"What did you just say?" Claine expressions as not good when he heard the words of Dean Williams. "How many students?"
"Your Majesty, fifty including Miss Kiliffia." Dean Williams replied. Just saying it out loud angered him to death.
*Bam!*
"The empire really thinks our beastkin kind are their playthings!? Do they think we are some weak race who can not defend itself!? Call all the students back…. My daughter, Tilia, will be coming to explain things to Ms. Kana. I can not guarantee what will happen when she finds out, but if we keep it from her, she might blame us as well. I do not wish to become an enemy of the Hero of Rural. She is a good girl, but from this last incident where Miss Kiliffia was injured, I am sure Ms. Kana will not be able to contain her rage. If I can hardly contain it, I am sure she will explode. I will handle things on my end. I will get back our students at all costs. If their bodies have been soiled by that fat bastard, then I will ask for his head as compensation." Claine eyes were cold. He was not going to let this slide.
"By your will, your majesty." Dean Williams went right to work doing as he was told.
Claine sat on his throne with his advisors by his side. "Call Tilia here. Also, send a messenger to the emperor of Botus. Tell him it is in his best interest to return my people who his son kidnapped. Especially Miss Kiliffia. Otherwise... " After pausing for a moment, Claine took a deep breath: "Otherwise, my Rural Kingdom will declare war on the empire!"
"Your majesty. I understand that Miss Kiliffia's safety is important, but to go to war with the empire if the Church of Yuthia hears of this, they will..." One of his advisors, an owl man with thick glasses, was doing his best to persuade Claine otherwise.
"So what!? Do you think I, as the king of Rural, do not know the evil plots of those damn humans!? How many years has our Rural Kingdom turned a blind eye to those who have been kidnapped, enslaved, and turned into toys for those damn lecherous humans? They see us as nothing but toys! But this time, they had taken someone that no one is allowed to touch! Why else do you think two noble families were wiped out under my orders!? If I didn't do what I did, Ms. Kana would have caused a blood bath on the streets! That little girl may seem docile and kindhearted, but after this past incident, I have now realized that we mean nothing to her. Only those who are close to her and are seen as family are the ones she cares about.
"She is like a double edge sword. Luckily she hates humans to a certain extent. But if that little girl goes blind to everything around her due to rage because we try to stop her from marching into the empire to save her friend, we will suffer losses. It is better to side with power than go against it." Claine breathing became ragged. He was so angry about everything that he was having a hard time calming himself down.
"Your Majesty! Please calm down. It is not good if you get too angry."
"Humph! Just do as I ordered! Begin gathering our forces! We will prepare as much as possible." Claine ordered. He was not going to be careless while handling things. He knew as soon as Kana found out something happened to her friend, she would fly into a rage. He had to prepare, even if it meant going to war with the strongest human country on the continent.
---
Inside the black tower…
"Ahhh!" Kana's head was pounding as the ray of light was shining down on her body. She was in the process of getting the first binding removed in order for her to use her elements freely without needing to change them. The pain was so bad she felt like she was going to die.
*Ding!*
[System Upgrade: Elemental affinities are now unlocked. Restrictions removed from using other elements.]
"There… it should be done. You did well for enduring the pain that came from this." The old Gratoiran man said with a smile. "Now the next two tes..."
*Beep!*
[Message for all students, please crush your tokens as soon as possible and return to the academy. There has been a major incident. I repeat… Message for all students, please crush your tokens as soon as possible and return to the academy. There has been a major incident. ]
The old Gratoiran man sighed as he waved his hand, and a silver globe floated down towards Kana. "It seems you will need to finish your trial later. This orb will allow you to return here to continue your trial at any time. Before you go, you should eat."
"Mmm… Old sir, thank you. May I know your name?" Kana asked as she wiped the sweat from her brow. Moments ago, she felt as if her brain was being ripped out of her head through her pores, but now she felt very refreshed, as if a gate had opened in her mind. She felt much more powerful as well, even though her stats did not change at all.
"This old man has forgotten his name. You can just call me Old Sir as you have. Get going and eat before going back. The unbinding process took a lot of energy out of you." Old Sir replied with a smile. He then waved his hand once more, sending Kana and Aoi, who had been very quiet this entire time to the kitchen area of the tower.
Kana was not restrained at all as she ripped through the kitchen, eating five large plates of meat that she cooked up on the stove. After about two hours, she was finally done. She and Aoi went outside to grab the tiger monster before breaking the token sending her and the other two back to the academy.
But as her vision changed and she appeared in the portal room, a familiar figure walked over who was wearing a long white dress. "Kana..."
Kana looked at her sister and smiled as she yelled out happily: "Tilia!" But as she went forward to give Tilia a hug, she saw Tilia's expression did not look good. "What-What is wrong?"
"Kana… Humans have captured Kiliffia and took her back to the empire... "