Demesne ¦¦ Hunhan, Taoris, Kaisoo, Baekyeol

11

Suho heard the explosion. Suho saw the students running. Suho saw the people in the Black robes. Suho saw the destruction of the dining hall. Suho saw Xiumin weeping on the ground. Suho saw the large wooden beam laying across the floor. Suho saw the bodies of his students. He saw the bodies of all the students. Yixing followed him to the scene. Yixing fell to his knees when he saw his students, laying lifeless. So young. So full of potential. Dead. Xiumin looked up to see his friends staring. He wavered for a moment before falling forward. Suho rushed to him, Yixing in tow. Xiumin allowed himself to be lifted into Suho's arms and carried from the scene. He looked back at the beam. Not even a hand stuck out. No last peek at his beloved student. It was quiet.

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"Get up. We're leaving now." Kai stormed into the room. Sehun jumped I surprise. "What?"

"We are leaving. Now. Get the prince and head to the back gates." Kai grabbed a satchel and a large pack.

"Wait. We still have another day. Whats—"

"The university was attacked."

Sehun stopped. The world crashing around him at those words. The university was attacked. His brother. Kai left the room, leaving Sehun alone. Numbly, he picked up his bag and went to Luhan's room.

"Sehun! Whats wrong."

"We need to leave." His face was empty of emotion. His voice was hollow.

"I don't understand."

"The people are back. They attacked the university."

Luhan's hands darted to cover his mouth. He inhaled sharply as the horror reached his eyes. Sehun looked up to meet his gaze. Tears threated to spill. Realization struck the prince. "Oh my gods. Your brother." Sehun's tears betrayed him and poured out, leaving trails along his fair skin. Luhan rushed to embrace him. Jongdae rushed into the room, his face pale. Luhan caught his gaze, Jongdae asked with his eyes. Luhan nodded. Tentatively, he stepped forward and joined the embrace. Sehun wept at the feeling of being held. His bag fell to his feet. They stood for several minutes.

"Come on. Let's not keep them waiting." Luhan placed his hands tenderly against Sehun's cheeks. Sehun nodded. Jongdae held onto his arm as Luhan picked up his luggage which he had narrowed down to a single bag. Jongdae took it from him as well as Sehun's bag from the ground. They walked to the end of the hallway where Chanyeol stood waiting for them. His face was somber. He placed a hand on Sehun's shoulder for a moment, offering a supportive look before moving on. The Prince held his hand tightly. The servant nuzzled against his arm. The guard cried.

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Yixing handed over a cup of purple liquid and Xiumin accepted it numbly.

"What happened?" Suho pulled up a chair in front of him. His voice was low and gentle.

"The bombers were back. They had all the students. He said he was going to take their magic. He had this-this stone that took their magic. It killed them when it did. Then he would use that power to get another one's power. He said, once he had them all, he would destroy the stone and get rid of magic altogether." Suho looked concerned. "A stone that could take magic?"