Caelus and Aria made their way to Professor Archeota's class, where Shion, Alicia, and Taylor were already waiting.
"Two minutes late!" Alicia muttered in a scolding manner. "Didn't you two learn a thing from the last meeting? We dedicated it to an introduction for you, after all!"
"I... I take full responsibility, Senior Alicia..." Aria mumbled nervously.
"Nonsense," Caelus said. "It was a collective effort. "We held each other back, so we are both at fault."
"Eh?! N-no! That's not—"
"Alright, alright," Alicia cut in with a snicker. "Don't start with all the chivalry. I was just messing with you guys. Ain't ever gonna catch me getting all worked up about two measly minutes. I'm kinda surprised though, especially with you, Princess Aria."
Aria's eyes sprang open as her shoulders tensed.
"M-me?" she gulped, pointing at herself.
"Yeah. I mean, look at ya — sweating at what a commoner like me has to say. Wasn't exactly on my bucket list, but it was a nice addition."
"Commoner...? Why should that matter here? As far as I know, you're a year above me. That must mean your skills are worlds above mine!"
"Ho~ Haha! You really know how to flatter people, don't ya, princess? I like you already. Anyway, come have a seat. Shion's waiting on us."
The pair took their seat at the front. Just across the aisle was Taylor, sitting with his arms crossed, and Alicia swinging her legs back and forth. Shion stood on the front stage, ready to get started.
"Where's the professor?" Caelus asked.
"Professor Archeota?" Shion said. "From what I understand, he's preoccupied with a couple of staff from the Faculty of Swordsmanship, but it's fine. He may serve as our sponsor, but that doesn't mean he has to attend every single one of our meetings. We just have to take care not to sully his name in his absence, which brings me to today's discussion."
He took a deep breath and locked eyes with each person.
"As you all know, a week from now marks the anniversary of the Great Crusade's finale. The Archdemon at the time was slain by Empress Sellas and the Nine Lords of Angelica, who followed her till the very end. Of course, a celebration shall take place across the empire. Even as we speak, the streets are being closed off for preparations."
"Ooh~! Ooh~!" Alicia exclaimed, throwing her hands up.
"Pfft... What is it, Alicia?"
"Are we gonna be going around the festival, hanging out, playing games, and eating together? Y'know, like a team? Of friends?!"
"Well, as much as I would love to go out for a relaxing excursion with you all, that's not what this is about."
"Aw..."
Shion chuckled under his breath as he lifted his hand. Blue mana weaved across the white board behind him. Shapes came together as lines conjoined from the bottom up, creating a picture-perfect replication of...
"...Crown Square?" Taylor said.
"That is correct," Shion smiled, pointing at him. "Crown Square will undoubtedly be the heart of the festival, as that is where the imperial family shall begin their parade."
He rested his finger on one of the lines, then slid it down a trail.
"They will follow this road south till they reach Maidel's Courtyard. Naturally, the imperial guards will be stationed around the perimeters. Additionally, all students from the third year have been tasked with joining them, myself included."
"Hey~!" Alicia smirked, leaning forward to look at Aria from across the aisle. "You hear that, princess? Shion's gonna be your personal guard!"
"Whoa..." Aria gasped.
"Haha, she's exaggerating," Shion scoffed. "I will be stationed along the perimeter, so you may see me for a small moment."
"Still, it's amazing that the emperor is actually allowing Rhodeia students to carry such an important responsibility."
"Yes. It is a true honor for me, and I'm sure my peers feel the same way. However, for you are my witness, Princess Aria... I may have to stray from protocols."
"...Eh?"
Taylor's brows twitched.
"Senior Shion... You're not thinking about abandoning your post, are you?"
"Indeed," he replied, "but allow me to explain. Only one day during the festival shall the imperial family make a public appearance. During that day, most of the guards will be mobilized around the parade—"
"Meaning that the rest of the city will see little to no security," Alicia cut in to finish his sentence.
"Heh. Precisely."
"But what does that have to do with anything?" Taylor asked.
Shion spared Taylor a glance before turning back to the whiteboard. With just a snap of his fingers, the shapes and lines of mana shifted, rearranging themselves into a map of the district north of Crown Square.
"Further north is an abandoned ward known as Jester's Lot."
Most of the room stayed quiet, but Alicia's reaction was immediate. She sat up so sharply she knocked the underside of the table, her scowl cutting deeper than usual.
"Senior Alicia?" Aria asked nervously.
"That place…" she muttered. "Remember the priest I told you about? The one from the Holy Empire we caught colluding with the Ego of Chaos last year?"
Aria's eyes flicked toward Caelus in unease. Taylor, who had been unusually quiet the entire meeting, straightened in his chair.
"Jester's Lot was once a lively plaza—a beautiful one. You can still tell by the church standing at its center. But that's where we exposed him. The priest, a-and…"
Her voice faltered, leaving the rest unsaid.
The air thickened, so Shion stepped in. His tone was level, but his words left no room for misinterpretation.
"Allow me to be clear. Student-run clubs under the jurisdiction of Rhodeia are nothing close to ordinary. Ours, perhaps more than others. Demonic Investigation isn't about prestige or points on a report. Rhodeia trusts us with matters others can't — or won't — handle. What we do can range from simple crackdowns… to confronting a priest who had twisted himself into an abomination of Chaos. If any of you wish to leave, this is your chance."
Caelus noticed Aria trembling beside him, her breath uneven, her lips quivering.
He knew that feeling. Once, he'd been the same. Frozen under the weight of fear, standing at the edge of death's door more times than he could count. At some point, he'd gotten used to staring into the abyss. But Aria? He doubted she could.
"Seeing as how all of you are still seated, let us continue," Shion said. "A friend of mine who treads the shadows informed me of... a rather alarming situation. He spied on a caravan that entered the west gate late at night. And the contents of their transport? War prisoners."
"Alcadians?" Taylor suggested. "The Vectis Empire and the Republic of Alcad aren't exactly civil with each other."
"That was my first thought as well. In fact, I wish it were so. But no... they were demons."
"...What?"
"My reaction exactly. According to our informant, it was a smuggling operation. They were last seen entering Jester's Lot. Several tribes were identified — succubi, kitsune, imps, and even devils. And all of them... were female."
The room froze. No one dared to speak, though every mind had already reached the same grim conclusion.
Beneath the table, Caelus's fists clenched tight enough to whiten his knuckles. Perhaps to most in the empire, this was justice at long last. Demons deserved nothing but torment — a cruel balancing of the scales.
But Caelus knew better. He had lived with them. He had broken bread at their tables, seen mothers cradle their children, and played with those he considered his friends. They could love just as deeply as he loved his sister. They had bled for a war they never started. And yet it was humans who painted themselves blameless.
Aria turned toward him, and the sight nearly stole the breath from her lungs.
Rage. It poured from his lavender eyes like a storm barely contained, a fury so sharp it rooted her in place. Her hands trembled, but still, she reached across and clasped his fists.
"C-Caelus…?" she whispered.
The contact snapped him back. He blinked before loosening his hands in her grasp.
"Ah... Sorry, Aria," he exhaled, feigning serenity. "I was just... lost in thought."
Then, Taylor's voice cut through, bringing them back on topic.
"Rhodeia aside, isn't this serious enough to warrant informing the emperor?" he asked.
"It's because it's that serious that we absolutely cannot," Shion immediately shot down. "This was sanctioned by someone with enough power to hide an entire caravan of demons."
They all glanced at each other. True, Rhodeia College holds its students in high regard, but something like this seemed far too great for them.
"Can't we tell Professor Archeota then?" Aria asked.
"If you must ask a professor for something you chose to do, can you really call yourself a Rhodeia student?" Shion countered, which made her shrivel up. "Don't worry. I will let the professor know of our plan. What he decides to do will be entirely up to him."
"Relax, fishies," Alicia winked as she lifted her boots onto the desk. "Your seniors will keep you safe. You can trust us."
"Can we...?" Taylor mumbled.
"Hey!"
Shion let out a breathy chuckle. He grabbed a chair from behind, sat it backwards, and plopped down with her arms on the backrest.
"Alright," he said. "Now that we've gotten all that out of the way, let's go over my plan."