236 Entering the Academy 3/4

"Of course not," Jackal chuckled, his smile returning. "Just make sure to call my dear Elero back. I've been wanting to catch up with her after we spent so much time apart from one another. I think the last time I really talked to her…" He rubbed his chin. "She had yet to be broken." He let out a long sigh. "So much potential, wasted."

Thomas's hands balled up into fists but Frey pulled him back. "Don't get caught up with what he has to say. I'm sure it's a trap or some sort of manipulation. We should be focused on the building he's about to set ablaze." He pointed to the commoners, who were rushing around, organizing bundles of wood, all at least a dozen feet from the Knight's Academy.

"I don't think that's what he has planned." Thomas said as he walked up to the Knight's Academy and ran a hand the cold stone foundation. "Stone wouldn't set fire that easily. Maybe the wood is for another purpose." He pulled out the note from earlier and read through it again: "Beware inhaling the smoke." He scanned the building once again.

'Could it be something on the inside?' He couldn't confirm his thoughts because any and all entrances and exits, apart from the entrance, had been boarded up airtight. "I know what I said earlier but this changes things. I don't think we have choice but to listen to Jackal and get Elero out of there before something happens to her."

Screams and metallic clanging met their ears as they ascended the steps. Frey smirked: "Like she needs our help." He brought out his shield and spear. "Stay close behind me even if you see someone who's supposed to be on our side."

Thomas stopped: "But we're all supposed to be on the same side now."

Frey sighed and put a hand on the young noble's shoulder. "Listen, I know you are innocent but you need to chance that. Develop some distrust like I have. Jackal divided the class. As of now, it's nobles against commoners. I'm a commoner but I'm not on Jackal's side."

Thomas nodded: "So they should accept you as a friend. It's kind of like an enemy of my enemy situation, right?" He readied one of the blunt javelins he and Frey had collected.

"I hope that's the case." Frey got into a stance and pushed forward, his weapons and heavy armor clanking against each other. When they arrived at the top, they peered into the dark doorway. Leading deep into the building was a dark hallway littered with unconscious forms from both sides. Frey made sure to look each and every body down before entering.

"Hello?" Thomas called into the dark hallway.

They crept along the left wall, each step creaking the wooden floorboards. Frey ducked under the circular holes in the blue and pink wallpaper and stepped over the tripwires. Thomas glanced at the nobles lying against the right wall. The dents in their breastplates matched the shape of the blunt arrow tips strewn about the ground.

Peering into the left room, they found bookshelves pushed against the windows, a small, boarded-up fireplace, torn furniture, and books scattered all over. Six dark figures struggled against each other, cursing, punching, and slashing while another six lay on the ground. Since it was nearing the end of the bout, the six were tired, slow, with liquid dripping on the ground. They knew it was blood, but they couldn't tell how much or who it came from.

"Is she there?" Thomas leaned over Frey's shoulder, or he tried to but even on the tips of his toes, he couldn't get taller than the giant's chest. Shadows moved in the sliver of light which pierced through the boarded-up window. Thomas's world spun as Frey grabbed him and dove just as the window was blown open, splintered wood flying all about the room. Light flooded inside.

The commoners rushed in and beat every figure down, uncaring if it was a noble or an enemy. Then, as Frey and Thomas scrambled back, expecting the fight to come to them, the commoners pulled the unconscious figures back.

"What was that?" Thomas whispered, walking out from behind Frey and poking his head around the corner.

"Don't know," Frey said, dragging Thomas away. "Let's just keep going." They looked down one of the other two doorways at the end of the entryway. The doorway at the back end led to a circular stairway which went all the way up to the top floor. The collective yelling grew louder. The engraved unending wooden railings held rot and deep cracks.

The upper floors held more unconscious forms. Frey rubbed his temples: "I don't think Elero would have stopped to fight someone. She looked determined when she stormed off, as if she would mow down anyone in her path. I think she's up there but let's go up after we've moved through the first story. That way we won't expend unnecessary energy if she's down here." Thomas nodded and followed him.

The building quaked and the two leaned against the shaking walls to keep their footing. "What the hell is that?" A man screeched. Light flooded through the darkness, leaving bits of blue in the duo's vision. "Aim for the wings!" Bits of dust flew down from the old, white ceiling as the building rocked again.

"Frey, I got a question." Thomas whispered.

"What is it?" Frey glanced out the building's entrance, where the light seemed to creep up from a fire outside.

Thomas swallowed his saliva, knowing he was probably going to be scolded for this: "Why are we trying to be quiet?"

"W-well," Frey stammered as they crept to the hallway's last doorway. "It's what Doevm would do." But as he replied, doubt gleamed behind his eyes.

Thomas clasped his hands together and a smile crossed his face, a face covered in shadows. "Or we could, you know, just smash our way through." Life essence swirled around him. It was as if the light around them was covered in a fog, one that smelled stale, rustic. "I don't like fights but my heart can't take much more of this."

"I think that's a good idea," Frey said, bringing himself to full height, life essence swirling around him. He bellowed: "Elero, where the hell are you?" He brought his shield closer to his chest, fully expecting someone to charge at them.

"Hurry the hell up!" Elero's voice echoed but in the large building it was difficult to ascertain its source, even harder when the screams of dozens clashing against each other rang out. Several figures rushed out of the right room: weapons drawn.