Arcadia And The Legend Of The Elite Fore⚔

Chapter :5 The Shades

"Don't even think about it.", Day said staring at me.

I followed her gaze and saw my hand had clasped the knife near her plate.

"The Head Mistress and teachers will handle this Arc. Don't be a hero.", she pleaded with me.

I searched her eyes as it moved back and forth between the Shades and myself. Did she know what they were capable of? If I didn't act now there could be countless casualties. There could be...

I let go of the knife and placed my hand near the knife in my boot. We needed to move now.

Naomi made sure I was well informed about every and any creature that was on record. Each creature had its own history and origins categorized in the Axel Archive. The Shades were no exception.

They were known for their fighting skills and fast movements that varied on their rank and type. Although they had additional skills my kind was not aware of. The books paid more attention to what would cause them to attack and what they did.

According to the books Shades searched and guarded treasure. They didn't interfere with political disputes between Kingdoms and stayed out of the Silver and Grey grounds. Which begged the question, why were they here? None of the artifacts on display in the Academy qualified as treasure for them.

The book did offer another reason for them showing up in unlikely places. Shades kept the balance between natural and unnatural. They oversaw the order of things. There are some books that claim them to be allies of the Gurdians due to them sharing the same goal of maintaining the equilibrium of nature and it's counter parts.
If my assumptions are correct, the only other explanation was that they tracked the source of an unnatural energy here.

The teachers were on their feet behind the Head Mistress near the Throne with blades drawn but neither them nor the Shades made advancements towards each other. All the Shades that had materialized looked transfixed on the Head Mistress.

Behind me the Prince lead the students out the main entrance. That was a clever move. Dayna followed my gaze and nodded.

Slowly I rose from my seat and made my way to the main entrance with Day in tow. It didn't take us long to get to the exit when the Head Mistress began speaking to the Shades.

I stopped dead in my tracks. The book did mention that the Shades communicated but I had not heard their language before. Did Mrs Talon know it? I was curious but Dayna was not. She shoved me through the door and led me in the dircetion to our dorm room.

She was fast but I guess anyone would be in unfamiliar circumstances. She pushed open the door and shoved me in.

After she screamed at me to stay put she slammed the shut. The key turned in the lock followed by a set of footsteps down the hallway.

Did she go back? Is she crazy? She's no match for them. None of them were. The students in the dinning hall looked scared, mortified even.

I rushed over to my closet and pulled out the fighting gear that Naomi had gifted me. After slotting in my Sai's and swords, I pulled up my hood. It fitted pretty snug and hung low enough to cast a shadow on my face.

I turned to face the window that I had climbed out of before. There was no doubt my help was needed and I was going to offer it.

Kade POV

I needed to get these students out of here. If a fight had to break out none of them can defend themselves. A pair of Hazel coloured eye caught my attention.

Acadia. She wasn't safe here. For all we know they could be here for her. Students were still passing by me but the Shades took no notice. They didn't attack. They just stood rooted to were they had manifested. What were they doing here anyway?

I looked back over at the Black table hoping to spot Arcadia but she wasn't there. I searched the room but she wasn't in it. Had she moved right past me and I hadn't noticed?

The last of the students were out the door now. All the mentors I spoke to were doing their very best to keep the crowds moving. The Head Mistress gave Dayna and I orders to ensure that the Princess should be kept under lock and key.

Satisfied that there were no more people in the dinning hall, I made my way to Arcadia's Dorm room. Thats were mentors are to secure the students in their care. Dayna would have reached the dorm room by now so they should be safe.

Loud piercing shrieks erupted from the dinning hall. I watched in horror as the Shades escaped through the big oak doors toward the students.

Just then Dayna appeared half way down the staircase holding up a key. She locked Arcadia in a room? I smiled. She did always take things seriously.

I joined her but just as Dayna was about to speak, soldiers in full battle gear engaged the Shades. Who gave the order when the Head Mistress was in the hall? No doubt I must have been Laydon.

Two of the Shades were communicating with each other when one locked eyes with me. It advanced in my direction which caused Dayna to scream.

I ran up the rest of the stairscase and found all the Shades eyeing me. Just perfect. What did they want with me?

Think Kade! Think!

I could draw them away from here so the students would be safe. Quickly I raced down the halls with the Shades not far behind.

I'm the Prince of the Silver family but what would they want with a Prince?

Just then two Shades caught up with me on either side. They were just about to close in on me when I heard my heartbeat speed up. I smirked.

All that training had actually paid off . I spun around and stopped dead in my tracks drawing my swords. The two lava like creatures skidded to a stop infront of me.

I knew my eyes were glowing. I felt the surge of energy that flooded throught me when I tapped into the Gurdian Core.

"I am Prince Silver, a Gurdian of the Core. Make clear your intentions Shade!", I addressed the taller of the two.

I didn't expect a response from them but I was a Gurdian. Even though this was not their land, killing them where they stood didn't sit well with me. They deserved a chance to explain themselves. The one I had addressed moved forward.

We know who you are Prince Kale. This is why we pursued you from the hall.

I was fairly sure I heard a voice but no one spoke. Just then the other got down on one knee and bowed.

Forgive me Prince, I was not aware you could not communicate telepathically.

Telepathically? Wait. The Shades were communicating with me Telepathically?

The talled one spoke first," I must apologize for my conduct before but I'm afraid the time for formalities is over."

So they were talking to me.

"I was sent by one of the elders. It appears your prestigious Academy has been compromised."

"Compromised? By who?", I demanded

"It is not a who young Gurdian but a What."

So they were here because one of their elders wanted to warn us.

"There isn't enough time to explain but we need you're help Prince.", the smaller one said

They were here to warn us about a threat but they also needed my help. How could I help them?

"You need my help and I need information on the threat you mentioned before.", I stated.

"Very well, if you give us your word to help us I will answer all your questions. "

I've never made an agreement with a Shade before but if there was a threat and Academy was infact compromised I needed to know what they did.