Nightblade (Darkest night)-Chapter 207: A small condition

"And what would that be?"

Xander grinned.

"You two, would have to repeat the same feat this year. Except, I’ve been allowed to participate."

Edmund stiffened for a brief moment.

Emily noted the strange reaction, taking tiny bites of her food.

After all the time they’d spent in Tenebris, she’d come to appreciate the taste of cuisine back on Earth now more than ever

Edmund could barely control his excitement.

" So it’s finally happening, huh..."

Ever since the altercation with the rogue group of Takented in Zolaris, the three of them hadn’t had a chance to go head-to-head again.

From what Edmund had observed, Xander was every bit as impressive as his reputation claimed him to be.

As one of the youngest novices in existence, he undoubtedly had the startling potential to become one of the youngest maestros.

Beside him, Warren wore his usual impassive expression but deep down Edmund was sure he was excited as well.

Despite his ever-present mask of impassiveness, Edmund was sure the apathetic Talented enjoyed the thrill of battle every bit as much as he did, if not even more.

Amidst small bites, Emily turned to Xander and curiously asked.

"Are you that good?"

Xander smiled faintly and shrugged.

"I’m not so sure myself. I mean, I try. I guess you’ll have to see for yourself."

Leaning back, Xander probed her with a question of his own.

"Will you be taking part?"

Emy shrugged, crunching down on an exquisite piece of chicken tender.

"I’m not sure...I guess we’ll have to see," she murmured.

She closed her eyes savoring the piece of chicken in her mouth.

"This really is the best..."

Xander stared at her expression in mild amusement.

" The Veilrend Games will be taking place in a monthyou’ll hear what then Xander said smiling at the two Talented.

Edmund shrugged, a faint glimmer of light shining in his eyes.

Just then the siren blared.

The four rose from the table, slowly walking towards the serving area.

" Oh, I almost forgot, "Xander said, a mischievous smile appearing on his face.

"The Talented would have to place within the first three positions for any of this time take effect.

Walking back to class, Emily couldn’t help but reflect on everything that happened.

Professor Alex hadn’t changed one bit.

The lithe professor was still as elegant as ever.

Observing the class through his silver rimmed specs, his piercing blue eyes shone with an enthusiastic light, his voice echoing throughout the large chamber.

"During the Great Temerian war, Severis the second, the advisor to the ruling monarchy of..."

Emily half listened, half daydreamed for most of the lecture, images of a vast desert and sprawling plains fit through her mind.

Due to the unique circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the Scion and Talented classes, the returnees were being taught separately.

A measure that the Council had implemented to mentally rehabilitate the Survivors.

Apart from the surviving youths and their own testimonies, no one really knew what had transpired and how they’d survived for the past two years.

So the separation also provided the council. a unique opportunity to observe them and ensure that they wouldn’t be a cause of harm to themselves and the other scions.

"Emily Whizen."

A sharp voice drew her out of her reverie.

A dark-robed man stood in front of the class next to the professor.

The man was clad in tenebrous vestments and the insignia on his breast pocket identified him as one of the Praesagius agents..

"You’ll be coming with us."

Stepping out she found a bunch of the other Talented Survivors waiting in the corridor outside the great hall.

An unfamiliar green-haired woman stood guard next to the youths.

She offered Emily a brief smile then turned her attention to the device she was holding in her hand.

While the whole thing was definitely suspicious, Professor Alex wouldn’t have allowed the agents to take them without good reason.

After a few moments, the lady led them to a more secluded building.

Within the building, several other figures were already gathered.

"The Videntis?!" A voice whispered in disbelief beside her.

"Anthony..."

After Morgan’s disappearance, Anthony had grown distant. The stalwart de facto leader of the faction of Talented that had landed in Azaroth had almost become a different person.

From the little she’d observed of him, Anthony had grown colder and much more distant.

So much so that even the other Talented had noticed.

Looking at Anthony, she noticed that the Takebted had become gaunter, with dark bags under his eyes.

" It doesn’t look like he’s getting enough sleep. "

Every survivor of the dark maestro incident was coping in one way or another.

Some of them had become insomniacs courtesy of recurring nightmares and from the looks of things Anthony was one of them. Stories of the Talented and assassin youths alike waking up screaming in the middle of the night circulated throughout the academy.

To make matters worse, because of the passage of time, the returnees found themselves in a class of their own.

The very fact that they’d survived the horrors of an uncharted region of Tenebris for two years was a testament to their strength and grit.

That said, the same couldn’t be said about their own knowledge.

The divide in skill and knowledge created a rift among the professors.

On one side those who argued that the returnees were just kids who had gone through a traumatic experience and artillery needed more knowledge and therefore could return as first years.

And on the other hand, those that argued that the Survivors had learned through experience and were more than well equipped to handle whatever Tenebris had to throw at them thsb their peers.

Standing at the centre of the whole, a tall figure stepped forward.

Looking around, Amanda, Cassius, and even Keila were present in the hall.

"Headmaster Gregory is here too..."

Gregory smiled warmly, the scar on his face wrinkling slightly.

" I apologize for the abrupt summons," he began his vice boooming powerfully above the din of whispers.

" You must all be wondering why you were all abruptly summoned on short notice.

His lips curled up into a faint smile, his eyes gleaming eith ethreal grey light.

"Following the recent events, the Videntis had decided to carry out an impromptu reassessment of your abilities. "

A ripple of hushed whispers resounded through the giant hall.

Emily’s eyes narrowed slightly.