Bryson Coldwater sat in the medical wing of The Academy. While the impact from the mana force blast he received left him a few bruises, he really thought that having to be brought here for a checkup was excessive. Especially when he still had questions he wanted answered about that weird smoky-headed monster. Questions he couldn't ask when the adults escorted him out of the classroom and directly here.

A nurse very briefly treated his minor wounds, leaving him and an ice pack to press on the sore back as they went off to talk to some of the teachers. Bryson, sitting on his hospital bed was now wondering if he could just get up and leave. Strangely enough, he was in a private room despite how minor his injuries were.

They said something about how it's because I'm the son of a duke. But I think there's more to it. Bryson thought, maybe if he waited he could get his answers, or it could cause more headaches for him. As he was still debating with himself the door opened and in came Orchid Falls.

She, however, was not alone, awkwardly following behind was Prince Reynard Alvidor and that Anna Cherrywood, the girl whom Bryson still didn't know. The two of them looked lost and confused while Orchid had a playful smile on her face.

"Well, if it isn't my saviour~! Do you need me to help treat your wounds~?" Orchid said rather mischievously. Standing at full height, she towered over the seated Bryson.

"Fooling around really?" Bryson said quickly trying to respond and control his reaction to this sudden attack.

Orchid proceeded to let out a giggle before the door behind them opened again. Immediately Orchid's face turned from playful to rather sheepish as she locked eyes with the newcomer.

She was about as tall as Orchid and wore what looked to be doctor scrubs with a stethoscope around her neck. She had aqua blue hair tied in a bun and held a very serious look on her face. Her arms were crossed and clearly not in a very good mood.

"Orchid." The woman said sternly.

"Ah, Emmaline, fancy seeing you here." Orchid said as her eyes seemed to drift elsewhere.

"Why? I'm the chief of medicine at The Academy why wouldn't I be here?" Emmaline Elris said, her glare on Orchid not disappearing.

"It's just that shouldn't you be busy?" Orchid said as Bryson found her moving behind him. Don't get me involved with this. Bryson thought as he was looking at her.

"Yes with patients and today you are the most important one."

"What about Bryson?" Orchid said as she grabbed Bryson's shoulders from behind. The moment Emmaline made eye contact with Bryson he really wished he was not between the two.

"The boy only received a few minor bruises. He didn't even get scratched. You however being forever so foolish, expended way too much mana trying to absorb that corroded toxin." Emmaline said as she stepped forward and in response Orchid now tried to hide behind Bryson.

"I couldn't let him destroy the school or hurt the students. You wouldn't want this innocent boy to suffer from any burns right?" Orchid said, using Bryson almost like a gift as she held him in front of Emmaline.

Emmaline looked back down towards Bryson, "Bryson Coldwater correct?"

"… Yes." Bryson said as he tried to figure out how to get out of this scenario.

"I thank you for keeping her safe." Emmaline said bowing towards him.

"Oh, uh." Bryson stuttered surprised at this change in attitude, "It was nothing, I just did what I needed to do."

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"Hey, I'm a legendary witch! I don't need someone to protect me." Orchid complained, standing back up straight and sounding indignant.

"Retired witch of legend. Also that's not what the report said." Emmaline corrected, "It sounded like if it wasn't for a Coldwater your face would have been torn off by a smoke man monster."

"Okay, so I had some trouble." Orchid admitted before looking back down at Bryson "Which reminds me." She said letting go of his shoulders and stepping back to look at the group of students as a whole.

"Thank you all. Your bravery helped me keep the school safe." She thanked them.

"Oh, it's nothing." Reynard said taken aback.

"Yeah it was the right thing to do." Anna.

"It was the stupid thing to do. He could have killed you all." Emmaline corrected, "But I too am thankful you did come back. The others didn't." Emmaline said bitterly.

"Oh please Emma, they're only fifteen. They did as they were told and left." Orchid said, "Usually we commend those who listen. Besides I don't think just any student could do what they did. It was all very impressive." She praised.

Her eyes then drifted back to Bryson, "Especially you Bryson Coldwater."

"I don't think letting my homeroom teacher and an entire class of students die would be very good for my academic career." Bryson said with a shrug.

"Honestly, when you tried to help me I thought you were going to die. Your magical aptitude is rather impressive." Orchid complimented, "I see all three of you doing well in your studies."

"I appreciate the compliments, but did you bring all three of us here just to say thank you?" Bryson asked.

"No, I'm also here to address any questions and tell what happens next." Orchid said inviting them to ask away.

"What was that thing?" Anna asked, "It seemed to be some type of simulacrum."

"It was." Orchid nodded gravely, "It was a simulacrum summoned here for the sole purpose of causing destruction. It was given a time limit of three hours to destroy as much as possible before disappearing. Thankfully, we were able to stop it before that." Orchid said nodding her head towards Bryson.

"How did it get there?" Reynard asked, "I destroyed the summoning circle, but that wasn't there before."

"No, someone drew it recently."

"How recent?" Bryson asked.

"Anytime between yesterday and a week ago. It would have been easier to tell if someone didn't destroy the entire wall." Emmaline said shooting a dirty look at Reynard.

"Sorry." Reynard said meekly.

"Don't be. You managed to hurt that thing."

"Wait, but if someone drew that thing recently then wouldn't that mean that the culprit is a staff member of the school?" Bryson pointed out.

"It could also be a student?" Anna offered, "Anyone who was given access to the place early."

"Unfortunately we're painfully aware of that possibility." Orchid said, "There are currently some investigations underway. But a lot of the higher-ups want to keep the incident under wraps."

"But why?" Anna asked.

"A few reasons. The idea of the greatest school on the planet being invaded does not sit well with people. We also don't want the guilty member to escape and we have an inkling of who it might be."

"You do? If you do, then shouldn't you catch him? The guy using the simulacrum should still be recovering from it being destroyed." Bryson said.

"The issue is we believe that they're working in a group." Emmaline said.

"A group?" Reynard asked.

Orchid looked at them, "Have you heard of the prophecy of the heroes of the Sixth?"

Anna looked confused, "Prophecy?"

"I wasn't aware of it either." Bryson said.

"I am. Though my dad tends to keep most of the details from me, I know that heroes will emerge and have to deal with the armies of darkness in the near future." Reynard explained.

"Yes, it is theorized that this school will be involved in battles in the future." Orchid said nodding, "It was thought best to have things be contained here rather than spread across the world, where the best and brightest minds can handle it. You."

"Which I think is ridiculous, but it does lessen public panic." Emmaline said nodding her head.

"So why are you telling us then?" Anna asked.

"Because all we know is that some students will do great things and be recognized by the gods and with what you three showed us so far you need to know about it."

"Wait you think I can be a hero of the Sixth?" Anna asked eyes widening, "That's impossible!"

"Don't be so hard on yourself." Orchid laughed, "Besides we don't know who will be chosen, but brave students like you should be told. If for nothing else so you can help the heroes in the future."

Anna nodded her head as Bryson thought how impossible it would be for him to be chosen. He is meant to be one of the bad guys, which raised a few questions on what would happen to him. But he decided to worry about that another time.

"Needless to say, we request you three to keep this a secret for the time being." Emmaline said.

"Right." Reynard said as the other two nodded their heads.

"Perfect." Orchid said clapping her hands together, "Then let's get out of this stuffy room already and celebrate a team victory."

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