It wasn’t a single cave, but one leading into a network of interconnected caverns. The air was damp, the darkness thick, with the only illumination coming from flickering torches scattered throughout. Every so often, distant screams echoed through the tunnels.

Cadets.

Zephyrion moved toward the nearest one. The darkness made it easy to stay out of sight. Soon he reached an opening and peered inside.

Several dozen cadets were bound in chains. Stripped down to their underwear.

Seven sanguines wandered through the cavern, dousing the cadets with icy water before whipping them with belts. The only light came from two torches flickering along the walls.

"Which one of you little shits is gonna talk, huh? The academy’s training schedule. Tell me, and I’ll let ya go. Simple, yeah?"

The cadets shivered, battered, several even weeping, yet none of them spoke. None were his people. He recognized them. Most were Tier Twos.

Zephyrion slipped into the darkness of the cave.

"Haa... suit yourselves. Guess it’s about time we started cutting balls off. Bring him."

One of the sanguines unbound a cadet and dragged him before the others.

"W-what? No! No! Not me! Please!"

"Shut up, ya little shit!" A blow to the stomach silenced the cadet. "Had your chance, didn’t ya? Too late now."

The sanguine slowly raised his blade toward the cadet.

"No, please! Please!"

"You fucking bastard!"

"Hm?"

The sanguine turned his gaze to one of the cadets bound at the front. He looked more battered than the others, yet there was still a fierceness in his eyes.

"What is it, ya little shit?"

"Keep running your mouths. Soon as they catch you, you’re finished. You know who our parents are? What they’ll do to you? You’ll regret ever laying a hand on us!"

"Hahaha!" The sanguine barked a laugh. "Hear that? We’ve got ourselves one of those ’Do you know who my father is?’ types." He snorted. "My family’s so rich we shit golden coins! Fucking dumbass. Y’know what? Bring this one over instead."

The other sanguine dragged the cadet forward, taking the first one back. Yet even on his knees, he continued glaring at the sanguine.

The sanguine grinned.

"I’m going to enjoy breaking those eyes of yours."

A blur swept past the flickering torch on the left side of the cave, snuffing it out and plunging that half into darkness.

"Huh?"

The large sanguine narrowed his eyes. The torch on the right went out the next instant.

The cave fell into utter darkness.

"What the hell?"

Within the pitch-black cave, none of them saw the blur moving.

Slash.

"Urggh."

Something wet splattered across the floor, followed by a choking sound...

Then a deafening thud.

"What was that?! Everyone answer, now!"

"Burn!"

"Lass!"

"Kon!"

"Mosh!"

"..."

Another choking sound echoed through the darkness, followed by another body hitting the ground.

"There’s someone in the dark! Find him! Kill the bastard!"

The large sanguine shoved the cadet aside. More shouts rippled through the cave, yet each was abruptly cut short by the sound of another body collapsing.

The cadets shivered, wondering what was happening. Yet all that reached them were the frantic voices of the sanguines and fleeting streaks of silver flashing through the darkness.

"Screw this!"

The large sanguine bolted for the exit. Through the faint flicker of the light outside, the Cadets caught something blur past him.

A spray of blood erupted. His head flew.

"W-what... what just happened?"

"H-has the academy come for us?"

"Quiet." The cadet with the fierce eyes spoke. "It could still be an enemy."

Within the darkness, the others paled and fell utterly silent.

The sound of calm footsteps reached them. They held their breath. Soon, a sharp sound echoed, and one of the torches flared back to life.

The cadets’ eyes widened as they saw the one holding it.

"L-Lightning Prince..."

Blood drenched his arms and cheeks, his expression utterly emotionless. Zephyrion gave a calm nod.

"I’ll free you."

...

Moments later, Zephyrion freed every cadet using the keys he found on the sanguines. Many flinched at the blood pooling around the corpses, but paled even more whenever their eyes landed on him.

"It’s alright. We’ll get out of here."

The cadet with the fierce eyes, Horus, as Zephyrion eventually discovered, crouched before a horrified girl, offering quiet words of encouragement. Zephyrion silently noted the regard the others held for Horus. He observed everything while standing by the entrance, ensuring no sanguines caught them by surprise.

Eventually, the cadets approached, Horus at their head.

Horus glanced at the dead sanguines before turning to Zephyrion, swallowing.

"We... we want to thank you... for saving us."

Horus bowed his head, followed by the others, each murmuring their thanks.

"There’s no need. I only did what I had to." Zephyrion nodded.

Horus smiled, clearly appreciative of Zephyrion’s humility.

"I saw you stand up to that sanguine earlier. When you fell... I thought you were dead. How did you survive, if you don’t mind me asking?"

"I was lucky." Zephyrion’s gaze drifted down the corridor. "Are you all ready to move?"

Sensing the seriousness in Zephyrion’s tone, Horus realized this wasn’t the time or place to talk.

"Yes."

"Good."

Zephyrion turned toward the darkness ahead.

"We’re rescuing the other cadets."

"...Rescue?"

"Yes. They’re deeper inside the caves. We’re bringing them out."

Horus fell silent, but murmurs of protest quickly rose behind him.

"Rescue? But... there’re still more sanguines."

"Yeah! We can’t even use our elements."

"We’re no match for them."

"We should just get out of here."

"Guys." Horus’ fists clenched. "He’s right. We can’t leave them behind."

"Then what do you expect us to do? Some of us can barely stand, let alone fight!" Another dissatisfied voice rose.

"And if they catch us again? It’s better if we escape and alert the academy."

Several of the other cadets nodded in agreement.

"Guys..." Horus was at a loss for words.

"You’re all pathetic."

Many frowned. But the moment they turned toward Zephyrion and met those cold purple eyes... they froze.