BLOOD & SIGILS

Chapter 71: Aftermath of the Alpha Hunt

The battle was over.

The Alpha Mana Beast, a nightmare of flesh and mana, had been slain. Its corpse lay in ruins, cleaved apart by Seraphine Eldoria's blade. But even in death, its presence lingered—the air still heavy with the raw energy of its near-evolution.

For a long moment, the jungle remained silent.

Then, from the shadows, from behind trees, from hastily dug-out hiding spots—the surviving students emerged.

The ones who had run.

The ones who had hidden.

Some bore minor wounds, scratches from lesser mana beasts. Others were untouched, having avoided battle entirely. But all of them looked the same—stunned, awed, ashamed.

Because before them, the top fighters lay unconscious.

Kael Veyrin.

Lucian Eldoria.

Mira Valcroft.

Selene Duskbane.

Evelyne Grimthorne.

Cassian Duskbane.

Darius Zephyrion.

Rael Varros.

They were collapsed where they stood, bodies pushed beyond exhaustion, covered in blood—some their own, some the Alpha's.

They had fought, they had endured—and now, they had fallen.

Yet none of them had died.

Instead, they had defied the odds.

And the students who had hidden…?

They had only survived because of them.

Professor Selwyn Draeven stood over the fallen warriors, his mechanical arm glowing softly with healing runes, scanning each of them with practiced precision.

Professor Seraphine Eldoria sheathed her katana and exhaled. "They'll live. But they won't wake for a while."

Her silver gaze shifted to the other students, the ones who hadn't fought.

"You should be grateful," she said, her voice sharp. "Because if not for them, none of you would be standing here."

The students lowered their heads, shame settling in their bones.

No one spoke.

Because what could they say?

The strongest had bled for them.

And they had only watched.

Days Later – The Infirmary

Kael's first sensation was light.

A dull, throbbing ache pulsed through his body. His muscles screamed with stiffness as he forced his eyes open.

White ceiling. Warm air. The scent of healing herbs and mana-infused ointments.

He knew immediately.

He was in the academy infirmary.

Slowly, he turned his head—only to see the others resting beside him.

Lucian was still. Selene's breathing was calm. Evelyne snored lightly. Darius had an arm slung over his face, and Cassian… well, Cassian looked like he was having the best nap of his life.

Kael tried to sit up, but a firm hand pressed him back down.

Seraphine Eldoria stood over him, arms crossed, her gaze sharp as ever.

"You're awake," she noted.

Kael groaned. "Feels like I got hit by a war beast."

"You fought something worse," Seraphine replied. "And somehow, you're still alive. Impressive."

She pulled a chair closer, her posture regal yet relaxed. "You and the others have been unconscious for five days. The academy took care of your wounds, but your bodies needed time to recover."

Kael's mind reeled. Five days?

Before he could process that, Seraphine continued.

"The Headmaster has already handled everything. The Alpha's existence was classified as an anomaly—a beast that should have never been on the island in the first place."

She exhaled. "Fifteen students died."

Kael's breath caught.

Fifteen.

Out of seventy.

A quarter of their class—gone.

Seraphine's voice didn't waver. "Most were killed in the initial rampage. Some were crushed. Others were torn apart. Cedric Voss fought but was devoured. His body was never recovered."

Kael remained silent. Cedric had been in the top 10, yet even that hadn't saved him.

Seraphine's gaze flickered. "And Damien Nocturne…"

Kael exhaled slowly. "Dead?"

She nodded. "Killed by the Alpha. His family has already begun erasing him from their records. They won't let a failure stain their name."

Kael closed his eyes. Not surprising.

He wasn't sure if he felt relief or pity.

"And Leonel Faelwyn?" Kael asked.

Seraphine's lips curled slightly, a hint of disdain in her expression. "He survived."

Kael's brows furrowed. "I don't remember him fighting."

"He didn't," Seraphine said bluntly. "He hid the entire time. Cowardice doesn't deserve death—but it does deserve consequences."

Kael said nothing.

Because she was right.

The Academy Honors – The Medal of Valor

Three days after Kael woke, the academy held a formal ceremony.

The Grand Hall was adorned with banners, the crest of Eldoria shining in gold against deep navy-blue. The entire school gathered, nobles and commoners alike, whispers filling the air.

At the center of the grand stage, the Headmaster, Varian Drakos Eldoria, stood tall.

He rarely made public appearances, but today—today was different.

His golden gaze swept across the assembled students.

"When we sent you to the island," he began, his voice steady, "it was meant to be a test of survival. But none of us anticipated what would happen next."

Silence.

"You were placed against something beyond your level. You were pushed beyond your limits. And yet—" His gaze flickered toward the eight students standing before him, dressed in their formal academy attire.

"You did not break."

He lifted a black-and-gold medal, a rare honor bestowed only on those who demonstrated extraordinary valor in battle.

"The Medal of Valor," Varian announced. "Awarded to those who stood when others could not. Who fought when others fled. Who did not cower in the face of death."

Kael stepped forward as the first medal was placed around his neck.

Lucian followed. Then Mira. Selene. Evelyne. Cassian. Darius. Rael.

One by one, they received their honors, standing beneath the gaze of thousands.

Among the audience, their families watched.

Kael spotted his elder brother, Rheon Veyrin, standing beside their father. The man's usual unreadable expression was not so unreadable today.

Evelyne's father, Lord Grimthorne, watched with a proud smirk.

Selene and Cassian's mother, Lady Duskbane, observed with sharp approval.

Lucian's father—the Emperor himself—stood tall, his presence undeniable.

Mira had no noble family watching.

But among the crowd, several commoner students cheered for her.

The girl who had defied all odds.

The Headmaster's gaze lingered on them all.

"This is not just a celebration of victory," he stated. "It is a reminder."

He looked at the rest of the students, the ones who had hidden, the ones who had survived by doing nothing.

"The strong stand where the weak fall. That is the law of this world."

His final words hung in the air.

"And in Eldoria, you will either rise… or be forgotten."

The ceremony ended, and the music began.

The warriors of the island stood honored.

But Kael?

He watched the flames flickering in the chandeliers above.

Because he knew—

This wasn't an ending.

It was just the beginning.