Chapter 61
Across campus at the stables around the same time as the attack on the Ramshackle dorm.
"I wonder what's the matter, the horses are rather agitated today." Riddle said as he put the last horse in the stable.
"Maybe a big storm's coming. Animals can sense when something's not right." Silver reasoned.
A loud ramble filled the air and the ground shook under them.
"What's that?" Riddle asked looking around.
"Silver! Riddle! Are you hurt?" Sebek shouted as he ran up to them.
"We're fine, is everyone else alright?" Silver asked.
"Yes all club members and horse are safe and accounted for. What was that noise? And those tremors?" Sebek asked also looking around.
"I don't know. My guess is that the school's barrier is under attack, what is that?" Riddle asked pointing towards the flying robots.
They same gray and blue robots landed in the field feet from Riddle, Silver and Sebek.
"Team Hexa reporting in. Subject A is in our sights. Moving in for capture." One of the three robots said as it took a step towards the group.
"Just who are these intruders? I've never seen their armor before." Sebek exclaimed.
"They're not our allies that's for sure." Silver stated taking a defensive stance.
"I'd like to ask something. Did you obtain permission from the proper channels when you came onto campus?" Riddle asked but he received no answer.
"Entering campus without permission is strictly forbidden. You're in serious violation of the rules. By my authority as Heartslabyul HouseWarden I authorize the use of magic on these intruders. To battle!" Riddle snapped as he pulled out his pen.
"Yes sir!" Silver and Sebek replied in unison and pulled out their pens as well.
"Subject A is hostile. Requesting permission to engage. ….permission granted." The robot said as he pointed his oar at Riddle.
"You dare to set foot on our territory without authorization?! Now you have nowhere to run!" Riddle snarled.
The three of them begin to battle the robots but quickly realized something is off.
"Rrh. I've hit them with loads of spells but they remain undaunted." Sebek growled.
"Maybe their equipment nullifies magic. This doesn't bode well for is." Silver theorized
"Technomantic capture beam fully charged, firing." A robot stated as his oar sent a blue beam at Riddle. A loud buzzing filled the air.
"Agh!" Riddle gasped as he fall to his knees.
"Riddle!" Silver and Sebek exclaimed in unison.
"Gah, I think I'm paralyzed." Riddle gasped.
"Subject A subdued securing now." A robot stated as he stepped towards Riddle.
"YAH!" Riddle snapped as his face began to turn red.
"Target has resumed hostile activity all personal fall back." The robot stated stepping back.
"You brought me to my knees you have some nerves I'll have all your heads for this!" Riddle shouted as he got back to his feet.
"Technomantic capture beam fully recharged firing." The robot said as he pointed his oar at Riddle again and sent another beam at Riddle. Buzzing filled the air again.
"AGH!" Riddle screamed and passed out falling to the ground.
"Target is subdued securing and returning to HQ." The robot said as he picked Riddle up.
"What do you think you're doing? Where are you taking Riddle?" Sebek snapped but the robots just ignore him and left with Riddle.
"Stop! Mh, Sebek look at the sky there are more of the, flying around the school." Silver pointed out and pointed at the sky which had more flying robots."It seems to me they were after Riddle from the start."
"I concur They referred to him as 'Subject A' from the moment they landed and barely gave us a second glance." Sebek said scratching the back of his head.
"Ah!" Silver and Sebek gasp at the same time.
"What if they targeting all the housewardens?" Sebek asked.
"Hard to say but we'd better get back to Diasomnia right away." Silver said as they began to run towards the Mirror Chamber.
"Waka-sama please be safe." Sebek muttered.
At another part of campus at the Botanical Garden Ruggie was looking for Leona."Leonaaa, I know you're in here. Your history of Magic report was due today and once again you failed to turn it in. Professor Trein almost burst a blood vessel. Now he's on my case telling me to bring you in. Think about what you're putting me through." Ruggie called out.
The glass ceiling above him began to crack and splinter, raining down around him.
"Huh? What was that?" Ruggie exclaimed jumping back.
There was more cracking and glass falling around him.
"Ack! The glass ceiling is coming down!" Ruggie realized as he pulled out his pen but before he could do anything the glass began to form back into place.
"Or not?" Ruggie muttered as he looked up at the ceiling.
"C'mon Ruggie you're a sophomore you should know how to insta-cast a barrier by now." Leona sighed as walked up to Ruggie.
"Leona!" Ruggie snapped turning to face him.
The ceiling cracked and shattered again and three robots entered the gardens right in front of Leona and Ruggie.
"Team Penta reporting in we've got eyes in subject B moving in for capture." The front robot said taking a step towards Leona and Ruggie.
"Grrr what with these guys? I know I've never smelled em before. I'd remember a stench that bad." Ruggie growled.
"Wait that insignia on their suits." Leona whispered as he stared at the insignia on their shoulders. A blue image of a figure on a boat.
"I dunno who they are but they gotta be nuts to take you on. I'll draw their attention then you blast them and,…" Ruggie began but Leona cut him off.
"Nope. I surrender." Leona said taking a step forward and holding his hands up.
"Wait, what!?" Ruggie exclaimed.
"Turn over all magical items in your possession." A robot ordered.
"Here you go. That's my magical pen take it." Leona said pulling his pen out of his vest and holding it out to the robot. They begin to scan it.
"But why? There's only 3 of them you should take these guys in your sleep." Ruggie whispered quickly.
"Shhhh, see their vest. Those aren't padded with wads of cash that's anti-magic plates. Don't do anything to get on their bad side." Leona whispered back.
"Anti-magic plate? That's what magic marshal uniforms are made of." Ruggie gulped.
"Familiar are ya? What did you have a run in with the law back home after pulling some magical stunt?" Leona asked.
"Maybe,… waaay long ago. But this ain't the time for a trip down memory lane were in serious trouble." Ruggie said.
"I've seen that insignia on their suits a few times before when I was at the palace. I think these guys are Ferryman." Leona informed him.
"Ferryman?" Ruggie asked looking confused.
"Look just keep your tail between your legs and don't so anything funny." Leona ordered.
"Object confirmed to be official NRC magical equipment. Subject B shows no signs of hostility we request you come with us." Robot stated once the scan was over.
"Sure but you better ferry me in style I'm a delicate prince you know I get motion sick real easy." Leona remarked as he took a step towards the robots.
"Le-leona wait! Leona!" Ruggie cried out.
"Ruggie you're in charge of Savanaclaw til I get back. Keep things running. Then again I can't be sure I'll come back at all." Leona said as he got on the hover board.
"What?" Ruggie gasped as they group left back through the hole they created in the ceiling. "Just hold on a second Leona!" Ruggie shouted.
In the classrooms in the main building Azul, Idia and Ortho were playing a game of chess when the loud crashing filled the air. Azul jumped in his seat knocking into the desk that the table sat on, disturbing the game.
"Erk! What's happening?" Azul got up and went to the closest window to try and see what was going on.
"Ugh! I was totally winning that match now the chessboard is all messed up." Idia groaned as he set the board back up for a new game.
More crashing filled the air but Azul came back to Idia. "That hardly seems relevant right now this is clearly an emergency." Azul snapped.
"Ortho, gave me a sitrep." Idia ordered as he looked to Ortho who was sitting next to him.
"Roger." Ortho smiled. He closed his eyes and began computing Idia's request. "The school's barrier is under heavy fire from technomantic beams it is already breached on several places. Multiple non campus bio readings detected within school grounds."
"Intruders?" Azul gasped.
"How many?" Idia asked staying calm.
"Presently detecting 15 life signs plus additional heat signatures in the air intruders may increased in number." Ortho answered.
"So they got beams that can breach the school's barrier, what about their gear?" Idia asked.
"Gauging from height and movement speed they're either on brooms or technomantic flying machines. They're are also firing magic projectiles and electric technomantic beams." Ortho informed him.
The crashing got closer to the classroom.
"Based on the performance of their mobile apparatuses and their technomantic energy circuits this is STYX made gear." Ortho continued.
"Uggghhh, this sucks, guess that means they're Ferrymen." Idia groaned.
"How are you two so calm? Our school is under attack. We need to contact the other housewardens and …." Azul snapped but was cut off by Ortho.
"3 flying objects approaching rapidly landing in three, two, one." Ortho countered down at the end three robots crashed through the windows into the classroom.
"Team Nona reporting in we have a visual on Subject C. Ida Shroud and the technomantic humanoid Ortho also sighted." One of the robots stated as they came towards the trio.
"It appears we're out of time. All freshman evacuate! By my authority as Octavinelle housewarden I authorize,…" Azul began but was cut off Idia who now was stating and placing a hand on Azul's shoulder.
"Chill Azul don't try and put up a fight just stay cool." Idia sated.
"What?" Azul asked looking floored.
"That's the Charon spec-tech unit." Idia informed him.
"The Charon what now?" Azul asked still confused.
"Specifically they're members of Charon a special technomantic force with Styx. Just take your hands off your magical pen and put your hands behind your head." Idia said taking this pose.
"As long as you follow my brother's recommendations your chances of sustaining an injury drops by 87% Azul Ashengrotto." Ortho said doing the same.
"Ah alright." Azul muttered copying them.
"Target has surrender we request you come with us." The trooper said.
"Dude you guys are being way too rough you're gonna get sued one of these days. You're not even going after a phantom here. This guy's a generally reasonable person. Couldn't you at least talk with him first?" Idia sighed.
"We are prohibited from disclosing mission details." The trooper responded.
"Ugh, here we go with the 'prohibited' stuff." Idia groaned.
"Your presence has been requested at Styx HQ Mr Shroud." The trooper stated.
"Huh? They want me? Are mom and dad out of town or something?" Idia asked.
"We are prohibited from disclosing the location of personal." The trooper repeated.
"Okay I mean roger let's go Ortho." Idia said taking a step towards the troopers.
"Coming Idia." Ortho said following Idia.
"Idia what's going on? Why would they want YOU?" Azul asked following too.
"I'll tell you later. Basically 'do nothing' is the optimal strat for this random event. Geez there's a ranking based event for my fave character today. I was gonna push it hard this sucks." Idia sighed shaking his head.
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank god I don't enjoy writing battles, it's just not my strong suit, if that isn't obvious by now. lol I did try to trim it down but it's so long even without battles.