Occulus: Tale of the First Blood Witch

Chapter 21

As Zarian shrugged off Trent's concerns, Trent couldn't help but think, "Here I go again with my daydreams." He chose to keep his thoughts to himself, allowing the mysteries of the Occulus and the prosecutors to swirl in his mind.

As Ivan Kondakov, the Prime Minister of the Occulus, addressed the Occulus students, Trent and the others turned their attention to him.

"Occulus students," Kondakov called out, his voice carrying authority in the hall. Trent and his fellow students listened attentively. "Your rooms are ready. In order to ensure your safety, the academy has decided to have five students share one room. We also want to inform you that leaving the school grounds is prohibited. So, it is expected that you will remain within the walls of Occulus at all times. Your night classes will continue as usual."

Trent felt a sense of relief wash over him upon hearing that he would be sharing a room with Zarian, Adair, Riven, and their two new companions. However, not everyone in the hall shared his sentiment, and murmurs of complaint began to spread among the students.

Kondakov swiftly silenced the discontent, asserting his authority, "Quiet!" His command resonated through the hall, successfully restoring order. "You may now proceed to your rooms."

With this directive, Trent and his companions, along with the rest of the Occulus students, began to make their way to their assigned rooms, navigating the uncertain times they now found themselves in. Alongside them were two new companions: Veo, a member of the Covenant of Forlorn Watchtower, and Nus, a stargazer from the Covenant of the Holy Light. As they made their way to their shared room, the group couldn't shake their confusion and lack of understanding regarding the unfolding events. Yet, they had little choice but to follow the academy's instructions, hoping that in time, they would unravel the secrets behind the enigmatic summons and the looming danger that had brought them all back to the Occulus Academy.

Adair marveled at the spaciousness of their room within the Occulus Academy. "Are the rooms in Occulus really this spacious?" he asked Zarian inquisitively.

Zarian shook his head, looking around. "No," he replied. "I used to be the only one in this room, and there was only one bed." He added, "It's strange that they changed my room so quickly."

Trent nodded in agreement, curious about the sudden rearrangement of their accommodations. He observed Adair taking something out of a box—a small potted plant. Adair carefully placed it on the table next to his bed.

Intrigued, Trent asked, "What's with the plant?"

Adair explained, "Well, as member of the Covenant of the Secret Garden, I need to be close to any kind of plant. You know... we draw our energy from them. And it's also protection for unexpected situations."

Several nights passed, and they all made an effort to maintain a sense of normalcy. Yet, they remained in the dark about the events both inside and outside the academy. Night classes continued as usual, and during the mornings, they were free to occupy themselves within the Occulus Academy's confines. However, they were strictly prohibited from leaving the premises, which made Trent feel as though he were in a form of confinement.

He often chose to spend his free time in the library with Zarian, although Adair found the quiet atmosphere less than ideal, given his talkative nature. Zarian frequently had to scold him to maintain silence. Most of the time, Trent found himself doodling, his thoughts wandering to the world of the mortals. He wondered how much time had passed there, considering the different flow of time in the spiritual world. His concern also extended to Sora and Melissa, but he reassured himself that they were in capable hands. However, there was still no news from the academy regarding other members of the covenants, leaving them to assume that they were safe from any imminent danger, for the time being.