Leanna made a grand vow in her heart: she would never let the Protective Magic bestowed by Selis vanish so easily.
But sometimes, the cruelty of fate descends when you least expect it.
Boom——!
A deafening explosion tore apart the peace of Mills City, crimson flames soaring into the sky and dyeing the night a bloody red, rousing countless people from their sleep.
At the site of the explosion—the Temporary Encampment of the Rose Knights—over half the buildings were reduced to ruins.
Thick smoke rolled between shattered walls and broken beams, charred timbers scattered across the scorched earth, while the desolate night wind brought the heat of destruction right to their faces.
Leanna, her face blackened with soot, stood dazed at the center of the ruins, her vacant gaze sweeping over the devastation.
Her dress, too, was stained black with smoke. If not for that golden light which had just blocked her front, not just her dress—even her flesh would have been torn apart in the blast.
It was only when the other girls slowly struggled up from the debris that Leanna snapped out of her daze, her voice hoarse as she asked,
“Everyone… is everyone alright?”
“We’re okay, but… the magic Lady Selis gave us…”
Meilin opened her palm, staring at the now-dissipated golden mark, biting down hard on her lower lip.
Leanna looked down at her own hand. The Sun Mark she had treasured so dearly was gone without a trace.
A burning rage instantly swept through her body, forcing her to grit her teeth.
It was this Protective Magic, a gift from Saintess Selis, that had let her—and indeed the whole Rose Knights—survive such a strange explosion.
Without that magic, they’d be nothing but charred corpses by now.
Clenching her right hand tightly, even Leanna, no matter how slow, understood: the Flame Gems they’d been using as magical items had been tampered with, which is why the explosion had happened when they touched magic.
And the force of that explosion—far from normal.
This was an attempt to wipe out the Rose Knights completely!
That only made the fire in her heart blaze ever hotter.
“Who… who did this?”
Leanna clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white, her voice a low snarl like a wounded beast.
“No matter who it was, we’ll make them pay a price they can never bear…”
Since becoming a Rose Knight, she could take outsiders’ provocations, mockery, even duels—but what she couldn’t accept was such vile, underhanded schemes.
Most unforgivable of all, someone had destroyed the protection Selis had exchanged her very life to give them!
This Protective Magic—Saintess Selis had shortened her own lifespan to bestow it.
Such a precious gift should have lasted until the day the Abyssal Seal was completely broken…
But now, it was wasted—wasted on this filth, this sordid plot!
Damn it, damn it all!
Having heard the tremendous noise, Nora was the first to arrive.
But when she saw that the Rose Knights’ encampment had been reduced to rubble, she gasped, utterly incredulous.
“Are you all… alright?”
“Nora!” Leanna hurried up to her. “Do you know where Lady Isavel is? I need to find her!”
Nora hesitated a little. “She… already went to Mills Academy.”
“So it really was Mills Academy behind this?”
Leanna’s eyes narrowed. She instantly understood Isavel’s intentions.
In her eyes, that Villainous Saintess might treat them as tools and be cruel in private, but to outsiders, she was extremely protective of her people.
Now, something like this had happened at the Rose Knights’ encampment, but instead of coming here first, she’d gone straight to Mills Academy. That said everything.
This was the doing of Mills Academy!
But what conflict of interest did they have?
Thinking carefully, Leanna realized the clues were all there.
Mills Academy had issued their challenge for the Academy Tournament—scheduled in half a month.
Lacking confidence in beating them, they’d resorted to sabotage.
To ensure the Rose Knights would lose at the tournament.
“Utterly despicable!”
Teresa wiped ash from her face, her voice cold as a blade.
It wasn’t just her—Teresa and the others also realized the truth. Just like her, an unnamable fury flared up inside them.
They’d always abided by their duties, focused on training, yet some people, for laughable gains, trampled their dignity and endangered their lives—and went ever further!
Did they really think the Rose Knights were such easy prey?
Leanna exchanged a glance with Teresa and the others, all of them understanding each other’s resolve.
Mills Academy? The Academy Tournament?
Hmph!
This time, they would not let things go so easily!
Above Mills Academy, the night wind carried a murderous chill.
The Dean leaned on his cane, gazing up at the moonlit figure approaching.
Isavel’s black hair drifted in the darkness, her black robes fluttering like a judge of fate—or perhaps the Night Goddess of legend.
“I wonder what brings the Saintess here so late at night?”
Isavel’s voice was colder than the night wind. “Did you hear that explosion just now, in the city?”
“I heard it. Did something happen?”
“There was an explosion at the Rose Knights’ encampment. The force was tremendous. If I hadn’t protected those Rose Knights with magic, they’d be dead by now.”
“What?”
The Dean fell silent for a moment, then his expression shifted as he realized why she’d come to Mills Academy.
“This… this matter, it couldn’t be related to Mills Academy, could it?”
“That’s right. Summon your senior staff—now. The culprit is among you.”
The Dean glanced at the sky, hesitating. “It’s so late… would that really be convenient?”
“So, the life and death of the Rose Knights mean nothing to you? The Divine Retribution of the Oracle Hall is irrelevant? If that’s the case, don’t blame me for what comes next.”
Isavel’s tone grew ever more menacing, and a glint of killing intent flashed in her dark eyes. The air around them grew icy cold.
She stepped forward, the ground beneath her feet frosting over with a layer of tiny ice crystals.
“Mills Academy may not have any right to exist, either.”
A Villainous Saint must act as one should.
It was late—she had no patience for the Dean’s evasions.
For those who refused to cooperate, she had her own methods.
Just as she expected, once the Dean felt the aura of deadly intent, he staggered backward, hurriedly bowing low.
“Please, Saintess, be calm! I’ll summon them right away!”
In the depths of the night, the caw of crows split the sky. Isavel tapped her finger lightly to her lips, a bloody hue flickering in her shadowy gaze.
Tonight, Mills Academy was doomed to a Blood Calamity.