I regressed and became the Sword Ice King

Time is a transient thing.

It waits for no one and leads everyone.

Forcing events to flow with its will.

Over time, one would know the disparity of their predicament.

Whether to hasten or slow down.

It made itself vividly known.

Quantified enough so you could look up and tell your fate.

Phestus did so, at the moment.

His eyes peered into the sky like a hawk.

Observing the trajectory of Space.

He recalled Kira Merlin's warning when he first appeared amid the other younger students.

Time was limited.

At most, they were given thirty minutes to vacate.

After such, the Academy would begin to hasten its own destructive process, just before Kira takes over and destroys it herself.

'Time is running out.'

He could tell.

Observe enough, and even the little changes could be easily picked out.

Though, experience and consistency were required for such a feat.

The clouds were beginning to wear down.

Cloaks of tears literally sparkling ever so lightly against the foam in the sky.

The rain persisted.

But its rate began to run erratically.

It didn't bother them much, but it would if they overstayed their adaptation.

***

They had continued their way to the Hostel Complex.

Reaching it in a few minutes, with Phestus leading the group.

At this point, they stopped.

A few were attracted to the only building which stood without as much as a freckle of dent.

The Fourth and Fifth Year Hostel Buildings.

These two had been restricted from the battle at the get–go.

The final years were seen as threats, and the fourth years, consisting mostly of System Users were found unnecessary.

What they required was a quick task. A quick supply of Non-system users.

They may have been executives, but fighting against a bunch of overly ambiguous Level 80 and above would have ended their goals as soon as it began.

They couldn't have that.

'Not that it mattered.'

Raph's gaze lingered on the buildings.

Staring at the two, his expression grew serious.

He turned back.

"The fourth years…what happened to them?"

The question caught Phestus and Rebecca in a bind.

They glanced at him, just as the others did before they snapped their heads to the standing construct.

"Oh," Jane muttered.

The fourth year had not been involved from the start.

The fifth year had been sealed…but the fourth year…

Jane's eyes narrowed at the realisation.

'They did nothing.'

"Hah…the fourth year," Phestus repeated with a wry smile.

Meadow's expression grew tense at his words.

She turned to the building once more. Her thoughts spiralling in her head.

But said nothing.

The others simply stood silent.

Always read from the source: M|V|LE4MPYR.

"It's obvious they chose to do nothing, Raph," Thalia replied.

"They weren't targeted because of their numbers, and quite frankly. They were the least excited about the downfall of the System Uprisers."

Rebecca sighed. "Even during the meetings, their disinterest in the whole matter had been suspicious."

Silence filled the air once again.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the buildings and the multiple Portals which were beaming with life in front of the Hostels.

This was their one-way trip home.

And the fourth year must have taken it.

'Well…' Raph turned around, pulling his head away from the sight.

They were gone.

Nothing could be done to find out why they had chosen to remain…Passive.

His thoughts churned, but settled soon.

"The Academy might be destroyed, but another will stand.

We will meet them again."

Phestus and Rebecca glanced at one another at his statement.

A small smile on their faces as they turned as well.

They were in their last year.

There was no next time for them.

This moment, right now, was their last.

While their thoughts settled, Darrell spoke out.

"How do we find them?"

It had skipped his mind for a while, but Tiara and the others were captured.

Didn't that mean they were in the enemy's base?

To be more precise, the base was owned by the System Uprisers.

The same one that the whole Academy couldn't find.

It dawned on him like a hammer, a moment ago. A little too late.

"They should be in the Sub–Space."

Phestus replied.

He glanced at the line of buildings in their presence.

The first, second and third had at least their walls destroyed, with the second completely demolished.

His attention was drawn beyond that.

Towards the fields, Raph had battled with the girls. Rita and Elsie.

Both of which had been led out by Rebecca.

"It should be over there. The Headmaster pointed out that he could no longer observe them right after they crossed the fields."

"Crossed the fields?"

"What's beyond the fields?"

Phestus turned to Darrell and Jane.

His gaze held them for a moment.

Their questions lingered in his head before he turned away.

"That's what we want to find out."

"Isn't finding a Sub-space difficult though?"

This was Meadow, and they all shifted their attention to her.

She was aware of how it works.

After all, she had witnessed it being used.

The castle had many of them, or at least she thought.

The use of which, she wasn't certain.

"What? Am I wrong?" The stares had gotten to her, a bit.

She wasn't pleased.

Raph shook his head.

"No, you're correct. It is difficult to find a sub-space within a Territorial Space."

A moment of silence, before–

"Ciara must have found it."

Jane concluded.

He knew the girl like the back of his hand. Or he would like to think so.

His interest in the Merlin had made him extra vigilant when he was around her.

Not that he liked it.

It was still advantageous in the fact that he could tell what kind of girl she was.

"True."

With Raph's confirmation, they had begun to walk straight. Headed to the fields.

Their conversations continued.

"How are we going to locate it then?"

Darrell asked.

His tone grew tense, and his guts began to burn with a warm hue.

He was getting anxious.

Far from his usual line of emotions.

'All this mess because of Tiara.'

He thought to himself with a deadpan sigh.

Thalia and Rebecca both glanced at Raph in unison.

The latter simply nodded.

"I think I can." He replied.

His eyes weren't just for show.

It revealed things hidden. Things that weren't meant to be seen. Witnessed.

Not that he was the observant type.

Just the guy who takes note of variations in a sea of normal.

"Your eyes," Jane concluded.

And it seemed like the others did as well.

Who wasn't aware of his ocular prowess?

It was daunting.

Those eyes could control people if he so wished.

They had seen it happen once…but never understood the concept.

Meadow couldn't divulge an idea.

After all, the Jun's traits seemed eerily similar to her ability to read minds.

With that, they continued on their way in silence.

***

On their way, Raph had inched closer to Meadow, who was following from behind.

His gaze drew hers while the others ignored.

For reasons unknown, they had seemed closer than one would expect.

The way they talked. The way they looked at each other.

They could tell they were more than what they seemed on the surface level.

Soon, he had closed the distance and walked side-by-side with the Princess.

Her brow arched as she looked up at him.

"What?" She whispered.

Raph remained silent for a moment before he turned to her fully.

He stopped her for a moment.

Causing the others to continue while they lagged behind.

Seconds passed by and they stood idle.

As if Raph was waiting until the moment was clear.

Meadow grew angsty, but stood quiet, still.

Curiosity had gotten the best of her.

A minute passed.

"Just now." Raph began.

His voice, low and hushed.

A shiver that caused Meadow to flinch.

"Your eyes. You looked ready to overthrow the Kingdom."

She held his gaze. Peering into the white hue of his eyes.

There had been something ancient in them.

Something she saw but couldn't explain.

As if he had seen all there is and now tried to control it to his will.

He wasn't always successful.

But he did it nonetheless.

'Funny.' She thought to herself. 'His persistence is what has taken him this far…'

Her gaze shifted to Jane and Darrell who walked side by side.

Occasionally throwing a jab at one another with muffled chuckles.

The change had been slow.

It was transient. Difficult to see unless you observe enough.

And that's how she knew.

The Great Families were slowly….uniting.

All because of one boy. Raffaelo Jun.

She sighed as she shook her head.

"Why does that matter?"

Raph raises a brow.

"Meadow. Have you forgotten that we are partners?"

"No. I haven't, but I don't see how you can help at this point."

Raph stood silent for a moment.

A frown slowly formed on his face.

"I didn't realise losing Rana would have this daunting change on you."

He recalled the past.

Rana Lana was loyal to her.

A shield and spear that stood for her…until she died.

'From what I knew.'

It wasn't long before Rana died as well.

He didn't know the history between them, and quite frankly, he didn't care.

What mattered right now…was how to channel the negativity built within her.

"Plum is waiting for our command."

He spoke before she could reply to his earlier statement.

She blinked once before tilting her head.

"Not just Plum. I have a level 100 who listens to my command, and a team willing to overthrow the King when the time comes…I had told you before…but now, I want to entrust this to you."

Meadow scoffed.

"Why would you do that?"

If he had that many people under him. Enough to overthrow a kingdom, then why bother entrusting it to someone else?

Lead them yourself.

That should have been the norm.

"Well…" Raph glanced up with a sigh. "I have a feeling that the outside world won't be so pleased with the situation at hand…"

Her face turned serious.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

Raph's gaze darted at her first, then.

"The Executives of the Red Peacemakers are dead. Kira Merlin appeared. A lot of students had died. Some enemies escaped…the list is endless.

When we leave this Academy…the world will change."

Meadow took in his words with a straight face.

But her chest denied the calm she seemed to portray.

It beat fast like a drum.

Implications coming down on her.

He was right. She knew it.

'Things…are getting serious.'

This was more than just the scuffle between royal siblings now.

This was the Kingdom, itself.

Raph sighed again. A hand behind his head as he said.

"We need to be prepared."