At once, there was utter pandemonium in the hall, with the young Magi gathering around the faculty members, trying to understand how such a thing could possibly even happen, and how they were going to make it out of all of this.

Were they even going to survive this? They did not know. The uncertainty weighed heavily on them.

Amidst it all, Lisa stood at a corner of the hall, surrounded by her friend, Biden, and Adam's students. Panic shadowed her face, and her eyes couldn't help but flicker towards the entrance of the hall every few seconds.

"Did he tell you where he went?" Eleiney asked calmly, yet the slight trembling of her voice betrayed her expression.

Lisa absentmindedly shook her head. Beside her, Biden was constantly pacing back and forth, his forehead covered in sweat. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and suggested, "Let's go look for him! We can't leave him on his own, not when—"

"Leave who, exactly?"

Kahn walked up to them, a deep frown on his face, with Charlie following close behind. A moment later, the other young Magi who had participated in the second trial of the tournament together arrived as well.

A tense silence permeated amidst the young Magi. Mikar suddenly noticed something amiss as he observed everyone in the group. He couldn't help but ask, "Where's Edward?"

Lisa turned to him, her eyes gleaming with deep worry. After a long pause, she said:

"…He's gone."

A moment of stunned silence ensued, then Chris, the Magus from Greenfield Ridge, blurted out in shock, "What the hell do you mean he's gone? Did he leave the castle? Or… what exactly?"

Lisa shook her head, then exchanged glances with Biden before finally divulging the truth. There was no point in keeping it hidden from the others. Besides, she was going to need their help to find Edward—that is, if they were allowed to leave the hall in the first place.

"He's gone to… what?!" Charlie was dumbfounded.

"Hold on a minute." Kahn frowned. "You mean to say Edward had already qualified to advance to the Mana Vortex Rank before the tournament began?"

Lisa nodded silently. A moment later, she added, "Adam had sealed his energy center, preventing him from advancing until after the tournament was over."

She paused for a moment, scanned everyone's faces, then said, "And right before he teleported us here, he undid the sealing. So the first thing Eddy did after reaching Saratoga was find a secluded spot and advance to the next rank. And then…"

Lisa clenched her fists tightly, aggrieved at how things had turned out. Never had she imagined even in her wildest dreams that the great Saratoga Castle would be infiltrated.

"We need to go look for him!" Biden stepped forward and spoke resolutely. "Who is willing to join Lisa and me?"

Before anyone could even answer the young man's question, an elderly voice, one laced with absolute authority, sounded from behind the group.

"No one is to leave this hall."

The group turned around to see Professor Whitaker looking at them with a solemn look in her eyes. She looked at the young Magi and added, "Only I and the other faculty members will venture outside. This hall is the safest place for the rest of you."

Lisa couldn't help but voice out her opinion, "Lady Whitaker, I'm fairly certain that the cultists outnumber us, and there are only so many Mana Vortex Magi among us. You'll need all the help you can get! Please, allow us, or at least those who are willing, to join this fight!"

The elderly woman turned to Lisa. She studied the youth for a few moments before asking in a flat tone, "What makes you think we're outnumbered? What makes you think there are only a few Mana Vortex Magi on our side?"

She paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing. "Remember, child, Saratoga Castle is the oldest of the Four Pillars. Even if the Headmaster is away, do you think this castle will fall so easily? To a bunch of cultists, no less."

Lisa felt a strange coldness crawl down her spine as she looked at the elderly woman's sudden change in demeanor. Whitaker, who always appeared kind and gentle, now looked as if she could tear a demon apart with her bare hands.

Having said her piece, Professor Whitaker turned around. Right at that moment, a voice filled with conviction called out to her.

"I'm not saying the castle will fall," said the voice. "I believe in its strength. I believe in its heritage. I even believe in your strength, Professor. But this isn't just about protecting the castle…"

Whitaker frowned. She turned toward the source of the voice. It was none other than Adam's student.

Eleiney's fists clenched at her sides as she took a steady breath and stepped forward. "With all due respect, Professor… it's better to fight than to cower behind walls."

Her voice rang out, firm and clear. "We may not have your strength or your experience, but we have the will. If we sit behind these ancient stones and wait, we're not defending… we're hiding. And I refuse to do that while others lay down their lives for Saratoga… for Ravenfell."

She glanced at Aiden and Arthur, then back at the elderly professor. "We didn't train all these years to watch from the sidelines. If Saratoga is to remain standing, it won't be because a few held the line alone. It'll be because all of us rose to meet the darkness."

Whitaker deeply looked into Eleiney's eyes. A moment later, she finally said, "Your mentor risked his life to ensure all of you were safe. And now… you wish to meet the dangers head-on and let everything he worked for go to waste?"

Eleiney subconsciously gulped, then said in a slightly shaky voice, "I'd be ashamed to face my mentor if I just stood by and let others fight for me."

"That's right!" Arthur stepped forward. "Mentor taught us to meet our challenges head-on!"

"Yes, Professor!" Aiden, too, spoke with determination, "Let us fight!"

Like a spark igniting in the dark, one by one, determined voices rose throughout the hall. To everyone's surprise, the majority of the students gathered were ready to fight… to protect their home, Saratoga.

Mathilda Whitaker turned around, glancing at the room full of unwavering individuals with a complicated look in her eyes. Even the Magi from the other Pillars were resolute in fighting against the scums of the Cult.

These were prideful Magi, after all. It was just like Eleiney had mentioned… they'd rather fight than cower behind these walls.

While a brilliant flame filled with hope and resolve was being kindled in the great hall, deep within the castle, lightning crackled around a towering, muscular figure seated silently in the corner of an ancient armory.

His eyes remained closed as arcs of lightning danced across his body, and the wind howled through the stone chamber, tugging at his long, black hair.

In the depths of Saratoga Castle…

A new King was awakening.

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