After watching such a display unfold, those who were around to see it started to gossip about what had just happened.
Voices in the background force their way into Oscar's ears.
"Oh my, did you see that?"
"How pathetic."
"I'd be embarrassed to death if I were him."
"Can't believe I found him scary at times."
"I mean, even I would be ashamed."
All of those comments infuriated Oscar. His blood was boiling like a pot, but he addressed his peers in a controlled manner.
"That's enough. All of you go back to class."
For any other person who wasn't part of the academy, it would seem like an understandable instruction, but to them, it sounded like a threat. So, they obediently followed it and dispersed.
Their chatter slowly diminishes with each step they take. All of them left except for Nathan and Noah, who were concerned about their friend.
"Why are you guys still here?" Oscar said this in an anguished tone.
"Just making sure that you were okay; that's all."
"Thank you, but I think I need a moment to myself."
"Oscar-."
Oscar looks at Nathan, pleading for him and Noah to leave. He didn't say a word to him, but Nathan understood. He understood that familiar look on his face, one he had seen from time to time in the mirror.
"Let's go, Noah. I have to change back."
"I appreciate it… both of you."
After leaving Oscar, their walk together was just silence. Nobody wanted to break this with a conversation because they both wanted to let what they saw sink in, but Noah finally does.
"Do you think he'll be okay, Oscar, I mean?"
"Yes. But who did you think I'd talk about?"
"His cousin."
"Ah, I see."
"Do you have something to say?"
"Nothing in particular."
"But since we're on the topic, I kind of feel bad for him. Sure, he's an asshole, but that's too much."
"I agree, but what can we do about it? This school is filled with almost every person here coming from a noble family. It's none of our business what they do behind those big closed doors."
"Sounds a bit harsh, but I understand."
As their conversation comes to a stop, they notice their classmates standing around the classroom, and the teacher isn't there.
Seraphina approaches them and asks.
"Is it true what has happened to William?"
"Guess this is the school's new hot topic."
"We can thank his parents for that."
"So, it's true."
Nathan begins looking around the class as their chatter gets louder by the second and asks Seraphina where the teachers are.
"I heard they were called for an emergency meeting."
He and Noah look at each other in suspicion after hearing her response. Confused about their reactions, she asks them both.
"What is it? Why are you guys giving each other that face?"
"Sera, where are Ari and Ella?"
"They both have a magical theory class together."
"Thanks. Noah, follow me back there."
"Wait, where are you two going?"
"I have something to talk about with Noah. Can you try taking over the class, even if it's for a little bit?"
"You'll tell me what this is all about after this."
Seraphina then starts calling her classmates to her in front of the class, distracting them from the two boys in the back.
"This feels weird, Noah. After the whole William situation, and now all the teachers are preoccupied."
"I feel the same. But do you think Headmaster Celestia came back?"
"I guess that would explain the meeting."
"But I still have this sickening feeling in my gut, like, ugh, like something doesn't feel right."
The two of them continue their discussion, but a bird flew past them, which looked like it was observing them and their class.
"Noah, did you see that?"
"See what?"
"The bird that just flew by."
"What about it?"
"Look!"
They stare at the bird and watch it perch on top of the roof after doing the same in the class after theirs. It stood still and opened its mouth, but nothing came out of it. Nathan takes a glance at the bird's eyes and notices how unusual they are. Its pupils were smaller and sharper than how other birds look like.
[What the hell?]
An explosion from upstairs came off, causing the classes beneath it to shake aggressively and their floors to crumble bit by bit.
"WHAT WAS THAT!"
Seraphina acts quickly and tells her panicking classmates to leave and go downstairs, through the exit. They all rush out with the floor opening a space between Nathan and Noah, and Seraphina on the other side of it.
"Leave Sera, we'll handle this, so just go."
"Go and check on the others, I'll make sure everyone on my side is safe."
So, Seraphina sets off to her task of ensuring the safety of her classmates and they were to do the same on the other side.
They ran through the halls, instructing everyone to head downstairs. And as doing so, they meet up with Ariel and Eleanor.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?" shouted an aggressive Ariel.
Noah
"I DON'T KNOW!"
A piece of the rocky ceiling falls on Eleanor, but Nathan rushes towards her and pushes her out of the way with him ending up on top of her.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Yes, I think I'm fine."
Noah pulls Nathan up.
"There is a time and place for everything, but right now is not the time!"
Nathan
"Did everyone else leave?"
Eleanor
"Yes, but we don't know about the people upstairs."
Ariel
"That's where the explosion came from."
Nathan looks up and asks Ariel.
"Who is upstairs?"
"I heard it's some of the first years."
"I'll go see if they all left while you three clear out this floor."
"Let me go with you, Nate."
"No, Noah. I need you with them in case your earth magic can create a steep surface so that they can get people out of here."
Noah hesitantly agrees before going with the girls and checking the other classes.
Nathan then heads off upstairs with one person in mind.
[Harry, hold on.]
He arrives upstairs in search for Harry and the other first years who might be stuck or hurt, but after running past each classroom, he saw a man in a dark cloak where the explosion happened with golden brown sunshine lighting on him.
He seemed familiar to Nathan, like they had met before. But as the man was picking something up with his right hand, he had a tattoo of horns on it.
Nathan's heart skipped a beat, almost losing his breath at who was in front of him. He grits his teeth and grips his fists before saying.
"You…"
The man heard him and slowly turned around with a soft, maniacal chuckle escaping his mysterious self. He lets down his hood, and the man who stood before Nathan was a man with black hair and blue eyes, with a scar coming across his lips.
"Well, isn't it our little hero. Are you here to save the day?"