After examining the map, Klause turned around, folding his arms as he faced the raid team. His eyes scanned each of them, then he spoke, "Whose idea was it?"
One of the members, a guy with a ponytail who was also well-known as Ponytail, stepped forward with a confident tone, "Listen, we searched but we found nothing, so we decided to set it on fire a bit to push campers out. We had no idea it'd spread all through."
Klause's eyes narrowed, his head tilted slightly. "What about the game? Ox rabbits, side-striped squirrels, hummingbirds, and the rest. Aren't they resources?"
Ponytail faltered, unable to respond. "We… We didn't mean to set the whole woods ablaze. It was a mistake, we overdid it," another member offered.
Klause pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, sighing deeply. "You see me as a fool, don't you, Ponytail?" he said, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Pick a weapon of your choice and meet me outside."
He descended the stairs with a katana in hand. The members whispered among themselves, recognizing the weapon. "What's that he's holding? A stick?" "No, that curvy design, it's a sword from the east, like the one in the movies."
Klause stood still as he watched the colorful flowers in the ornamental garden dance gently.
'Klause'. Veda(14yrs) looked at Klause, hoping he'd heed his advice.
…
30 minutes before the members returned, Klause was furious that they set the whole woods ablaze. He had used a drone to monitor them.
"BAM!". He slammed the table where the projector was with one arm.
"Those fools! What were they thinking?!". He picked up the sword furiously from the table and unsheathed it. "I'll use one as a scapegoat, the others will learn!"
Veda scratched his head as he thought to himself;
Not good, if he punishes them in a cruel way, they'd begin to resent him.
"Errmm, Klause, It's not a good idea to go hard on them". Veda said.
"Why?!". Klause turned his head swiftly towards Veda.
"They'd begin to resent you and become less cooperative, worst case, they'd conspire against you". He stopped there.
Klause began to visualize beheading those that rebelled against him, continuously.
"Slash!"
"Slash!"
"Slash!"
He saw their faces being filled with bitterness and hatred towards him but he remained cruel and harsh.
Soon, they began to have mutual feelings for him and realized they had a common enemy. Conspiracy followed.
He saw them leap at him with their various weapons and shouts of anticipation.
"Clank!"
"Slash!"
"Clank!"
"Slash!"
Blood spilled on his face and body, walls and floor. He cut down everyone who attacked him. He lost himself and went deeper into the abyss to fight the mastermind alone.
But he lost miserably and was consumed by it.
Sweat rolling down his head, he gasped after seeing where the path of anger leads him. He then walked slowly to the table where the map was.
…
And now he stood in front of the ornamental garden with the Katana in his hand as he admired the splendor of the scenery.
Outside, the members gathered, watching nervously as Ponytail approached Klause, spear in hand. "I'm here," Ponytail said.
Klause closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before addressing Ponytail. "Do you wish to challenge me?" he asked softly.
Ponytail's face twisted in distress. "No," he replied.
Klause nodded. "Very well, join the others." Turning to the group, he continued, "Not only do I plan to create the ideal system for this boarding school, but I also intend to eliminate the mastermind behind this mess. But this person is too deep in the darkness for me to fight alone. That's why I need your strength."
The members' resolve strengthened, adrenaline coursing through their veins gradually. "I know there are many dangerous factions out there, but with our unity and cooperation, we will take them out one by one, growing stronger together."
The sun began to rise, casting a warm glow on their faces. Klause turned to the rising sun, his eyes reflecting its brilliance. 'Ah, so brilliant is its light, even the darkness cannot escape. So far yet so close, who can reach it?' he thought.
Stretching out his hands towards the sun, he declared, "This sunrise marks this day. We are due for a name. We will be known as Starfall Reach."
They raised their fists in unison, letting out an uplifting cry. Veda's lips curved up as his admiration for Klause grew.
"Come with me, brothers. Let's prepare for Dionysus Hall," Klause said, leading them back inside.
At 12 noon in Dionysus Hall, Astrid woke up, panicking when she noticed Sage was missing. She found a note on the couch, reading, "Leave Dionysus' Hall immediately and proceed to Athena's Hall. That's the safest place for refuge."
"Athena's Hall? But that's too far," she muttered.
As she moved to wake Emrys, a loud explosion shook the building. She ran to Emrys' room. "Em—"
"Quick, join the other girls to assist the kids," Emrys, already awake, said, packing their belongings. He grabbed the katana Astrid had given him.
"Look at this," Astrid showed him the note. "Sage left this for us."
They packed quickly and slipped out of the settlement. As they maneuvered silently through Dionysus' territory, they heard battle cries and the crackling of fires. Emrys halted them, checking the coast. To his right, a fierce battle raged between members of two factions, while the left seemed clear.
Suddenly, a Molotov flew from behind a settlement, igniting a blaze that separated them from the danger. "Now! Go now," Emrys ordered.
They ran, but a loud burst from a nearby building made them turn. A massive fellow, about 6 feet 6 inches tall, wielding a large metal bat, loomed before them, laughing ominously.
"Violence! Violence! Can you satisfy me?!" he bellowed.