Wind masses buffeted his body in the night's chill, as he ran behind the two unknown, blurry-featured figures fading into the horizon.
Ethan followed Freneth without objection, the two of them chasing against the heavy wind at a brisk pace, the full moon, crimson in color, shining with an ominous glow, its light spilling onto the surfaces of concrete and ancient pottery.
It hurt to leave Oren at the back completely alone, but he had ordered them to do so, despite his critical condition.
Surely now he can neither see nor move.
At the next corner when they arrived.
The two people chasing them disappeared, just after the second lap.
Although Ethan and Freneth arrived moments later, it seemed as if they had been swallowed by the ground. But Freneth caught a glimpse of movement - they had scaled the wall towards the roof of Crescent Hall.
Hesitation was not a choice, but a betrayal of the core honor of being a member of the Black Disciplinary Elite.
Within seconds, the two were on the roof, their swords gleaming in the crimson moonlight, their footsteps cracking the crumbling concrete.
In an instant, swords and daggers clashed, sparks flew, and fire danced between them.
Ethan swung his sword fiercely at his opponent, who was taller, but no less skillful. His opponent's dagger dodged half the sword with remarkable dexterity.
Feet danced across the surface in a whirlwind of caution and speed, and the two unknowns covered in a heavy scarf showed professional fighting skills - but the scales were clearly tipped in favor of the elite.
Frenith dispatched his opponent with decisive speed, while Ethan kept facing his screaming foe, swinging his dagger with precise movements.
But at the crucial moment, Ethan swept the dagger away with surprising flexibility, then slashed his opponent with a blow that sent him tumbling to the ground without resistance.
Ethan bent down and revealed his face. It was unfamiliar to him, but as his palm pressed against the boy's trembling chest, he noticed the emblem... The emblem of the academy, and the unmistakable uniform.
The realization was intuitive, even if he didn't know his name.
Ethan felt the boy's breath shudder under his rough palm, his ragged breaths choking with fear as his eyes darted around frantically, looking for a way out.
Suddenly, the other - who seemed to have somehow eluded Freneth - intervened and swooped in with a treacherous blow.
Ethan blocked it, but it grazed his cheek roughly. Blood flowed slowly, but it was not a memorable wound.
The assailants jumped from the roof of Crescent Hall into the gap between it and the neighboring building, and when Ethan followed them, there was no sign of them.
He muttered a muffled curse and clenched his teeth in anguish as Freneth approached him in silence, saying nothing.
The two realized that staying here, cursing the fugitives, would not bring them any real benefit.
The idea of going back at this particular time seemed like the best option.
They had to check on Oren, who was lying far away from the intensity of the unfair fight.
His eyes had been burned out with a blinding gray powder that had never harmed his retina.
but it did produce terrible, unbearable pain.
Contrary to what Frenith and Ethan expected, when they arrived, disappointed by the escape of the two targets, they found Oren fighting the pain.
They found Oren fighting the bitter pain, sitting with his eyes closed, hot tears streaming down his cheeks.
In a barely audible voice, he asked to be taken to the clinic.
He didn't forget to recommend the unconscious girl, noting that she might be connected to the attackers.
The two quickly realized the situation and moved without hesitation.
Freneth carried the girl on his back, heading towards the nearest clinic inside the massive academy that never closes and operates 26 hours a day.
Ethan helped Oren stand up, even though the latter was taller than him.
but he leaned on him, taking advantage of Ethan's sturdy body.
They walked together to the clinic, where a nurse named Virasha was surprised by Oren's appearance and the unconscious girl's condition
.
She quickly placed them on separate beds in the same room, separated by a wall of white cloth.
A few minutes, which seemed long but was short, passed as Zev and Val rushed into the clinic, anxiety, anger, and confusion clearly painted on their faces.
Ethan brought them in, and they were greeted by Freneth, who hadn't left the room, sitting next to Orin and the girl all this time
.
Dr. Virasha reassured them that the two were fine, and would be.
But she bit her tongue when she spoke of Oren's condition, emphasizing it in a tone devoid of confidence.
The damage to his eye would not go away easily, and there was a possibility that his sight could be restored.
But she said it wouldn't happen in a day or two, it could take weeks, or even months.
At worst... nothing.
She conveyed this as if she were reading an official report, and everyone listened, even Oren himself.
But he didn't move, he didn't shake, he remained silent in his bed.
Val interrupted her violently, telling her to stop talking nonsense.
Verasha understood his position, knowing, as did Zev, that Val would not take it easily.
He had served with Orin for years before entering the disciplinary elite, and he was more than a comrade.
Zev tried to calm Val, whose eyes were fixed on Ethan and Frenith with silent reproach.
Blame for what happened, for how they couldn't even catch the attackers even though they were there.
But the truth is that blaming now won't change anything.
It was then that Ethan explained, hesitantly at first, what was almost shocking
The attackers... They were just students.
The words shook the air, while Frenith nodded silently, having been present and witnessed everything from earlier.
When Zev questioned further, Ethan replied with alarming confidence that he was certain the attackers were students at Azuria Academy.
He confirmed that he recognized the uniforms and blue emblem of Azuria, the academy that belongs to the Azuriths, the royal family of Azuria.
Ethan felt he had to explain more, to be more helpful.
He also told them that he saw the face of one of the two attackers - the one he knocked down before running away - emphasizing that he saw it "almost", given the darkness of the night and the pale crimson moonlight.
But he confidently added that his features are still fresh in his mind, and if he doesn't remember all the details, he can recognize him if he searches carefully.
Ethan was accurate in pointing out that the attackers were probably from the advanced classes, such as Zev, Val, and Oren.
He didn't know most of the students in that class, but it seemed likely.
Zev was interested in the information and said that starting tomorrow morning, with the first rooster crowing, he would start checking on all the seniors.
He also noted the importance of observing the girl who fainted as soon as she woke up.
She was identified as "Catherine," according to the nurse's log, who is always careful to write down names.
He assigned Val the task of watching her, and the latter received the order with a solemn silence.
At that moment, Commander Fedregon entered through the door of the clinic, his height dictating his presence in the room; only Zev and Nithar were taller than him.
The standing elite - the Black Disciplinary Squad - saluted their leader, who was followed by a number of guests.
Turning around, Ethan and his group spotted members of the Silver Council Elite, distinguished students from freshman to sophomore year who were all new members of the elite that would go on.
Among them were familiar faces:
" Draceline, the white-blonde-haired Elf girl.
Craven Valdhart.
and Miraslav, scion of House Azurith, the House of the Lantern.
There were a few others that Ethan didn't recognize.
As is customary, the Disciplinary Squad intervenes when an incident occurs, conducts an investigation, and then refers the matter to the Council of Masters and Mistresses.
in a report presented in the presence of the leader of the Disciplinary Council or his or her designee, along with a member of the Silver White Silk Elite.
Fedregon listened carefully to the information, and took up the case with casualness and discipline, announcing that he would present the explanation before the Council of Masters.
accompanied by Crevan, who came on behalf of the Silver Council's elite commander.
Fedregon then turned to Ethan and Frenith, who looked frustrated, and said:
"Don't blame yourselves. You are in a great position to serve the Black Order.
It is true that the attackers escaped.
But your behavior today proved a lot. You are responsible young men, and you still have long horizons and many days ahead of you.
Get ready, and be a pillar of the group... and for Zev as well."
His words were heavy... but sincere.
They touched something in Ethan's heart, relieving him of some of the weight of blame.
and made him feel - if only a little - a little more comfortable.