Chapter 25

Rue stirred awake in her room, stretching as she took in her surroundings. She tapped her wrist, activating her cybernetic implants; a holographic clock projected from her wrist, displaying the time. "Might as well get ready for school," she murmured, standing and making her way toward the bathroom.

But as she took a step, her foot caught on something soft—Mel, sprawled out and sound asleep on the floor. "Whoa!" she gasped, stumbling forward. Thankfully, she landed on the fluffy cloud bed he'd conjured the night before. She rolled her eyes, but a gentle smile crept onto her face as she remembered why he was there. Oh right… I let him crash here last night, she thought, feeling a small flutter in her chest.

She watched him sleep, his face unguarded and relaxed, and felt a warmth spread through her. "How does someone with so much power look so... cute?" She bit her lip, resisting the urge to brush a stray hair from his face. "He's probably completely unaware of how much he gets to me," She thought with a mix of amusement and frustration.

As she stepped over him carefully, she found herself lingering for just a second longer, feeling that flutter again. Smiling to herself, she shook her head and continued to the bathroom, already feeling the day brighten just a little.

A few moments later, Rue was brushing her teeth, staring absently into the mirror. She leaned down to rinse her mouth, but as she straightened back up, she nearly jumped out of her skin—Mel was standing right behind her, looking drowsy and rubbing his stomach. "I'm hungry," he mumbled.

Rue shrieked, gripping the sink. "What are you doing?!"

Mel jolted, instinctively covering his eyes with his hands. "I... didn't think you'd be so loud this early," he murmured, apologetic. "Do you think I can keep the staff you mom lent me?" He asked and Rue kicked him out and slammed the bathroom door. 

After a while, she opened the door wearing her uniform now and sighed, "You ready?" Rue asked sternly as she opened the door, though a small smirk betrayed her amusement. Mel blinked his tired eyes, still trying to adjust to the morning light. "Let's go," He responded, failing to notice Rue's growing smile. 

She shook her head, grabbing his arm. "Come on, I'll walk with you to breakfast." As they made their way out of the castle, she shot him a sideways glance. "You know, for someone with so much magic power and kingly responsibilities, you don't seem to complain much." He shrugged. "Being a king is hard. Having to be royal all the time. But with friends, I can just be me." He gave her a warm smile. "Thanks for letting me stay over."

Rue's cheeks reddened slightly and she looked away, clearing her throat. "Well, don't make a habit of it. My mother already has her doubts about you." She paused, then added quietly, "I don't."

Mel chuckled. "I'll try not to give her any more reasons, then." They walked in comfortable silence until reaching the middle school dining hall, where Elowen, Dorian and the other black cards were gathering for their morning meal.

"There you guys are," Elowen said, waving them over. As Mel took a seat, she nudged him playfully.

"Yeah, I'm kind of just crashing in different spots." Mel yawned.

"Mel, what exactly were you looking for last night in the library?" Rue asked suddenly. Mel almost choked on air, caught off guard.

"I, uh…I was researching different kings. Trying to see if I could learn something to improve my leadership," he lied.

"Which kings? I could help look them up," she offered.

"Renaissance kings," he said quickly.

A hush fell over the cafeteria, like Mel had uttered something unspeakable. Confused, Mel looked around, noticing his friends staring at their plates, refusing to meet his eyes.

Before he could ask what was going on, a firm hand gripped his shoulder. Clay leaned down, his voice barely above a growl. "Melanthius, did you just mention the Renaissance kings?"

Mel winced, feeling Clay's iron grip tighten as he tried to free himself. "I—I don't understand what I did wrong."

Clay's expression hardened, his voice low and intense. "The four Renaissance kings were the most ruthless overlords in history, rivaled only by Merlin Shadowbane. They enslaved people, executed innocents, and nearly tore the world apart before Merlin defeated them. After they vanished, any mention of their names became…cursed. And now you've invoked it."

Draven appeared, placing a firm hand on Clay's wrist and squeezing. "Come on, Clay, he didn't know," Draven said, voice steady as he pried Clay's grip off Mel with some effort.

Clay yanked his arm back, scowling. "Don't ever grab me again, Draven. I was teaching Mel a lesson," he said, rubbing his wrist, which was red from Draven's grip.

"WHAT?!" Emrys's voice cut through the tension, and everyone turned as she waved her black card, her face flushed with anger. "Our party is canceled! Fifty inmates escaped from Caldara Bastille, and they're headed here?" she yelled, reading the message from King Aldara aloud.

Instantly, every gaze in the room shifted to Mel, whose eyes went wide with horror.

The four wardens' eyes widened at Emrys's outburst. "I-I want everyone to remain calm and exit the school in an orderly fashion," Jessica announced nervously. Her words fell flat as chaos erupted. Students shrieked and bolted from the cafeteria, shoving one another in a panicked stampede. Even the black cards struggled to contain the commotion, getting caught in the surge.

When the dust settled, the cafeteria was a mess, tables overturned, and the air thick with dust. Jasper coughed, muttering, "Well, that's… not good."

"What are we supposed to do, just sit here until they come to kill us?" Renita shouted, her voice shaking. Anxious murmurs rippled through the black cards as they looked to the wardens for guidance.

With a determined expression, Mel abruptly slammed his elbow into a nearby mirror, silencing the room as shattered glass rained down. His voice cut through the tension: "This isn't the time to fuck around." His uncharacteristic cursing drove home just how serious he was, snapping everyone to attention.

"Jessica, take Princess Rue home," Mel ordered firmly. Jessica hesitated before moving forward, followed by the other three wardens. Ingrid narrowed her eyes, stepping closer to Mel. "And who the hell are you to give us orders?"

Mel met her gaze, his tone dangerously steady. "This isn't the time to argue. Just do it." The intensity in his voice caught them off guard, and without another word, the wardens led Rue toward the exit.

As they left, Elowen looked at Mel, puzzled. "What was that all about, Mel?"

Mel climbed onto a nearby table, signaling for everyone to gather around. "Listen up," he began, his voice echoing through the cafeteria. "The inmates from Caldara Bastille are a whole different breed. If you mess up even once against them, you're as good as dead." The black cards sat in tense silence, hanging onto his every word.

Arid stretched lazily, muttering, "Doesn't sound too different from the Boondocks."

Lincoln raised his hand. "So what's the plan? How do we handle this?"

Mel removed his black armor gauntlets, letting them drop to the floor with a thud. "When dealing with anyone from Caldara Bastille, if you're inexperienced, go for the kill." He spoke with the gravity of someone who'd been through it, his eyes hardened by memory.

The group murmured among themselves, uncertain, and Mel sighed. "I know this is asking too much. I don't want any of you to have to kill. But in Caldara, it was kill or be killed. Now, who's with me?" He raised his fist, his determination clear.

Dorian and Elowen stepped forward first, standing resolute beside him. "You know we're always with you," they said in unison.

Arid joined them, adjusting his hair. "Count me in. I've got kingly ambitions, after all." He grinned, nodding at Elowen. "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship."

She shot him a glare. "You choked me unconscious last time. Piss off."

Arid rolled his eyes. "Details, details."

Renita and Lincoln stepped forward, aligning themselves beside Mel. "Dorian saved us from that Dainin man," Renita said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Any friend of his is a friend of ours."

Lincoln nodded, adding, "And if it weren't for you, Melanthius, I wouldn't even be a black card right now." Mel returned the nod, a quiet acknowledgment passing between them.

Then Cassius, Astroman, Laurel, Kali, Emrys, Jasper, Kai, and Draven approached, each wearing determined expressions. Emrys clenched her fists, eyes blazing with fury. "I'm going to tear apart the bastards who ruined my party."

Moments later, they gathered in Lance's spacious, elegantly furnished room, seated in a circle on the plush carpet. "Sorry for the mess," Lance said, bowing slightly. "I don't usually have guests here." The students exchanged glances, clearly impressed by the rich details of his room.

"It's perfect—thanks, Lance," Mel said, crossing his arms. "Alright, let's get straight to it. With the abyssal wardens on our side, we should have the firepower we need. But here's the problem: we don't know why the inmates are coming or what they want." Mel rubbed his wrist thoughtfully.

"So, what's the plan?" Draven asked, leaning forward. "When we first sparred, I saw how sharp your strategy is. You must have something in mind."

Mel nodded. Taking a deep breath, he formed a cloud of mist that shifted into the shape of the middle school. "Here's what I'm thinking. Freshman black cards, you'll guard the school. A warden will be stationed there, so you should be secure. Sophomores, with another warden's support, you'll guard Spritz Point. It's a small town, so it's unlikely the inmates will stop there, but we can't risk it. Juniors, I want you and a warden to hold Eaglewood. With the recent murder of their mayor, it's a likely target for an inmate takeover. Can you handle that?" he asked, glancing around.

Each group nodded firmly. Jasper then spoke up. "And what about us?"

Mel stood, his gaze steady. "You, Kai, Draven, and I, along with my Atlantean forces, will guard the castle."

Moments later, King Percival Aldara, Queen Ruecrix Aldara, and Princess Rue sat in the throne room, guarded by rows of knights and Atlantean soldiers. "Do you believe Melanthius's plan will work?" Percival asked, his tone uncertain. Ruecrix nodded confidently. "The kid's sharp. I don't doubt him one bit."

Outside, Mel and the senior black cards stood at attention in front of the castle, watching the perimeter. Caldric Windrider approached with his guards in tow, and Jasper pointed towards them. "Who are they? They don't look like inmates," he noted.

Mel stepped forward to intercept Caldric, who narrowed his eyes. "Melanthius Shadowbane. Long time, no see. How's school treating you?" Caldric sneered.

Mel raised an eyebrow. "Uh… do I know you?"

Caldric clenched his teeth in frustration. "What?! You know me!"

Mel shrugged. "Sorry, doesn't ring a bell. But, sir, I'll need you to stay away from the castle. Criminals are approaching the kingdom, and we need everyone clear from the entrance." Mel gestured calmly towards the gate.

Caldric's face twisted with anger as he abruptly launched a kick at Mel, who braced himself and blocked it with both arms.

As their fists collided with a thunderous crack, Mel and Caldric slid back from the sheer force. Caldric struck like a viper, launching a rapid-fire series of punches that Mel barely managed to dodge. His warden training had sharpened his reflexes, allowing him to evade the relentless blows, though Caldric's speed was nearly overwhelming.

Mel countered with a swift roundhouse kick aimed at Caldric's exposed side, but Caldric twisted fluidly, seizing Mel's leg mid-kick and using his own momentum to throw him across the courtyard. Mel smashed through a stone pillar, rubble crashing down around him.

Spitting blood, Mel struggled to his feet, his eyes narrowing as he reassessed Caldric. Caldric seemed furious, but his motives were unclear.

"What do you want from me?" Mel demanded, mist swirling around his fists in a show of power. Caldric smirked, cracking his knuckles. "You broke my heart, Mel. After everything we've been through, you don't even remember me?!"

Caldric lunged with unnatural speed, his fists striking like hammers. Mel slipped into a meditative focus, flowing seamlessly between Caldric's blows while landing precise Hidden Cloud counters, each strike charged with crackling energy. Gradually, Mel pushed Caldric back.

"Melanthius, how long are you going to play with your friend?" Jasper called, as Mel ducked another attack and landed a sharp punch to Caldric's face.

"I told you, I don't know him!" Mel yelled, launching a flying knee into Caldric's chest and sending him crashing to the ground.

Nearby, Caldric's companion scoffed, "Sir, how long are you going to toy with your friend?" Caldric growled, rising to his feet. "This isn't over, Melanthius—"

But before he could finish, an explosion erupted from beneath the middle school, shaking the ground violently. "WHAT THE HELL?!" everyone shouted, staring in disbelief as smoke and flames rose in the distance.

Inside the castle, chaos reigned. Guards lay bloodied and unconscious around the throne room as Clay held Princess Rue by the throat, her terrified eyes wide with betrayal. Behind them, Queen Ruecrix and King Percival were slumped unconscious in their seats. "Y-You were supposed to protect us!" Rue gasped, clawing at his iron grip. Clay tightened his hold, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "It's all going exactly as planned." His sinister laugh echoed as he vanished, leaving the room in haunting silence.

Elsewhere in Spritz Point, Cassius and Astroman lay bruised and bound, with Ingrid towering over them, wiping blood from her knuckles. "Perfect," she chuckled, the satisfaction evident in her eyes.

Meanwhile, in Eaglewood, Jessica stood triumphant over a battered Laurel, Emrys, and Kali, their faces bruised and bloodied. "Did Melanthius really think he could control us?" she sneered.

Back at the middle school, moments before the explosion, Dorian, Elowen, Renita, Lincoln, Arid, and Sonic patrolled the halls, keeping watch for any signs of trouble. The dim lighting and eerie quiet only heightened their sense of unease.

"This place feels like a ghost town," Arid muttered, glancing around as they passed rows of empty classrooms. "I'm not sure if that's a good sign or a really, really bad one."

Dorian nodded, eyes sharp. "Stay alert, everyone. Mel warned us these inmates don't play by any rules. We have to be ready for anything."

Just then, Sonic's ears perked up. "Wait... do you hear that?" His eyes darted toward the faint hum coming from the floor below. They exchanged wary glances, each realizing the sound was coming from deep under the school.

Renita took a step forward, gripping her weapon tightly. "That's not just any sound. It feels like... machinery?"

Elowen's brow furrowed as she looked down the stairwell leading to the basement. "Something's definitely not right. We should check it out before we call in backup."

They moved cautiously, descending the steps. The humming grew louder, morphing into a low rumble that vibrated through the walls. Just as they reached the basement floor, they spotted a faint glow coming from under a sealed door.

With a powerful shout, Sonic bellowed, "Sonic Boom!" The sheer force of his voice unleashed a shockwave, hurling the students through the doorway as the sound ricocheted through the basement. The sonic blast ripped through the underground corridors, igniting the unstable machinery and causing a massive eruption that rocked the building above. The explosion tore through the walls, triggering a fiery blast that reverberated outside, sending flames and debris shooting skyward.

Elowen coughed, struggling to rise, but Sonic drove his foot down on her wrist, eliciting a scream of pain. "From the beginning, we planned to betray you," he sneered. "Convincing King Aldara to hire us was easy. We were a little nervous when Mel ventured into the forest with the other wardens around, but he didn't find any of them." He chuckled darkly as Jessica, Ingrid, Clay, and a bound Rue entered the basement.

"Why are you doing this?!" Rue cried, fighting against Clay's grip as he dragged her toward a shadowed corner. There, an ominous object gleamed in the dim light. Reaching in, Clay retrieved a dusty crown that pulsed with an eerie aura. "Merlin Shadowbane's crown. It's legendary, the most powerful relic in all of history. Every warden has been searching for it for ages. And now, with this bounty in hand, all that's left is to kill you kids and—"

"Kill us and do what?" Cassius's voice cut through the tension as he stepped into the basement entrance with Astroman beside him. The wardens' faces registered shock; they were certain they'd beaten those two earlier.

"I think they said they'd kill us," Laurel's voice sounded telepathically, and from the corners emerged Kali and Emrys, each poised for battle. "Mel's a smart guy, I'll give him that," Emrys said, igniting her hands with healing flames that washed over the freshman black cards, instantly mending their wounds.

Ingrid took a step back, alarm flickering in her eyes. "W-what the hell is going on?"

The black cards shared a smirk as they chuckled, radiating newfound confidence.

Flashback

Mel nodded. Taking a deep breath, he formed a cloud of mist that shifted into the shape of the middle school. "Here's what I'm thinking. Freshman black cards, you'll guard the school. A warden will be stationed there, so you should be secure. Sophomores, with another warden's support, you'll guard Spritz Point. It's a small town, so it's unlikely the inmates will stop there, but we can't risk it. Juniors, I want you and a warden to hold Eaglewood. With the recent murder of their mayor, it's a likely target for an inmate takeover. Can you handle that?" he asked, glancing around.

Each group nodded firmly. Jasper then spoke up. "And what about us?"

Mel stood, his gaze steady. "You, Kai, Draven, and I, along with my Atlantean forces, will guard the castle."

As everyone prepared to execute the plan, Mel raised a hand, stopping them. "One more thing. The wardens—they're planning to betray us."

A heavy silence fell over the room. "Mel, what do you mean?" Dorian asked, while Lance stood, producing a device from his pocket. With a tap, a holographic recording projected into the room.

"When Mel and I were in the middle school during sky jousting practice, something felt off," Lance explained. "Professor Estron—the jester—was there, but he had no reason to be. The thought gnawed at me, and then something strange happened. Clay had roared at me, and I passed out on the bench. Mel must've missed me, and as I was leaving, I noticed the basement door ajar. I overheard the wardens arguing and managed to record this." He pressed play, and the recording began.

"We'll put a bounty on Princess Rue's head and send it straight to Caldara Bastille," Ingrid announced, a twisted gleam in her eye. "That'll keep Mel on edge and stir the inmates into action."

Clay grinned and conjured something sinister in his hand, a small red moon hovering ominously over his palm. "And I've got just the thing to make it even more chaotic. This red moon will amplify the inmates' aggression, pushing them to be even more violent. Mel will have to deal with both them and us—it'll be his undoing. As for the crown, someone powerful has requested it, and we'll deliver it to the Capital of Sins to finalize the deal."

The hologram faded, and Lance slipped the device back into his pocket. Silence settled over the group until Draven reached over, ruffling Mel's hair with a smirk. "So, Mel, what's our move?"

Mel gazed out the window where his Atlantean guards kept a vigilant watch around Lance's house. He turned back, eyes resolute. "It's going to involve tridents." He crossed the room to Lance's closet, pulling the door open. Out stepped Maren, trident in hand, bearing fresh scars that marked his recent battle.

The group's eyes widened in surprise as Maren cracked his knuckles. "Just say the word, Mel. You give me what we agreed, and I'll handle this."