People crammed into the underground headquarters within an hour.

More than I'd expected, it seems the entire combat division and all the support staff. Even some students who weren't officially part of the faction but had been helping as extra hand. They all came.

I stood before them, Felix's notebook in my hands, dried blood still on my clothes.

"Felix Goldleaf is dead," I began with no preamble and no softening. "Assassinated in my headquarters approximately one hour ago. They are professional killers that came specifically for him."

Silence followed like a thick blanket. Maybe they never actually thought something like that could happen, as if the illusion of academy would stop things like that from happening.

"Felix had been researching the poison used in my assassination attempt. He found some evidence that are quite contrary to what we first thought, analysis that points...to some shadowy organizations." I held up the notebook. "This is what they killed him for."

I pulled out the metal token. "This is what he died clutching. It's the symbol of the League of Fallen. Five interlocking circles, you can talk to the others to learn more about them in detail later. They're the ones hunting us. They're the ones who will keep coming until we're all dead."

Someone in the crowd started crying. Felix had been liked after all, he's friendly and enthusiastic, always willing to help.

"We have a choice," I continued. "We can stop investigating and stop training, stop being a threat. Disband the faction. Go our separate ways. Maybe they'll leave us alone. No, they're leave is alone."

I doubt they'll leave me alone but I need to know how to play the crowd.

I met eyes across the crowd.

"Or we can finish what Felix started. We can use his research, we can find the poison supplier. We can trace the League's operations. We can prepare for when they come again." I placed the notebook on the table. "Because they will come again. Felix's death proved we're getting close to something they want buried."

"How do we fight them?" Marcus asked, voice shaking. "They're fallen right? They were destined. We're just students."

"We were just students," I corrected. "But we've been training with some unique methods. Some of us have awakened our bloodlines. We're stronger than we were. And we'll get stronger still because that's the only thing we can really do."

I pulled out the tracking crystal Felix had mentioned. Marcus's creation.

"Felix's last words were about this. A tracking crystal keyed to specific magical signatures. If we can get samples of the League operatives' magic, and we can, from the room they attacked, we can hunt them. Also we have a trail."

"Hunt fallen heroes?" someone said incredulously. "That's suicide."

"So is sitting here waiting for them to pick us off one by one." I looked at Lucille. "Your network, can it find the alchemists that Felix identified? The one who makes this type of Shadowbane toxin?"

"It's dangerous," she said. "But yes."

"Do it carefully then, we need that connection."

"Isabella, your merchant contacts. Can they trace the payment patterns Felix found?"

"They can try."

"Try hard and ollow the money."

I turned to Seraphina as she is unofficially taking over it. "The combat division needs to be ready. If the League sends more assassins and when they send more, we can't be caught off guard again. This also applies to you Lucille."

Both nodded grimly.

"Ravenna, Marcus, analyze the magical signatures from tonight's attack. I want to know everything about these operatives. Power levels, techniques, weaknesses you can find. Every damned thing!"

"On it," Marcus said.

"Damian stays with me. We're going through Felix's research and look at everything he found. There might be more clues he didn't live to share."

I looked around the room. "Felix died investigating something that terrified them. Something important enough to send League operatives. We're going to find out what. And when we do, we're going to use it to tear down whoever ordered this."

"For Felix," Seraphina said.

"For Felix," everyone echoed.

The meeting dispersed slowly. People clustering in groups, talking quietly, processing.

Marcus approached me. "Hadeon, I... the tracking crystal Felix said it worked, that my enchantments worked." His voice cracked. "He died with my creation, he died trying to use it to help us."

"He died a....hero," I said, trying my best not to shudder. "Researching and Investigating. Risking everything to find the truth. That's who Felix was."

"I should have made him better protective charms. Should have...."

"Don't." I gripped his shoulder. "You gave him tools. He chose to use them. That's not on you."

But I could see the guilt in his eyes, and I don't even know how to comfort him. What should I say to a grieving person when even I can't tell myself anything?

☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆

The funeral was held at dawn, three days later. Its Academy tradition, when a student died, they were cremated at sunrise. The ashes would be sent to their family. Unless the family wanted to bury their child themselves.

Felix had family. Parents in a small village near the Eastern border. Damian had already sent fast words to them and they'd replied

"He always wanted to make a difference. We're proud of him."

The entire faction attended. Professors came too. Even the Headmaster, looking old and tired as if he was seeing something he'd seen before. Something he could do nothing about.

The Baron was notably absent. So was Adrian.

As the flames consumed Felix's body, I made a silent promise.

I'll find who gave the order. I'll expose them. And I'll make sure you didn't die for nothing.

After the ceremony, I returned to my headquarters alone. Pulled out Felix's research notebook and began reading.

His notes were meticulous. Chemical formulas, payment status and analysis. Everything cross-referenced and verified.

The poison supplier was named Silas Vex. Operated from a hidden workshop in the Ashen Wastes that's the western desert, lawless territory of criminals and outlaws.

The payment patterns all traced to anonymous drops in three cities. Lumina the capital Silvercrest and Shadowport of eastern coast.

But the most damning evidence is a list of previous eliminations that was killed by the same kind of poison.

Seventeen names over the past five years. All died from either poison, accidents, or mysterious circumstances. I studied the list and looked for connections and then I saw it.

-----------

The next morning, I called the inner circle together.

Lucille, Damian, Ravenna, Marcus, Seraphina, Isabella and even Professor Helena.

Seven people I trusted absolutely.

"I need to tell you something," I said. "Felix's research revealed more than just the League's operations."

I told them everything. About how they might also be the ones to probably kill my parents too. The Council are a threat but it seems the League are the closest.

When I finished, silence followed.

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