Extra's Descent

"What's taking him so long?"

Peering down on his phone, Raven opted to check for the time.

Brandon leaned back on the wall with his arms crossed.

Creaaaak…

The entrance of the theater room gradually creaked open and a figure emerged.

"Took you long enough."

Acknowledging, the newcomer, Brandon stared at Reinhard who was coming outside from the theater room.

"I had to sneak out…"

Reinhard spoke in a defeated tone.

"...The audience would've killed me if I hadn't."

Brandon looked at Raven who looked back at him.

"Was it that bad…?"

"Let's not talk about please."

Raven pleaded.

Noticing the awkward atmosphere, Reinhard alternated his gaze between the two.

"Hey! Give me a little cre—"

Creaaaaak….

He was halted mid-sentence as the door behind him peered open.

"Who's th—Sarah?"

From the entrance, Sarah emerged and was stunned by the sight of several people. Shortly after, she shook her head and walked towards Brandon.

"Good…"

Brandon nodded.

"Now that we're all here, let me debrief you on what's about to happen."

Most likely, there were already intruders inside the theater room. But they shouldn't act with so many powerful figures inside.

If his conjectures were proven correct, then they would most likely wait for reinforcements.

And even if they did act out, he had already informed Eveyln beforehand.

The purpose of Sarah's assistance was for her sound barrier. If chaos ensues, the commotion would reach the theater room.

Thus, the intruders would be alerted and would start acting out to save themselves.

"I see."

Raven pinched his chin and digested everything Brandon told them.

With a conflicted look, Sarah opened her mouth.

"I understand your plan. A small sound barrier is one thing. But I don't have enough mana to fill the entire theater room."

Brandon responded as soon as she finished speaking.

"I know."

"Then—"

"I'll supply you with mana."

"Ah."

"Simple, right?"

"I guess so."

All of a sudden, Reinhard chimed in with a question.

"But are you confident in your mana reserves?"

"Yeah."

His fifth skill.

He had created just recently all for the sake of the plan.

[Mage's Resolve]

∟ Allows the user to naturally replenish their mana reserves.

∟ When the mage refrains from using their mana for any spells or magical abilities for a duration of two minutes, they begin to regenerate mana at a rate of 1% of their total mana every ten seconds.

"A sound barrier already depletes 20% of my mana. Are you sure?"

Sarah inquired with a worried tone.

Brandon waved her off and reassured her.

"Don't worry. I wouldn't have gone with this if I wasn't confident."

"...Alright."

She eventually relented.

"Should I start now?"

"Yeah."

Following his confirmation, Sarah crouched down and extended her palms to the ground.

Closing her eyes, the mana around the air started to coalesce around her, and Sarah's figure started emitting a bright purple glow.

The commotion inside the theater room gradually diminished.

Sweat started beading down Sarah's forehead as her brows knitted. Biting her lips, she urged.

"Now, Brandon."

Brandon stepped behind her and gently traced the back of her neck with his fingers.

"Eeek—"

Sarah squealed and her body twitched. But she composed herself shortly after.

It was necessary.

With mana on his fingertips Brandon continued tracing her nape, and eventually, his fingers moved down her back.

Zoom—!

All of a sudden, a small magic circle materialized. Sarah's expressions gradually composed.

The sound from the theater room slowly diminished until they couldn't hear anything from the inside anymore.

"Hoo…"

Sarah took a deep breath.

"Good job."

Brandon nodded in appreciation and pulled his hand back.

Sarah got up and wiped her sweat with a handkerchief. Taking another breath, she pursed her lips.

"Hoo… The barrier should last for thirty minutes."

"Alright, that's enough time."

Brandon leaned back on the wall and crossed his arms.

"So? What's going to happen next…?"

Raven's voice reached his ears.

Brandon raised his head to meet his gaze.

"We wait."

"Uh…?"

"They'll come. There are only two entrances to the theater room. Another committee member is stationed there. If there's trouble, he'll directly inform me with this."

Brandon raised his hand for everyone to see what he was holding.

"Ah, a hand-held transceiver."

In other words, a walkie talkie.

Nodding, Brandon confirmed.

"Yeah."

"By the way…"

Raven inquired all of a sudden."

"I want to ask you something."

"Hm?"

Brandon met his gaze and tilted his head.

"You don't have to answer it if you're uncomfortable."

"Just say it."

"That committee head of yours. Amelia Constantine."

"What about her?"

All heads flicked towards him. Brandon could see their curious gaze. What sort of….

Raven looked at Reinhard and the two nodded at each other. Brandon was confused once again. Where was this going?

Breathing out a sigh, Sarah frowned.

"Haa… What's with all the suspense…?"

Eventually, she turned her head towards Brandon and spoke in a matter of fact tone.

"They want to ask if you two are dating."

"Eh… Yeah.

"...Basically."

Raven scratched his cheek and Reinhard seemed embarrassed.

"Uh?"

Brandon was taken aback.

He started connecting the dots from the first day of the festival until today. The image of Amy and Claire pulling him close just to dismiss him overlapped in his mind.

'So that's what all of that was about.'

Makes sense.

Astrea students loved to jump into conclusions after all.

"So?" Are you…?"

Raven followed up with an inquiry.

What in the….

Sarah was one thing. But he didn't expect Raven and Reinhard to even be curious about his love life.

Not like he had one to begin with.

"No."

He decisively shook his head.

"We're just friends."

"Ah, okay."

Raven spoke as if he just had an enlightenment. What are you a girl?

But it seemed like Raven wasn't done as he followed up with another question.

"But… Do you like her?"

"Uh?"

Once again, Brandon was taken aback.

This…

Could it be…?

"Don't tell me you're actually in love with me or something…?"

Brandon rubbed his shoulders and his expressions contorted to a disgusted look.

He didn't expect for Raven to actually swing that way.

But thankfully, his suspicions were shot down instantly.

"What? No! Fuck, no. Eeeeh… Why would you even say that?"

Raven rubbed his shoulders as well. Brandon could see the hairs on his arm gradually standing.

"Good."

Brandon frowned.

"I would've left the academy if that were the case."

"Haa…"

Raven breathed out a sigh.

"I'm only asking because—Uh…"

He pointed his fingers at the man that stood beside him.

"Reinhard likes you."

"What?"

"Fuck."

Reinhard's body twitched as Brandon cursed under his breath.

Raven and Reinhard looked at each other. The two repeatedly nodded but their mouths weren't moving at all, as if they were communicating with their minds.

What in the….

Eventually, Reinhard turned to look at Brandon with pleading eyes.

Step—

Brandon stepped back.

Reinhard's voice reached his ears and Brandon found himself petrified.

"Yes, I like you Brandon. But if you like someone else, then I'll stop."

With an indifferent expression, Brandon raised his middle finger at Reinhard.

"Alright, alright. Chill…"

Reinhard waved him off with both hands.

Brandon shook his head.

"Yes, I like her."

"Ah."

Sarah's eyes lit up.

Brandon continued.

"She's nice, and she treats me well. How could I not like her?"

"Then…"

"As a friend, of course."

Brandon scoffed. That's for jumping into conclusions.

They blinked for a few seconds, perplexed about what he had just said. But they eventually relented.

"Guess we'll leave it at that then. Sorry for the sudden interrogation."

Raven apologized and Brandon waved him off.

But just as he was about to say something….

"....!"

All heads flicked towards a certain corridor as several figures made their presence known.

Brandon quickly urged.

"Sarah, get back inside."

"Alright."

Following his instructions, Sarah quickly headed inside the theater room.

Clank—!

The door shut close, and it was only the three of them now.

"Ready?"

Brandon inquired.

"Yeah."

"Yep."

And the two responded with no hesitation.

Quickly, Brandon retrieved the hand-held transceiver, and briefly informed Oscar of the situation.

From a distance, he could hear one of the figures panic as they spoke to each other.

"I can't reach them from the inside?"

"What?"

"Look, the call is through. But there's no audio."

There were two features to a sound barrier. Phone calls could reach, but there wouldn't be any sound audible from the connection.

It made it disadvantageous to Brandon—who—in the worse case scenario, would need back-up.

But…

Step—

He stepped forward.

He didn't need backup.

Reinhard, Raven, and Oscar were enough.

The less people that knew, the better.

Else, it would make things more complicated with his plans.

The intruders' silhouettes basked down under the moonlight. Before they could make out the sight in front of them….

Vooosh—!

Swoosh, swoosh—!

Tzzz——!

The three started their frontal assault.

"What the—Ukeh!"

Raven stepped out of the man's shadow and appeared before him and speedily thrusted his dagger forward.

Kracka!

Bolts of lightning headed his way. But Raven was able to dodge it just in time.

Swoosh, swoosh—!

Darting around the room, Raven dodged and recoiled each magic attack back.

Recently, Raven had just broken through level 10.

Along his progress, came a new skill.

[Reflection]

As long as his body could keep up with the immense pressure, he could recoil back any magic attack that's hurled his way.

And it was the perfect skill to mitigate any damage that would be done to the academy.

At first, he was quite confused why Brandon didn't ask for help from the professors.

But it meant that Brandon was confident they could beat the assailants all on their own.

He trusted both Raven and Reinhard.

And not wanting to betray that trust, Raven didn't question his intentions.

In the first place, it was good practice.

The assailants weren't as skilled as he thought they were.

"Fuck."

"Weren't they supposed to be kids?"

They started panicking.

All of a sudden….

Boom—!

A red streak flashed all of a sudden, and the space between the assailants ignited.

Raven could feel the intense heat, and amidst the flames Reinhard stood with his arms extended forward.

"...Crazy."

He had never doubted Reinhard's prowess.

The first-year students started calling them the "Three Heavenly Kings." There was disdain towards Reinhard's behavior, but it was mostly from women.

Besides that, his strength had earned him enough respect.

Yes, enough respect.

"Pftt…"

Raven stifled a laugh at the thought.

What respect?

He quickly dismissed his thoughts shortly after.

Looking around, he could see that the assailants before them have already been dealt with.

However…

"Huh?"

He looked around.

He was perplexed.

For some reason…

"Where's Brandon?"

Brandon wasn't here.