It was silent. Even a simple leaf crunching under a shoe was heard few meters further. Amer glanced at few men, who were closer to the school, hiding in the bushes. How humiliating it must have been for them. Such a well-trained and advanced soldiers, hiding because of some little fairies. But they shouldn't be seen yet and that was made obvious for everyone.

Amer bit back his teeth. Mortuus had made many things too obvious.

"You have only one job," he had said. "If you won't success this time, you're nothing but an utter failure. Your brother would be ashamed."

Oh, he'd show that man how well he could do a job when one was given. He hated to be compared to his malicious brother.

One man farther away came him a thumps up; the girls were now gone.

"This is it then." He huffed, giving nods to few of his companions. One after another, they began to pull their swords off their belts.

"Griselda." The Winx had finally reached the podium and tried to catch their breath.

Griselda herself was busy trying to calm down the student body. Faragonda's sudden fleeing didn't exactly help the fact that everyone was getting nervous about the upcoming events.

"Griselda," Bloom repeated, this time getting the brunette's attention. "Faragonda sent us. She said that they're coming."

"Like, really soon," Stella added for good measure.

Griselda's eyes widened in shock. She curled her lip and slammed her clipboard on a table. She clapped her hands loudly. "Silence, silence, please!"

Much for their surprise, the room grew silent. The one time students actually obeyed Griselda immediately.

Griselda opened her mouth to speak, but got no chance for it. The sound of breaking glass was back, now it was just like the entire barrier was raining to the ground in tiny pieces...

One sword couldn't do anything, no, Alfea's protection magic was far too advanced. But when dozens of magically strengthened swords hit the shield at the exact same time, there was only one outcome: total destruction. The soldiers watched as the pieces fell to the ground, looking as if the barrier had been made of paper or thin glass.

The crow from earlier let out a long, sharp squawk. Soon it got its response; dozens, if not hundreds of other crows began to shriek and flew off the branches, towards Alfea. Half a dozen landed on the school grounds safely and that was their sign. They'd be free to move without having to face any other spells.

A smirk grew on one group leader's face. He raised his sword in the air and let out a battle cry.

How dramatic... Amer sighed but followed his lead, raising the sword. Rest of the soldiers followed, each shouting their own battle cries as they jumped out of the bushes and stomped to the school ground. Some were heading to the doors, some stood on their places and waited.

Luckily, Amer had only one job: finding the woman, whom Mortuus so badly wanted dead.

Luckily, the panic inside the auditorium died down quickly as Griselda piled orders for them.

"And most importantly," she said sternly. "You do not attack until you get my sign. Understood?" She didn't wait for an answer before strolling down to the door. The running steps of the intruders were clear, even though it sounded like they slowed down after a while.

"Everyone, follow my lead," Griselda ordered and stepped outside. A heavy frown wrinkled her face as she examined the groups further away.

"Remember what I said," she called to the student body when everyone had gathered on the corridor. "No attacks."

There was a moment of silence when the groups stopped running and just stared the fairies. Most of them seemed to be pleased to finally get a reaction to their shouts. A female soldier stepped up. "You could always make this easier and surrender now," she stated in a taunting tone.

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," Griselda snarled.

The female soldier didn't look too pleased. Her male companion stepped in front of her, pulling out his sword and darting forward with a smirk. Before the most could have reacted, the man was sent flying back to his group by a bright blast. The next thing they noticed was the light slowly fading from Griselda's hand.

"Well, I guess that was our sign," Layla muttered.

More and more angered soldiers pulled their swords out...