ONLINE: Blades of Eternity

Chapter 124 A PIECE OF NEWS

While Kaelen his companions were getting themselves ready for the future, Doran and a small group of his men stood at the entrance of the prestigious Pacesetter Academy, their presence already causing murmurs among the students and staff. Doran's eyes burned with fury as he stared up at the grand gates, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.

He had come here with a purpose, and he was not leaving until it was fulfilled.

"How dare this academy hide a member of the High Order under its roof," Doran muttered, his voice filled with malice.

Just as Doran prepared to storm inside, two imposing figures stepped out from the shadows near the academy's gate. General Cao, a stern-looking man with an air of authority, and Vlahiç, the master strategist, blocked the path with crossed arms. Both were renowned figures within the academy, known for maintaining its integrity and reputation.

"Doran," General Cao said, his voice calm but commanding, "you will not set foot inside these grounds without permission. This is a place of learning and discipline, not a battleground for your personal vendettas."

Doran sneered, clearly unimpressed. "Permission?" he spat. "I need no permission to uncover the filth hiding in your academy. You've harbored a member of the High Order under your roof, and I demand to speak with your Vice Chancellor immediately!"

Vlahiç narrowed his eyes, stepping forward with calculated precision. "The Vice Chancellor does not entertain baseless accusations or demands from outsiders who think they can strong-arm their way through the academy's doors. Your claims about the High Order mean nothing here without proof."

Doran's frustration grew, and he drew his sword halfway out of its sheath. "Proof? You think I need proof? That boy—Kaelen—is connected to the High Order! And this academy dares to hide him within its walls like some precious student. You have no idea the danger you're in by allowing him to remain here!"

General Cao didn't flinch, his gaze cold and unyielding. "Kaelen is a student of this academy. His loyalty to the academy and the city is unquestioned. You, on the other hand, have come here with nothing but threats and accusations. If you wish to make your case, you will do so peacefully, or you will be escorted off these grounds immediately."

Doran's men began to stir, their hands moving toward their weapons, but a subtle glance from General Cao was enough to make them hesitate. His reputation as a fearsome warrior and leader was known far beyond the academy, and none of them wanted to challenge him lightly.

His mind raced, connecting fragments of old stories, hidden truths, and Kaelen's sudden rise in notoriety.

"How can it be him?" the Vice Chancellor thought, his breath catching in his throat. "Of all the students, of all the people..."

A memory flashed before his eyes, one of his earliest teachings from the academy's hidden archives. The legend of the one who would bear the Eternal Blade, whose presence could tip the scales of the world, binding fate to the mysterious High Order. The prophecy that foretold a great conflict—a conflict that could either bring salvation or ruin.

His eyes, filled with disbelief and fright, looked down at the academy far below him. The confrontation at the gates between General Cao, Vlahiç, and Doran had already dissipated, but the implications of that moment were far-reaching. Doran's accusations about the High Order now felt more than just paranoid delusions—they were rooted in something far more dangerous.

"Kaelen," he muttered under his breath. "It's all connected to him."

The Vice Chancellor's mind swirled with the implications. If Kaelen truly was the one mentioned in the prophecy, then his presence here was not just a matter of destiny but of immense peril for the academy and the world at large. And with Doran now stirring trouble at the gates, things were growing increasingly precarious.

There was only one person who could truly understand the gravity of this situation—the Chancellor. The leader of the Pacesetters Academy, a figure so powerful and enigmatic that even the Vice Chancellor had rarely seen him in person. But now, with the weight of the prophecy pressing down on his shoulders, there was no choice left.

With a determined look, the Vice Chancellor folded the parchment and tucked it into his robe. His eyes hardened as he made his decision.

"It seems I have no choice but to meet the Chancellor," he thought grimly, his voice tinged with both urgency and dread. "He must know about this before it's too late."

And with that, the Vice Chancellor vanished into the clouds, leaving behind only a whisper in the wind as the fate of the academy, and perhaps the world, began to unfold.