What Does Silence Sound Like?

The sound of silence has always been comforting, despite the fact that it could also be defeaning, rendering some into a suffocating solitude. That may be the case for me, but that doesn't mean I don't find pleasure in such place. An empty space, a void, where nothing can be heard but one's own heartbeat—or sometimes even the rushing of the blood inside their vessels.

But this silence was different for there was the sound of the spreading fire, the sight of ruined buildings, cracked paved streets, trees laid on the ground, smoke blending with the air, that familiar scent of blood...and the thin mist enveloping. There were no signs of life in the area, nor any sight of corpses laying around. Everything appeared deserted, and I wasn't liking it.

Stereden is a small island located inside the range of the border of the Kingdom of Zyrendel. The Academy is located right at the middle, surrounded by a force of invisible barrier, as though looking at a thin line of mirror with a castle town past through the two gates inside the barrier.

It took us a month traveling from Siegber back here in the country, so it had almost been seven months since I last left. But I never expected things to escalate this quickly. I knew war against the Leomer Empire is inevitable since they've been overthrowing countries and kingdoms near their continent, and Zyrendel isn't an exception.

That's the reason why I had them prepared before I left anyway, why whether they like it or not, they would eventually have to defend themselves, but the enemy sure is quick on their feet. I don't know what exactly happened in this place nor the general state of the country for we went directly here in Stereden, not over the Capital itself. But I could already tell it isn't anything great.

"Something real bad happened here." Lucis Voltron murmured, as we continue our way forward where the Academy perfectly stood still.

Well, he did insist that he wanted to come with me, along with figuring out where in this vast universe is Cretian Plains. Along with our journey back in this country, were several overseers sent by the Organization to execute me—as well as attempts on taking the Dragonborn away.

It seemed like they were indeed waiting for me to find the Plains, but when my time limit ended, they started trying to kill me—which they had always been trying to. Only now, they have no more reason to keep me alive. But of course, I didn't even have to face them myself, Finé was enough to finish them off. As for that, we arrived Stereden without much of a hindrance.

"I smell something...casted through each passing breeze...the air." Finé covered her nose, her eyebrows furrowing. "The scent is making me dizy."

Clutching my cloak tighter, Astoria pointed at her left. Following her gaze, my eyes landed on the thick building mist having a gaseous colour of green. Mists are said to be tiny droplets of water embedded through the air in a condensed phase, turning from an invisible gas to visible droplets of water molecules—one of my assignment reports back in Magnus Academy.

I remember Andrea saying a long explanation over and over again just for Iyana and I to memorize. Andrea has always been the academic type, and Iyana wasn't the kind to pay attention in class for she would always sleep, it was because of her rank that she got away with it most of the time.

While as for me, I never truly cared about the lessons I was forced to study, but there were times those are actually important, especially when I started moving around. I sighed, my hood almost falling of when I turned my head away from the springing memory. I noticed the green building mist beginning to get denser, slowly moving around to envelope everything with no visibility.

"Let's avoid the areas with thick mist." Finé suggested. "Just the scent of it is already making me dizy, I don't want to know what happens if I expose myself in it."

"But wouldn't it be better to know what happens of you expose yourself in it?" The alchemist questioned, fixing his glasses.

"Doctor, I value my life more than my curiosity."

"So you do admit you're curious." I said, scanning the surroundings. "But well, we can't afford to take any risks now."

We stopped by just in front of the barrier, behind this glass is a double-reinforced gate, and we have to go past this barrier if we want in. But breaking down this barrier means letting the mist in, and I know we can't do that. Probably the reason why they have this barrier anyway.

"We have to find another entrance." Lucis said.

"The mist's just around the corner, do we really have time for that? Plus," Finé grazed her fingers along the barrier made out of a thin glass. "The barrier isn't fragile as it appears. I can sense another form of magic...something unfamiliar. And whatever it is, is surrounding the whole Academy so I doubt we can find ang possible entrance—"

We all looked at Finé who suddenly went coughing, blood dripped from her lips which she immediately wiped away with the back of her hand. The doctor went toward her as I frowned seeing her state, she's feeling anxious, hurt and...weak. Something's deteriorating her body—an uninvited energy which crawls up inside her, filling up every single nerves, and it was excruciatingly painful.

"It's the mist." Lucis announced, alarmed. He grabbed Finé's arm and put it across his shoulder, helping her with her stance while she pants, her breathing rough. "Beast People have heightened senses so whatever effects that mist brings, she'll be the first to get affected. We'll turn around and find another way—"

"And stay out here in the open?" I raised my hand, barely touching the glass. "Step back."

"You'll break the whole thing?"

"No. Just going to carve a way in."

A burst of energy formulated againt my left palm, immediately sensing that the barrier itself is made out of rays of sunlights, powerful enough to reflect everything from the outside. Finé was right, it was another form of magic...something ancient and immense. But it wasn't unfamiliar, like I almost somehow knew whose energy it belonged to.

I twisted my hand, the built-up energy sending a wave toward the barrier and as it did, the glass started to crack. It didn't even take a few minutes before a small portion of the barrier disappeared, enough for us to enter. But to my surprise, the glass immediately regenerated, connecting its ends to another. This time, I used both hands as I push the barrier apart, big enough for it not to regenerate quickly.

The Dragonborn was the first to enter, followed by the alchemist with Finé. I dropped my arms as I stepped inside, the barrier behind me closing just before the mist could enter. I sighed and looked ahead, a huge double-gate blocking our way, it was shut perfectly close with another formation of magic.

Napalingon ako sa diresyon ni Finé, at nawawalan na ito ng kulay sa mukha sa sobrang panghihina. Isang locking spell ang ginamit sa pintuan, ang kinaibahan lang ng mahikang ginamit ay ang enerhiya, at mas mahirap mahanap ang tamang patterns para sa combinations ng permutation. Kumunot ang noo ko nang umubo ulit si Finé. Wala na akong oras pa para mabuksan ang gate.

"I'm breaking—" hindi ko na naituloy pa ang sasabihin ko nang lumabas ang buong law formation sa gate nang hawakan ito ni Astoria.

"Astoria can handle." She said, making me smile.

It didn't even take a minute for her to unlock the law formation, making the whole magic circle disappear. Along with its sudden disappearance was the opening of the double-reinforced gate, creaking against the subtle ground below. Pero kasabay naman nang pagbukas nito ay ang isang dosenang mga sundalo na nakaabang sa amin, ang mga hawak nilang sandata ay nakataas.

Mabilis kong hinila papunta sa likuran ko si Astoria nang may isang sundalo ang sumugod, ang espada nito ay nakatuon sa kaniya. Sinalo ko ang atake gamit ang kamay ko, tsaka naramdaman ang pagdikit ng patalim sa palad ko. Binali ko ang espada na walang kahirap-hirap gamit ang enerhiya. Nagulat ito pero bago pa man siya makaatras ay sinipa ko na ang tuhod nito na siyang ikinasigaw niya sa sakit.

"Halt! Halt!" Sigaw ng isa pang sundalo, mukhang siya ang pinuno ng grupo. Hinayaan ko na lamang mapaupo sa lupa ang lalaki at ibinalin ang tingin ko sa kaniya. "How dare you trespass—"

"We're in a hurry." I interrupted, pointing at Finé's state.

"We cannot just let anyone into the Academy! Who are you?" He snarled. Dahan dahan kong binaba ang hood ko para makita nila ng maayos. Ramdam ko ang nga gulat nilang reaksyon. "M-Miss Willar! You are back! We apologize for our misconduct! We shall accept whatever punishment—"

Lumakad na lamang ako papasok sa gate at hindi na sila umangal pa at sumunod sa akin. Sinubukan ng ibang sundalo na tulungan si Finé pero tinulak lamang niya ang mga ito at siya na mismo ang tumayo ng maayos. Si Lucis naman ang panay ang ikot ng ulo sa paligid, habang si Astoria ay mahigpit na nakakapit sa cloak ko.

Opening the gates revealed a stone-paved pathway which extends far towards the Academy's huge opened double-doors. Placed each beside the pathway are golden, marbled streetlights, as well as tall castle-like building all around the whole place. The setting sunlights strike the Academy, almost highlighting the area.

"Miss Willar, we, your subjects, are delighted you have finally returned!" The soldier leader said while catching to my fast pace. "I am Johanson Sulvar, the Captain of the Frontline Guards. We have been awaiting your arrival..."

Marami pa siyang sinabi, pero hindi ko ito pinakinggan at mas binilisan na lamang ang paglalakad. Maraming studyante at ibang tao ang napapatigil para tignan kung sino ang kasama ng mga sundalo, pero hindi ko din sila pinansin. Mas nagtataka ako sa kung ano ang nangyari sa Stereden at kung ano na ang nangyayari sa buong kaharian ng Zyrendel.

Hindi nagtagal ay narating ko din sa wakas ang naglalakihang pintuan. May dalawang sundalo din ang nakabantay dito at mabuti namang wala silang sinabi pa at hinayaan na lamang kaming dumaan. Bumungad sa akin ang napakalaking chandelier sa nagtataasang ceiling dito sa lobby.

Sa ilalim ng chandelier ay may isang circular panel na gawa sa salamin, sa loob nito ay parang aquarium pero sa halip ng mga isda ang laman nito, ay mga kakaibang maliliit na sea creatures ang nandito. May isang parang octopus pero ang mga tentacles nito ay puno ng mga mata.

Sa unahan ay may isang marbled counter na pinapalibutan ng mga couches. Sa magkabilang gilid ng counter ay hagdanan na umaabot hanggang ikalawang palapag. Sa kanan naman ay isang malaking double-doors, ganoon din sa kaliwa.

Hindi pa ako mismo nakapasok sa Academy, kaya hindi ko din alam kung saan ko hahanapin sina Pres—Claudious, o kung dito ngaba sila. Dumerecho ako sa counter kung saan napatayo ang tatlong babaeng nakabantay dito. Nagulat sila nang makita ako at hindi nagsayang pa ng oras para ibaba ang kanilang mga ulo.

"Glory to the future sun of the Zyrendel Kingdom." Sabay-sabay nilang wika.

Nakita ko si Finé sa tabi na nagpipigil ng tawa at si Lucis naman ay napataas pa ang isang kilay. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong mapairap at tumango na lamang. Ako parin naman ang tinaguriang successor ng kaharian, at halos dalawang taon din tinayo ni Celeztie ang imahe ko sa lugar na ito kaya hangga't sa maaari ay ayaw kong gumawa ng bagay na ikakasira ng reputasyon at autoridad ko dito.

"We are currently calling for the Royal Advisors to prepare for a summon. The rest of the party involved shall be in the meeting. Is there something you wish be delivered?"

"She is need of a medical attention." I said, referring to Finé. "And the others must be accommodated."

Pagkasabi ko nun ay may tatlo pang babae ang lumapit para kunin ang tatlo kong kasama papunta sa tutuluyan nila. Sa huli ay nawala na sila sa paningin ko matapos umakyat papunta sa ikalawang palapag. Napabuntong-hininga ako at ibinalin muli ang atensyon ko sa babae.

Ilang minuto ang nakalipas ay sinamahan ako ng isang sundalo—Johanson, if I was paying attention—papunta sa meeying room kung saan naghihintay ang mga Royal Advisors. Medyo nakabukas ang pintuan kaya naririnig ko ang mga sigawan nila sa loob. Tumango ako sa sundalo at umalis narin ito.

"We have the dwarves! What are we afraid of?"

"The dwarves are nothing against a proper army! We need to settle for a peace negotiation!"

"Peace negotiation when Leos have already attacked us? The already sent us a threat! Surrender, or die."

"Then, we surrender!"

"Are you out of your mind?! We cannot just abandon our Kingdom!"

"Your Majesty, the King, is already good as dead, God forgive. His successor? God knows what that naive girl has been getting into for the past seven months! She has long abandoned her duty!"

"As expected of some outsider. The Arkion Faction has long fell apart, we cannot even press the Prince, Zen, to act as our Sun for no one will support him."

"There is no point in waiting for their decision! We must bring this matter into our own hands. We evacuate the people as planned back to Zyrendel and leave Stereden openly for attacks. There, we will attempt a negotiation."

"And if they decline?"

"Then we surrender."

"I am running out of this hell of a country."

"I agree. The children will either die or be made into slaves. Women will either be sold off or be made into prostitutes. Men will either serve the Empire or be executed."

"We have the successor, Keila Willar, to be blamed for all of this."

"The King is useless. Age has gotten the worst of him. And that is right. We are not to blame for this."

"I received a call just now that the successor has arrived. What shall we do?"

"That girl...is by the end of the day, still a random commoner from the streets, or from a King's bastard woman."

"W-what about...what about the money?"

"We keep it, of course."

"I will arrange for a route out of the country if worse has come to worst. Until then, we do what we have always been doing to that naive successor. Manipulating her. She can't possibly not trust us after we gave her our support which led to the downfall of the Arkion Faction."

"Hmm. But our plans might change. We need to dispatch her out of our way—"

"Now, that's interesting." I interrupted.

I finally pushed the doors open, tired of listening to their squabbles. I saw their surprised expression upon seeing me, all five of them were seated on their own seats, surrounding a rounded glass table. Two women, and three men, two are elderly. The younger man who suggested my death immediately stood up, drawing his sword from the side.

"A great timing." He smirked.

He shifted his footing and launched his sword from his back, coming from below. When he got close enough, he didn't hesitate pulling the sword upward, attempting to slice my body. I sighed, quickly moving in to knee him right at his abdomen. Before he could let out a painful scream, I grabbed his collar and slammed him right below me.

Blood spurted out from his lips, his nose broken, his face bruised by the broken marbled shards of the floor. But I didn't stop there. I placed a foot on his back that prevented him from squirming. I grabbed his sword before aiming the pointed end of it at the back of his head.

"I could easily carve this at the deepest part of your skull," I glanced up, looking at the other four Advisors with their wide-eyed expressions. "And so as to the rest of you."

One woman let out a shriek and ran past me, heading for the door. But I used my energy to shut the doors tight closed, that no matter how much she knocked against it, it was no use. In a snap, multiple daggers were already up high, each pointing at them steadily.

"Do not agitate me, advisors." I warned. Despite that though, I felt the woman behind me round up her spritual energy to let out a magical spell. I twisted my palm, one dagger instantly hitting the woman. I didn't see where it hit, but base on her scream, it was a vital. "And I mean it."

"W-what do you want?!" One man said, fear radiating from him more than anyone else. And he was going to be easy to manipulate.

"Why don't you tell me more of what you were planning?" I asked as I pressed my foot more on the other man's back, his bones crushing. "And I got a feeling that you people did plenty more while I was away."

"I-it's—"

"Anthon!" Sigaw ng isang babae bilang babala sa kasama nito.

"We can't die here, Eve. Not now—"

"I'm waiting." I cut off. "And I need answers."

"We...we embezzled the tax money out of the country."

"Oh that's nothing new." I waved my hand in dismissal. "Tell me what exactly happened here."

"The King has been bedridden since four months ago." That woman, Eve answered. "Two months ago, the Leomer Empire attacked here in Stereden, the securities have all been leaked and we have no idea why. They wiped our one half of our army stationed in here with ease! They even unleashed their biological weapon, that mist now almost everywhere in Stereden. If it weren't for the barrier—"

"How can the Empire finish off such a large army with ease? Especially since we have the weapons made by the Dwarves—" I stopped when I noticed their nervousness. I frowned at the sight, my energy being released, cloudiing up the entire room. "What did you do?"

My voice came out more serious, colder than I anticipated. Along with it was the sudden thickening of my energy, leaving a suffocated feeling among their faces. All of them were on their knees in an instant, clutching their necks for air...which I wasn't giving them. Without them answering, I could already tell what they did.

But I was hoping it wasn't the case...so I asked again. "I'll ask again. What did you do with those weapons?"

"W-we...s-sold—!" One old man answered, his face becoming pale.

I clenched my fists, the room suddenly darkening because of my agitation, traces of dark energy leaving my body. They sold those weapons? The rare weapons made by the Dwarves which others worked so hard in making them agree? The weapons those Dwarves owed me?

Daggers poured down, hitting all five of them as I stepped back. They casted barriers for themselves, which deflected off the attack, eventually coming into a halt. Anthon and Eve ran toward me, unsheating their own swords. But I didn't let them take their fifth steps, for I sent them slamming against the table by waving them my energy.

I could hear their bones disfiguring as their bodies hit the glass table. But I wasn't satisfied. I lifted my hand, hoistering them up the air. The remaining man screamed in terror, covering his face as though he didn't want to see more. And how I crave seeing people cower before my presence. I slammed the other two down and walked to where the kneeling coward was. I smiled at his poor state,