Atticus had spoken in a completely casual manner, but the three of them who had heard him couldn't help but gulp. Despite the fact that he was currently smiling, Atticus was truly pissed off.
The fact that he was laughing simply meant that he didn't regard them as any threat whatsoever.
It was the kind of anger one would feel if an ant bit you and then ran away and hid under the bed.
"It doesn't look like you can find out anything from them, though," Lucas gestured towards the youth on the ground getting electrocuted.
Throughout the duration of their talk, each of the youths had still been getting electrocuted by their artifacts, but neither one of them showed any pity or compassion for them.
With a focus, Atticus instantly submerged each of them in the earth, stopping them from trying to accept the contract.
After a few seconds, the artifacts stopped electrocuting them.
Atticus wasted no time as he selected random youths from the ones sprawled on the ground, each of them suddenly getting enveloped in water.
With another thought, the water started healing them slowly, relieving them of their fatigue. After a few moments, the water healed them to acceptable levels.
Atticus controlled the orbs of water as they all ascended up the platform, landing directly in front of him.
Atticus released his hold over the water as the forms of the youths spilled onto the platform.
Atticus swiftly spoke, "I will not ask you twice. Tell me everything you can," Atticus demanded.
The contract was sure to restrict what they could say or divulge, but what he had just asked them to do should be more reasonable.
One of the youths suddenly stood upright and got on his knees as he instantly frantically pleaded, "P-please, y-young master, I had no choice! They-" before he could continue speaking, the artifact lit up, and the youth immediately got electrocuted.
Atticus sighed and pushed the youth down from the platform and enveloped his form in earth.
Then Atticus went about questioning the remaining youths with Aurora, Lucas, and Nate.
After a few minutes, what he had been able to find out was, as expected, very little. The only thing each of the youths had been able to talk about was the fact that they had no choice but to accept the contract.
After making sure to find out everything he could from the youths, Atticus finally stopped his interrogation.
He turned and spoke to the trio for a few moments, and after convincing them, Atticus manipulated the earth in the area as the earth suddenly jutted out of the ground and each of the 100 youths were all hit brutally on the head, knocking each of them out.
He then manipulated the earth and created a large earthen platform that lifted each of the unconscious youths from the ground.
The earth wrapped around them holding each of them steady and then with an abrupt motion, Atticus and the youths shot into the skies, heading towards the forest.
"What do you think he's going to do?" Nate suddenly asked after a few seconds while facing the direction Atticus had just left in.
Lucas adjusted his glasses as he answered, "I have a few guesses, but I think it's wise we don't pry. He obviously doesn't want anyone to know," Lucas advised.
"I guess you're right. I hope we get to fight those bastards!" Nate clenched his fist with an excited grin.
Only Aurora remained silent as she stared at the massive platform that had basically become a dot now. Then, without saying anything, she turned and started walking away.
"Damn, she must be pissed," Nate commented after a few seconds while watching Aurora's departing figure.
Lucas nodded his head in affirmation. After a few seconds of pondering, they each started walking out of the training ground.
…
Inside an imposing mansion, situated just beside a large imposing black spire, lay a small training ground. It was situated within the mansion at the middle.
The entirety of the training ground, either the equipment or the ground, was covered by large and thick vines.
If one should take a closer look, they would notice that each of the vines, although very slowly, were subtly growing, increasing in size by the second.
And in the middle of this… forest, a boy sat.
He had red hair, and his form was enveloped in large green, thick vines. The boy sat down cross-legged with his eyes closed on the top of a vine.
This peaceful moment was broken by the sound of the door to the training ground creaking open.
A tall and slender youth with the same red hair stepped in through the door. He approached the boy meditating in the middle, reaching him in a few seconds.
The youth bowed respectfully and spoke, "Young Master Dell, it has started."
Dell's eyes snapped open as his lips suddenly curled up into a huge grin.
"All hundred?" he inquired.
"Yes, Young Master."
"Good, good! And did you also tell them to do what I asked?" Dell asked.
"Yes, Young Master. They would all kill themselves at least 8 times daily and do it as spontaneously as possible."
Dell's smile widened, and he suddenly burst out laughing, his mirth resounding across the training ground.
"Finally! That bastard is finally feeling a taste of my wrath!" Dell laughed for a few more seconds, the youth remaining bowed for the entire duration.
Then he suddenly stopped as his gaze turned cold, "Don't let your guard down and avoid meeting any one of the hundred for now, and just remain lowkey. Let's frustrate him for a few days before we move on to the next phase," Dell instructed.
He had planned out everything thoroughly and carefully, making sure that there were no mistakes.
The academy contract they had forced those youths to accept was completely airtight. None of them could escape doing whatever he wanted. And what was best was that if Atticus stopped them from killing themselves, they would all get electrocuted until they do.
The academy was cruel, incredibly cruel to the weak.
The youth nodded, and with a deep bow, he turned and left the room.
Dell chuckled as he closed his eyes to keep training with a smile on his face.
"I will make you suffer," Dell muttered, his hatred palpable.