Chapter 448: CHPT 448: Return of a… Beast?
VWOOMP!
Claude identified things by smell before vision. Before any of his senses— usually. But this time, it was all the eyes.
He stood on a familiar stone floor that gave way to a row of matching thick steps. Doric pillars stood alone beside the exit holding up a banner. Colorful and artistic— designed by students. When he'd first seen it, it wrote "Welcome to the University of the Phoenix". It no longer said that. They were well into the training year and it now spoke of upcoming events. He read them but failed to absorb. He was too focused on the two beings standing inside the Portal Room with them.
Both professors and established combatants. Even if he didn't know them he could see it in the way their demeanor seamlessly changed upon their arrival. One being average height and older in age. His salt and pepper hair was slicked back in a professional manner. As professional as his ironed and well washed navy blue and orange accented University uniform. His tanned hand hovered over the hilted sword at his hip.
Swordsman. Fast. Lightning Elemental Affinity.
The man beside him was massive. Built less human and more like the Centaurs Claude fought beside in the Vada District. He tried to hide his size and muscle beneath a black cloak and failed. Just like Claude. Only he was taller. And red headed. The scarred and burned skin of his left hand emerged from his cloak bathed in an orange blaze of fire. Fire Mage, experienced in the worst way based on the burns. As a matter of fact, Claude knew he was. They'd spoken about it. Back when both Professors tried to quell the hatred he felt for his classmates.
That felt like it happened ages ago.
"Morning, gentlemen. I'm a Bounty Hunter coming out of the Vada District Enforcers Guild and I'm here with a circumstantial turn in."
The sword man continued to look from the Bounty Hunter to Ursula. He recognized her— or at least was beginning to.
"Credentials. Now. We didn't place any Bounties. Universities aren't allowed."
"That's why I said circumstantial." Cassidy explained before taking out his ID and throwing it down the steps.
VWOOMP—
VWOOM!
Chaos of many forms exploded into action all at once as if each instance had metaphorically become feral dogs taken off their leashes. Behind Claude and the others, new people stepped through the portal in a rush. In front of them, the Professor carrying the sword moved like a bolt of lightning, catching Cassidy's card before it could even hit the ground.
By the time he was looking up at Cassidy from his position beside his fellow Professor, he found the Bounty Hunter now had a sword at his throat. The girl holding it to him wasn't even tall enough to stay on the ground and instead climbed up onto his back.
Isaac and Warren grabbed Ursula and stood between her and the Bounty Hunter with their weapons raised and fire in their eyes. They looked ready for war…..shaken, but ready.
"You sure this is her? I feel like this is more likely to be The Dominator….. Ursula wasn't this built man!" Warren complained with his bow aimed at Cassidy.
Maris ignored everyone but Cassidy….. and the Dinosaur hissing in her face. She looked it in its reptilian eyes casually and spoke, "Mind your business, lizard."
Claude surprised himself and chuckled. They were just as he remembered if not a little rougher around the edges. That was good.
"Hey, Maris." Claude said behind himself.
"Claude. You and Ursula left unannounced. The Mental Healers at the Orphanage say I don't form relationships with others often because I'm scared they will leave like my parents and my village people. Not only can I not feel fear, but I am invulnerable to nonphysical attacks. That doesn't mean I don't dislike them."
"We missed you too, Maris." Ursula said as she pulled down her mask.
Warren's eyes tripled in size as he looked back at her, "Girl what the fuck!?! It is you?"
He dropped his bow and smashed into her with a hug.
Cassidy remained beneath Maris' blade, "I like this one." He commented as the two Professors realized.
"By the gods— Ursula. Claude!? Do you know how much you're worth!?" Prof. Brennan said in his familiar Irish accent as the flame on his hand went out.
"What the hell happened to you guys?" Prof. Raizen couldn't look away from Ursula.
"A lot." Claude replied, "Which is why we've been taken here. Because for all that we've been through we didn't make it back here just to get burned to a crisp or smited in a storm. Ursula wasn't kidnapped and I'm not a god damn supervillain. We came here to level the playing field and explain the story without being killed on sight."
"We came here for help." Ursula explained.
"I'm just trying to get paid." Cassidy said with a yawn. Maris' blade never moved.
Even as dozens of Detectives flooded the room from the portal. They didn't hesitate and raised their weapons on everyone including Cassidy and the students. They had everything from Swords to rune-written firearms from the old world. Those were supposed to be illegal. Then again The Detection Corps often acted above the law.
Claudes beastial brethren surrounded him to face the threat. Loba guarded Ursula and the attached Warren beside Isaac.
"Claude Grey of SkyHaven. You are under arrest for the crimes of Kidnapping, Harm to a Legacy Hero, Harm to a high ranking Hero and Escape from Lawful imprisonment." One of the Detectives said with a silver dagger raised.
Claude felt his insides tighten as Cassidy held him. He could feel Ursula's panic along with Diamondback and Loba.
"No surrender." He reminded himself of what this all was. "No surrender. Focus."
And that's just what he did. He kept his pack leveled. That's all he could do for now. That's all he focused on.
One moved. Frosty barked and got a jump out of them all.
"Actually…" Prof. Raizen started. "We will hold any criminal proceedings here. Claude is a Student of the University of the Phoenix and as such is a valuable asset in protecting and advancing the human world. He's under law, required to complete and attend training here. If we find that he no longer fits, he will be sent to the Halls of the Basilisk. Until then, we screen and investigate him here. He's not allowed to go anywhere else until proven the need to."
One of the Detectives spoke up from the back. A tall man with dark skin and curved swords that looked like they were crafted worlds from where he was currently. "Then we will bring our benefactor here:"
"Very well." Prof. Raizen spoke before looking at everyone aside from the Detectives. Including Maris, Warren and Isaac.
"The rest of you fools. On me. You all just got the current training schedule canceled for the remainder of the day."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
_Avatar0FFury_
_Avatar0FFury_ Hi. Thanks for reading and sorry I couldn’t get this out yesterday. Also, if this feels familiar to the last time detectives and school was involved, I can assure you this will be different for a number of reasons. You’ll understand pretty quickly and I’m purposefully trying not to make it repetitive as best I can. We’re entering the main plot now. Hope you can enjoy. I’ve been planning what’s coming since the beginning stages of volume one. Very important stuff on the way.
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