Chapter 189: When the Strong Ones Arrive

Aris Velloria walked between two instructors, one hand pressed against her abdomen. The wound was an illusion, just as the exhaustion weighing down her steps was carefully staged. Sephtis had learned long ago that appearing helpless was often more useful than appearing strong. People questioned strangers who seemed suspiciously capable, but they rarely questioned a frightened girl who needed assistance.

"Can you keep walking?" one instructor asked.

Aris nodded weakly. "Yes. Thank you for helping me."

"Save your strength. We’re almost at the western shelter."

She lowered her gaze, though her attention remained sharp. The instructors were tense, their hands staying close to their weapons as they scanned the corridor ahead.

They rounded a corner and entered a wide courtyard. Several dozen students had gathered there beneath a temporary magical barrier. Injured students lay on blankets while instructors moved between them, distributing healing potions and checking their conditions.

At the center of the courtyard stood a tall woman with dark hair tied behind her head. Professor Valeria Draven. Sephtis recognized the name from Mara’s memories. Valeria was responsible for combat instruction, and the students who attended her classes knew better than to underestimate her.

"Move the injured toward the inner shelter," Valeria ordered. "Keep the main path clear. Anyone capable of walking should help those who cannot."

An instructor hurried toward her. "Professor, the eastern passage has collapsed. We’ve lost contact with two groups."

"Then send someone through the southern corridor. Do not enter the eastern passage until we know whether it is stable."

Her instructions were direct and immediate.

A few steps away, Professor Kaelen Draven stood beside a damaged support pillar, a sword resting in his hand as he examined the cracks spreading across the stone.

"The barrier won’t withstand another direct strike."

"Can you reinforce it?" Valeria asked.

"For a short time. But if another demon reaches this courtyard, keeping it standing won’t be enough."

"Then make sure no demon reaches it."

Kaelen gave a grim smile. "That was already the plan."

He channeled mana through his sword and into the damaged pillar. The cracks gradually sealed, and the barrier above them steadied under the reinforcement.

A sudden impact shook the courtyard. Students flinched as dust fell from the surrounding buildings, and a distant scream cut through the noise.

Valeria turned toward the western passage. "Kaelen."

"I heard it."

He was already moving. Valeria followed at once. Several instructors started after them, but she stopped them with a sharp gesture.

"Stay here. Protect the students."

Then she and Kaelen disappeared into the smoke.

Aris remained beside the shelter entrance with her head lowered. A young instructor approached her a moment later.

"Miss Velloria, you should sit down."

"I’m fine," she replied softly. "I just need a moment."

He hesitated, then nodded and returned to his duties.

A terrible crash echoed from beyond the courtyard, followed by a desperate voice.

"Please! Someone help me!"

The cry came from a narrow passage leading toward the western training grounds. A student stumbled into view with one hand pressed against his chest. His uniform was soaked with blood, and his legs trembled beneath him.

Behind him emerged a demon. Its body was lean, its dark horns swept backward, and its long fingers ended in curved claws. Black mana crawled across its forearms like living veins. A low, wet clicking sound came from its throat with every breath.

The student collapsed. The demon caught him by the back of his uniform and lifted him off the ground as if he weighed nothing.

"Another one," it muttered, almost thoughtfully.

The student struggled weakly. "Please..."

The demon tilted its head, studying him for a moment longer than necessary. Then it drove its claws into his chest with deliberate precision. His voice stopped at once. It released him, allowing the lifeless body to fall onto the stone, and wiped its claws against its own arm as if cleaning them.

For a heartbeat, the courtyard fell silent.

Then panic erupted. Students screamed and scrambled toward the shelter. Several instructors immediately moved to intercept the demon, but the creature raised its hand and released a wave of black mana. The first instructor was thrown against a wall. Another barely managed to raise a defensive spell before the force shattered it and sent him tumbling across the ground.

The demon advanced with a crooked smile. "Where are the strong ones? Have they abandoned you?"

Aris lowered her head, appearing overwhelmed with terror. Inside, however, Sephtis felt no fear of her fellow demon—only a cold, calculating curiosity.

A heavy pressure of mana suddenly descended upon the courtyard. The demon’s smile vanished.

A figure landed between it and the shelter, cracking the stone beneath his boots. Professor Garrick Vane straightened slowly, his expression cold. Behind him, Professor Alaric Thornwood emerged from the smoke, his glasses slightly crooked and his robes stained with dust. His gaze swept over the fallen instructors before settling on the demon.

For the first time since entering the courtyard, the creature took a step backward.

Garrick drew his weapon. "Alaric. Get the injured out of here."

Alaric adjusted his glasses. "Understood."

Garrick’s grip tightened around his sword. His mana surged, and the courtyard trembled beneath the pressure.

The demon bared its teeth. "Big words for a human."

Garrick said nothing.

Alaric turned toward the shelter. "Everyone, move! Now!"

The instructors hurried to evacuate the remaining students. Aris allowed herself to be led with them. As she passed through the shelter entrance, she glanced back once.

Garrick stood alone before the demon, his sword angled toward the ground. Alaric had already begun forming a magical barrier around the evacuation route.

Two powerful professors. Two different responsibilities.

Sephtis lowered her eyes, a faint, unreadable expression flickering across her borrowed face.

*Show me what the strong ones of this place are truly worth.*

Behind her, the courtyard erupted into battle.

Garrick Vane moved first. His sword cut through the air in a clean diagonal arc, forcing the demon to twist aside. The blade missed its neck by inches, striking the stone wall behind it and carving a deep groove through the surface.

The demon retaliated at once. Its claws swept toward Garrick’s chest.

Garrick stepped inside the attack, twisting his wrist as he brought his sword up in a rising cut aimed at the demon’s exposed side.

Steel flashed—and for the first time, the demon’s smile disappeared completely.