Arcanum 173 Demon Incursion

"Atlantis students as well... for shame." Another familiar male voice added onto the conversation.

"Do you want me to arrest them?" Another unfamiliar male voice asked.

"Nah it's alright we know these kiddos." An arm grabbed me on the shoulder.

"It's only been a day and you guys are up to no good again huh?" Yuna turned me around to face her and Sven grinning with laughter.

"Ohh Officer Jun we have no report of you being on board Atlantis." The other student wearing an Aspan uniform said noticing Officer Jun.

"Wow you guys really are trouble makers." Sven said shaking his head, "Officer Jun you need to come with us right away.. So we can go through the proper channels and have a proper guard unit with you." Sven said lending him a hand to get up.

"Thank you but I'm afraid a situation has arisen that requires your attention immedicably." He notified Sevn making him look at the rest of us.

"Is this true?" Sven asked us with a raised eyebrow making us all nod in unison.

"Okay let's hear it then.. Since you guys did discover about the Dark Elves." Sven sighed.

"There's a group of secret students that are planning to transform students into Demons of Korcus." I explained to him.

"You can't be serious.." Sven said looking at me as if I just him something absolutely absurd.

"It's true Morgana has evidence." Jay added.

"Okay well let's see it then." Yuna asked.

"Well it's not physical evidence.. It's more of something I saw." Morgana admitted.

"Okay let's hear it then." Sven asked.

"So last week there was a group of students that went to an inn picking up a package containing skin of a pale individual." Morgana informed them.

"Okay so contraband." Yuna nodded.

"Then yesterday they managed to get a hold of Imp wings and vials of blood of unknown origin.. But we believe these students are connected to the Demon attack during the acceptance ceremony." Morgana added explaining slowly so they'd follow.

"We also think because of the nature of the Demon they are followers of Khorcus, the Demon of killing and bloodshed." Grace included.

"Morgana also listened to their conversation, there is talk about doing something today." I explained.

"We believe it's because Paul is currant out of commission and the Aspan fleets are also here." Jay explained.

"And which students do you believe are involves?" Yuna asked.

"So far.. I've identified the four in my class.. But there has been others who I don't recognise because they aren't in my year or class." Morgana answered.

"Okay.. So the operation is much bigger than just a small group." Sven nodded.

"I also think that they happened be visit the right cities to get the ingredients isn't a coincidence." Morgana added.

"Wow so a faculty member could be involved if this is true this is very serious." Sven replied.

"Yuna you stay with them, Eric you come with me I'm going to report these findings to Paul." Sven ordered.

"Sure." Yuna nodded.

"Don't do anything rash till we've decided the best course of action." He ordered and walked away with the other Aspan student.

"Okay.. So where are they now?" Yuna asked looking over the bush.

"They've gone deeper into the main building but they are blow ground level Grace and Morgana notified us.

"Okay... we need to go investigate, Morgana is it? And Grace both of you lead the way." She asked.

"Is everything going to be okay? Sven said don't do anything rash.." I asked Yuna.

"So far we're just going to investigate but it's not looking great at the moment, students shouldn't ber going down below ground level of the school so that alone is a cause of concern." Yuna answered.

"Are they talking about anything?" Jay asked Morgana.

"They seem to be discussing how glorious the ritual will be, there's defiantly going to be a lot of bloodshed if all goes to plan." Morgana answered.

"Okay that doesn't sound good... seems like whatever they are planning is going down today." Yuna replied

As we entered the main building Yuna took us to a well-hidden archway which lead to a set of stairs leading down the building. "Wow I never realised that all our classes and rooms go upstairs." I said in realisation.

"Yes the lower we go the more unstable the rooms are, we don't know why but there has been situations of students going missing and other things so going below the ground floor is strictly restricted to teachers and veteran students." Yuna explained.

"Why is that?" Jay questioned.

"There's something weird about Atlantis the deeper we go the wonkier reality gets." She warned.

"Is it really that bad?" I questioned.

"The first three levels are relatively stable but they get exponentially worse when you go deeper." She answered.

"So why would they be down there?" Helen questioned.

"Normally you're not allowed so the fact they are down there is rather suspicious." Yuna answered.

The atmosphere and the lighting became more eerie as we descended down the level, "I'll lead from here." Yuna said taking point.

"The air is really stale.." Helen said finding it very uncomfortable.

"Yeah because of the risk Atlantis has ignored the lower levels." Yuna answered.

"Can you tell how much further they are?" Tuna asked as we reached the second floor.

"If they floor are the same approximately three more." Grace answered.

"Hmm... we'll go down to level three and see if there's anything dodgy.. I don't feel safe taking you guys further." she notified us.

Slowly we made our way to the third floor being as quiet as we can, "Hmmm this floor still looks clear." Yuna said peeping through the hallway filled with undisturbed cobwebs and dust and dirt all over the floor. "Okay you all stay here.. I'll take a peek on the lower floors." She said slowly making her way down the spiral stairs, peering down through the darkness she froze still and retreated back up to us. "Stay quiet and make your way back up now." She ordered us with a very serious look on her face making us all silently began ascending the levels till we reached the ground floor again.

"What happened?" Jay asked at the sudden seriousness of the situation.

"It's not good... It might be Atlantis but I sense a lot of Evil magic going on down there." She informed us making us all gasp in shock.

"What does that mean?!" I asked in shock.

"I'm not sure but it defiantly brought chills up my spine just looking in the direction." Yuna answered.

"So what should we do?" I asked.

"We'll watch this entrance for now... I'll be sending Sven a message." Yuna answered us.

"Did you see anything down there?.." Grace asked.

"Yes.. Something I've never seen before, there were two guards wielding polearms there, they wore heavy bulky armour and seemed emotionless no breathing or sorts, wearing a weird white mask resembling a babies face." She answered.

"What in the world is that?!" Grace asked in shock.

"I have no idea but it gave me the creeps." Yun answered and began tapping her finger against Sven's invisible thread.

"Is everything going to be okay?" Daisy questioned extremely worried.

"It's a lot more dire then I initially thought, if they somehow managed to bypass Atlantis shielding and managed to get Demons on site we're going to be to cleanse the area and wrok out how they managed to achieve it." Yuna answered.

"What's going to happen next?" Jay questioned.

"Umm if it isn't already clear Aspa is here if you need anything." Jun offered.

"It might be safer for you and your crew to return to your fleet." Yuna informed Jun.

"Well if you wouldn't mind.. I'd like to see what happens." Jun requested.

"Okay... hmm... if anyone asks, say you pulled rank on me. Do you have your weapons on you?" Yuna asked.

"Umm I'm not great in combat." He confessed to her.

"I'm so going to get in trouble for this." Yuna sighed, "Take this." She said taking a set of throwing knives out of her pocket. "Use them in close combat and throw them if you're in dire need." She instructed him.

"So how long do we need to wait?" Grace asked.

"To be honest I don't think you guys did all you can, it's way too dangerous for even me." Yuna answered and went silent for a small amount for time seemingly focusing on something, "Okay so it looks like Sven has spoken to Paul and is sending reinforcements." Yuna informed us.

"Ohh wow this must be really serious." I said in shock hearing the news.

"When it comes to Demons and Devils you have to be very careful, they wrong move can damn your soul for an eternity or drive you insane." Yuna replied

"Morgana what are they saying now?" I asked feeling really worried.

"I can't hear them no more.. I think it might be Atlantis messing with my network." Morgana informed us.

"Just keep a watch on their location, if they manage to resurface we need to act quickly." Yuna instructed us.

"Daisy I remember you're a follower of Serra right?" She asked Daisy politely.

"Yes I am." Daisy smiled.

"Great.. Khorcus is a natural enemy to Serra's ways so even though you're gonna be effective against them, they will also hurt you more and most likely aim for you." Yuna explained.

"I'll be okay." Daisy smiled.

"I'm serious, not only do they have Demons here somehow I don't even know how many students they have and their ranks for all I know they could have some B and A Class students in their ranks." Yuna answered.

"What a great time for Paul to be out of commission." Jay added.

"It should be alright, we still have Scarlet." Yuna smiled.

"Who else do you think will be arrive to help?" I asked.

"To be honest I'm not sure but most likely Scarlet would be sent to get rid of the threat as quickly and swiftly as possible." Yuna smiled.

"Isn't it dangerous for her as well to descend the levels?" Jay questioned.

"Probably.. But you know her, if anyone can descend the level safely it would be her." Yuna answered.

"So somehow these students managed to summon Demons onto Atlantis grounds themselves?" I asked.

"Well I assume so since I haven't seen those Baby faces armoured things before and I sense evil things dwelling down there." Yuna answered.

Chapter end