A tiny black speck appeared in the sky at first, but suddenly the spot began to widen with great speed, growing larger and larger.
Before they knew it, the students and instructors were already watching someone flying toward them.
The students slowly rose to their feet because there was only one person they all suspected could fly. Since this was the same thing they'd all been desperately wishing would appear to them right now, seeing the flying figure sent their hopes soaring.
Shae looked toward the direction of the sky. Nyssa did too. She was smiling, a strange light shining in her eyes as she quickly stood up, watching the figure fly closer.
Shae glanced at her, smiling softly as his eyes seemed illuminated by the radiant dance of joy in the depths of her eyes.
Nyssa was a flawless example of beauty to him. His heart could barely be contained within his chest as he watched her.
The person finally arrived above and slowly descended. At this point, they weren't wondering anymore. Mumbles traveled across the crowd of students that stood in front of the massive estate building. Some were standing around trees, some were far behind on the lawns, some toward the building, gathered around its stairs and columns. All of them were muttering to each other and looking at the strange boy who had just landed.
He had very beautiful white hair, which left them with a little confusion. But even with the difference in his appearance, it was hard not to recognize his bearing, the way he flew, his eyes and the way he looked.
The instructors, Clans and Citadel representatives were all gathered around him, along with a strange boy who was hugging him while they were trying to talk to him.
"Stars! I knew you could never die. Why would you die?!"
Northern chuckled dryly, trying to struggle his way out of Ellis' tight hug.
"Right. How could I?"
Ellis suddenly withdrew, looking at Northern with a frown.
"But Helena was so convinced! She was so convinced you had died! Even after all we went through in the Dark Continent together, to be so easily convinced—it's disappointing really."
Northern glanced at the Huntress, who stylishly hid her face. Then he smiled.
"Helena is a hater, don't you know? She probably wishes me dead."
Helena wanted to speak but Northern shoved Ellis' face away from him, causing a distraction.
One grey-haired instructor had gotten closer and was already speaking.
"H–how? Student Rian, I thought you died in there."
Northern looked at the aged-faced man and smiled softly.
"I did. But those were merely my clones. I've been in Fhugal the whole time."
The instructor's eyes slowly widened.
"You've been…"
The golden-haired boy with a yellow creature with long hair lying slouched on his head spoke with a tender frown knitting his brows.
"How does that even make sense? You have a clone? But you also have a fire talent, and an ice talent, and you can fly? Can someone please make it make sense? Because suddenly, I'm not sure if this guy operates on the same talent laws and concepts as we all do."
Northern glanced at the boy with a smile, his eyes widening with sparkles.
"Finally! Someone gets it!"
At that point, Vector was not happy he got it. His face just froze, spiraling further down the path of intense and terrifying confusion.
It was hard—in fact impossible—to imagine such a thing happening, which was why he had made such a bold statement. Because it was supposed to be impossible.
At the same time, Northern was looking at him with eyes that said, "Oh beautiful stars! You're so brilliant!"
That very fact made it difficult to digest because how was he supposed to start understanding something that he had never thought of and just couldn't fit into his head? He would need more information to understand this mess!
And it wasn't just him. Others gathered around were all muttering with different expressions of awe and disbelief.
The instructors especially kept mumbling among each other. At that moment, he felt so much like the center of attention and wished he could sink into the ground. He was reminded once again of the reason why he wouldn't want to be a hero whose image stands as the beacon of humanity.
Northern exhaled and was about to speak when a tender, musical voice sounded.
"Silence everyone."
Northern's eyes widened slightly as he saw who had come.
It was Selis Vorn, from the Caevlyn Citadel, which was the strongest Citadel in the Central Plains, with their Citadel Master being one of the true strongest five paragons that existed in the Central Plains.
Northern smiled a little as he saw her. She was looking much better. The terrible injury she had received seemed to have been properly taken care of by Healers. Although her eyes looked slightly dull, there was still some life in them.
Her voice continued.
"Let the poor boy have his breath. Right now, we should be focused on the evacuation!"
The instructors nodded among themselves, all agreeing in unison.
One of them, a sharp-looking man with brown ruffled hair that fell above his brows, stepped out and said in a clear and audible tone.
"Right now, going anywhere beyond the estate is dangerous. The City is under immense attack. Our options are very limited."
"Was…"
The man paused to look at Northern, who had interrupted him.
"Pardon?"
Northern spoke again.
"Was. The city was under attack. I ended it when I came around. But at the same time, I don't think evacuation would be possible through conventional means. The Airport was attacked and the ships were all stolen by strange hijackers. Now that I think about it, they have really been preparing for this…"
He sighed and shook his head before continuing.
"Anyways, right now, the Academy could be under attack. Is it really a great decision to have the students go back?"
The students' faces slowly hardened. They all stood, stepping forward slightly to listen more to the conversation. Northern glanced at all of them with caution before continuing.
"I'm just saying… the terrorists were at least kind enough to make plans to keep the students off the Academy. You guys won't have to die while trying to protect what is yours. There are still very notable instructors in the Academy. I know of Instructor Annette—she cannot be defeated easily, that I know. Of course, her alone is not enough to stop an invasion of that magnitude. I'm sure a lot of the school's instructors also stayed back, so the Academy will be safe. Why don't we consider another means of safety? I, at least, and some other instructors will go to the Academy and serve as backup, and the rest of the students find safety."
The crowd of students slowly parted, and Nyssa, Shae and a few other faces that Northern recognized surfaced.
Northern frowned subtly as they approached.
'...they better not.'
Shae stood beside Nyssa, his gaze rigid with determination.
"This should not even be a question."
He paused, looked at Northern and the instructors.
"If you ask every student here, they are probably burning with an intense desire to save our school."
His frown deepened, the light in his eyes resonating somewhat with that in every other member of the Student Council that gathered around.
"Milhguard is a home to us all. Who sits around, looking for safety while watching their home burn?"
Shae went silent for a moment, staring deep into Northern's eyes. Then he looked at the instructors and everyone standing with unwavering confidence.
"It's not a question that we need to prioritize the safety of the students, that is why the student council will be going along with the instructors. This is not even up for argument."
Northern stared at the Council Vice President, and at Nyssa herself, then at the rest of them. He could even see the boy who had sustained a severe injury from him standing upright and perfectly healed.
Maybe he wasn't perfectly healed, but he at least looked the part.
The instructors showed a little hesitation, but they did not say anything. Northern could perceive the subtle weight of the Student Council's influence like a canopy.
Finally, Selis spoke, her voice stern and almost intimidating.
"I'm pretty sure you kids have no idea what you are all asking for. We don't know what is going on, but so much has been put into the preparation of such large-scale destruction. It's stupid guts and reckless, irritating pride to think that your presence will matter on such a scale of battle. I recommend you all find your way back to your parents' homes and stay safe. Let the adults take care of this."
Northern glanced at Selis. The young lady spoke so much sense it suddenly felt like she was more beautiful.
Which she definitely wasn't.
Northern was silent for a few seconds then he sighed.
"Alright. This is what will happen."