Planning

The balcony was vast, its intricate golden railings stretching as far as the eye could see. From there, the entire academy was visible. Students scurrying about, banners flapping in the wind, and the sun casting long, looming shadows that seemed to converge at the feet of Liam and Cas.

Both men sat leisurely in opulent chairs, glasses filled with amber liquid glinting in the afternoon sun. The silence between them was thick, punctuated only by the occasional clinking of ice against crystal.

Liam, with his piercing eyes and stern demeanor, was a stark contrast to the ever-smirking Cas. Yet, both carried an aura of immense power, a clear indication of their status. Liam's fingers tapped rhythmically against his glass, the sound echoing his racing thoughts. 'Pathetic. Aira's plan is laughably simplistic. It's almost as if she's gifting me the throne. By getting close to an outsider, she thinks she's securing allies, but she's merely exposing her vulnerabilities. I'll play along with you. I'll fight for V' He mused, his lips curling in disdain.

Cas leaned back, taking a deliberate sip of his drink, savoring the burn. He broke the silence with a mischievous grin, "Which club are you planning to take over?"

Liam took a moment before replying, his gaze fixed on a group of students far below. "None," he said crisply, the word dripping with disinterest. "The clubs are mere child's play. I've set my sights on the council."

Cas's eyebrows shot up in intrigue, "Going straight for the beast, are we?"

Liam's expression remained unchanging, a testament to his unwavering confidence. "Why waste time with trivialities? Clubs, societies, alliances... they're all beneath me. I don't need to play Aira's games. She's like an open book, predictable. I'll let her believe she's winning, keep her distracted, and then strike when she lets her guard down."

Cas chuckled, swirling his drink. "And V? What of him? They seem to be rather interested in that boy."

Liam smirked, his disdain palpable. "He's nothing but a pawn in Aira's laughable strategy. If he becomes an inconvenience, he'll be dealt with. For now, let her waste her resources on him. Every move she makes brings her one step closer to her downfall."

His inner thoughts were colder, more calculated, 'Aira, the throne will be mine, and nothing you do will stop me. Not Isabella, not your little connections, and certainly not your pathetic attempts at diplomacy. I'll take the throne, even if it means trampling over your corpse.'

Cas leaned back, his fingers playing idly with the edge of his glass. The sunlight caught the cunning glint in his eyes, giving him a slightly devilish look. "Speaking of the student council," he began, a grin spreading across his face, "they've been in quite a state, haven't they?"

Liam raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. He was well-aware of the political chaos within the academy, but having Cas elucidate on it was always entertaining. "Go on," he prompted, taking a sip of his drink.

Cas chuckled darkly. "For the past few years, they've been grappling with quite the thorn in their side – a certain sophomore named Kuza. That guy is something else, I must admit." He smirked, appreciating the audacity of the young student's maneuvers.

Liam's expression hardened. Kuza was a name he'd heard far too often lately. "What's the latest?"

"Well, our dear Kuza has been rather... active. Even before he set foot in this academy as a student, he had his pawns spread all sorts of delectable rumors about the council," Cas mused, enjoying every moment of the tale. "Misinformation, scandals, fabricated achievements; the boy has an appetite for disruption. The Counselors decided to let it be, considering him a competitive student."

Liam scowled. "He's undermining the student council's credibility. This level of influence doesn't come cheap. Who's backing him?"

Cas laughed, the sound rich and deep. "Money is Kuza's weapon, and he wields it masterfully. He's been pouring gold into the pockets of whoever can advance his agenda. The interesting part? The achievements the council worked so hard for? Kuza's claimed them as his own. He's painted himself as the academy's golden boy, and the masses are eating it up. It's been quite enjoyable watching it from the sidelines."

Liam's grip on his glass tightened, his anger evident. 'Using wealth to manipulate opinions and snatch power from under our noses. This Kuza is bold.' He pondered, 'But every strategy has a flaw. Every puppet master has strings that can be cut. He is not attempting to hide the truth... interesting, I'll look into it later.'

Seeing Liam's reaction, Cas's grin widened, revealing a hint of his own predatory nature. "It's almost admirable, really. If he wasn't in our way, I might've even liked the guy." His internal musings were clear-cut and calculating, 'Kuza, with his wealth and cunning, is a wild card. But wild cards can be tamed or, if necessary, removed from the deck.'

Liam slowly brought the glass to his lips, letting the liquid burn its way down his throat, feeling the warmth spread through him. The world below, with its politics, alliances, and betrayals, seemed almost trivial from this elevated vantage point. But Kuza was a blot, a stain that needed cleaning.

He set his glass down with a thud that resonated in the silence, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "This Kuza," he began, every word dripping with venom, "seems to think he can buy his way into power, usurp what I've laid claim to long before he even set foot in this academy."

Cas shifted in his seat, sensing the impending storm in Liam's words. "He's clever," he ventured, trying to assess the situation from all angles, "and has the masses in the palm of his hand."

Liam's laughter was devoid of warmth. It was a harsh, mocking sound. "Clever? Please. He's just another upstart with more money than sense. His tactics are transparent. Misinformation? Child's play. Stealing achievements? Desperate. And claiming the council's accolades as his own? That's simply delusional."

Cas leaned in, genuinely curious, "So, what's your plan?"

Without hesitation, Liam replied, his tone bone-chillingly cold, "He's a threat, one that's growing bolder with every move. He's aiming high, and in his trajectory, I see a potential clash. I've decided, long before this... puppet even joined the academy, that the student council would be mine. It's not a wish. It's a statement of fact."

Cas slightly smiles, "But he's got support, money, influence. Neutralizing him won't be easy."

Liam smirked, his eyes gleaming with malice. "I don't care about his background, his wealth, or whatever pathetic strings he's pulling behind the scenes. The only relevant piece of information about Kuza is that he's in my way."

He took another sip of his drink, letting the gravity of his intentions settle. "If he continues on this path, he's not just an obstacle, he's a liability. And I have a very simple policy for liabilities." Liam paused, letting the silence speak louder than words.

Cas caught on immediately, "Hmhmhmhm. You're going to eliminate him."

Liam's reply was direct, a mere confirmation, "Yes."

Cas's eyes sparkled with mischief, "And how do you plan to do that? An assassin? Or something... subtler?"

★  ★  ★  ★  ★

The cafeteria was bathed in a strange, almost ethereal light that seemed to warp the surroundings. Tables lay abandoned, their surfaces reflecting the overhead lights in odd patterns, but for one. At it, two girls sat, one evidently disturbed and the other displaying an unnatural calm.

Sera's fingers trembled, causing her fork to clatter against her plate. Dark circles rimmed her eyes, speaking of restless nights. Her once clear gaze was now clouded, occasionally darting around, as if chasing something just out of her vision.

"...shadows...they...dance..." she mumbled, her voice shaky. Every so often, her lips would quirk into a small smile, only to immediately downturn into a frown, a visual representation of the battle raging within her mind.

Next to her, Nyssa watched with a mixture of concern and...something else. She reached out, her fingers gently trying to still Sera's trembling hands. "Sera," she whispered, her voice as smooth as velvet, "you need to relax."

The words seemed to reach some part of Sera. She blinked slowly, her attention momentarily drawn to Nyssa. "Nyssa? Wha-... the walls... they're... they're closing in... t-the walls t-they're smiling..." She swallowed hard, eyes widening.

Nyssa looked around, ensuring they were truly alone. She leaned in closer, her voice barely audible, "The Lord is showing you the path, Sera. It may seem confusing now, but everything will become clear. You just need to open up a bit more. Let him into your heart."

As she spoke, Sera's breathing grew rapid. Whispers skated across the edges of her consciousness. "...join... embrace... surrender..." The words, though disjointed, seemed to have a rhythm, like a haunting lullaby.

Sera's eyes darted around, her thoughts a tangled mess. 'Nyssa? Lord? Walls? Why does everything feel so...wrong?' Panic bubbled up, threatening to spill over.

"The shadows... they're alive, Nyssa," she choked out, her voice edged with raw terror. "And the whispers... they won't stop..."

Nyssa's expression remained calm, even serene. "It's a part of the blessing, Sera. You'll understand in time. Just trust in the Lord. He will guide you."

The weight of confusion and fear seemed to bear down on Sera. Tears welled in her eyes. "I can't... I can't bear it," she whimpered, her mind spiraling further into chaos.

Nyssa gently cupped Sera's face, forcing her to meet her gaze. "Remember, after darkness comes light. You'll see, soon enough."

As the whispers grew louder, drowning out all other sound, Sera clung to Nyssa's words, desperate for a lifeline amidst the storm raging within.

Nyssa's mind was a whirlwind, her thoughts dark and twisted, swirling with elation and anticipation. Every twitch and tremor from Sera only fed her escalating pleasure.

'Ah, the beauty of it all,' she mused, a manic glee echoing in her thoughts. 'Feeling the touch of the Lord, the raw power, the divine ecstasy. How delightful it must be for you, dear Sera, to be chosen.'

Her inner laughter rang out, chilling in its intensity, 'Hehehe... look at her, so fragile, so lost. The Lord is having his way with her, and she can't even comprehend it.' The pleasure from watching Sera's torment, hearing her incoherent babbling, seeing her transforming into a true believer, is intoxicating.

Her eyes momentarily glazed over as a new thought surfaced, 'V... yes, V. He's the perfect vessel. So much potential, so weak, so fragile... and yet he eluded me.' Her breathing grew heavier, the thought of having someone as strong as V under the influence of their Lord sending shivers down her spine.

The image of V, lost and helpless, much like Sera was now, ignited a burning passion within Nyssa. She bit her lip, suppressing a moan, her face flushing a deep shade of crimson. The excitement was almost too much. Her grip tightened on the edge of the table, her nails digging in. Lost in her reverie, the tension became too much, and with a sudden snap, a part of the table cracked.

Startled, she quickly looked over at Sera, worried she might've alarmed the girl further. Realizing the extent of her own loss of control, Nyssa took a deep, steadying breath.

'Focus, Nyssa. Not now. There'll be time for that later, right now I need to focus on the student council,' she admonished herself. Regaining her composure, she put on her serene facade once more, doing her best to reassure Sera, while internally, the storm of her desires continued to rage.

Nyssa watched as Sera's distress grew palpable, her pupils dilating with fear. She reached into her pocket, retrieving a small, unassuming vial filled with a clear liquid. "It's going to be okay," Nyssa murmured, her tone soothing as she uncapped the vial.

She delicately lifted Sera's chin, ensuring their eyes met. "Drink this. It'll help. Trust me."

With her free hand, she helped guide the vial to Sera's trembling lips. Hesitant at first, the overwhelming chaos in her mind made Sera acquiesce. The cool liquid slid down her throat, its effects almost immediate. The tension in her shoulders relaxed, her breathing steadied, and the chaotic whirl of her thoughts began to settle.

The whispers that had plagued her began to recede into the background, replaced by an almost serene emptiness. The drug worked to not only calm her mind but also amplify her susceptibility to suggestion.

Nyssa watched with satisfaction as Sera's features smoothed out, the raw terror replaced by a glazed look of docility. "Better?" she inquired gently.

Sera nodded slowly, her gaze unfocused. "Yes, much better," she replied in a far-off voice. The distress that had been so evident before now lay buried beneath a thick fog of tranquility.