A few days passed. The grand library slowly returned to what it once was because of the countless efforts of the bronze knights. And the monthly evaluation went smoothly with none of the platinum knights present.
*****
"Ahh, shoot." Darius furiously kicked the sand into a dust cloud, annoyed.
"There's really no need to do that, Darius." Seraphina covered her nose with the fabric.
"How come? Mr. Rudolf didn't even hear me out." He spat.
"That's probably because you were specifically involved in a brawl just a few months ago with an instructor because, in quote, 'he looked at you funny.'" Valen casually stated.
"That was the professor's fault... not mine."
"You see." Arthur was resting his back against an olive palm tree, grimacing as Darius's loud bantering had woken him up from his nap.
"Could you stop shouting? I'm trying to enjoy the peace." Arthur yelled. Darius looked at Arthur as if he just committed a war crime.
"Say that again, you punk." Darius let out his sickles strapped behind him.
"What did you call me?!" Arthur got up, gripping the hilt of his blade.
"You two always fight for the stupidest reasons. If you're bored, go and hunt on the shores." Isolde's stoic voice echoed. She sat on a rock, looking into the sky; her vibrant pink hair fluttered violently in the winds as she had an unreadable expression.
Keal was in the tent, clearly indifferent; she was the youngest platinum knight who got here at the age of 17, well, for now.
The other half of the platinum knights were near the cliff, patrolling.
"Tch... I can't believe this is happening to me." Orion was stressed out by the guard post, scratching his light blue hair.
"Happens to the best of us." Grey shrugged.
The post was clear with minor issues; it seemed the guards were doing their jobs properly.
The horizon was tainted as a huge dragon came into view, flying above them.
"Dragon..." Some guards freaked out.
Grey and Orion didn't show any discomfort.
The dragon landed, and Roland got off its back, followed by Lysander.
"The coasts are clear." Roland sighed.
"I couldn't even attract monsters with their blood anymore; it's almost as if the monsters are scared to surface."
"Yeah, that's right." Orion lazily stated, "I heard some guy from the academy eradicated 200 monsters, and that's why the monsters are scared to surface."
"200 monsters? You must be joking; even platinum knights aren't that determined."
"Enough with the bantering." Grey groaned.
The next few days were filled with sunshine, laziness, arguments, and wallowing away of the platinum knights on the shores.
Until the day arrived.
A ship silently drifted atop the shores, stopping on land with a thud.
The guards were curious, approaching the ominous ship with quiet steps.
By this time, the platinum knights were gathered on the other side of the island, one-mile-wide island ring.
"I think this place is better off without us." Darius sighed.
"Yeah, I expected to deal with monsters, not boredom."
Then a black shadowy hawk passed the clear sky, carrying with it a soulless void.
"That bastard!!!" Darius yelled; he was the one that saw Zach escape; when he did, so he could tell it's the same bird.
Zach landed gracefully; shadows engulfed him, turning back into a human; Zach didn't wear a robe; he wore an armored vest with his black mask still intact.
"What are you doing here?!" Grey stated coldly as the group instantly surrounded him.
"Calm down." Zach raised both hands in defeat. Keal stared at him with an annoyed expression.
Zach slowly reached for his mask, removing the heavy mask that had shielded him from their eyes.
What was revealed was a stunning brown-haired young man with amber eyes that seemed to glisten.
Zach held a serious expression, putting the mask into his bag.
"Who are you?" Roland ordered.
"I'm Zach, a bronze-rank knight in the academy. At least… that's what they call me. I'm sure that makes me the weakest one here, doesn't it?" Zach said with a straight face.
"Bronze-rank knight? Oh, please; you mean you tell me a bronze-rank knight was capable of holding all of us back." Grey rolled his eyes.
"It's true." Zach pulled out his badge, showing all of them a bronze shield.
The group all exchanged confused glances—"You could've gotten that somewhere else."
"That's not the point. The point is the kingdom is in danger—greater than any of you are ready to admit—and whether you like it or not, I'm the one standing here with the truth."
"Truth... what truth?"
"Right now, the guards in the other flanks are dying with each second you stay here arguing; I wanted you guys to get the suspension so you'd be here."
"Lies!" Roland interrupted. "We've searched the entire area; there's nothing in the seas."
"Then you searched wrong." Zach said coldly. 'It won't be long before Beatrice and Eve make it here, then that's when the guard is going to lead one of the Thyxars here.'
In the last battle, Zach made sure not to hurt any of the platinum ranks; he needs them in top condition for the battle ahead.
"Why should we believe you?" Keal looked around.
"Because you know deep down that something's wrong; the more you question me, the more people get killed; we have to go now and hold the line till star-rank knight Ingrid shows up."
"You mean my brother?" Grey asked, and Zach nodded. 'If I keep my motive hidden, they'll never trust me.'
Zach had to give them something... something that would trigger movement.
"The empire sent me." He stated, making the group confused.
"I was sent to recruit you guys, secretly by the order of Centurion." The group's eyes widened.
"Centurion? There's no way you were sent by the king's personal guard." Isolde stated.
"It's true." Zach continued. "We got intel from one of our spies; the front lines are getting attacked."
"Then why didn't the king send his personal knights to deal with this mess?" Arthur was in doubt.
"To maintain the peace and serenity among the locals, the king doesn't want his people to be in fear." Zach wasn't sure if they would believe his lie; all he could do was hope he hadn't created a loophole in his made-up story.
The group pondered for a while, not sure whether to believe this imposter.
"Where is the invasion happening?" Grey asked.
"Well, that's the thing..."
"It's already happening."
The group looked at each other.
"It won't hurt to check it out won't it?" Keal stated.
"But we must hurry"