The Alignment's chaos swirled through Ouroboros Academy, lanterns flickering over courtyards littered with spilled cider and trampled cotton candy.
The clocktower's bells tolled faintly, the night fading joy to dread.
Darel lay on the storeroom floor, blood gushing from the gash in his stomach, Kalipher's claws leaving a searing wound.
Each breath was a struggle, his vision blurring as memories flooded—Morgan's grin, Lira's laugh, Gaius's jab from Chapter 10: Morgan was slicker, and look where it got him.
"Shit!" Rowan's voice cracked, raw with panic. "You were right, Nico, something's wrong!"
"I knew it from the start," Nico cried, dropping beside Darel, hands shaking. "He's hurt bad."
Rowan knelt, pressing fingers to Darel's nostrils. "He's barely breathing. We gotta help him."
"I could heal him, but this watch," Nico said, tugging at the glowing band on his wrist.
"He's a prefect," Rowan said, rummaging through Darel's pockets. "He's gotta have a key."
"You can't just assume—" Nico started.
"Found it!" Rowan said, holding up a small silver device, the key, glinting in the dim light.
"Well, that was unexpected," Nico said, stunned.
Rowan unlocked Nico's watch, and it clattered to the floor.
"Here goes nothing," Nico said, stretching his hands over Darel's wound.
A faint energy pulsed from his palms, like time rewinding.
The blood slowed, the gash knitting slightly.
Nico's face aged—stubble sprouted, his eyes sharpened, looking like a man in his late twenties.
He stopped, panting. "I didn't do much, so I'll reset soon. Hope it worked."
Darel's eyes fluttered open, vision hazy. He coughed, touching his stomach—no longer bleeding but raw, pain pulsing with every move.
voice hoarse, forcing himself to stand. "I have to help Lira. She's in danger."
"What happened to Lira?" Nico asked, worry flaring in his chest.
"Long story," Darel said, staggering toward the storeroom. "You guys stay behind. He's dangerous."
"No way," Nico said, voice firm. "Lira's our friend, We are coming."
Darel paused and looked at the two of them.
"I don't have time to argue with you kids," Darel snapped, his fear for Lira overriding the pain.
"If you wanna die, follow me."
Darel went into the storeroom.
"I don't wanna die," Rowan whined, clutching his stomach, still queasy from drinking.
"Get it together, man," Nico said, shoving him.
Darel returned, handing Rowan an axe and Nico a wooden bat, gripping his own axe tightly.
"Who are we killing?" Rowan asked, eyes wide.
"Morgan's killer," Darel said, voice cold. "I'll explain on the way. Time's running out."
They hurried to the clocktower, Darel's steps unsteady but driven.
The Special Dinner Hall glowed with golden chandeliers, the school orchestra's melodies weaving through the air. Alumni mingled with prefects, teachers, and invited students from Years 1-4, their chatter filling the space.
The fundraising dinner was over, and the crowd gathered in a designated area, seated with prefects up front, waiting for Head Prefect Gaius to take his place.
Headmaster Talus, stern and imposing, pulled Gaius—cloaked in white—aside.
"Where's Darel?" Talus asked, voice low.
"Even I'm wondering," Gaius said, frowning.
"He's going to embarrass the school," Talus said, eyes narrowing.
"I'll see what I can do," Gaius assured, heading to his seat.
The crowd gave a short, half-hearted clap as Gaius sat.
"Good evening, everyone," he began. "Tonight's been wonderful. We'd like to thank our sponsors—"
"Where's 7th?" Lord Theron interrupted, his piercing eyes fixed on Gaius. "He was here earlier."
Asher, seated nearby, noticed Blake tense at Theron's voice, his jaw tightening.
"He was ill and stepped out," Gaius lied, voice steady.
"I saw him leave with a girl," Theron said, smirking. "Explain that."
"I—I didn't know," Gaius said, caught off guard.
"A leader who can't control his own," Theron sneered. "What kind of leader is that?"
Gaius didn't flinch, his resolve firm. "I'll work on myself," he said.
"This is an insult," an alumnus shouted. "It's the first time this has happened!"
"He doesn't respect us!" another added.
"I refuse to donate unless he's debadged," Theron declared.
Gaius and Alice froze, shocked. Yul's smile widened, chilling.
"He needs to be debadged, or I won't donate either," another alumnus joined.
"It's one night," another said. "What's so important he couldn't show?"
"Please, my elders," Gaius said, voice breaking. "Darel's not like this. Something must've happened."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Talus stepped forward, voice cold.
"Darel Ashbourne is evicted from being a prefect, as of today."
"No!" Gaius cried. Yul's smile sharpened; the other prefects sat in stunned silence.
"He doesn't portray responsibility," Talus said, turning to Gaius. "He never has."
"This is a rash decision," Gaius argued, fists clenched.
"It's the right decision, Gaius, and you know it," Talus said.
"No, this is bullshit, and you know it," Gaius snapped, fury rising.
"Calm down," Alice said, touching his arm.
"I guess we can continue now," Theron said, smug.
Darel, Nico, and Rowan reached the clocktower, weapons in hand.
"Remember the plan," Darel said, his stomach aching with every step.
"Stay behind me. I'll distract him; you get Lira. Don't worry about me, got it?"
"Yeah, we got it," Nico said, gripping his bat.
"Let's move," Darel said.
They climbed to the clocktower's top, finding it empty.
"He said clocktower," Darel muttered, confused. "Why aren't they here?"
"The rift," Nico said, eyes wide. "He took her to the rift."
"The one from the Morgan's note you spoke about?" Darel asked, heart pounding.
"Yes," Nico confirmed. "There's gotta be something to lead us to it. Search around."
"Sure," Darel said, his voice tight with urgency.
As they searched, a voice cut through.
"You're checking the wrong place."
Darel turned. "Victor!"
"I was here when he opened the rift," Victor said, pointing to a wall with faint, shimmering cracks.
"I didn't find you here, so I went looking for you. I Saw you heading here."
"Who are you?" Nico asked, wary.
"No time for questions," Victor said.
He moved to a wall and pointed to a crack in wall that was barely visible and faintly glowed.
"We have to save Lira. The rift's not fully closed. If we can break it down, we can get to them."
Rowan hefted his axe. "That's not a problem."
"Boys, let's dig," Darel said, his pain fueling his resolve.
Inside the rift, a rocky path stretched under a starlit, night-like sky, the air pulsing as if alive, hungry.
Loops of energy hung like cameras, showing glimpses of the Academy.
Lira was tied to pillars, hands and legs bound, her head throbbing from Kalipher's attack.
She was just waking from the hit, Kalipher sat in her far front , his red-black skin glistening like charred flesh, muscles bulging under jagged scars, eyes burning with predatory fire.
She yanked at her restraints, her choppy hair falling into her eyes. "Let me go!" she cried, voice raw with fear.
"I've been waiting for you to wake," Kalipher said, standing, his voice a menacing growl. "Let's get started."
"What do you want with me?" Lira sobbed, tears streaming. "Please, let me go! Where's Darel? What did you do to him?"
"Your friend? He should be dead by now, if I'm not mistaken," Kalipher said, laughing coldly.
Lira gasped, her heart shattering. "No!" she screamed, her voice breaking. "You're lying!"
"No need to fear," Kalipher said, smirking. "I didn't kill him. He was a threat, so I only let him bleed."
Lira continued to yank her restraints.
"You know,This Academy hides a lot of secrets than you know, Lira," he continued, stepping closer. "I'm a result of them."
"What's your plan? What are you planning to do?" Lira asked, voice trembling, desperate for answers. "Why are you doing this?"
"My plan?" Kalipher said, eyes glinting. "I only have one plan—and that is to reveal all the secrets of this place and to do that I need broken toys like you—your despair, regret, pain, tears.
You're the fuel to my plan and once I'm done, not only the Academy but the world will know."
"After all these years, why now?" Lira asked, her voice small, haunted by her vision's echo: Your death is inevitable.
Kalipher laughed, cruel and sharp.
"Enough story for you. It's time to go to bed. Stay gentle for me."
He raised his clawed hand, menace dripping from his voice.
Lira's breath caught, fear choking her. "No, please," she whispered, tears falling. "I don't want to die."
BAM!
Kalipher froze, his eyes narrowing.
BAAMM!
He turned, claws gleaming.
BAAAMMMM!
The wall tore open, revealing the rift's shimmering void.
Four figures stood, armed: Darel, Rowan, Theo, Victor.
"Step away from her," Darel warned, axe raised, his stomach screaming with pain but his voice steady.
"Now."