Chapter 40: What's a rogue attack.

_Lilac_

"In a span of three weeks we have lost three of our students and one has been injured and is currently in coma. This is a strong warning to all you students of the academy to be at constant alert. We have listed down some protective measures that you must follow. First, do not walk alone-" The Dean's voice fades into the background as I drift away in thoughts.

If someone had told me that murder cases and constant fear of the unknown would have been a part of my life four months ago, I would have laughed, but here I am — story of my fucking life. My head aches badly and I really wish all this isn't happening.

"It is weird that the killer leaves clue at the scene you know? He could have just removed the dagger." Issy muses as we walk to our next class., Issy decided to attend classes with me for this week along with hers and even when I protested against it, she only waved it away because according to her, my safety is her priority.

"The killings were deliberate I guess." I tell her. My thoughts goes back to the first paragraph I had read from the untitled book. I glance at Issy. Should I tell her about it? I don't think so... She has a lot on her plate and I do not want to burden her more. She is still grieving even though her cheery smiley face seems to say differently, I can still see the evidence of the loss in her blue eyes.

"I know... We all know that. Rogue attacks are rampant so it can easily pass of as one. But this does not look like a mere rouge attack."

I raise my brow questioningly at her, "What's a rogue attack?"

Issy gives me a blank look and then shakes her head before slinging an arm over my neck. "You have a lot to learn sunshine." She declares. As if I do not know. My life is spiraling out of the norms and I have no knowledge whatsoever of what to do. I certainly know I have a lot to learn.

It is as if Professor Wylden of Lykae pact 104 was with Issy and I while we were talking, because as he projects the title of the topic on the board, I let out a gasp. It read, "Rogues and the reason they attack."

Pure coincidence.

"He is a wizard, I won't be surprised if someone tells me that." Issy whispers beside me, apparently marveled too at Wylden's choice of topic.

Professor Wylden turns to face us, I have only had his class and most other important Lykae classes a few times because I had not chosen my major, but now that I have, my classes have been reduced and trimmed down to only seven important ones. Professor Wylden's class is one I would certainly be attending for the next three years.

"Rogues," he starts. "They are outlawed Lycans. Lycans who have been sent out or who willingly left the city for a reason or the other. Lycans who has rebelled against the throne, who have lost their place in the Lycan society. They are the ones we call rogues."

Wylden's gaze coasts over the crowd of students seated. "Rogues are dangerous. They sneak into the community and take lives of innocent citizens leaving us in anguish and sorrow."

"So why do they attack?" A girl asks.

Wylden smiles stiffly at her and then starts to walk in between the pews of seats. "The rogue attack because they think it can quench their frustration and anger at the monarch."

"But that's unfair, the monarchy are the one at fault, why punish the citizens for it?" Another girl says, taking the word right out of my mouth. It does not make sense that the monarch gets to be protected while the citizens face danger at the mercy of the monarch's supposed enemies.

"In a world like ours, you should know that the weak innocent gets punished because of the crimes of the strong ones. It us a law of life that we cannot fight."

"That's bullshit." I mumble and then realizing I said it out loud because Wylden and basically the whole class turn to stare at me, I clamp my palm over my mouth.

"Do you have something to say Miss Hirav-Aspen?"

I shake my head. "No."

Wylden's gaze holds mine for a while and it as if he is staring through me and then he whirls around and walks back to the podium without saying a word.

\~~~~

The book is somehow like a diary entry, each page stopping at very little sentences but still relaying some messages which I still can't quite place.

_"Lycania"_ I read on.. _"Lycania used to be the home of Lycans and Shifters all together. We all lived in harmony and tolerance, until the princess fell in love. Love kills, I tell you. Love does to you what you will never expect. Did I say misplaced trust destroyed us? Love did more than destruction, Love killed us all."_ Entry #2

After the entry, there are sketches of flowers that covers the blank page. Flowers that I do not seem to recognize because the sketches are far from clear, it was also in the first entry.

The alarm for my next class rings, drawing me out of my book stupor. I close the book and put it in my backpack. I glance beside me to see that Issy has fallen asleep, her black hair framing her closed eyes. We had both come to the library after the first three classes.

"Hey Issy." I tap her. "Wake up, it's time for my next class."

"Go on, I will meet you there," she drawls sleepily and then turns her head to the other side. I sigh and decide to leave her. She will be safe, given the guards of the king that seems to have blended into the shadows. They've been following us all day.

I grab my bag and walk out of the library. I have Professor Carla's class next then self defense with an unknown teacher which also means I will be having two classes with Beryl Caulder. Fucking great.

"Princess Lilac Hirav-Aspen." I groan inwardly at the voice calling my name. Speak of the devil and he or rather she appears. My fingers hold tight to my bag strap as I walk in to Carla's class with the other students ignoring Beryl who seems not to get the fact that I do not want to talk to her as she follows me closely. Professor Carla is not here yet.

"Hey, because you are royalty does not mean you should ignore me, human."

Goddess! I walk further into the rows of sears, finding a place to finally sit. Unfortunately, Beryl settles beside me. "You should not ignore me human." She repeats. I grit my teeth as I finally turn to her.

"What do you want Beryl Caulder?" I snap frustratedly.

"Calm down human.. I don't bite."

I roll my eye. Could have fooled me.

"Look, I know I have not been that nice to you lately—" she starts and I roll my eye again.

"You've never been nice to me Caulder."

She sighs, "I need your help." She says.

I blink in shock. Did I hear her right? "What?"

"I need your help Princess." She repeats her statement.

"I heard you the first time, I just didn't think it came from you."

"Now you do."

"I am not listening to whatever you have to say, Caulder. I mean, I still remember you punching me to unconsciousness."

"That was two or three weeks ago.."

"And it doesn't mean it did not happen. Can you please stop. I don't know why you hate me or dislike me or whatever fib you have towards me, but I really do not want a standoff with you today Beryl." I snap and flip open my tab and start scrolling through even though there is basically nothing I'm checking on it. Why the hell is Professor Carla not here yet, I do not have the energy to deal with Beryl today. I have a lot to think about as it is.

"I'm—" I hear her sigh and then she goes quiet. I am finally able to breathe in fresh air until she speaks again. "Look, I'm sorry I've been mean to you since I arrived, I have no excuse for that."

I blow out a long breath, already rattled by Beryl's pressurizing. "What the hell did you drink?"

"I said I need your help and I'm sorry for whatever I have done.. But this is really important." I scan her face and although it's the same face of the mean girl who hated me for no reason since I got to Lupin, there is something else I see in her eyes — desperation.

"Fine." I place my knuckles beneath my chin, holding up. "What do you need my help for?" I am human and she is Lycan so what is it that she wants so badly to offer a truce? Unless she is messing with me again.

She brings out her tablet, taps some things on it and then places it in front of me. "See?"

I glance down at what Beryl is showing me and I gasp at what I see... It is the crest from the dagger but this time a word is written on it.. I squint to make it out, it says: "WYLANDA" The same Wylanda that I have seen in that book.

\---