CHAPTER 108: THE MISSING GUARD

The medical wing was quieter than Alex remembered. Most of the survivors had been discharged. Their beds stood empty and stripped of linens. Only a handful of patients remained. Students whose injuries required extended observation. Students whose families lived too far for immediate transport during the suspension.

Professor Harold sat at his desk. He reviewed diagnostic equipment with methodical precision. Forty years of cataloging human suffering had made his movements automatic. He looked up as Alex entered. His expression shifted from professional focus to something more personal.

"Kael. I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow for your follow-up examination."

"I need to discuss staying on campus during the suspension." Alex closed the door behind him. "Gareth mentioned medical observation provides legitimate justification."

Harold’s expression shifted. Not quite surprise but something close to confusion. "Staying? I thought your family sent someone to collect you. A House Ashford representative arrived at the Academy gates early this morning. One of the administrative staff mentioned the arrival during the morning briefing."

Alex felt his tactical instincts sharpen immediately. "I haven’t seen anyone. No one contacted me about transport arrangements."

"Strange." Harold’s professional concern transformed into something more immediate. He stood and moved toward a communication crystal mounted on his desk. "The representative would have been directed to either the administrative office or the medical wing to coordinate your departure. They should have reached you hours ago."

"What time did they arrive?"

"Approximately eight this morning. According to the gate logs." Harold activated the crystal. Its surface flickered with essence as he established connection to the Academy’s administrative network. "Let me verify with the front office."

Alex remained standing near the door. His enhanced perception already processed implications. House Ashford had sent someone. The person had arrived at the Academy. But hadn’t reached him despite having clear instructions and multiple hours to complete a simple task.

Three possibilities emerged immediately.

One. The representative had been delayed by legitimate bureaucratic complications. Administrative confusion during suspension created routing issues.

Two. The representative had decided to wait for some reason. Perhaps wanting to speak with professors first. Or conducting other House business on campus before collection.

Three. Something had happened to them between the Academy gates and their destination.

The third possibility made cold settle in Alex’s stomach.

Harold’s conversation with the administrative office was brief. Clipped with growing concern. When he disconnected his expression had darkened considerably.

"The gate logs confirm a House Ashford carriage arrived at eight fifteen this morning. Single occupant. Your family’s senior household guard, Sebastian. The guards directed him toward the administrative building to coordinate your departure." Harold’s voice carried professional worry now. "But administrative staff have no record of him arriving at their office. And the gate logs show the carriage is still in the visitor area. Horses still hitched. Driver waiting."

"Seven hours." Alex said quietly. "He’s been missing for seven hours."

"Missing is premature terminology." But Harold’s tone suggested he was thinking the same thing. "There are legitimate reasons for delay. He might have stopped to speak with professors about your condition. Or been detained by security protocols. Or..."

"Or something happened between the gate and the administrative building." Alex met Harold’s eyes directly. "The Academy suffered a dimensional catastrophe. One hundred forty-eight students died. Security is enhanced. Wards are reinforced. But seven hours without contact is more than bureaucratic delay."

Harold’s jaw tightened. "I’ll alert the Principal immediately. If there’s a security concern on campus grounds..." He trailed off. The implications settled over both of them like weight.

The Academy was supposed to be safe now. Wards had been reinforced. Security protocols had been enhanced specifically to prevent another catastrophe.

But something had prevented a House Ashford representative from completing a simple task in broad daylight on supposedly secure grounds.

"I’ll need to stay until this is resolved." Alex’s tactical mind already shifted priorities. "If my family’s guard is missing or delayed, I leave when we understand what happened."

"Agreed." Harold was already moving toward the door. His professional concern overriding medical protocol. "I’m contacting security now. You should return to your dormitory and remain there until we have more information. If there’s an active threat on campus..."

"I survived three days in dimensional hell." Alex interrupted. His voice flat. "Whatever delayed Sebastian, I handle learning about the situation."

Harold paused. Recognition flickered across his features. The boy standing before him wasn’t a traumatized student who needed protection. He was someone who’d fought S-Class entities alone and survived through capability when one hundred forty-eight others had died.

"Then come with me to the administrative building. If Captain Aldric is conducting investigation you should be present to provide information about your family’s standard protocols." Harold’s tone shifted from protective to collaborative. "And if something has happened to Sebastian deserve to know directly rather than through filtered reports."

They moved through the Academy grounds quickly. Harold’s essence signature flared subtly. Not combat-ready but alert. Alex’s enhanced perception cataloged their route automatically. The path from the main gates to the administrative building was straightforward. Well-traveled. Under constant ward observation.

For someone to disappear along the route suggested either deliberate concealment or something bypassing Academy security entirely.

Neither option was comforting.

Captain Aldric was already at the administrative building when they arrived. His expression carried the tight focus of someone conducting active investigation. Three security personnel flanked him. Their essence signatures burned with controlled intensity.

"Professor Harold." Aldric’s acknowledgment was clipped. Professional. Then his gaze shifted to Alex. "Student Ashford. Your timing is convenient. I was about to send for you."

"What happened to Sebastian?" Alex asked directly.

"We’re attempting to determine the answer." Aldric gestured toward a map of campus grounds displayed on administrative crystal. "Gate logs confirm his arrival at eight fifteen. Guards at the entrance directed him toward this building via the main campus path. But he never arrived at the administrative office. No one has reported seeing him since he passed through the main gate."

"Seven hours." Alex observed.

"Yes." Aldric’s expression darkened. "Which suggests either deliberate concealment or incapacitation. We’ve conducted preliminary search of the route between gate and administrative building. No signs of struggle. No blood. No evidence of dimensional activity. He simply... vanished."

Harold spoke up. His medical expertise adding perspective. "He might have been injured and sought medical attention. The medical wing is accessible from the main path."

"We checked. No one matching Sebastian description has arrived at the medical wing today." Aldric’s tactical mind was clearly working through scenarios with mounting frustration. "We’re expanding the search now to include secondary buildings and restricted areas. But I need to know. Would Sebastian have any reason to deviate from his assigned task? Personal business on campus? Contacts among staff or students?"

"No." Alex’s voice carried certainty born from growing up in House Ashford. "He has served my family for twenty years. When given an assignment he completes the task with absolute precision. Deviating from protocol to pursue personal interests isn’t in his nature."

"Then we’re dealing with involuntary disappearance." Aldric’s hand moved to rest on his weapon. "Which means either something took him or someone did."

The implications hung in the air like smoke.

"I’ll be staying on campus until he is is located." Alex’s tone made clear this wasn’t negotiation. "If something on Academy grounds is capable of disappearing House Ashford’s senior guard in broad daylight under enhanced security then leaving before understanding the threat would be tactically unsound."

Aldric studied him with calculating eyes. Probably weighing whether having an SS-rank student on campus during active security investigation was asset or liability.

"Agreed." The Captain said finally. "But you’ll coordinate any movements with security. You’ll report anything unusual immediately. If there’s a hostile presence operating on campus..."

"I’ll handle the situation." Alex interrupted. His voice carrying cold certainty that made even Aldric pause. "I’ve already survived worse than anything capable of disappearing one guard."

Harold cleared his throat diplomatically. "I’ll submit the medical observation justification for Kael’s extended stay. Given the circumstances administrative approval should be expedited."

"Do so." Aldric was already turning back to his security team. Issuing orders with military efficiency. "I want every building searched. Every ward examined for signs of breach or manipulation. And I want the gate guards questioned again. Someone might have seen something they didn’t recognize as significant."

As the security personnel dispersed to their assignments Alex caught Aldric’s attention one final time.

"Captain. If something took Sebastian the action occurred on Academy grounds that are supposed to be secure. This suggests either the enhanced wards aren’t as effective as believed or we’re dealing with something bypassing them entirely."

"I’m aware of the implications, Student Ashford."

"Then you should also be aware the dimensional rift some days ago wasn’t random chaos. There are organized presences in dimensional space. Intelligent entities that build. Plan. Operate with purpose." Alex’s pale eyes held Aldric’s gaze without flinching. "If one of them found a way onto Academy grounds..."

He let the sentence trail off. The threat was clear enough without elaboration.

Aldric’s jaw tightened. "We’ll find Sebastian. We’ll identify what’s responsible for his disappearance. In the meantime stay alert. If you encounter anything unusual..."

"You’ll be the second to know." Alex promised. "Right after I’ve dealt with the situation."*****

He left the administrative building as security personnel fanned out across campus. Their essence signatures burned with determined intensity. Harold remained behind to coordinate medical support if needed.

Alex walked back toward his dormitory. His tactical mind processed scenarios with cold efficiency.

Sebastian had vanished on supposedly secure grounds. Seven hours without contact. No signs of struggle. No evidence of dimensional activity.

Something was operating on campus. Something making people disappear cleanly. Efficiently. Without triggering wards or alerting security.

And Alex had committed to staying here. Isolated in a nearly empty Academy. While whatever took Thorne remained active.

His second ability slot pulsed at the edge of his awareness. Empty. Waiting.

And somewhere in the shadows between buildings something waited too.

Small steps. Strategic patience. Careful development.

Time to begin.