Chapter 12: The Aftermath

One week had passed since the terrorist attack that would come to be known as the Celestia Incident. The first-year students of Celestia Academy had been given a two-week leave from classes, a decision made by the faculty to allow them time to process the traumatic events of that night. The academy grounds, once bustling with activity, now felt eerily quiet, the weight of what had happened hanging heavily in the air.

The incident had dominated the news cycle for days. Every major network had covered the attack, their headlines screaming with shock and outrage:

"Terror Strikes Celestia Academy: Dozens Dead in Coordinated Attack!"

"Union Under Fire: Can Humanity's Defenders Truly Protect Us?"

"The Order of Crimson Redemption: Who Are They, and What Do They Want?"

The reports were filled with grim details. Footage of the destroyed lodging facility, interviews with survivors, and statements from Union officials painted a harrowing picture of the attack. The public was outraged, their trust in the Union shaken. Questions were raised about how such a brazen assault could have happened, and why the Union hadn't been able to prevent it.

One particular news segment stood out. A stern-faced anchor sat behind a desk, her voice grave as she read from the teleprompter:

"Sources within the Union have confirmed that the organization behind the attack is known as The Order of Crimson Redemption. This group, which emerged around the same time as the Union itself, is believed to operate as a direct counterforce to humanity's defenders. Their military strength is rumored to rival that of the Union, and their motives are as sinister as they are clear: to serve the demons that invaded our world.

Members of the Order form demonic contracts, binding themselves to demons in exchange for power. These contracts come at a cost—loss of freedom, and in some cases, their humanity. Those who form particularly strong contracts with powerful demons risk becoming monstrous hybrids, neither fully human nor demon. The Union has classified the Order as a top-priority threat, but their shadowy nature makes them difficult to track and eliminate."

The segment ended with a chilling warning: "The Celestia Incident is a grim reminder that the war against the demons is far from over. And now, it seems, we must fight not only the demons themselves but also those who have chosen to side with them."

The flashback faded as Luciel stood in Headmaster Gabriel's office, a stack of papers in his hands. The room was quiet, save for the soft rustling of pages as Luciel read through the detailed report on the Order of Crimson Redemption. His golden eyes, still a stark reminder of his recent awakening, scanned the words with intense focus.

The report confirmed what the news had only speculated. The Order was a well-organized, highly dangerous group with a clear agenda: to undermine the Union and pave the way for the demons' dominance. Their members were fanatics, willing to sacrifice their humanity for power. The attack on Celestia Academy had been a calculated move, designed to strike at the heart of humanity's future by targeting its most promising young awakeners.

Luciel's grip on the papers tightened, his knuckles turning white. The faces of the students who hadn't made it flashed through his mind—classmates he had barely known, but whose deaths weighed heavily on him. He had fought with everything he had that night, but it hadn't been enough. The thought gnawed at him, fueling a burning desire to grow stronger.

A few days after the incident, Aria had been released from the hospital. Her wound, though serious, had been treated with advanced healing magic, leaving only a faint scar as a reminder of that night. She had returned to the academy with her usual fiery spirit, but there was a new edge to her demeanor—a quiet determination that hadn't been there before.

Arthuria had been by her side throughout her recovery, the two girls drawing strength from each other. They had both seen the worst of what the world had to offer, and it had forged a bond that couldn't be broken.

Despite being told to rest and recover, Luciel had thrown himself into training with a ferocity that worried those around him. He spent every waking moment in the academy's training facility, pushing his body and mana to their limits. His golden eyes burned with intensity as he practiced, his movements faster and more precise than ever before.

Aria and Arthuria had tried to talk to him, to pull him out of the spiral he seemed to be in, but he had brushed them off with a quiet, "I'm fine." Even Professor Jadestar had expressed concern, her sharp red eyes narrowing as she watched him train.

...

"Headmaster, there's something I wiss to speak with you," Professor Jadestar said to Gabriel, after the meeting with the faculty. 

"Sure, what is it?" Gabriel said with an amiable smile.

Professor Jadestar took out a tablet, and a hologram was projected from its surface. The projection showed surveillance footage from different days and showed how Luciel was training without.

"He's pushing himself too hard," she said with a worried look on her face. "If he keeps this up, he's going to break."

Gabriel nodded, his expression unreadable. "He's processing what happened in his own way. But you're right—I'll talk to him."

...

Later that evening, Gabriel found Luciel in the training facility. The room was empty save for the young awakener, who was in the middle of a high-intensity mana exercise. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his breathing was heavy, but his golden eyes burned with unwavering focus.

"Luciel," Gabriel called, his voice cutting through the hum of mana in the air.

Luciel paused, turning to face the headmaster. His expression was unreadable, but the exhaustion in his eyes was unmistakable. "Headmaster," he said, his voice steady but devoid of its usual warmth.

Gabriel stepped closer, his gaze softening. "You've been training nonstop since the incident. You know that's not healthy, don't you?"

Luciel's jaw tightened. "I need to get stronger. What happened that night... I can't let it happen again."

Gabriel sighed, placing a hand on Luciel's shoulder. "I understand how you feel. But pushing yourself to the brink isn't the answer. You're not just risking your body—you're risking your mind. If you break, you won't be able to protect anyone."

Luciel looked away, his jaw trembling lightly. "Headmaster, at that time, when I was fighting that C- ranked enemy, when this change happened to." Luciel pointed at his eyes and then continued, " At the time, I wasn't in control, but at the same time, I was in control. At death's door, I felt that I had almost grasped it. The true essence of mana. my body moved without single unnecessary movement, and I felt so strong, overwhelmingly strong. I was able to beat the enemy that had almost killed me in a single move, but then that spark of inspiration vanished. And I can't emulate it anymore."

Luciel's expression turned desperate. "At my current strength, I could win against that same enemy, but it would take at least 20 minutes."

Gabriel looked at him sadly. he understood what he meant; he had experienced the same kind of feeling in the past, and much later on in life, had he gained enlightenment. " Luciel, I know what you are feeling. in the past, I experienced something similar, but the only thing you can do now is move forward and rest." 

Luciel fell silent, seemingly struggling to make a decision.

"You did everything you could," Gabriel said with a comforting smile. "You saved lives that night, including Aria and Arthuria. But you can't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. No one can."

For a moment, Luciel was silent. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he said, "I just... I don't want to feel powerless again."

Gabriel's expression softened. "You're not powerless, Luciel. But strength isn't just about physical power or mana control. It's about knowing your limits and understanding when to rest. If you keep going like this, you'll burn out before you ever reach your full potential."

Luciel didn't respond, but the tension in his shoulders eased slightly. Gabriel gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Take a break. Spend time with your friends. They're worried about you."

After Gabriel left, Luciel stood in the training facility for a long moment, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. The headmaster's words echoed in his mind, and for the first time in days, he felt the weight of his exhaustion pressing down on him. He wiped the sweat from his brow and grabbed a towel, slinging it over his shoulder as he finally decided to leave the facility.

The cool night air hit him as he stepped outside, a stark contrast to the heat and intensity of the training room. The academy grounds were quiet, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. Luciel took a deep breath, his golden eyes scanning the area. That's when he saw them.

Aria and Arthuria were sitting on a bench near the training facility, their heads close together as they talked in hushed tones. Aria's fiery red hair stood out even in the dim light, and Arthuria's silver hair shimmered like moonlight. They hadn't noticed him yet, and for a moment, Luciel hesitated, unsure if he should approach.

But then Aria looked up, her green eyes locking onto his. Her expression shifted from surprise to relief, and she waved him over. "Luciel! Over here!"

Arthuria turned as well, her calm demeanor softening as she saw him. "You're finally out of that training room," she said, her voice carrying a hint of teasing but also concern.

Luciel walked over, his steps slow but deliberate. He stopped in front of them, his golden eyes flickering between the two. "What are you two doing out here?" he asked, his voice quiet but not unkind.

Aria grinned, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Waiting for you, obviously. You've been holed up in there for days. We were starting to think you'd turned into a hermit."

Arthuria nodded, her tone more serious. "We were worried about you, Luciel. You've been pushing yourself too hard."

Luciel looked down, his grip tightening on the towel draped over his shoulder. "I'm fine," he said, though the words felt hollow even to him.

Aria stood up, her hands on her hips. "No, you're not. You're exhausted, and you're hurting. We get it, okay? We all are. But you don't have to go through this alone."

Arthuria rose as well, her silver hair catching the moonlight. "Aria's right. You've been carrying this burden by yourself, but you don't have to. We're here for you."

For a moment, Luciel didn't know what to say. The weight of their words, their concern, hit him harder than any enemy's attack. He felt the walls he'd built around himself begin to crack, and for the first time since the incident, he allowed himself to feel something other than anger and guilt.

"I... I don't know how to stop," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Every time I close my eyes, I see their faces. The ones I couldn't save. I feel like if I stop moving, if I stop training, I'll... I'll lose them all over again."

Aria's expression softened, and she stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm. "You're not going to lose anyone else, Luciel. Not if we're here to help you. But you have to let us in."

Arthuria nodded, her gaze steady. "We're a team, remember? We'll get through this together."

Luciel looked at them, his golden eyes reflecting the moonlight. For the first time in days, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe he didn't have to carry this burden alone. Maybe, just maybe, he could lean on the people who cared about him.