Chapter 31: Urgency
A voice rang out from the shadows.
"Hey Dan, didn't I tell you to come to my house after school?"
Startled, Dante turned and saw a tall figure emerging from the dim street light—Scott.
"S-Sorry, Scott! I forgot!" Dante stammered.
"It seems someone needs a beating."
Scott's casual threat sent a chill down Dante's spine. He recoiled instinctively, nearly tripping.
Raven caught his arm and steadied him, then stepped forward protectively. His sharp gaze locked on Scott.
"What are you doing?" Raven asked, voice like steel. "Dante isn't going anywhere with you tonight."
Scott's smirk widened as he strode through the academy gate, his footsteps heavy with confidence.
"Oh? Isn't this our class's bottom-feeder?" he mocked.
Compared to two years ago, Scott had changed. He was broader, taller—muscles hugged every inch of his body. His presence now carried weight.
Raven didn't back down. He stood firm, shielding Dante like a wall.
"You really don't know your place, do you?" Scott sneered. In the same breath, he clenched his fist, subtle mana crackling around his knuckles. He moved fast—far faster than before—and aimed a punch straight for Raven's stomach.
His form was precise. Clean. Trained.
[Move to your left and counterattack.]
Zera's calm voice echoed inside Raven's mind even before the attack came.
Raven reacted instantly, pivoting left with practiced footwork. Scott's punch sliced through empty air, but the mana force still tore through Raven's shirt.
'Athena's gift!' Rage flared in Raven's eyes.
Before Scott could adjust, Raven raised his left leg and drove a brutal kick into Scott's groin.
Scott collapsed with a strangled cry.
"ARRRGGHHHHHH!"
His scream echoed through the academy gates like a bell of warning. Two nearby guards stiffened. From the shadows, two armored men rushed toward the scene.
"Young Master Scott!"
The men flanked him—one blonde and well-armed, in his thirties; the other middle-aged with graying hair and no visible weapons. Both looked like professionals.
"Are you alright, Young Master?" the older man asked.
Scott was panting, his face twisted in pain. Then his bloodshot eyes locked onto Raven.
[That look… It's not good. You need to run—now.]
Zera's voice rang with urgency.
Scott's voice dropped to a chilling murmur.
"Drag him back to the house. I'll make him pay in blood."
Dante's face drained of color. In a panic, he ran forward, trying to intervene.
"Please, Scott! Don't! If you do this, it'll only make things worse—"
SLAP!
Scott's open palm struck Dante with vicious force. Dante spun and crumpled like a ragdoll onto the concrete floor, unconscious.
Raven's expression twisted with fury and horror. But his instincts screamed at him to move.
I need to hide inside the academy. If I can last an hour, Athena or Aunt Shirley will come.
He spun on his heel to flee—but a towering figure blocked his path.
A 180-centimeter wall of muscle loomed before him.
"You're not going anywhere, kid."
Before Raven could react, the man's hand clamped around his throat and lifted him effortlessly. Raven kicked, gasping.
"Don't kill him yet," Scott ordered from behind.
Obediently, the man let Raven drop—only to land a crushing blow to the nape of his neck.
Darkness swallowed him.
Scott walked over, sneering.
"This bastard…" He kicked Raven in the gut, then turned to his men.
"Take both of them. When they wake up, I'll show them hell."
He strode toward the academy gate.
One of the gatekeepers, shaken, stepped forward.
"Y-Young Master Scott! Please, don't act recklessly! If the Headmaster finds out—"
"She won't care about talentless trash. If you keep quiet, no one will know what happened."
His voice was calm—too calm.
The guards exchanged uncertain glances as the armored men hauled Dante and Raven away.
…
15A Alm Street, Commoners' Borough, Darkcross Town — 8:30 PM
Shirley stepped into the moonlit lawn of a modest single-story house. Tall and lean at 160 centimeters, she wore her blonde hair in a tight braid. Her sharp blue eyes and hawk-like nose made her look fierce and regal.
She was armored in black and brown leather. A long sword hung at her waist.
Reaching the door, she knocked twice and called out:
"Raven, I'm home! Open the door!"
Silence.
She knocked again—louder this time. Still nothing.
She frowned. "Is he not home yet?"
Walking briskly to the porch pillar, she retrieved a hidden key, opened the door, and stepped inside.
Darkness. The house was silent.
'Athena said she had night duty today… but Raven should've been home by six.'
A cold knot formed in her stomach.
Despite Darkcross's reputation for safety, Shirley had lived long enough to know that evil often wore a familiar face.
She locked the door behind her and left at once, hailing a carriage to the police station near the western gate.
…
The station was a modest two-story building. Two constables stood at the entrance in greenish uniforms. One of them—a young female officer—brightened upon seeing her.
"Greetings, Madam Shirley! What brings you here at this hour?"
"Is Athena inside?" Shirley asked, her tone clipped and sharp.
"Yes, ma'am—"
Shirley didn't wait for permission. She stormed inside.
The station's main hall buzzed with murmured complaints and rustling papers. Officers sat behind desks, attending to civilians. But Shirley's eyes swept the room with practiced speed.
She spotted Athena's office and marched straight toward it.
"You can't go in! Madam Athena is in a meeting with an important guest!" the young constable called after her.
Too late.
Shirley threw open the door.
Inside sat Athena and a man in his twenties. Brown hair. Blue eyes. Dressed in a black trench coat and a bowler hat. He stood up, startled.
Baron's third son—Lionel.
"A-Aunt?" Athena stood abruptly, flustered. "What are you doing here?"
Shirley ignored her, her gaze drilling into Lionel. Though she spoke politely, there was a quiet ferocity in her eyes.
"Sorry for interrupting your 'sweet little chat,' Young Master Lionel. Something urgent came up, so I didn't bother knocking. You don't mind, do you?"
Lionel gulped. "N-Not at all, Lady Shirley. We weren't discussing anything important—"
"Then I'll borrow Athena for a moment."
He nodded and quickly exited, avoiding her glare.
Athena turned to her aunt, wide-eyed.
"Aunt, what was that? That's Lord Lionel! A noble!"
"And you're a royal," Shirley snapped. "Now isn't the time for this."
She took a deep breath. "Raven's not home."
"What?" Athena's brows furrowed. "He should've been back by 6:30. Maybe there's a late class?"
"I thought that too," Shirley said. "But it's 8:45 now. Something's wrong."
Athena's expression changed. The tension hit her like a slap.
"8:45...? That's too long."
"Exactly. I say we check the academy first."
Without another word, Shirley turned and left. Athena followed close behind, telling the staff to manage things while she was gone.
She found Lionel in the hallway, quickly explained the situation, and joined Shirley outside.
Within moments, their carriage departed, heading for the Nobles' Lawn at full speed.