Chapter 126: 126. Apple-pie

As the floor quaked violently, tables shook, chairs scraped against stone, and dishes spilled across the cafeteria, chaos erupted in an instant.

What had been a cheerful, sunny afternoon turned into a flood of panic and chaos as students screamed and scrambled.

Rumors spread faster than light, with some students shouting that the cults had attacked again, that another disaster like the trials was unfolding right in front of them.

Almost reflexively, barriers erupted across the hall. Defensive formations flared into existence as mana surged from frightened students and seasoned seniors alike.

Transparent shields overlapped, glowing walls snapped into place, and runic circles formed beneath trembling feet.

The cafeteria became a mess of shouting voices, flashing lights, and scrambling dishes.

Chaos broke out completely.

In the middle of this confusion, the group of eight freshers suddenly felt something strange.

Their footing shifted unnaturally, as if the world itself was slipping beneath them.

The air around them distorted, colors blurred, and before any of them could fully react, the cafeteria vanished from sight.

Everyone except Ethan reacted instantly, taking this asa sign of an unknown threat.

Their training took over as their weapons were drawn in a heartbeat, and mana surged as they prepared for battle out of pure instinct.

When they finally managed to look around, they realized they were no longer standing on solid ground.

They were levitating in midair, suspended inside a smooth, translucent bubble formed of pure sword intent.

The pressure was firm but not oppressive, wrapping around them like a protective cocoon.

Below them, the academy grounds stretched out; the earth was far calmer than the chaos they had just escaped, but still, they could see figures running around in panic.

Ethan raised a hand sharply.

“Put your weapons away,” he said in an urgent voice.

The others hesitated, eyes darting around, but Ethan’s confident expression told them what needed to be said.

He did not look alarmed. In fact, he looked relieved, as if he had just confirmed something important.

“I know who this is,” he added quietly.

Reluctantly, one by one, the group lowered their weapons.

The earthquake ended as abruptly as it had begun. The bubble drifted smoothly through the air, carrying them away from the cafeteria before descending gently.

It touched down on open ground and dissolved, releasing them without so much as a jolt.

Everyone followed Ethan’s gaze.

From the sky above, three figures descended calmly.

The group immediately recognized two of them.

Klaus, the fifth sword saint, with his sharp presence and unyielding aura, and Emperor Aurelius, the ruler of Riverdale Kingdom and the face of the human race

Floating beside them was a third man, unfamiliar to most of the group, yet his presence didn’t get overshadowed by the other two.

“Papa!”

Leila squealed suddenly, breaking the tense silence as she sprinted forward.

Only then did the others realize who the third man was.

Duke Ravenclaw.

Leila’s father.

“My sweet daughter, my apple-pie,” Duke Ravenclaw said warmly, his fierce expression melting the moment he saw her.

He bent down and embraced her tightly, one massive arm wrapping around her with almost crushing affection.

The rest of the group collectively twitched.

Several of them cringed openly at the weird nickname.

Ethan, meanwhile, walked toward Klaus, stopping a short distance away.

Klaus stared at him sharply, his gaze was intense, and he did not need words to say what he wanted to say.

With just that look, Ethan understood everything his master had in mind.

Ethan rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, his embarrassment obvious.

The others kept their distance, instinctively avoiding getting tangled in the reunion between Leila and her father.

“Papa, how come you are here?” Leila asked brightly. Then she leaned closer and whispered near his ear, “Did you receive my letter?”

Lord Ravenclaw smiled and replied in an equally lower tone. “Yes, Leila. I got your message. We will talk about it after I attend a meeting with Principal Andrea.”

“Meeting?” Leila asked, blinking.

“Yes,” Lord Ravenclaw replied smoothly. “We are here to discuss some administrative matters between the empire and the academy.”

It was a lie, delivered so casually that no one else would have noticed.

“Okay, Father,” Leila nodded with a bright smile. “Let’s talk after your meeting.”

“Just wait for me, apple pie,” Lord Ravenclaw said, patting her head with his large, hairy hand. “Don’t go anywhere, alright?”

“Damn,” Desmond whispered under his breath, leaning toward Kara. “Is he an ape?”

The three men exchanged brief nods with the group before turning and heading toward Andrea’s office, leaving the students behind.

Leila’s smile did not fade until her father disappeared.

Then, abruptly, her expression hardened.

She turned toward Ethan, who was wearing the same grim look.

“We are fucked,” they said at the same time.

The others rushed over, alarmed by their sudden change in demeanor.

“Guys, we need to leave the academy right now,” Ethan said seriously. “If we don’t, then we won’t be able to leave at all.”

***

Meanwhile, in Andrea’s personal space above the academy, the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.

Not because of the earlier clash between Andrea and Tamasya.

No.

Both of them were kneeling on the ground in a timid and docile manner.

In front of them sat another figure, relaxed in her chair yet radiating authority that made any resistance unthinkable.

Yue Qinglin’s eyes shone dangerously.

“Have some shame, bitches,” she snapped. “You are both adults.”

She turned her gaze toward Andrea.

“You say I dress like a teenage girl? Look at yourself. Tammy just came out of a hellish prison after thousands of years, a place we did not even know existed.”

“We thought she was dead all this while, and instead of being warm and affectionate, you were threatening her and her disciple.”

“I was not threatening…” Andrea tried to reason, but Yue’s voice hardened.

“Your clash almost destroyed the academy domain !!”

Then she turned to Tamasya.

“And you,” Yue continued sharply, “keep your tongue in check. Who taught you to speak with such venom? Your disciple?”

Tamasya looked down, pouting silently.

“Anne is still trapped in that prison,” Yue continued angrily. “Who knows if she has eaten anything in all these years, and now you two are fighting like maniacs?”

She scolded them for several more minutes, each word landing heavier than the last.

Both Andrea and Tamasya listened in silence, their expressions turned grim and embarrassed, fully aware of how badly they had lost control over their demeanors.

Finally, Yue exhaled.

“Now get up,” she ordered.

Andrea and Tamasya obeyed instantly.

“Andy,” Yue continued, “you have visitors from Riverdale. Of course, I am one of them.”

“Why?” Andrea asked, confused.

“Regarding the missing people.”

Andrea gasped. “How do they know?”

“Tsk,” Yue replied. “Ask them yourself.”

She then glanced at Tamasya. “Turn into a cat and stay with me. I cannot leave you two alone again.”

She sighed before turning back to Andrea.

“And settle down the panic among the academy students,” Yue added.

“They think the earthquake was a sign of another attack from the cults, who will tell them that their dear principal likes to play with her powers once in a while.”

Yue’s words made Andrea’s already down head lower.

Yue stood and moved, the weight of what was coming pressing down on all of them.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep