Chapter 7  :  The Second Siege of Warfang  

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Dragon Realms, Unknown System
Warfang - Central Sector
Pvt. Jacob Adams (Echo-272) - 09:12am

"INCOMING!"

Entire groups of cheetahs and moles dropped threw themselves into the snow as an enormous fireball crashed into a group of evacuated buildings, reducing them to rubble. The shockwave of the impact shook the remaining structures causing snow from their roofs to fall off, directly onto a pair of armoured soldiers who had been crouched in front of a pile of boxs for protection. One of the soldiers head popped out, their white helmets covered in snow.

"Seriously?!" He said in a dull tone as he looked around for is friend. The other soldiers head popped out of the snow behind him.

"This better not set the tone for this chapter, if it is I am going to go completely ape sh…"

"Adams, Daniels, on your feet! We have a job to do" Both soldiers turned to their commanding officer bearing down on them. Both soldiers literally jumped out of the mound of snow they were in and ran off down the streets of Warfang, following the stream of soldiers and guards running towards the lower levels of the city.

Adams, followed by the rest of his squad and accompanying marines, ran into a large courtyard which seemed to be full of soldier arriving and departing from the various exits that lined the perimeter of the courtyard. Adams gazed around the various groups of soldiers who stood in ranks along one edge of the crowded square whilst on the other were small groups of soldiers. Everyone seemed to be nervous; he could see it in their eyes. It seemed that everyone in that square had never seen a battle before. Each explosion that landed in the general area made everyone in the square flinch or duck for cover, everyone except the ODST's and marines. They had seen their fair share of battles, Guerrilla warfare in Urban Metropolis, full scale battles on mountainous forest planets,  they hadn't been everywhere yet but it was on Adams' to do list.

"Jesus, these guys look like they are scared out of their minds" Jung whispered so no one else but his fellow squad could hear him.

"I know, it's depressing" Malarkey replied as he followed Spyro and Cynder towards the centre of the square.

"Can you wait here for a moment?" Spyro asked

"Err, okay" Baker replied "Hold here guys, take 5" The ODST's watched as the purple dragons walked off a meter or two and began to talk to who seemed to be in charge for a few tense moments. The mole looked in-between the two dragons so he could better look at the group. He looked down the entire group, who returned the gesture and watched the mole too. He wore the same armour as the rest of the moles they had seen before but his armour had golden trimmings and what seemed to be a primitive optical device over his right eye.

"Well, this is slightly awkward" Daniels muttered

"Knock it off" Baker scolded "Remember, we have no idea what's going on here so be friendly and don't do anything stupid. I'm looking at you Adams"

"Hey! I haven't done anything … yet" Adams sniggered and waved at the mole looking at the group who hesitated but returned the gesture "See they can't be that bad…"

--

"Do you know where they came from?" The mole asked

"We have no idea Mason" Spyro looked over his shoulder back at the group who just stood where they left them "They just turned up, just after that white light"

"Yes that white light, I do not know what that was but I have more pressing matters to attend to" Mason scratched his chin as one of the soldiers started to wave at him. Mason hesitated before copying his gesture. "Why is he waving me?" Spyro looked over to see Adams waving at the group.

"They're a … unique bunch to put it blandly but from what I have heard from Hunter they can fight very well. He said that two of them eliminated an entire patrol of Orc's and Grublins' by themselves. I haven't seen them fight so I can't offer advice but I think they could help defend the city" Spyro waited as Mason pondered through his thoughts before clearing his throat.

"If they want to help, so be it but I want you two watching them" His tone was stern "We still don't know who they are or their intentions" Spyro knew he didn't trust them, but how could he. They suddenly appeared from nowhere and the dark armies attack that very same night. A strange coincidence but they seemed to be friendly and willing to help. Spyro was then brought back to reality by noticing that the entire group had approached from where they were standing and were standing right behind.

"We're short of time so I'll keep the introductions brief. I am General Mason of the Grand Army of Warfang" He had sense of pride in his title, picked up by most of the soldiers who were listening "And who might you be?"

"Lieutenant Baker, 1st Shock Trooper Battalion, 17th Sky Core, and this is my team. Corporal Jung and Privates Daniels, Malarkey and Adams" Each soldier nodded as their own name was called out and then continued to looked around the square "Spyro and Cynder filled us in on what's happening at the moment and we would like to offer our help"

Mason eyed up Baker, taking in his strange armour and what seemed to be a complete lack of weaponry except a small knife, which everyone seemed to have. "You don't seem to be in the position to fight, you have no weapons"

Malarkey chucked gaining the attention of the general while reaching for his M18D on his back "I can assure you we are not un-armed. We all have a weapon of some kind" Adams and Daniels were slightly pre-occupied, looking in the complete wrong direction and didn't hear Malarkey's hint as Jung chambered a round into is SR99-D3 sniper rifle, both marines shouldered their M18's  and Baker pumping his M90 shotgun.

Cynder looked at the strange objects that the group held. She also noticed the two she spoke with early looking in the opposite direction "So what about those two, do they have weapons?" She pointed her wing blade at the two ODST's who were muttering to one another and pointing at different objects around, what they had come to believe, the staging area. Daniels twitched slightly and slowly turned around to see the entire group along with the odd passer-by wondering what was happening or needing the general. That didn't bother him one bit, the thing that bothered him was that weapons were out in the open and all of his team, minus Adams, were looking at him.

"Errr, Adams?" Daniels asked as he nudged him

"Yeah?" He replied, oblivious of their situation.

"Remember when we were in Dog Company, 345th Marines?"

"Yeah, what are you referring to?"

"The time we were chased all over the training grounds over at Camp Dakota by the rest of Division?"

"What, the time when they used armoured vehicles and gunships or while being shot at with live rounds!"

"The latter one"

"Well it wasn't that bad was it? Mind you, I wouldn't want to do it again; we had a couple of very close shaves and almost got killed on several occasions" It was then that Adams flinched and caught sent on what may kick off any moment "Why do you bring it up?"

"Well we might be going for another round, so if I shout run. Run!"

It was at that very moment that Adams decided to turn around and see everyone looking at him. He looked like he was about to bolt into one of the many passage ways that littered the edge of square with Daniels also showing signs of bolting.

"No one is going shoot you!" Baker realised that if both of them bolted, they would have a hard time finding them, just as heard from his contacts who were involved in the previous incidents "You haven't done everything stupid yet for us to have reason to do it … yet!" He muttered the final word so they couldn't hear him as he continued with the original conversation "As Malarkey was saying, we are all fully armed. If anything, we lack slightly in hand to hand but we adapt and survive"

"Very well, but war is not for the faint hearted" He looked at the soldiers, still unsure if he could trust them or not "Are you fully up to it?"

"We've been through worse" Jung muttered "Much, much worse"

"Well then, we'll see how you fare on the battlefield" Mason's tone was cold as he turned around and walked off towards a large portion of guards. All the ODST's were dumbstruck by the small and somewhat cocky mole.

"I think that went rather well! Daniels, add him to the hit list" Everyone then looked at Adams. The sort of don't even think about it from their OC and confusion from the rest.

"Don't let him bother you" Spyro rose to his feet as he tried to lighten the mood "He is a great warrior and won many battles but he isn't that strong with diplomacy"

"You don't say" Jung watched as the general lead a large portion of heavily armoured units towards the smoke that rose above the rooftops to the north before turning around and looking back up towards the dragon temple. The sun was still below the mountains to the west of the city but the twilight gave him enough light to see the temple in all of its glory. "Lieutenant, permission to head back towards the temple"

"What for?"

"Set up over-watch"

Baker motioned at the two dragons "It's not my call. Ask Spyro"

"Why do you want to head away from the fighting" Spyro sat on his haunches and looked up at the fox

"Well, errmm, how can I put it?" Jung tapped his sniper rifle, thinking of what to say.

"That you have a sniper rifle and it is not ideal to be using one of them in their" Malarkey interrupted, pointing in the general direction of the small alleyways

" … Pretty much" Jung nodded in agreement before looking back towards the purple dragon

"Okay, I don't see why not" Nothing of what the fox said meant anything to him but they seemed to know what they were on about. But he didn't want to defy Terradors orders and was curious on what they were up to.  "I'll go with you then so you are not opposed"

"I'll head up as well, someone has to be working on comms and I know none of you three would do it" Baker stood up and tossed his shotgun to Malarkey and he returned the favour by tossing his assault rifle back to him "Take it, I may as well shout at them if I had that up there" Baker was about to walk off before stopping and thinking for moment before turning around and pointing directly at Adams.

"I'm going to regret this but I'm placing you in charge Adams. Let's see if you deserved your Marine tapes"

Baker, Jung and Spyro then started to retrace their steps back up towards the temple as Malarkey and Daniels looked at a confused Adams. Even though no one could see it through his visor, his face looked like he had been slapped by a cold, wet fish. He had enjoyed being an NCO but it had taken a while to get used to it. All the responsibility still loomed over him and he hadn't forgotten about it. But leading marines and leading Orbital Drop Shock Troopers were two completely different things. With marines, you keep them in line and follow your orders to the letter to keep the top brass off your back. The plans are simple and all you need to do is follow them.

An ODST however, is completely different.

There missions were simple, but complicated all at the same time. They usually had one objective: Eliminate HVTs, Secure HVTs, Torch and Burn ops but there were usually some complications along the way, like it being deep behind enemy lines or being outnumbered. Most of the time, they were required to improvise and switch to a 'Plan B', which usually mean blowing stuff up or shooting anything that moved. It was usual practice that the 'Plan A' went straight out of the window once they were not being observed by the commanding officers, and then improvise or fall back to Plan A.

"Roger that Sir" He mumbled and turned to his new squad "Right guys, you herd the Captain. Follow that black dragoness"


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Dragon Realms, Unknown System
Warfang – Northern Sector
Pvt. Jacob Adams (Echo-272) - 11:38am

"INCOMING"

"Adams! Watch your back!"

"I know, something bad is going to happen. I know it!"

"Is this something I should be 'in' on guys?"

"Yeah, all you need to know is th … DUCK!" The three soldiers dropped into the snow as another flaming ball of fire flew just over their heads, wiping yet another building from existence in the city. Debris flew from the explosion. Bricks and wooden planks rained upon the guards and soldiers near-by, which covered Daniels, Adams and Malarkey. Cynder turned around to watch the ODST's and marines get supposedly buried alive. She ran back towards the heap only to find five figures rise to their feet, coughing from the dust thrown up from the smouldering building.

"Was that it?" Malarkey dusted himself off while Daniels was in the middle of a coughing fit

"Yeah…." Adams let out a short sigh before taking in his surroundings. Various groups were looking at him as if he were from a different planet. That and being able to pull yourself out of a fair bit of rubble and still be able to stand "Foxtrot Mike Lima" His mutters were inaudible to everyone around him. A shout gained his attention to notice Cynder looking them over the group.

"Are you alright?" A hint of worry hung on her question.

'Yeah, I get flattened on a regular basis' Adams sarcastically thought to himself

"We've been worse" Daniels said dryly "Its only bricks and wood. Could have been worse right?"

"Are you sure that nothing hit your head …. Daniels, isn't it?"

"Yeah, that's me and nothing hit my head hard enough to send my nuts" He let out a chuckle before turning to the other ODST's "You two good?"

Malarkey gave himself a quick look over before responding with a thumb's up while Adams just cracked his neck before nodding while the two marines just stood a few feet back

"Right then, shouldn't we get going?" Adams said before looking towards the towers of smoke over the northern part of the city

"We should, the guards are hard pressed in the northern areas of the city" Cynder then without warning turned on the spot and began to run down the street they were in.

"Right, you heard the Black Dragon! Let's move ODST's" He motioned his assault rifle in the general direction of the fast disappearing dragoness and began to run, following the stream of soldiers running through the streets. The stream of soldiers were continuously shifting as certain groups left the column to head down side streets and fresh troops joined, eager to fight. They soon caught up to Cynder as they made their way past a large barricade into yet another large square which seemed to be well defended, most likely a forward staging area to the ODST's. Faint battle cry's and screaming filled the air.

"Seems like we're getting closer to the fight" Adams looked around to see injured soldiers being treated and fresh batches of troops waiting nervously for the order to advance. As he scanned the lines of soldiers, he spotted a familiar green dragon ordering slightly smaller, but heavily armoured, dragons around. He was so busy giving orders that he didn't notice the collection of Cynder and the three ODST's approach.

"How bad is it?" Cynder amplified her voice slightly to gain the guardian's attention

"Ah Cynder, you arrived just at the right time" His tone then dropped into what Adams had decided to be 'We're kinda fucked in the next few hours zone' "We are holding the dark army in the northern area around the wall breach but we won't be able to hold out forever unless either Volteer's or Cyril's relief arrives. But from what I can hear from our scouts, they will not arrive in time. Never the less, this city has never fallen and I int…."

"Hold on for one second" Daniels removed his helmet so he could look the guardian in the eye "You're going to throw away the lives of your soldiers just to hold a point that you know you will eventually loose. I'm sorry but that is rather stupid plan you got going here" Most of the creatures in the square, excluding Daniels' fellow soldiers, looked at the lone group in shock and horror. He had just openly challenged one of their leaders and seemed rather confident in the process

The earth guardian cocked an eyebrow at the remark before lowering his head to the fox's level "Well then, what would you suggest that I do. And do keep in mind that I have been commanding this war for over 15 years"

"I've been fighting our war for 24 years, and my friend here has been fighting even longer, so don't pull that card" one of the marines piped up

"And how long has your war been going?"

"For the past 30 odd years" Adams stated coldly. The guardian seemed shocked that their conflict had stretched out that long, but he wasn't going to leave his contribution at that "I've seen whole planets burn and millions of my people get slaughtered by ravage aliens who were unprovoked and striked mercilessly. Based on several years of experience of frontline tactics, I can see a losing fight when I see one"

"I have sorrow for your loses, but if you have so much knowledge on the subject then what would you do in this battle" Terrador grunted

"Whether you like it or not, you are too focused on one front at the moment Guardian" Adams stated. Terrador was about interrupt before the fox raised his paw to silence him "Let me finish, then you can argue all you want or throw me into a wall. You are too focused on the battle here to notice things happening around this city and beyond its walls. You also are lacking foresight in your decisions. You have hundreds of thousands of non-combatants still within these walls and the hostile force is slowly making its way around to totally encircle the city"

"You can't see what lies beyond these roof tops, how can you even know what's going on outside these city walls?"

"You're right. I can't" Adams then let a small smirk escape "But my commander can"

"And where is your commander then?"

Adams now let a smile plaster his face as he turned and pointed up at the temple "There! And I can prove it!" He then recovered his helmet and replaced it on his head before fiddling with its left side. "Lieutenant, can you hear me?"

"I do not think that they will be able to hear you from the temple, its easily….."

"I can hear you Adams, we've set up over-watch on the roof of the temple. Jung has eyes on your location" A few surrounding guards started to frantically look around while the Guardian himself just frowned and had a quick scan around him before returning his gaze to the group in front of him.

"What kind of magic was that?"

Malarkey let out a short laugh as Adams continued "It's not magic, it's technology and science at work" Adams then reach back for his helmet and once again spoke into mid-air "Baker, have a quick check around the city. At which rate is that army advancing around the city perimeter?" He knew it would take a minute or two to calculate so he returned back to his conversation with Terrador. "Listen to me Terrador; we need to evacuate the city before that option becomes unviable! This battle cannot be won, you even said it yourself. Send scouts back out and tell your other guardians to rally 20 kilometres south of the city and to set up a camp with discretion. If what you said earlier was correct, they will have relief forces to help retake the city"

"So you are telling me to abandon Warfang?" He roared. Clearly, this decision didn't go well with him.

"Yes!" He shouted back "Dead soldiers are no good to you, and you're no good dead to them either"

"Adams, it seems like there are more focused in entering the city through the north, they don't seem to be moving around the perimeter at all but the  are very slowly. It would easily take several hours for them to get into a solid position to surround the city"

"This is your garrison of your city, I'd recommend you follow our advice but it's you call" Adams finally took a step back towards his squad and began to talk amongst themselves and all crouch in a circle looking at the floor. Terrador sighed before turning to Cynder who had remained silent the entire time.

"What do you make of this situation Cynder?"

"I can't give you a definite answer, but they seem to have good intentions" she retold her encounters from the previous few hours, the conversations and activities they got up to. "…. And the strangest thing about all of it, they didn't even flinch when I told them while I was controlled"

Terrador just frowned as he looked upon the group "These are some strange creatures we have on our hands. But from what I've heard, they don't seem a threat. But never the less keep a very close eye on them, I will have to consult Cyril and Volteer about this matter along with a couple of other motives"

Cynder recoiled at the mention of other motives, but decided to go against it for the time being. "They've also been eager to help fight off" If Cynder didn't have the green guardian's attention, she now did "And from what I've heard, they've already infiltrated into the area where the dark army has occupied and got back out again with some citizens which were hiding in a basement"

"But how did they find the citizens if they were hiding in a basement?"

"I don't know the details, but Hunter had been following then for a few hours before after he spotted them from what he told me. You should ask him if you want to know more"

"Did someone mention my name?" The two turned to see Hunter walk towards, with his falcon resting on his forearm.

"Ah yes, you were with these foreign soldiers last night weren't you?"

Hunter nodded as he petted his falcon "Indeed I was. Is there anything you need to know about them?"

"Yes, there is" Terrador paused for a moment, choosing his words wisely, before continuing "What were there combat skills like during their time inside the occupied area of the city?"

"Well" Hunter racked through his memories to the previous night "While I was following the group, they knew what they were doing. They were able to move through the unoccupied area and occupied area, avoiding and dodging our own and enemy patrols respectively, without any problems. They knew where they were and where the patrols were"

"Did they come into contact with any of our patrols or anything else?"

"As a matter of fact yes, from what I heard, one of them was cornered by one of our patrols but use one of those flashes – things on them and managed to escape. They only encountered out forces once more before they left the unoccupied, but they were able to run straight through our Northern Guard Commander's camp completely undetected"

"How was that even possible?" Terrador's and Cynder's jaws were slightly slack at this news "That camp has been one of the busiest areas in the city, how could they?"

"They seemed to split into groups and just ran through, remaining out of sight, under tables and carts, over the more permanent buildings and even joined up half way through. They seemed to be able to contact each other without speaking"

"That must be their radio's then" Cynder muttered

"And once they were in the enemy territory, they still were able to remain undetected. They also recovered a child from a building then, from what it seemed to take directions from the child to another building and seemed to spend a fair amount of time inside. When I went to see if they were there, they weren't. I checked upstairs and when I came down, they were all coming up from a hatch in the floor"

"So they caught you off guard?"

" …… Yes …… but we did run into a group of dark forces, ones we couldn't avoid"

Cynder was still giggling on the proud Hunter getting caught but Terrador dismiss that "What happened?"

"I was only able to bring one Grublin down but the one called Adams threw something towards them and then pointed a small box at them. The thing is, nothing happened. All I heard was a hiss and screams from some kind of fire. And when I got to where he was, everything in his line of sight and beyond was dead. Around 15 dead Orcs and numerous Grublins all within 8 seconds and in heavy fog"

"Amazing" Terrador looked back towards the group, which had dispersed from their group and were either mulling around the square or just sat on the fountain in the centre. He then sighed before heading towards the two on the fountain. "I have come to a decision…"

"Giggety" Daniels muttered under his breath

"I have decide to take your advice and evacuate the city"

Adams perked up slightly at the news and stood up "First good thing I've heard today" He beckoned Malarkey and the marines towards him "And don't forget the scout's big guy. We don't want anything to happen do we"

"So I shall, now go defend the city. Cynder, you too!"

Daniels shouldered his rifle and threw up a mock salute "Yes Sir big dragon Sir!"

"Right we should head to barricades" Cynder started "I think they cou……"

"WYVERN!!"  a lone Cheetah pointed to the sky to see a single worm creature flying directly towards the square. Adams looked up to see the worm had large wings, short stubby legs and what seemed to be an ear piercing cry.

"TROOPERS" Adams shouted "GO LOUD AND STAND BY!" The soldiers quickly reached for the end of their rifles and screwed of the large cylinders attached to them off and each stowed them inside one of their many pouches "Is that one of yours Guardian?"

"No, it is a dark creature" Terrador growled before turning to Cynder "Cynder, I need you to …. "

Terrador was cut off with several loud taks causing everyone to jump. Cynder recovered immediately only to see Adams looking down his sights, lining up his weapon with the beast. As each tak went off, a small flame of light lit up the barrel before disappearing. She then turned to see the wyvern was taking damage from what seemed to be nothing. She was then hit by a small object on her wing. She looked down to see a small brass cylinder on the floor. She picked it up with her paw only to let go immediately as it slightly burned her scales. She lowered her head to see the metallic cylinder was in fact hollow and smoke was protruding from the inside. She noticed similar looking objects scatter around the floor near Adams. As she focused on his weapon, each time the end flashed, an identical cylinder popped out the side and was flung away from what she deducted to be his weapon.

'So they are armed' she thought 'I wonder if this magic has an effect on that wyvern?' She looked up just in time to see the wyvern crash into the snow, leaving a small impact crater. Adams then sprinted towards it before jumping onto its back. It slightly twitched as it tried to regain its bearings, but it wasn't going to be given the chance. Adams flicked something on his weapon and pointed it at the wyvern's head and the weapons magic was unleashed upon the wyvern. Multiple flashes and loud taks came in quick succession as the wyverns head danced with the impact of an invisible force as blood flew from its head and stained the snow a crimson red.

"Stand down guys" Daniels said as he flicked his weapon "It's dead" He walked over towards the corpse and kicked it for good measure.

"What magic was that?" One of the guards said. He had somehow found the courage to approach the dead wyvern and ODST's

One of the marines laughed before moving closer towards the limp corps, giving it a quick nudge "Magic doesn't exist mate" He said "But then again dragons don't either yesterday, so yeah it's magic" The other humans laughed at the remark while the guard just looked at them blankly.

"We shall discuss whatever just happened later" Terrador's voice boomed "Right now, focus on the task at hand. Cynder, they need you and these …"

"ODST's" Malarkey piped up

"Right, ODST's to the front now!" Terrador spread his wings as he leap to into the sky before heading back towards the temple.

"Well then, those ugly sons of bitches ain't gonna kill themselves" Adams shouted as he released his expended magazine before slipping a new one into place and coking the rifle "Cynder, lead the way!"



Dragon Realms, Unknown System
1.5km South of Warfang
Unknown User (please register with UNSC High Command) - 09:58am


The orc bowed towards the black armoured dragon in front of him. He faced away from his soldier and looked onwards to the dragon city.

"Speak Captain"

"General, we have breached the walls and our soldiers are beginning our conquest of the city" He said "My forces have reached their inner barricades. I'm asking permission to continue further into the city towards your point of interest Sir"

"Excellent, the fools won't evacuate their city" He allowed a small smirk to creep onto him muzzle "They are too proud to leave their city to be captured. Give you troops the orders to take their central square and seize hold of it. Then they can do as they wish: Pillage, steal, I don't care."

"As you wish General" The orc gave one final bow before turning towards the exit and leaving the black dragon once again alone.

He settled down to overlook his conquest, streams of his warriors rushed into the city through holes made with siege engines he had personally inspected before he set his plan in motion. Through all the chants and cries of battle that erupted from the city, a strange sound was also in the air: Small taks that were able to be loud enough for him to hear outside the city but only took a fraction of a second to appear and vanish.

He sighed anxiously. He had read the ancient tablets found deep within the abandoned temples from the peacekeepers realm which would set in motion then end of who he was fighting for and the plans he had set in motion.

'Pray to the gods' He thought 'If the Dawn has come, then my plans become that much harder….'


Dragon Realms, Unknown System
6 437km North-North-East of Warfang
Unknown User (please register with UNSC High Command) - 09:58am

The Elder, dressed in a pristine white rope, sat upon his balcony as he watched his pupils under close eyes. The time had been foretold that it would be soon time for an ancient destiny to be bestowed upon one of the very creatures under his tutorage. The previous night he felt a sharp spike in magical power, followed by the mystical light and un-natural meteor shower, both were omens of the beginning or the end of life as anyone knew it. He continued to watch the young below him within the training fields. All displayed courage and valour when they fought and each possessed a sharp mind, but most lacked a certain commodity. That was the case until two months ago when a small group of his own kind came to join his village from across the mountains to the east.

"Grand Master Cerberus" The elder turned to look at his own kin, dressed in a green and white rope, who seemed distressed. Cerberus knew what this was about.

"Yes, my child" His voice carried wisdom of age as he spoke "What troubles you at this early hour?"

"The signs are upon us Grand Master: The white barrier, the un-natural meteors, and the fall of a corrupted purple dragon all within a day and a night" He panted. He was completely out of breath from what Cerberus could tell.

"As I know my child" He sighed before clutching his walking stick and rose to his feet "Gather the students in the main temple courtyard, the time to act is upon us"