Spirit Taming

Chapter 372: Stand Together

"Everyone here, we will be waiting a few hours until those that can, will pick you up. Those of you that wish to stay may for some time. The danger has passed but it will be safer to wait a few moments here." Illia had made this announcement a few hours ago. At the time, it was mostly just the Nebula first year team and Clark's group.

Ella had remained even though the other third years that had been brought with had already left the lord's mansion.

"So you have all waited here properly, good. I was worried that you might lose your patience or sanity and start to fight the cultists as well." when Professor Wright's voice had finally arrived, it was as if the group was awakened again.

"We followed the guards like we were told. Illia had just brought right along." Clark was soft spoken but prompt with his response.

"Good. you should save yourself now so that you can get stronger. But that doesn't mean you can't fight another day. There is going to be an announcement about the surviving Nebula and Nova fourth years. There is still going to be an end of tournament banquet as well. However, it appears that all the city lords are now meeting." This appeared to be fairly stressful for any tamer.

Even the guards that had walked Professor Wright in were showing slight signs of stress at having multiple city lords in Nebula.

"This all makes sense, Miss Wright, If I could bother you to escort my fellow students with your students?" Illia was very forward since she wanted to make sure that she got to the arena sooner than later for this announcement.

"Of course, just keep up. The other guards will walk as our guardian wall. I just came because I am in charge of the first years. I really enjoyed seeing your use of ice type energy. It reminded me of a friend I went to school with. She has an ice mantis as her beast.

It was very hard to deal with." Professor Wright was putting on a good face but they could all feel the energy coming from her no matter how she held it. There was a murderous aura that deterred any thought of arguments. Not that there would have been any.

"How are they able to have the banquet still?" Isa was very interested in this decision. The merchants and many of the people that had come in to the city would surely not want to stay here now that an attack had just happened. Especially by the most notorious cultist group known around.

"The guards showed off very much. There were about seventy deaths overall which is nothing compared to what was saved. That was going to be announced. However, I thought it best to tell you that most deaths were the mercenaries hired to protect the city itself. I even hear that some have already been hired as permanent lower class guards with promotion possibility for their efforts."

Such things rarely happened. Once a mercenary became a mercenary without a home, the odds were high that they would not be returning to a city life. That was just easier since they would normally be guilty of some crime here or there. But if the mercenary was able to do something so great as to gain membership in a city, then it was worth mentioning.

"Oh, that must mean that Nebula did more than just pay them with a few materials or some good gold. I see." Isa was enlightened. She had not been able to hear about mercenary contracts. This information would help her a little making deals later.

"Now come on, we have places to be." This was all a rush. Being pushed through the city through scenes of literal murder just hours ago and now being brought through a city that didn't show nearly any sign of those bodies or blood? It was as if it hadn't happened. The only signs were the carts bringing broken wook or large chunks of ice away.

Even the builders repairing buildings were already moving too easily. This was stunning.

What was to note though, was that none of them had ever lived through the vicious beast waves that had been prominent during the founding of many cities. The waves that would decimate all but the most secure areas. Those days it had been imperative to ensure that builders and clean up was done so fast that the beasts would be fighting another tough battle.

This was a major way for the beasts to be deterred. Every single attack they would face harsher and harsher opposition until the beasts of the wilderness didn't even bother attacking anymore or were wiped out.

This was just how a city should recover. The many guards around were clearly on edge still. Yet, there was an overwhelming sense of security now. Even the citizens moving about looked relaxed. Clark could only say that he was stunned. He hadn't imagined such a situation.

But he also looked back on how fast the homes were rebuilt after the terrible fire that had killed his parents. How fast recovery could be.

"This is it, should be fine for now." Professor Wright showed the dramatic change in the arena. Yet again it had been changed to be an open area, but it was also clear that ice had been used to cover damaged areas and return the entire stadium to a normal ish looking area to prepare for a large ceremony.

As if stepping in to a serious meeting, the air was heavier than usual. Yet, this was not what caught everyone's attention. It was the powerful guards and city lord standing in the middle of the arena with multiple daggers laying on a single table.

Sitting down wasn't hard, seating was still reserved and it was noted that many students had returned. Some were missing due to injuries and even a few were showing signs that they had just lost close friends. But that was the tournament. No one appeared to be mourning in the sense that they had just lost someone to the attack itself.

"Listen closely!" The sound was amplified through magic skills and made everyone snap to attention. "As the city lord of Nebula, I announce the defeat of the blood moon cultists that have eradicated the traveling Ethereal academy!" This was a big announcement, but not a happy one.

"Through the efforts of multiple city lords, our personal teams, and some brave students. We have learned that the blood moon cult sent a small group to take over the Ethereal academy. They were able to hide this fact halting us from action. Through the battles the evidence was found and their attack finalized it.

That was why the guards were at the ready to eradicate them with the least amount of deaths possible."

"We lost some citizens and they will be honored in a vigil later tonight. They will be memorialized in ice for a year as the brave who faced the dangers of war against evil!" This announcement finally brought sound from the audience. But seeing as this was being announced with magic skill throughout Nebula, many people were screaming out in approval.

"Due to the capture of multiple figures, we have some information on why the cultists came to disrupt this grand tournament. Not only did they wish to steal materials, but they wished to destroy the relationship of all the taming academies. This failed! Instead, we have a city lord meeting to ban together and destroy this corrupt cult from existence!" This brought another roar of approval.

"Those injured will receive free healing. The students will receive their rewards. Nebula and Nova fourth years will both receive rewards for the final battle, as is right. As Nova academy was able to have the most students complete the tournament, they will be the host of the next academy tournament!" This was the announcement that would normally be made.

But it was lack luster compared to the joint effort to crush the blood moon cult.

"All students that desire it may still join the grand end of tournament banquet. We will also be presenting the material rewards as we do so. Upon awarding the students who deserve their hard sought prizes, we will be planning their rewards to enter the unsealed ice palace dungeon.

Please show them that they have accomplished great things as the youngest elites in our world!" The next cheer was just as loud as the previous cheers. The listening had been swayed in to the atmosphere brought on by the speech.

"Finally, I welcome you to see the proof of victory before you. These daggers are the symbols marked with a red moon. The blood moon cultists all carried them so that they may end their lives in sacrifice at any moment. The proof of these daggers is evidence that we stopped that, but also stand above the evil intentions of others.

Take this to your rest tonight, under no circumstance will nebula bow to evil!" The final roar of approval as the speech ended was enough to show that things would keep moving on and upwards because of this attack. Even the common folk were not involved in fighting back.