The Atlantian heirs were a unique set of people, hating each other for having a claim to the throne, and yet supporting and treating each other with utmost respect. They all stood beside her, waiting on her to lead the fight.
Serine melted the frost daggers in her hands into water, gathering water from all the vessels around, and outside the hall with the help of her people. The water rose into the air in intricate patterns, as it danced in circles, separating into seven distinct piles, gathering at the hands of each of the Atlantians.
With a flick of her wrist, Serine turned the water in her hands into a whip, its tendrils lashing out with deadly precision.
They followed Serine lead, each creating a weapon of their choice. The odds were against them, with fifteen opponents to their seven, but they did not care.
The opponents powered up, those with divine weapons manifesting them. Their leader Madeline shifted, her limbs elongating as her hair grew longer and wilder. Her eyes burned with a green fire, as she grasped her maul edged with runes that fed on the light around her. She smiled cruelly, enjoying the fear that radiated off those around her.
Merva sat on a table at the corner, her eyes fixed on the food before her, as she took slow deliberate bites. The sound of the chaotic fight going on around her faded, as she savored the food.
'I really earned this.'
One of the opponents charged towards her, shattering her bubble. She picked the food tray besides her, lacing it with a bit of unnoticeable power, and slammed it against her face.
She saw that another was coming for her and groaned, looking at her food longingly. With a swift motion, she gathered her long locs from the floor, rolling it into a coil at the mid-back of her hair, securing it with two chopsticks from the table in an x shape. Her hair in place, she picked up the tray and charged at the person coming for her.
Serine and Madeline faced each other, each of them trying to get the upper hand. Madeline's hammer was tied down by Serine whip, each of them pushing, pulling, and kicking at each other.
"Why are such fights never epic." Merva thought. She launched herself at Madeline, grabbing a handful of her hair, yanking her backwards.
Serine took advantage of the situation, and flung the maul from her reach. She used the whip and knocked Madeline down when Merva turned to face another who had hit her at her back.
Merva had landed hits on several of them with her enchanted tray, when the matron walked into the chaos. They all fell to the ground exhausted, as the eunuch followed the matron behind noting down their names.
They all lay on the floor, chest heaving, glaring at each other.
Matron Nadine scanned the hall, taking in the damage that had been done.
"I expect you all to be in the study hall by the third hour of the day tomorrow." she announced her voice stern. "There disciplinary actions will be taken, and your punishment will be decided." With that, she turned and exited the hall, the eunuch following her closely behind.
Each group helped themselves up, the girls in the sidelines heading back to their rooms.
Merva was in pain, and despite that she felt happy. The first fight she had been in, and they were the upper hand.
The students stood in the Nadine's office, their heads hung low in shame, their hands behind their backs, painting a perfect picture of being contrite.
The air was thick with tension as Nadine walked in, her face a picture of disappointment.
"You should all be punished severely for your misbehavior." She said glaring down at them as she circled them. "If this had taken place in the school, you would all be facing expulsion, but the disciplinary committee is busy, and due to their generosity, we will inform your parents and guardians of the cost of the damages done, and ten points will be deducted from each of your semester result."
The girls all sighed in relief, trying to mask the smiles that were budding on their faces.
"You are all fortunate." She added, leaning against her desk, in front of them.
The girls exchanged relieved glances, and the matron Nadine's expression turned sour. "You are dismissed." She said her voice dripping with disapproval.
The girls turned to leave.
"Not you lady Merva." Matron Nadine said. "Wait behind."
The girls filed out, leaving Merva behind.
Merva watched as Nadine stood up from her desk, walked to her chair behind the desk, and settled into it.
She reached for the landline hidden at the corner of her desk by some files, and dialed in some numbers with practiced ease, pressing the button to initiate the call once she was done.
"You don't have to stand that way, its just a call for you." Nadine said as they waited for the call to go through. After a series of clicks, Lena's voice filled the office. "Hello." She cautiously said.
"Here. Have it." Nadine said, handing out the receiver to Merva, and switching it to earpiece mode.
"Hello Lena." Merva responded, placing the cordless receiver against her ear.
"Hello Merva." Lena responded. "How are you?"
"I am fine. What of you and Alex, I heard on the announcement that Edigor was affected, how are you all holding up?" Merva asked anxiously, moving away a bit when she noticed that Nadine was trying to listen in on her conversation.
"We are fine," Lena responded, sighing. "I honestly don't know what is going on either." she paused briefly. "Early this morning, grandfather and Alex had a long conversation and then he left."
"Why?" Merva asked, her face puzzled with confusion.
"I am not sure either, but I think they deployed the divine army." Lena answered.
They both stayed silent for a while, that Merva wondered if the call had dropped.
"Are you still there?" Lena asked.
"Yes, I am." She answered. "But what is truly going on?" Merva asked.
"Even I don't know, but this doesn't seem as minor as they are trying to make it seem, it's more serious."
"But where are you right now?" Merva asked.
"I am outside, helping to coordinate relief efforts for those who were hurt." Lena answered.
"But isn't there a curfew?" Merva asked concerned.
"Yes there is, but I and mother followed grandpa's entourage to help out."
"Someone has to do something, right?" She added finally. Just then, Someone called Lena from the background.
"I am coming." She answered the person. "See. Merva, I called to tell you that i and Alex will not be able to make it in time for your birthday, as there seems to be chaos in the state, and I don't know when he will be back. And grandfather said we will all be coming to the capital city for the equinox ball when all is settled. I have to go now."
"It is fine..." Merva started, but the call had been cut.
Merva handed back the receiver to Nadine. "Thank you." She said absentmindedly, turning to leave.
"Is all okay?" Nadine asked seeing her expression.
"All is fine." She answered walking away.
As she exited the matrons office, and walked into the main building, heading for her room, several girls rushed past her heading to the third floor. Curious, she caught snippets of their excited discussions.
"Handsome military men were marching past the back."
Without hesitation, she followed the girls up to the study hall, which offered a clear view of what was going on through its large side windows.
She stood by the window corner, watching all that was unfolding, as the girls around chattered excitedly, their eyes fixed on the men and women below.
"Oh my god, they look so majestic."
"All the men are so handsome." some commented.
"I know right?" One answered.
But as they watched, they began to notice that something was off.
"Their auras are too strong." One commented
"Why don't they look like the awakened?" Another questioned.
"Aren't their uniforms different? Or am I hallucinating?" Another asked, her brows furrowed in concern.
"Yes they are." A girl replied. "Look at their bearings, look at their posture. They seem like us High gods." She noted.
"Yes. Its true." other girls concurred.
"They are the divine army." A girl informed them all. "My uncle is one." She announced proudly.
The girls conversation turned serious quickly. "Could it be that something serious happened?" One speculated.
"I mean, it can't be true. The higher council would not lie to their citizens would they? Especially we who are the highest nobility." Another replied shutting that theory down.
"Then what exactly could it be."
"What if they are preparing for war?"
The girls exchanged nervous glances, their excitement giving way to fear.
"There hasn't been any serious war in the last eight hundred years, or at least that is what my father says." One responded.
Merva watched as the last of the few hundred soldiers marched away. She turned to leave the room, having confirmed her suspicion, the divine army had been called upon so something serious must be happening.
She heard Vienna the matrons favorite announce that the matron -Nadine- had set up some recreational activity for all who were interested, but she walked past. Her brain was busy over thinking, imagining the worst.