"It's that how you greet your president, Augustus?"
"Tsk. Still high and mighty as ever."
Anissa fidgeted as the tension filled the entire office. Augustus and President Zirconia stared at each other (Zirconia wore a shit-eating grin on his face while Augustus only frowned) for a few seconds before the latter sighed in defeat. "Still haven't changed even though you became the captain of your team. Still as grumpy as ever."
"What did you want, anyways?" Augustus cut him out, wanting to get out of the president's office as soon as possible.
Zirconia took a file from his desk and handed it over to Augustus. "You already knew what happened four days ago, right?"
"You mean the incident outside the city?" Augustus asked as he took the files from the president's hands.
Zirconia nodded. "And what you want me gonna do with it?" Augustus added.
"We interrogate some of the students who participate in their supposed to be their Team Battle exam," Zirconia explained as Augustus opened the file and read its contents. "After interrogating the three classes, except your little brother who is confined in the hospital, we conclude that the Vampire God used this island as a place of exile for those who broke his rules." Then he noticed Anissa who was still fidgeting. "You must be from the mainland, right?"
Anissa jolted. "Yes, sir."
"And you once said in the interrogation room that the one who attacked your brother was one of the Dark Stars, right?"
Anissa nodded in response. "Yes sir. Piers of the Elgafar is one of the Vampire God's loyal generals."
"Did you tell our intelligence team about the rest of them?"
"I only tell them about what I know about them."
"Wait, Anissa." Augustus chimed in. He finished reading the files that were given to him and placed them on the president's table. "You were once working for one of that bastard's harem right? I know you have met the rest of his generals."
"So far, only Piers is the only one whom I recognize, since I only see him during one of their meetings once." Anissa only shook her head. "As slaves, we are not allowed to interact with the Vampire God's knights, let alone their generals."
"What a shame," Zirconia said as he walked towards his office table and sat in his office chair, hands on his chin with his arms supporting them, pondering. "We need this crucial information so that we may devise a strategy for the upcoming war with them."
"Wait, are we preparing for war?" Augustus shockingly asked. "Are you crazy?" He raised his voice in anger. "The three hundred anniversary of Libertas' founding is approaching in two months and you guys preparing for war?!"
"We need to be ready once those vampires try to invade our city," Zirconia said in a serious tone. "We can't let ourselves be relaxed while danger is lurking outside. As the president, I will ensure that the safety of the citizens is my top priority, and I won't let anyone try to disturb this peace. So that's why," He looks at Augustus and Anissa with a serious look on his face. "I want you and Class Alpha to investigate the suspicious activity that occurred outside the city."
"What?" Augustus was shocked at what Zirconia said. "You want to involve the entire Class Alpha in this?! After what happened four days ago?!"
"They already encounter one of the Vampire Generals and they have enough strength to deal with those rascals, with further training mind you." Said Zirconia. "One of the scouts discovered some sort of a mine twenty miles away outside of the main city. Since none of us here issued a mine order, I conclude that it is the work of those bastards. I discussed this with Principal Vidal, but we put it aside due to a current serious issue within the Academy."
"Serious issue?" Agustus looked at Anissa but realized that she hadn't attended class that day. "Oh."
"Once the issue has been resolved, I will summon you again for the full description of this mission," Zirconia concluded. "You two may now go."
"Finally, free of this hellhole," Augustus happily exclaimed as he rushed towards the door but before he could turn on the handle, he could hear Zirconia saying something. "And by the way, tell your mom that I will drop by at your place sometime. I miss her cooking for years."
Augustus' face turned red in anger, so much so that he opened the door harshly, stepped out of the room (with Anissa following him), and said "Hire a cook, you freeloader!" before slamming the door behind him.
Zirconia only chuckles in response. "Still the same old Augustus." He said as he looked at the framed picture of him and Augustus in their academy days together with Westeria, Axiom, and Claus in the background. "That's why you're so fun to tease."
*
"Hope that bastard choked on his coffee and die, dammit!"
"Are you angry at the president, big brother?"
Augustus still raised and clenched his fist in anger as his face still wore an angry expression. Luckily, they are outside the building and the sun is setting down, welcoming the evening so that no one can hear them badmouthing about the president. "I'm not angry at him. I'm pissed at him! That high and mighty attitude of his makes me want to get out of that office!"
"But he's still the President, right?" Anissa warned. "Aren't you going to be arrested for saying something against him?"
"Nah, everyone in the government palace is getting used to those two." Anissa and Augustus look behind as Ricky approaches them, with the black-haired guy in tow. "Those two have been rivals since their academy days. Man, I remember that time that they were competing on how many virtual vampires they could slay, and the loser would be the winner's errand boy for a day."
"Don't remind me that, Rick." Augustus retorted, drawing out his weapon. He doesn't want to remember that... silly incident that he was forced to. "I'll cut you down if you mention that again." He continued while pointing his sword at Rick.
"Oh, someone's still not getting over that incident." Rick taunted as he also drew out his weapon which was a red-stained bladed scythe, in a stance ready to battle. "You wanna battle because you lost? Bring it on, yo!"
BANG!
The two stopped arguing as the black-haired man stepped in between the two, two guns in each hand, one pointed at Rick while the other was pointing upwards, smoke coming from the weapon. "Stop bickering and put down your weapons, the both of you!"
"You're no fun, Sven!" Rick pouted as he put his weapon on his back. "Still having that stick shoving on your-"
"Don't make me pull the trigger, Rick," Sven warned as he turned his other gun at Rick's face.
"Okay, okay, I give up!" Rick surrendered, pushing both guns away.
Augustus put back his weapon on his sheath as well. "Could you please tell me what you are doing here?"
"Apologies, Augustus." Sven apologized. "The president forgot to tell you something about your brother."
"Sephiram? Now that reminds me." Augustus glared at Rick, and the latter looked at him with a hand behind his head sheepishly in response. He knew that the blond lied so that he would go to the office against his will.
That bastard.
"The president wanted to inform you that starting next week, guards will be patrolling and guarding your house and they will escort your brother as well as Miss Anissa to the Academy."
"Wait, what?" Augustus reacted. "Why didn't he tell me this earlier?"
"He's so preoccupied with the happenings in the Academy right now, that he forgot to mention this to you," Sven explained. "This is for your brother's protection since our enemy learns of his existence."
*
"The tests show that you are now fine. You may be discharged by tomorrow."
"Thank you, doctor!" Ms Davis exclaimed in joy as she heard the news. Sephiram is lying on his bed when the doctor finishes examining him.
"I will take my leave then." The doctor said as she left the room.
"How are you feeling?" Ms Davis asked as the doctor closed the door.
"I'm fine now, Mom." Sephiram sighed in relief but was shocked to see that his mother was crying. "Are you okay, mom?"
"I'm fine, dear." She replied as she wiped her tears. "I was so scared when I found out that you were attacked by that vampire, that my baby boy will be taken away." Then she looked at her son worriedly. "Now that I worried that those guys now know that you existed. I hope we can hear some good news from your brother."
As she finished talking, the door opened, and Augustus and Anissa entered the room. Anissa closed the door behind her. "How's my little brother?"
"I'm fine, big brother." Sephiram smiled. "How's your day?"
"Worse," Augustus replied tiredly. "I've been hounded by everyone in the military and was summoned by President Zirconia as a result." He sighed. "By the way, did your classmates drop by?"
"A moment ago, why?" Sephiram answered, confusion written on his face.
"Did they mention what happened in the academy?"
"Well, they mentioned what happened to us four days ago. And the Team Battle Exam was on hold in other classes."
"So, they didn't know, huh?"
"Didn't know what?"
Augustus sighed. He also decides to change the topic since he doesn't know what happened within the academy as well. "Listen, Sephiram. Guards will be deployed to our house starting next week per orders from the president and they will be escorting you two to the academy." He looked at his mother. "Don't worry, mom. This is for our safety, I assure you." The mother sighed in relief.
"Anissa dear, let's go outside to get some coffee, shall we?" Ms. Davis asked Anissa.
"Sure, Mom," Anissa answered as Ms. Davis stood up and both women walked outside.
As they heard the door close, Sephiram looked at his brother. "You seemed tired."
"Yeah, having everyone hounded on me to know about you," Augustus replied, rummaging through his hair. "It's a tiring day." He sits down in the chair that their mother once occupied.
The sun sets down as Augustus looks out the window, deep in thought. The events of four days ago are still fresh in his mind. The interrogation of the three classes, Sephiram's birthmark being exposed, the sudden attack, and Piers' presence; all of this is jumbled in his mind as he doesn't know what to do next. He looked at his younger brother, who was also looking at the view. He knew that this day would come, and he was not prepared for it.
Ever since they were young, the two boys have had each other's back but ever since he and his mother discovered the mark on his left shoulder on his fifth birthday, he knew that he would protect his little brother, which is why he entered the Academy and work his way through the military. Now that his enemy knows his little brother's existence, he is so scared that the Vampire God will take him away from his loved ones for whatever reason.
And there are his nightmares. Augustus experienced this a couple of nights before the incident four days ago. In these nightmares, he is there; in a war that's ensuing between two forces, and he sees his little brother fighting a man who is sneering at him. He thought to himself: Was this related to his brother's nightmares? Or this is a foreshadowing of the future?
'I will ensure that the safety of the citizens is my top priority, and I won't let anyone try to disturb this peace.'
Zirconia's words are still ringing in his mind. Bastard as he may be in Augustus's eyes but as a president, he vowed to protect Libertas with all his might, even if it's the cost of his life. Dreams or not, the meaning is the same: to protect what holds dear.
"Something's wrong? You're lost in thoughts." Sephiram's worried words snapped Augustus of his thoughts.
"Nothing, Seph." He said as he held his brother's hand with both of his hands and pressed it gently.
"I'll protect you," Augustus vowed as Sephiram looked at him. He decides to protect his little brother from the Vampire God, even at the cost of his life.
"Promise me that."
*
-Three days later-
Sephiram hummed a happy tune while walking, with Anissa at his side. He was discharged two days ago but his mother suggested that he needs some rest for two days before attending school, same as Anissa who was tired of being interrogated by the military and needed a break. The fresh air provided comfort for them as they saw the school building and began to run. As they entered the courtyard, they saw a crowd of students gathered at the large bulletin board, looking at the large paper posted there.
"What's going on there?" Anissa asked her brother.
"Don't know. Maybe..." As Sephiram wandered his eyes, he saw Lena and Marcus looking at the board, far away from the crowd.
"Lena! Marcus!" Sephiram and Anissa ran toward them and the two looked at them happily.
"Sephy! Annie!" Lena exclaimed happily in her childish voice, bouncing up and down. "You're out of that gloomy hospital!"
"Since when did you get out?" Marcus asked Sephiram as they stopped, catching his breath.
"Two days ago, but mom forced me to get some bed rest." He replied but looked at the bulletin board. "Anyways, what's the news?"
"You don't know?" Marcus looked at them in confusion and Sephiram and Anissa shook their heads in response. He and Lena looked at each other afterward.
"There's a massive dropout of students on both Class Beta and Class Charlie because of the incident!" Marcus told them the news. "The school was in disarray three days ago, resulting in getting a mass promotion exam on other classes and a massive shift in three great classes. Of course, all fourteen of us are still in Class Alpha but from today, the students from Class Beta and Class Charlie who are not dropping out will be joining our class, with some demi-humans from the west district branch will be transferring in!"
"Means we have new classmates, yay!" Lena exclaimed happily.
"What?" Sephiram and Anissa were shocked. This is not the news they wanted to hear upon returning to school.