The Warlord of Seas

The pale moonlight shimmers in the puddle of blood. The royal blue of the tiled floor is increasingly replaced by crimson. A once impressive terrace is transformed into a place of tragedy. Its original elegance is drowning in blood.

“None of this had to happen, you know?”

The voice belongs to a young, blond man. Like all the students at the academy, he wears a uniform whose blue matches the color of the terrace floor. With his brown leather shoe, he presses against the head of another classmate who is lying motionless on the floor. The corners of the blond student's mouth curl into a wide, malicious smile.
“Aren't you from the third year? You should know the rules here at Sirenford Academy by now, right? I'm talking about the jewels and the pebble.” He gingerly touches the sparkling gem to his tie as he tries to press his foot deeper into his classmate's face; his victim lets out a pained groan.

“Our families may all enjoy a certain amount of wealth, but there is still a hierarchy at this academy, do you understand? When a jewel student like me, Dennis Evert, gives an order to an insignificant little pebble student from the gardening club...”

His shoe now pinches even deeper.

“...then the pebble has to obey.”

With his disdainful grin, he waits for a reply from the gardening student, but he has now fallen completely silent.

“Dennis, you'd better leave him alone.” Says another student who has remained silent until now. His tie is also adorned with a beautiful gemstone; the symbol of a privileged “jewels”.

“The guy is unconscious. Haven't you seen how much blood he's lost?”

There is no sympathy in his voice. Rather, he seems annoyed that his colleague hasn't come to the same conclusion as him. The grin disappears from Dennis' face and he turns to his classmate:

“I already realized that, Valon. I can't believe how fragile the common people are compared to us.”

“We're just the sons of barons, too. Not really comparable to the high status of the royal family. But this guy's worth even less than dirt, huh?”
Valon's gaze falls on the unconscious student, then he turns to the garden that stretches below the terrace.

“What a sight, am I right?” says Dennis, also feasting his eyes on the splendor of the flowers, illuminated by soft lantern light in the dark of night.

“If there's one thing the common people can do, it's craftsmanship. It's hard to believe that such filth can create something like this...”

Dennis settles down in one of the wicker chairs and leans back:

“And now it's all ours!”

What is currently happening in the school garden at Sirenford Academy is a common occurrence at this elite school: students are abusing the established hierarchies and bullying their fellow pupils, who they consider as inferior.

Meanwhile, the blood flows into the gaps in the floor and slowly reaches the flowerbeds. Dennis watches as the small rivers of red drip onto the potting soil:

“Forget what I said. This guy is already ruining the beauty he created...”

Valon seems to ignore his colleague and continues to stare at the garden landscape. The lantern and moonlight give his light brown hair a blue tint.

“Listen.”

He turns back to Dennis:

“We may enjoy a lot of freedoms at this school, but what will the student council say about this? After all, we beat up the head of the gardening club and took over his garden.”

“Don't worry, buddy.” Dennis replies as he sways in his chair and waves his hand casually. He's surprised Valon didn't ask this question earlier.

“I got permission from the Council. From Semis himself!”

“S-Semis!?” Valon's eyes widen. He is visibly surprised to hear that name.

“Are you seriously telling me that you got permission from a Peacemaker!”

“That's right! Straight from the Peacemaker of the Willows!” Dennis lets out a loud laugh that echoes off the surrounding walls. He doesn't care if he disturbs or wakes anyone. He feels invincible right now! After all, he now has a Peacemaker at his side.

The Seven Peacemakers are the highest authority among the student council members. With their titles, they wield great power and influence over the academy and its students. Having a Peacemaker as an ally provides protection against punishment. Just a few minutes ago, he beat up the president of the gardening club for resisting Dennis' demands and is now lying on the floor bleeding.

But Dennis doesn't have to worry about the consequences.

“From today on, we are invincible, my friend!” Dennis shouts, followed by a loud, resounding laugh.

Valon crosses his arms when he hears Dennis' words - now his face is also adorned with a broad grin.

“You're incredible, Dennis!” Valon replies, “It's hard to believe. We have the backing of a Peacemaker! The school administration is unlikely to expel us from the academy for anything. Semis would intervene immediately and get us out of any difficult situation”

Valon is right. The influence of the Peacemakers can even defy the school administration if they really want to.

“That's right, the powerful protect us and the weak have no say anyway, am I right?” Once again Dennis turns to the unconscious student, who continues to lie silent and motionless in his own blood. Dennis straightens up in his chair and turns back to Valon. His expression is grim and malevolent.

“Listen, buddy. Shall we test the limits of our influence?”

“Huh?”

“You know what I mean. Let's have some fun with girls.”

“Hoo?” The corners of Valon's mouth turn upwards as well. The two students look almost ghostly in the moonlight with their gloomy smiles.

They are two men who, for the first time in their young lives, are enjoying what appears to be absolute power and freedom.

Those who possess power need not ask themselves questions about justice and morality.
Anyone who opposes them is just dirt to be taken away.

How far could they go?
How does it feel when you just take everything you want?
Gardens, food, women... Who can stop them?

Dennis leans back in his chair and scratches his chin as he looks at the beautiful flower garden again: “Looks like we'll be paying a visit to the girls' dormi-”

“Good evening, gentlemen! What an incredibly beautiful starry sky we have today!”

“Wha-!” Dennis jumps up from his chair, startled, when he hears the unfamiliar voice. Valon has also turned towards the garden entrance, at the gates of which the dark silhouette of a man has appeared.

“Who are you? Get out!” Dennis shouts at the shadow. His voice is filled with anger and fear in equal measure.

“Wait, Dennis!” shouts Valon, “What if this guy is part of the student council?”

“Huh?!”

Valon is right. The student council, and especially the Peacemakers, are the only people at this academy these two shouldn't be messing with. Disrespecting the council would get them expelled or worse. Of course, the student council is largely made up of children of royal descent - and insulting a member of the royal family would have serious consequences for Dennis, Valor and their families!

The two students stand motionless, arms raised as if to protect themselves. Right now, they can do nothing but hope that the mysterious figure is not a member of the council.

But they hadn't expected who would actually step into the light...

It's not a council member. Not a teacher. Perhaps not a student either?

A man is standing in front of them. He is wearing a mask that conceals his eyes and a magnificent red uniform that could almost be described as a costume.

With outstretched arms and a gentle smile, the mysterious masked man strides into the school garden. The rapier on his belt rattles with every step.

“Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten the gentlemen. You shouldn't be filled with fear in such a lovely place, am I right?”

Dennis can't believe his eyes.
“Wh-what is this?” he stammers at the man in red, “Are you kidding me? This is our garden! Get the hell out!”

The masked man stops and scratches his chin thoughtfully:
“Your garden? Are you from the gardening club? Although... you don't look to me like people who have ever done any physical work in their lives...”

Valon, who hadn't said anything yet, has a visible vein on his forehead.
“He-he-he... HAHAHAHA!”

The otherwise calm Valon suddenly bursts out laughing. Dennis has known his colleague for many years and such behavior is very unusual for him; it almost seems a little terrifying.

“I understand!” Valon extends his index finger towards the unknown man,
“So you think you could cause trouble here because you're wearing this ridiculous disguise?”

“What?” Dennis doesn't know what Valon is talking about, but then he seems to understand:
Is that supposed to be a student? Has he disguised himself so that he doesn't get caught for what he's doing?

“Tell me! Who are you?” Valon shouts at the man.

The man in the mask continues to grin gently and bows deeply.
“Gentlemen, may I introduce myself?”

He raises his head slightly - his golden eyes shine out from between the two dark holes in his mask.

“My name is Nadir, the Warlord of Seas.”

Nadir? Warlord of Seas?
Dennis had never heard of that name or title before.

“W-Warlord of Seas?” he says, confused, ”What's that-”

“NONSENSE!!!” Valon shouts at Nadir.

“This is not nonsense, sir.” Nadir replies in a still calm voice, “This title does make sense. Trust me.”

The Warlord finishes his bow and straightens up again; his gaze falls on the motionless student on the ground.

“Seems like you two are having a little too much fun in this garden, huh? Violent confrontations are forbidden outside of combat training at this school, you know?”

“WHATEVER!” roars Valon, “WE HAVE THE STUDENT COUNCIL ON OUR SIDE! WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT!”

“The student council, huh?” Nadir's smile disappears. For the first time, seriousness appears on his face.

Then it happens.

It's only a brief moment.

Blood sprays through the air and sparkles with an eerie beauty in the moonlight.
Valon still saw the grim look beneath the warlord's mask before his vision was completely covered in blood - his blood.

“AAAARGH!!!”

The brown-haired student holds his hand in front of his face, screaming. Thick, red drops stream between his fingers onto the floor, covering the blue tiles with another puddle.

“W-what?! How-?!” Dennis could not perceive the movements in their entirety. Far too quickly, Nadir rushed at Dennis, drawing his rapier and making a clean cut across the student's unprotected face.

“Well, I guess the student council couldn't stop that. Because I'll do anything I want, too.” Nadir says in a low, menacing tone and throws the blood off his rapier with a sweeping motion, “That was probably a mistake on my part: I actually wanted to separate your head from your neck, but I miscalculated the distance.”

Before his opponent can even reply, the Warlord follows up with a kick to the pit of the stomach.

“ARGH!” Valon groans in pain again and falls to the ground. He remains motionless and silent.

“Unconscious, huh? I can't believe how fragile the nobles are.” Nadir says, pointing at the unconscious Valon as if the sight of him were the punchline to a joke.

“Now for you.” He now turns to the speechless Dennis. He can't believe it: within a few seconds, the screaming Valon has gone down bleeding.

“This garden belongs to the gardening club.” Nadir continues, “And anyone who doesn't comply next time will have to expect more than a cut face, understand?”

Dennis stares at the Warlord in bewilderment. He has heard of mysterious figures who hunt other students in secret at night. Many rumors have spoken of their strength and brutality, but he always thought it was just an exaggeration. Now one of these mysterious figures stands before him and it fills him with more terror than he could have imagined.

That's it, isn't it? It's over!
I'm going to die here!
Here and now!

Dennis clutches his chest - his heart has never beaten so fast before. He feels like he's going to throw up.

But then his eyes go black.

Full of fear and without a fight, the blonde student loses consciousness and falls over forward: He remains lying there in his partner's puddle of blood. The victorious Nadir strides forward with swift steps:

“It's despicable how the powerful think: they always consider themselves the strongest and then go down like weaklings...” As Nadir says these words to himself, his footsteps ripple in the thick pool of blood.

He approaches the gardener, lifts him onto his shoulder and heads for the exit. His destination is the Academy's infirmary.

“Head gardener Selim...” whispers Nadir to the unconscious student; his voice is filled with melancholy, "I'm sorry. I wish I'd heard about their plans sooner..."

Without another word, the Warlord of Seas disappears into the darkness of the night.