several students passed by, glanced at the board, then quickly left. Few dared to discuss it openly in the hallway. Damian could sense that, since the incident, everyone had been choosing their words carefully.
Finally, he decided to take another step. His stomach was growing hungry, and he knew Liam must be waiting for him in the cafeteria.
The cafeteria felt more spacious than usual, not because the space had expanded, but because the number of students eating lunch had decreased significantly. Damian walked with his tray to a table near the window. There, Liam, Rin, Tessa, Elric, Nero, and Lucien were already sitting waiting.
Lucien picked up the newspaper from the table. "The media already knows everything," he said.
"Not everything," Liam replied. "But enough to cause a political problem."
Rin stared at the soup in his bowl without touching the spoon. "If this continues, it won't just be the academy that will be affected. The kingdom will too."
Tessa took a deep breath. "Whatever we do now, everyone will be watching."
Elric grinned faintly. "Isn't that a good thing? It means we're famous."
Damian gave him a flat look. "Famous for almost dying? Thank you, Elric."
Lucien chuckled. "If anyone writes a book about this, it'll be titled 'How Not to Graduate with Peace'."
"Lucien, if you write it, please don't use my picture," Liam said, sipping his drink.
A small chuckle rang out from their table. But beneath it, their moods were still filled with tension. Even Nero, who usually maintained a cool expression, occasionally glanced out the window. His gaze was sharp, as if calculating the distance and considering how quickly he could react if a sudden threat loomed.
Damian caught the movement. His heart tightened. They might be sitting in the cafeteria, talking and laughing as usual, but everyone knew… things weren't completely safe yet.
The bell signaling the end of lunchtime rang. The students began to disperse, returning to their respective classes. Damian walked alone in the corridor, his mind still reeling from the conversation he had overheard in the cafeteria.
The atmosphere at the academy felt like a lull before the next storm. And he knew this lull wouldn't last long.