Turning Against Comrades

Since their tactician was in no good condition, all the substantial precedents they came up with would have to suffice.

Hal thought it's a good thing that they have Zeke with them. The young heir had more than made up for the lack of manpower. Calliope, on the other hand, was an ally of many benefits despite the fact it used to be a grueling hurdle to the Champions before. It even proved itself to be more worthwhile than he expected, especially now that it could actually be an SOS tool of some sorts. As for the mistress herself, Eli seemed to have a good hand at pulling a rabbit out of the hat.

"Well, while everyone's at the meeting, I was teaching Calliope about code signals and such. I tried to apply Morse Code and translated it into bird language," she explained, a bit proud at how handy her idea could actually be.

"By bird language, you mean that switching colors thingy?" Hal asked, pointing at Calliope from the distance.

"Yes! That way, all of you can also understand what it's trying to say. They're useful at times like this, don't you think?"

Hal only smiled and nodded at this, pleasantly surprised. Eli wasn't all words, after all. She always nagged him about wanting to be utilized and joining their assemblies, and even when she wasn't allowed to do so in the end, she tried to find ways to help them somehow. He didn't even know she's raising Calliope to be an informant. Then again, that was part of their agreement to spare the summoned creature.

"Hal, let's get going," Zeke blurted out, readying his golden chain before hurrying outside the office.

Hal swerved around and followed suit. Sparing one last glance at Eli, he then grinned at her to which she only tilted her head quizzically.

"I'll get Calliope to return and fetch the Forbidden Book. Take care of Noah for me, Eli."

"Be careful as well. Go knock them out or something!"

He only chuckled before finally turning to leave. Silence soon hung around the office as their erratic footsteps eventually descended. Eli stayed on guard for the next minutes to come. Not knowing what else to do, her eyes then suddenly landed on Noah's baby face. Smooth, pale cheeks tinged with faint pink, soft, defined lips in light rosy color, a small, refined nose and perfectly aligned eyebrows - such alluring features were indeed worthy to be fawned over. Despite this, however, Eli knew that what's veiling this gorgeous frame was a juvenile of many faces.

"You're unbearable at times, but I do hope you get better now..."

She then started patting Noah's head for some reason. At that point, she felt something she couldn't quite comprehend. Seeing him like this was triggering a distant memory to resurface, giving rise to this intimate gesture that's somewhat out of reflex. It's as if it wasn't her first time witnessing this vulnerable side of him or doing this kind of thing.

"How surprising."

Then, out of nowhere, an unanticipated company appeared. Along with his husky voice was the clicking sound of the door locking. Flummoxed, Eli swiveled around, only to find an unfamiliar face.

"Hey, Hal... Any idea what's happening?"

"Just a hunch. I had a feeling there's something more going on, though."

Hal and Zeke just reached Calliope's current location, the school gallery. The young heir then brought up how Noah was fussing about this flower exhibition earlier. At this, a portentous premonition kicked in and made Hal notice something. For an open house event, the place was eerily silent. He could already sense the ominous atmosphere weighing heavily in their surroundings.

"Ezekiel, I'll give you a crash course about our plan, just in case this villain was the one we'd been hunting for ages now. Just follow my lead. Everyone's ready to back up."

"Roger that...! And what do you mean by back up-"

Zeke paused as Hal already rushed towards the entrance, leaving him behind. Annoyed, he just grumbled underneath his breath and trailed after him. Yet, at that moment, he realized that Hal was starting to act like he did before Eli barged in the office earlier. The situation got him on his toes again, and for some reason, he's struggling to not let it slip through his front. With these in mind, Zeke eventually came up with the assumption that it's all just his tough leader act, which he somewhat understood. After all, they're only a year apart yet he's already shouldering these many responsibilities. Instead of commenting on it, however, he just made sure to carry out his part and support him.

"What in the world...?

As soon as they laid eyes on what's inside the gallery, their jaws dropped in flummox. What greeted them was a mountain of human bodies that appeared to have been knocked out cold. There's also this foreboding quietude layering over the room. No scuffling could be heard, which meant that the other Champions probably hadn't spotted the summoned creature yet. Either that or something terrible must've already happened when they're not there.

"Huh? Allen?"

As Zeke dropped those words, Hal instantly swerved around to his direction. There, they found the Student Council President in his Aristian Knight persona. But then, Hal noticed how the red head seemed to radiate a different vibe from usual. Rather than that air of valor flowing along his fluttering cape whenever he makes his appearance, another level of intensity was shrouding him now. The instant they locked eyes, he caught a glimpse of deep despondency in his lifeless gaze. A scowl was also marring his stony frame, which was supposed to be a straight giveaway by then.

"Hey, what happened, Allen? Where's the villain?" Zeke asked, oblivious of how peculiar he's acting.

"Allendis Escarlot, what's the meaning of this?"

Surprised, the young heir turned to look at Hal who's suddenly eyeing Allen suspiciously, voice low and tyrannical. He just blinked at him in bafflement, unsure of what's the reason for his indifference. Seeing them now gave him the impression that they've turned into their master-and-servant treatment. Hal even appeared more domineering and cold for some reason.

"Your Majesty..."

Only then that Hal was convinced that something's indeed amiss. In order to keep their real identities a secret, the Champions swore to never address one another using their titles when they're not transformed. Then, as if that's not enough reason to suspect any red flag, Allen suddenly stood upright, lifted his chin and placed his closed fist on his right chest as if making a pledge, an arm folded behind his back.

"By the imperial family I conform. To pledge my loyalty to the sword, to swear allegiance to the throne, to live in a way that upholds the knightly traits of bravery, compassion, generosity..."

"H-Huh...?"

Allen began reciting the Knights Oath of Fealty out of nowhere, startling the two. With dumbfounded faces, they just watched him act and speak all chivalrous, which was a very incongruous thing to do in their current predicament. One thing's for sure, though. Allen would never goof around like this without a reason.

"...The chain I accepted, passed from knight to knight, a link in honor to the empire..."

"This is absurd."

Then, with an unamused look, Hal just decided to transform into his Champion form as way to escape that stupefying situation. Zeke, on the other hand, stood astounded as he continued gawking at Allen with the face of someone meeting his idol for the first time. In reality, the young heir was just stunned by how he's resembling that fearsome Crimson Blood Warrior more and more - a side of Allen he'd always kept obscure whenever he's in his perfect Student Council President mode.

"...To shun unfairness, deceit and cruelty that taint my knighthood..."

"He's taking quite a while, though. Did he memorize a whole book or something?"

"...Annihilate all forces of evil that endanger peace and stand as shield for others' sake. Not tolerating abuse and misdeed..."

Then, out of nowhere, Allen unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Zeke. With an unfeeling facade, he glared daggers at him to which he only gulped and raised both of his hands in return, looking as if he's surrendering. Allen had this murderous glint in his fiery crimson irises that he appeared like he's silently planning his funeral. Perplexed, Zeke then tried to snap him out of it but to no avail.

"...And hence, a thorny path I shall take!" the knight exclaimed before surging towards Zeke all of the sudden, aiming the silvery, sharp peak of his weapon at him.

"Hey, wait, Allen! That blade's no toy!" the heir bolted out, darting away to dodge his fierce attack.

The two then engaged in a roughhouse, clashing with each other's steel. Zeke had never imagined he'd confront any Champion like this. Allen was turning into a sword-wielding, ferocious beast by the second. His blistering passion for the sword was so palpable that the Crimson Blood Warrior's aggressive strikes and cutthroat spar that were mentioned in the book didn't do him justice at all.

"I'm sorry for eating your cookies yesterday! Noah wolfed everything down and I was too slow!"

Even then, Allen just kept lunging his sword towards his direction. Lowering his pride didn't work, much less pleading for mercy. Everything only fell on deaf ears. Then again, despite his powerful thrusts and vivacious battle stance, his face was devoid of any emotion. It's as if he wasn't really himself at the moment.

"Oh, come on, dude! You're creeping me out!" Zeke grimaced, barely managing to withstand his ruthless jabs.

"Put the sword down, Allendis Escarlot."

Voice thunderous and dominating, the young Aristian Emperor materialized from thin air and threatened the knight with a gun on the back of his head. Amber pupils were now half-lidded, hooded with menace. At this, Allen halted from his tussle with Zeke and turned around to face him. The two exchanged heated looks for a moment before the knight suddenly staggered and lurched around. Witnessing his unsteady movements, Hal couldn't help but think he's not in his stable mind right now.

"Your Majesty!"

All of the sudden, Lance made an astonishing entrance and landed between the two, already transformed. A hooded army green cloak intricately embellished with gold and silver threadwork, a small viridian, metal band studded with gleaming rhinestones adorning his forehead, long forest green hair tied into ponytail, and a viridescent spear encrusted with ornate details in hand - the Marquess of Aristia's wealthiest noble house suddenly came into view.

He, whose eyes were dauntingly unsmiling, aura so formidable, and lips curled into a frown, only stood in their midst as the loud thud of his landing echoed around the room. Then, with his eyebrows furrowed in vexation, he turned to face the knight and began explaining the situation to Hal and Zeke.

"There's a summoned creature around here. Allen was caught. He's been poisoned, and only that person has the antidote to turn him back to normal."