Arthur slowly closed the book and gazed off into the distance.
> *"If this 'Order Reformation Event' is truly an apocalyptic phenomenon, why hasn't anyone at the academy ever mentioned it? Why so much secrecy?"*
A line of worry formed on his forehead.
> *"I need to talk to Professor Charles about this after class tomorrow."*
He looked around the study hall. Most of the students had either left or fallen asleep at their desks. His eyes settled on Sophia—she had fallen into a deep sleep with her head resting on an open book.
> "She probably hasn't slept properly in days... finishing up exams."
Arthur thought to himself:
> *"Better let her sleep. I'll stay beside her for a while. Then wake her up so she can return to the dorms."*
Suddenly, the silence was shattered by screams and the pounding of footsteps. Running echoed through the hallways, and the door burst open with a loud bang. Students were fleeing in terror.
Arthur immediately stood up. Panic was written across every face. Cries and shouts filled the air.
He grabbed one of the students and urgently asked:
> "What's going on? Why is everyone running?"
The boy, trembling, replied:
> "Some upper-year students... they were killed... crucified!"
Arthur's breath caught. His heart pounded harder than ever. Without hesitation, he rushed outside—and what he saw was a living nightmare.
In the center of the courtyard, under the dim moonlight, stood several tall wooden crosses. On them hung the lifeless bodies of upperclassmen. Blood dripped from their corpses, pooling in dark red patches on the ground.
The girls' bodies were unclothed, carved with strange symbols and letters in deep gashes across their skin. Their eyes remained wide open, frozen in terror.
Screams echoed all around. Some students sobbed uncontrollably, others gagged from the sheer horror.
Arthur stumbled back, his hands trembling.
> "Who could do something like this? How did they even manage?"
Nearby, a group of girls whispered in panic.
> "I heard it was the demon cults... but how could they sneak into the academy without anyone noticing?"
Arthur's mind reeled in shock.
> *"Demonic cults... this threat is worse than I thought."*
Moments later, the Student Council and the Academy Headmaster arrived in haste. Upon seeing the scene, the Headmaster froze in place.
A heavy silence fell over the courtyard.
Then, with a voice filled with fury and disbelief, he barked:
> "Quickly! Get them down! Get the students out of here—now!"
The staff moved swiftly, guiding terrified students away one by one. But Arthur remained frozen, his eyes filled with fear and unanswered questions.
> *"Something is happening at this academy… something dark... and we're realizing it far too late."*
The Headmaster walked forward with heavy steps, his expression grim. His voice, though steady, trembled with weight:
> "Who was the first to witness this scene?"
All eyes turned to a small group of young girls huddled in the corner, tears streaming down their faces, their hands shaking uncontrollably. One of them tried to shrink back, but the sobs wouldn't stop.
The Headmaster gently approached. Standing before them, he asked with a softer tone:
> "Were you the first ones to see this? Please... tell me anything you know. Even the smallest detail matters."
One of the girls, her voice broken and tear-soaked, stammered:
> "We... we were walking back to the dorms... and we saw people in black robes... they were crucifying them... and then they vanished... we tried to scream, to call for help... but it was too late…"
Her sobs grew louder, her shoulders trembling under the weight of fear and shock.
The Headmaster placed a gentle hand on her head, his voice full of empathy:
> "It must've been terrifying, dear... go rest now. You don't need to suffer more than you already have."
Members of the Student Council quickly ushered the children away while others worked to bring the bodies down. Blood still dripped from open wounds, and the metallic scent of iron filled the air.
Thirty minutes passed. The courtyard had mostly cleared, but fear remained etched in every pair of eyes.
One council member stepped forward, his voice low and uneasy:
> "Who do you think could've done something this horrible?"
The Headmaster, face grim and hollow, sighed deeply:
> "There were demonic inscriptions on every victim's body... The words 'Blood Smile.' It's the work of cultists. I've alerted the authorities. They say this didn't only happen here... similar bodies have been discovered across multiple parts of the capital…"
**One of the council members' eyes widened in terror:**
"How many cases? Just tonight? Could this be some kind of ritual?"
The director, his face grim, replied:
"Perhaps... Reports indicate dozens of bodies found in churches, courthouses, schools... all crucified. Priests, lawyers, children... They even seated the children in church pews, crucified the priest at the altar... In the courthouses, judges were killed with nails driven into their eyes..."
A heavy silence filled the room. Only the rustling of the wind through the dry tree branches could be heard.
Suddenly, the director spoke loudly:
"Academy security must be heightened immediately. All movements will be monitored. All classes are canceled tomorrow. No student is allowed outside the dormitory after sunset. Is that understood?"
Everyone shouted in unison:
"Yes!"
At that moment, Arthur, still haunted by those horrific scenes, returned to the library to check on Sophia. She was still asleep, peaceful and unaware of the world collapsing around her.
Arthur quietly approached her and tried to wake her, but it was in vain. It was as if she had fallen into a deep, magical sleep.
With hesitation, he gently lifted Sophia, carried her on his back, and left the library. His steps were heavy, his mind filled with questions that had no answers.
"Why did this happen? Why like this?"
When he reached the girls' dormitory, a female guard with shiny black hair and brown eyes stopped him:
"Men are not allowed inside. You can't go in."
Arthur, his voice trembling with distress, said:
"She's my friend... I tried everything to wake her, but nothing worked. I just want to get her to her room..."
The guard initially frowned, but upon seeing Arthur's condition, she softened.
"What's her name? Which class is she in?"
"Sophia. She doesn't have a last name. First-year, Silver Crows."
The woman opened a magical screen in front of her and, after checking, said:
"Her name is listed. Room M37. I can't go in, but I'll call someone to guide you."
A few moments later, a man in a security uniform arrived. At the woman's signal, Arthur followed him toward the room.
When they reached the door, the man knocked. A girl with white hair and green eyes opened the door, sleepy and tired:
"This late at night? What's going on?"
Arthur, awkwardly, said:
"I'm Sophia's friend. She fell asleep in the library..."
The girl glanced at the unconscious Sophia and gestured toward the bed:
"Lay her on the bed. Thanks for bringing her."
Arthur entered the room. The sweet scent of old books and dried flowers filled the air. Books were scattered everywhere, clothes draped over chairs, and the walls were adorned with mysterious posters.
He gently laid Sophia on the bed, looked at her peaceful and defenseless face for a moment, then left.
The girl said:
"Thanks again."
Arthur replied:
"You're welcome," and returned to his dormitory with the guard.
When he entered the room, Anous and Julius looked at him with concern.
Anous asked:
"Arthur! What happened out there?"
Arthur closed his eyes. He tried to erase the images etched in his mind but couldn't.
With a trembling voice, he said:
"Some students were killed... crucified... strange words carved into their bodies with knives... I can't forget it..."
Julius muttered:
"Damn... Why? Who did this?"
A heavy silence settled among them. Their world had changed forever, and they were just at the beginning...
Arthur, with a tired face and a troubled mind, said: "Nothing is clear yet... But it seems this wasn't just a simple murder. It felt like they were sending a message... like they wanted to announce their arrival, that something is beginning..."
Anous opened his mouth to say something but suddenly fell silent. His gaze fixed on Arthur's face. Something was odd...
Moments later, a drop of blood dripped from Arthur's nose onto his lip. He didn't notice. When the second drop fell, he raised his hand and touched it. Seeing his fingers stained with blood, he blinked and murmured: "What is this...?"
But before he could think, a muffled cough escaped his throat. A cough accompanied by blood. Arthur bent over his wrist, and warm, red blood flowed between his fingers.
Julius, terrified, rushed forward. "Arthur?! What's happening? Are you okay? We need to get to the infirmary!"
Arthur tried to compose himself, gave a weak smile, and said: "Don't worry... it's nothing serious..."
But the nosebleed intensified, and the horrifying coughs brought more blood. His facial skin gradually lost color. His eyes turned red, as if filled with blood, and before he could say anything, his knees buckled, and he collapsed.
Anous and Julius screamed and ran toward him. Julius immediately lifted him onto his back, tears welling in his eyes. "No... please no... I don't want to lose him!"
The sound of their running echoed through the hallway. Students emerged from their rooms, watching them in horror. But Julius paid no attention. The only thing that mattered was saving his friend's life.
When they reached the infirmary, Julius, crying out, said: "Please help! My friend's nose and mouth are bleeding, his skin is pale, I don't know what's happening!"
The academy doctor quickly arrived, laid Arthur on a bed, and took a quick look. "You two, wait outside. Let me examine him. I'll inform you."
Anous and Julius silently left the room. Julius stood by the door, trembling. He kept muttering under his breath: "No... I don't want to lose him..."
Anous sat on a chair, buried his head in his hands, and for the first time, let his tears flow. A heavy silence enveloped them.
A few hours later, the door opened, and the doctor came out. Julius quickly approached. "Doctor, how is he? Is he alive? Is he better?"
The doctor looked at both of them with concern. "His condition is unstable and worrisome. What we're seeing... are symptoms of the Bloody Death disease."
Julius, eyes wide, said: "Bloody Death?"
He knew well what this disease was—the illness that had taken Malderius's father.
The doctor nodded. "Yes. This disease occurs when a person's mana system begins to self-destruct. A kind of energy deficiency. It's much more dangerous for children."
Anous asked: "What does that mean? How is this possible?"
The doctor sighed and said: "Arthur's mana level... has risen abnormally. Very abnormally. Around 76,000 units of energy. This amount is unbearable and fatal for a child, causing all his body's cells to start destroying each other."
Julius, horrified, took a few steps back. The world around him darkened. "But five months ago, his mana level was about 8,000! I saw it myself during the entrance exam... What happened to him?"
The doctor said seriously: "That's the question we have too. But the truth is, his body is under pressure. Bloody Death, although it progresses slowly—taking about 5 to 10 years—is extremely painful and exhausting, and eventually, the patient may die."
Anous asked worriedly: "Is there a cure? How much time do we have?"
The doctor said: "In rare cases, if the patient's body adapts to this energy, they might undergo an *abnormal mutation*. They might transcend the boundaries of humanity... but that's just a slim possibility."
Both boys fell into a heavy silence. Neither tears nor words could describe their sense of helplessness and fear.
The doctor continued: "He must stay in the infirmary tonight. He'll be discharged tomorrow afternoon. But this is just the beginning. The attacks could return at any moment. You must be prepared and keep me informed. I'll also talk to the director so that classes and teachers are aware."
Julius lowered his head. "I'm not leaving. I'll stay here until he wakes up..."
Anous sighed, sat next to him, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just promise me you'll tell me if anything happens... Don't let him be alone."
And the night continued, filled with the heavy silence that enveloped the infirmary. The only sound was Julius's pleading whispers in the darkness: "Please, come back..."