CHAPTER 50: THE COUNCIL ELDERS MEETING

The academy was in chaos after the man-beast attack.

Students huddled in groups, whispering nervously as teachers and guards moved through the halls, assessing damages and calming the frightened.

The dining hall bore the worst look after the attack.

There were shattered tables, claw marks gouged into the stone walls, and the lingering scent of burnt magic in the air.

I didn’t have long to take it in before a messenger found me.

"Archer," he said, breathless. "Chancellor Elysia demands your presence in Seraphin’s office immediately."

I nodded and followed him, my mind racing.

Seraphin’s office was dimly lit with the scent of old books and ink thick in the air.

Chancellor Elysia stood by the window, her back straight. She turned as I entered, her eyes locking onto me.

"Archer," she said, her voice calm edged with authority. "Tell me exactly what happened."

I swallowed. "The man-beast attacked me out of nowhere in the dining hall. I don’t know why. Raven and I ran, but it chased us. When we got to the courtyard, it just... kept coming at me."

Elysia studied me, her gaze sharp. "The city’s barrier has been compromised," she said slowly. "There’s no way a man-beast could have entered unless it manifested within one of our own students."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

"Do you know who it was?" she asked.

My fingers twitched at my sides. Richard’s snarling face flashed in my mind—his rage, his desperation.

If I told them, they’d hunt him down. Destroy him.

He needed help, not execution.

I hesitated, then shook my head. "No."

Elysia’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if she could sense the lie, but she didn’t press it any further.

Just then, the door burst open. A group of the academy mages strode in, their faces grim.

One bowed hastily. "Apologies, Chancellor. The man-beast escaped."

Elysia’s composure cracked. "Escaped? How?"

The mage shifted uncomfortably. "It—it vanished. A portal appeared out of nowhere and swallowed it before we could react."

Elysia’s jaw tightened. "The Council of Seven will have my head if I don’t bring them good news."

"We’ve alerted the city’s soldiers," another mage added quickly. "It couldn’t have gone far."

Elysia took a deep breath, regaining herself. "Conduct a headcount of all students. Report the findings to me immediately. I’ll be meeting with the Council shortly."

The mages bowed and hurried out.

Finally, Elysia turned back to me. Her expression softened slightly. "I’m thankful you’re safe, Archer. Be careful next time."

Then, without another word, she swept out of the room, leaving me standing there with my thoughts.

Richard was somewhere out there. And if the academy found him before I did, he was as good as dead.

I must find him.

I believe it’s partially my fault he transformed himself into a man-beast.

As I stepped out of Seraphin’s office, Raven was already waiting for me, pacing back and forth in the hallway.

The moment she saw me, she rushed forward, her brown eyes burning with urgency.

"What happened in there?" she demanded in a hushed voice. "What did they ask you?"

I exhaled, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "It’s fine. They just wanted to know who the man-beast was and why he was after me."

Raven frowned, her fingers tapping against her arm as she thought. "But there’s no one who hates you enough to kill you except..." Her eyes suddenly widened. "Oh no. It’s Richard, isn’t it?"

I grabbed her wrist and pulled her down the hall, away from the office.

"Lower your voice," I hissed. Once we were far enough, I whispered, "Yes. He turned himself into that thing just to get revenge on me."

Raven’s face hardened. "That’s stupid. There’s no way he did that on his own—that kind of transformation is way too advanced for even a standard mage. Someone must have helped him."

I clenched my fists. "Doesn’t matter who helped him. What matters is that he’s out there now, lost to his own rage. I have to find him."

"What?!" Raven grabbed my arm. "Are you insane? That thing nearly killed us! If the mages find him, they’ll destroy him on sight!"

"Exactly," I said firmly. "Which is why I have to get to him first. Before they do."

She stared at me, searching my face for any sign of hesitation.

When she found none, she groaned and let go of my arm. "You’re impossible. Fine. But I’m coming with you."

I shook my head. "No. It’s too dangerous."

"And letting you go alone isn’t?" she shot back. "You don’t even know where to start looking!"

I hesitated. She had a point.

After a long moment, I sighed. "Alright. But if things go bad, you run. No arguments."

Raven smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Just don’t get yourself killed, Archer. Don’t worry, I’ll watch your back."

* * * *

Chancellor Elysia stood before the towering figures of the Council of Seven.

She bowed her head deeply, her hair falling forward as she spoke. "Elders of the Council of Waurweth Academy, I’m afraid I bring some very disturbing news."

One of the elders with piercing golden eyes, gestured impatiently. "Speak."

Elysia straightened, though she kept her gaze respectfully lowered. "A man-beast infiltrated the academy grounds today. It attacked students before escaping into the city. We have reason to believe it was once one of our own—a student who underwent forbidden transformation magic."

A murmur rippled through the council.

Another elder among them, a woman with olive skin, leaned forward. "This is unacceptable. Your carelessness has put every soul in our academy at risk."

Elysia’s jaw tightened, but she kept her voice steady. "With all due respect, Elder, this was no fault of mine. The wards have never failed before. Someone—or something—has tampered with our defenses."

The golden-eyed elder scoffed. "Excuses will not undo what has been done. The creature must be found and eliminated before it brings further shame upon this institution."

Elysia bowed again. "It will be done."

As she turned to leave, the eldest elder spoke, his voice like dry leaves scraping stone. "One more matter, Chancellor."

Elysia paused, her back rigid.

"The Archwizard has expressed... dissatisfaction," the elder continued. "He does not approve of the bloodshed during the first selection exam. He believes it was unnecessary."

Elysia’s fingers curled slightly at her sides. "The trials are meant to separate the worthy from the weak. Death has always been a possibility."

"Yet the Archwizard questions whether you have grown too comfortable with that possibility," another council member interjected, his voice cold. "He suggests your methods have become reckless."

A flash of frustration crossed Elysia’s face before she smoothed it away. "I serve the academy’s best interests. If the Archwizard wishes to revisit the examination protocols, I will, of course, defer to his wisdom."

The eldest elder studied her for a long moment before waving a dismissive hand.

"See that you do. And see that this man-beast is dealt with swiftly. The Archwizard will not tolerate another failure."

Elysia bowed one final time. "Understood."

As the Elder council doors closed behind her, her face fell into a scowl. She had been too careless.

The Archwizard’s displeasure was dangerous. And the man-beast’s escape was a problem she could not afford to mishandle.

She couldn’t afford to have the Archwizard’s scrutiny pressing down on her shoulders. If her cover is blown, it could cause trouble for her and her mission here.

Time was running out. She decided she was going to hasten things.

A faint smile curved on Elysia’s lips as she strode down the deserted hallway.

Reaching a section of paneling, she pressed her palm against a seemingly ordinary stone.

With a soft click, a hidden door slid open, revealing a narrow staircase spiraling downward into darkness.

The air grew damp and cold as she descended, the flickering torchlight casting eerie shadows on the moss-covered walls.

The passage led to a forgotten dungeon, its existence scrubbed from academy records centuries ago.

The scent of mildew and the musky odor of a caged predator - hung heavy in the stagnant air.

At the far end of the dungeon, behind reinforced iron bars, Richard prowled in his monstrous form.

His movements were fluid, like a leopard pacing its cage.

The moment Elysia’s footsteps echoed through the chamber, his massive head snapped up.

Saliva dripped from his elongated fangs as a guttural growl rumbled from his chest. "I don’t believe it. The chancellor?"

Elysia stopped just beyond reach of the bars, her smile never dropping. "Still full of fight, I see," she murmured, tilting her head as she studied her captive. "Good. That rage of yours will be useful."

Richard growled. "What I’m I doing here?"

"Ah, so there is still some humanity left in there after all. You should be grateful I saved your life," Elysia said, her eyes locked on him. "If the academy mages had caught you, you’d already be a pile of ashes."

She took a step closer to the bars. "Instead, you get to serve a greater purpose."

Richard’s growls deepened. "And what purpose do I serve you?"

Elysia’s smile widened. "I believe you and I have an unfinished business with a certain boy called, Archer, right?"