"Abandon the city? How are we going to do that?" Bridget asked curiously.
The entire capital was practically overrun with members of the Order of the Flaming Rose and demonkind.
If it were so easy, they would have definitely left and not remained here for months, risking their lives and barely scraping by every day.
"Do you have something in mind?" Nyx asked, her brows furrowed slightly. Over the past couple of years, her reckless brother had gone through significant development.
He no longer rushed headfirst into battle and always made meticulous, sufficient preparations. She was certain that he had a plan for them to escape the city.
"Yes, I have a plan," he nodded with a confident expression.
Different thoughts passed through the minds of everyone present. They were all wondering how he would pull it off. Some, however, were skeptical and preferred to stay. Even though it wasn't the safest place—considering the countless enemies that roamed outside—it was still comfortable.
As long as the demons didn't know about this place, it remained their safest refuge.
Most of the students had witnessed firsthand how cruel the demons were, slaughtering others, leaving behind deep trauma.
Only a few courageous ones could even face them again.
Were they really ready to risk their lives? What if they got caught? What was the guarantee that they would escape the city?
Most importantly, even if they escaped—where would they go?
Although Nox had quite the reputation in the academy for being one of the strongest, he hadn't really demonstrated leadership capabilities. So, a majority of the students remained skeptical.
One of them soon spoke.
A tall, muscular boy with a buzz cut stepped forward.
"I'm sorry, Cromwell," he said. "But I'm not putting my life on the line based on some vague plan of yours."
Several others nodded behind him, their eyes wary.
"You might be strong, but this isn't just about strength. You think escaping a city crawling with demons and those cursed knights is that easy?"
More murmurs broke out. Unease was spreading.
Nox narrowed his eyes at him. "And staying here is a better option?"
"At least here we're hidden!" the boy snapped. "We've survived this long because we didn't act rashly. You show up out of nowhere and start giving orders like you're our leader!"
Bridget's eyes flicked between them, but she didn't interfere.
Nox's expression remained calm, though a flicker of frost flashed in his gaze.
"I never said I was your leader," he said plainly. "But if you think cowering here until the demons break in is the smarter idea, be my guest."
"Tch." The boy clicked his tongue. "Don't come crying when your whole group gets wiped out."
"Likewise," Nox replied.
Jack stood up, clearly siding with Nox. "We're not forcing anyone. But don't expect us to stay behind and die when there's a way out."
"Way out? Do you even know the condition outside?!" another student shouted. "You'll all get hunted before you make it past the second wall!"
Nyx finally spoke, her voice lazy but cold. "Then stay and wait for death. Your fear is understandable. Just don't try dragging the rest of us down."
"You guys are insane!"
"Maybe," Nox said, turning around. "But we're not cowards."
That shut them up.
The room fell into silence.
After a moment, Bridget sighed and stood up. "I'm going with Nox."
This shocked even the doubters.
They had at least expected the headmistress to stay back. Now that she was going too, even among the doubters there was—
The headmistress and Jack were the most powerful in the group without a doubt. If the two left, the group would be greatly weakened.
"You are?" the buzz-cut boy frowned. "But this place—"
"Won't hold for long," Bridget interrupted. "He's right. The moment they locate this place, it's over. I've seen it happen before."
Then, to the entire room, she added, "Everyone who wants to come, prepare to move within the hour. Those who want to stay, that's your choice."
Some students looked torn.
Others already began packing their things.
But the boy with the buzz cut gritted his teeth.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here!" he declared firmly as he sat down. Some students agreed to stay back too.
To Nox's surprise, those who decided to stay were more than those who agreed to follow him.
'Well, it's their choice,' he thought as he made a headcount. In total, fifty students—including the headmistress, Jack, Theo, and Nyx—were joining him. S~eaʀᴄh the NovelZone.fun website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Now that he looked closely, he suddenly realized someone wasn't present.
"Where is Serana?" His heart skipped a beat, and several scenarios flashed through his mind.
Nyx remained silent too. Then, after a while, she said in a low voice, "At the time of the invasion, she was with Grandpa. That's all we know. They didn't return."
"If they didn't return, I'm sure Grandfather went back to the barony," Nox said, his voice filled with confidence.
Nathan was someone who would lay down his life for the barony. He could watch the capital burn, razed to the ground, but he would rather die than watch the town he built from scratch be destroyed.
Nathan wasn't the only one who had this mindset. Nox, Nyx—they all shared the same thought process.
Although they were citizens of the Vermilion Kingdom, they didn't care much about the capital. Unlike their hometown, which was populated by those they truly cared for.
Some time later, the group of fifty began to leave while the remaining students watched with expressions of steel.
The boy with the buzz cut—Giles—took the position of leader. Looking back, Nox couldn't help but notice that the majority of those who had decided to stay behind were females.
'Poor creatures,' he thought as they exited through the passage.
Bam!
The stone door slammed shut.
"Now what?" one of the students asked Giles.
"They left enough food for us to survive for weeks," he said, his gaze fixed on the sealed passage. "When it's exhausted, I and a few others will venture outside and get more food."
"How long are we planning to stay in this creepy place?" a beautiful, now-disheveled girl asked.
"As long as it takes," Giles muttered. "When the situation improves outside, we'll step out."
BAM!
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed, and chunks of rock fell from the walls. Everyone's eyes immediately snapped toward the door, which was now showing cracks—and their eyes widened.