novelraw Chapter 93 : Chapter 93
Chapter 93 : Chapter 93
Chapter 93. Return, What Happened Before (1)
Two weeks before my return.
There was the death of an individual named Evan Lafard.
A name remembered as the cadet who sacrificed himself to save everyone.
For years, people spoke his name, and his courage and sacrifice remained in the hearts of many.
Some remembered him with longing, others with respect.
But even those memories began to fade before a single event.
It began with a letter brought by a messenger.
“Dean!”
In the early morning, with the chill still lingering, Everhart, the head instructor, burst into the Dean’s office, panting heavily.
The Dean, reviewing documents at his desk, looked up at him.
“What’s all this fuss? It’s unlike you.”
Without even wiping the sweat from his brow, Everhart hurriedly placed the letter on the Dean’s desk.
“There’s big trouble!”
“What is it?”
Everhart steadied his ragged breathing and said, “The Kandahr Tribe has invaded the mainland.”
After a brief silence, the Dean frowned.
“That’s not unusual, is it? And with Duke Theron guarding the northern defense line, what’s there to worry about?”
The northern barbarians, the Kandahr.
Led by their great chieftain Bakan, they had historically coveted the Kingdom’s mainland dozens of times.
Invasion and defeat, a repeated history.
The Kingdom’s people regarded Kandahr attacks as routine border skirmishes.
The Dean thought the same and tried to brush it off.
But.
“This time… it’s different.”
Everhart’s voice was low and trembling slightly.
The Dean furrowed his brow and opened the letter.
Its contents were far from a mere border clash.
The Kandahr army of 50,000, led by Bakan, has landed on the eastern coast. The coastal defense line has collapsed. They are advancing toward the capital.
Reading the letter, the Dean looked up at Everhart in shock.
“Does this make sense? The Kandahr’s ships shouldn’t be capable of crossing such distant seas.”
“That’s why it’s chaos. The east is poorly defended, isn’t it?”
“They’ve been hit hard. Who would’ve thought they had ships capable of crossing the open sea?”
“According to reports, in less than three days, they’ve razed the eastern territories and are advancing toward the capital where the palace is.”
The Dean’s face contorted.
In less than three days since landing on the mainland, they were already pushing past the eastern borders toward the heart of the Kingdom.
“Maybe, even as we speak, they’ve advanced further.”
The Dean shot up from his seat.
The chair legs scraped the floor, making an uneasy sound.
“Call an emergency meeting at once. Summon all Academy instructors and staff!”
“Understood!”
As Everhart left, the Dean stood alone, staring out the window toward the palace.
With his gaze fixed outside, he muttered under his breath, unaware.
“Is the Kingdom’s humiliating history about to repeat itself?”
***
Due to Everhart’s order for an emergency meeting,
all Academy activities were canceled for the day.
Cadets were instructed to “stand by” in their dormitories, and all key Academy figures, including instructors, headed to the meeting hall.
Murmur, murmur.
The hall was filled with quiet but tense murmuring.
Those who had heard the news early wore heavy expressions in silence, while those who learned from them exchanged anxious glances.
“The Dean has arrived.”
Someone shouted from the entrance.
Instantly, the murmurs fell silent as if by magic.
All eyes turned to one spot.
The Dean stepped to the podium, not bothering to tidy his seat, and spoke immediately.
“Since everyone’s here, I’ll get straight to the point.”
His low, resolute voice
made the air in the room even heavier.
“Most of you already know, but the Kingdom is once again facing the threat of invasion.”
A brief silence followed.
Some swallowed hard, others clenched their fists wordlessly.
“This time, the invaders have entered the mainland not through the fortified northern strongholds but via the eastern region.”
In their minds flashed images of burning villages, collapsing walls, and people falling under the invaders’ banners.
The Dean quietly observed their expressions.
Then, in a low voice, he concluded, “And reports say they’re advancing toward the capital at an unprecedented speed. Their target is likely His Majesty, our pillar.”
The Dean paused, then slowly turned his head and spoke again.
“In this situation, I seek your wisdom. What should our Academy do?”
No sooner had the Dean’s question ended than an instructor shot up and shouted, “We must cross to the mainland immediately!”
His voice was strong and confident.
“Even if our numbers are small, our strength must contribute, even a little!”
Many instructors nodded in agreement.
Their eyes burned with resolve and anger.
But, as if to quell that fervor, someone rose quietly.
It was Nell Verind.
With a cold gaze, he surveyed the room and spoke cautiously.
“I oppose. Even if we all go, we’re barely a hundred strong. Of course, our individual abilities far surpass regular soldiers.”
Before Nell could finish, an agitated instructor shot up and shouted,
“So we should just sit still?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
His voice was calm, but the resolve within was stronger than anyone’s.
“What we must protect is this island. It’s true the enemy is heading for the capital, but we cannot overlook the fact that they’re razing everything in their path.”
The northern tribe, Kandahr.
Hundreds of years ago, they learned a painful lesson in their war with the Kingdom.
One single truth:
“Leave no embers.”
They had suffered great losses and retreated due to an unexpected counterattack by militias.
That defeat taught them a lesson.
Even the Kingdom’s ordinary citizens could be a threat.
So, the Kandahr of today were different from the past.
They retraced their steps, thoroughly crushing any remaining embers.
“That’s what worries me. This island is home to many residents. And above all, our cadets. If we don’t protect them, who will?”
Loyalty to the Kingdom was important.
But above all, their duty was to protect their home first.
This place wasn’t just an educational institution but where the seeds of the future grew.
“Let’s hear more opinions.”
But this discussion wasn’t a simple exchange of ideas.
It was a matter tied to the Kingdom’s fate.
Clashing beliefs and values led to a heated debate.
“So we just abandon the place where our families are?”
One instructor shot up and shouted.
“Are we trying to save our families right now? Or are we protecting the Kingdom?”
Another instructor stood, countering.
“Does serving the Kingdom mean abandoning our families? We’re family members before we’re Kingdom citizens!”
“Who doesn’t know that?”
“I’m saying it because you seem not to!”
At that moment, their emotions exploded.
Sharp words flew at each other, and the meeting hall quickly descended into chaos.
“You—!”
“You still don’t see reality?!”
“All talk!”
Voices grew louder, and anger and confusion turned the room into a battlefield of conflict.
“Enough!”
Dean Duke’s voice thundered through the hall.
It was a shout laced with powerful authority.
Instantly, all noise ceased, and the instructors shut their mouths as if spellbound.
“Are we going to start fighting each other before we face the enemy?”
With that single sentence, the lingering anger and conflict quietly subsided.
…
The Dean maintained silence for a moment before presenting a compromise.
“I believe both sides have unavoidable reasons. But our primary duty is to protect the Academy.”
Nell and the instructors who agreed with him nodded in relief.
But the Dean’s words didn’t end there.
“However, we cannot simply watch the Kingdom’s crisis. I will accept volunteers to fight for the Kingdom.”
No sooner had he spoken than the instructors who advocated helping the Kingdom raised their hands without hesitation.
“Good. You will cross to the mainland and prepare to head to the capital. And… Everhart.”
“Yes, Dean.”
“I’ll join them to lend my strength to the capital.”
“You’re going too, Dean?”
“Shouldn’t I? There’s nothing more irresponsible than watching the Kingdom fall with my own eyes.”
Duke Valendo.
His participation was no light decision.
His presence on the battlefield could influence the war’s tide, and no one knew this better than Duke himself.
“So, from now on, you’ll act as Dean and protect this place.”
Everhart bowed with a stern expression.
“I will obey your command.”
Thus, the Academy’s participants were decided, and the meeting ended.
Or rather, it nearly ended.
Creak.
The meeting room door slowly opened.
Beyond it stood cadets.
Leading them was Jaina, followed by Jack and others in the Executor program.
“What are you doing? The assistants told you to stay in the dormitories.”
At Duke’s question, Jaina stepped forward and spoke boldly.
“We’re going too.”
Duke, looking startled, shouted firmly, “Nonsense! How can I take you, not even adults, to a battlefield?”
But Jaina didn’t back down.
“The Kingdom is in unprecedented danger. Why should we do nothing? The Kingdom is our home. We’re ready to protect it.”
“I’m not saying don’t protect it. This Academy is your home too. Stay here…”
“We’re going.”
Jaina was resolute.
Her eyes showed no wavering, and the cadets behind her showed no sign of retreating.
“We’re going too.”
“You’d have to lock us up!”
Faced with their steadfast attitude, Duke’s heart stirred with an indescribable emotion.
“…”
Tapping the table silently, Duke finally nodded.
“Fine. But you stay by my side.”
Everhart exclaimed in shock, “Dean!”
Duke said in a firm voice, “I’ll take responsibility. And these kids—they’re already stronger than the assistants, aren’t they?”
The cadets in the Executor program had grown into powerful warriors.
In terms of skill, they were more than qualified to fight.
“If you’ve decided to join us, pack your things. We leave before sunset today.”
The cadets nodded vigorously.
“Yes! Thank you, Dean!”
“Then we’ll end the meeting here. Everyone, return to your posts!”
Thus, led by Dean Duke, the volunteers, including instructors, assistants, and Executor program cadets, left the Academy with heavy steps to save the Kingdom.
Those who remained prepared to protect the Academy in case of any eventuality.
“Protect” was the term used, but it was closer to preparing to receive refugees.
No matter how ruthless the Kandahr barbarians were in ravaging the mainland, they believed there was no reason for them to come to this distant island.
But that was mere hope, and not long after the Dean left, that hope shattered.
The red-patterned banners of the Kandahr.
Dozens of warships approached the island, their massive flags fluttering.