Quickly, as Rayna, Alba, and the others explored the academy, they learned of the tragedies that had occurred while they were away.
How many students had been slaughtered and the cause of it all. It was hard for them to believe, but there was something visible that allowed them to comprehend the large scale of the devastation.
In the main academy building, a place usually reserved for teachers, several large halls had been converted into medical bays.
Even now, students were being treated, and Safa, with her Light magic and spear on her back, was using her powers as best as she could.
Her efforts were working wonders on many of the severe wounds that couldn't be healed otherwise.
The others were trying their best to help in their own ways. Most of the Crimson Crane, including Alba, were attending to several of the bodies.
In the main courtyard, hundreds of dead bodies lay covered in white cloth. Special flowers and other offerings were being placed by each of the bodies.
The idea was to have a mass funeral service for the students, and they were helping with all of this.
"This is just sickening, isn't it?" Cronker said as he placed a bouquet of flowers in a clay pot in front of one of the students covered in cloth. "I don't even think Pagna clans could be this cruel."
"Right, and all of this was caused by Alter? What were they even thinking? Were they trying to wipe the Dark Faction off the map?" Tilion asked.
"It's as he said—they must truly want to get rid of the Dark Magus," Reno replied. "You heard his story; he knows too much about their corrupt ways."
"Right? But if Alter and Alterian are linked, how are they connected to Pagna?" Alba wondered. "Was this really necessary? It feels like Raze's business with the Grand Magus and this Dark Magus is becoming an issue for all of Pagna."
Elsewhere in the academy, in a single room, Anna was sitting in a chair. She looked at a round object placed on the table before her.
"I told you, I really did tell you that if you did this, you'd end up this way," Anna said out loud. "Zon's headed off to look for Raze, trying to reach him, and now Raze wants me to find Charlotte."
"My guess is it's because of what happened to you, right, Himmy?" Anna said as she clenched her trousers tightly. "I didn't want you to go so soon… why does everyone have to be such a fool."
Back in the town of Flendon, with everything finally done, Raze was ready to leave. There had been a few interruptions, but it was quite clear there wouldn't be any more.
He had come out of the situation a lot stronger, though, increasing his star level, his Pagna stage, and now even unlocking hints of being able to use his breakthrough-like power.
In some ways, he was thankful the Doclet Kingdom had attacked, as it gave him a sense of just how much stronger he had become.
He had a good understanding of his Qi, as well as his magical powers. His Dark magic in particular had increased substantially due to all the fighting.
"You ready to go finally?" Han asked.
"Yeah, I don't think Father expected us to take this long, but it's not like we could've dragged you away from everything that was happening," Fing said.
"Let's go," Raze replied.
All three of them stepped outside the front gate. They were getting ready to sprint to the Neverfall Clan base until they heard a loud, bellowing cry from behind.
"WAIIIIIT!" a voice screamed at the top of its lungs.
Turning their heads, they saw a warrior hurrying toward them, wearing a strange black vest of armor. When the warrior reached them, he skidded across the ground, huffing and panting, trying to catch his breath.
"I finally get to meet you… do you remember me?" Brack asked.
Looking closely at the young man's face, something clicked in Raze's memory.
"From the Martial Arts Tournament, you were the student from the Behemoth Clan, right?" Raze asked.
"Right… you protected me back then. I had nowhere to go, so I ended up in this town," Brack explained. "I was… I was…"
Brack had been exhausted, having pushed himself far beyond his limits in attempting to stop the Behemoth Clan's advance.
Eventually, he woke up and overheard the guards talking about what had happened with the Behemoth Clan and the Doclet Kingdom.
It was unbelievable to Brack to hear that Sha Mo, the Mountain—the unstoppable force—had been defeated. It just wasn't possible.
However, what concerned him even more was that the Dark Magus, the person he had been longing to meet, was here in this city.
Upon meeting head guard Andy, he was informed they were getting ready to leave, and he had managed to catch them just in time.
"I've wanted to ask this since I met you… but please." Brack fell to his knees and placed his head on the ground. "Take me as your disciple… please! I'll follow you anywhere, do whatever I can to aid you on your journey."
"What is going on?" Fing said. "We don't have time for this."
"He's right, we must hurry. You should ask about joining the Crimson Crane or one of the other clans before asking Raze," Han stated as he turned around. However, Raze didn't turn with him.
The answer surprised the two brothers, who let out a slight gasp, and it even surprised Brack, who lifted his head with a raised eyebrow.
"You will?" Brack replied. "I mean, thank you! Thank you for taking me in as your disciple!"
The brothers didn't understand why Raze had agreed, but he had his reasons, and with that, Brack was now tagging along with Raze as he headed to the Neverfall Clan.
'I will finally get my answers as to just what the Dark Faction founder was doing here in the first place… and how to get out of Pagna!'