With the influx of hunters flooding the abandoned building, the five of them were beginning to take on some damage. As Talon fell, the four girls continued to fight, creating a barrier around him to keep him from sustaining more injuries. Diem was beginning to get tired. Unlike Freya and her friends, she wasn’t used to prolonged periods of intense action. She was beginning to get sloppy with her predictions, not timing her own attacks right and finding herself either on her back or doubled over. When a dense black cloud moved through the air, consuming the dance floor, she feared that their time was up and that they were done for. The sound of flapping wings made her look up. Her eyes landed on the angel that she had seen with Professor Relic. She landed and immediately began to tend to their wounds while a symphony of crunching bones and shrieks of pain filled the room. Singlehandedly, he finished off the group of hunters, leaving a bunch of bloody and bent bodies strewn across the floor.<br/><br/>The instructor came at Freya hard, slamming her against the wall with her throat clenched in his palm. He laid into her harshly. Diem stood back and watched with her hands covering her mouth, trying to hold her tongue. Somehow they all managed, and when they crossed over through the portal that had opened, they were given their punishments. The three girls would be held back, and Diem was given a bracelet that would ensure that she could not leave Lancaster. After facing off against the hunters, she believed that it was for the best. By comparison, her punishment was a slap on the wrist. Freya went from being top of her class to being a third year again. The headmaster took the brooch that she wore proudly, promising it back to her when she finished the year in good standing as she had before.<br/><br/>On Monday, there was a school wide meeting held at the coliseum that morning. The headmaster was there to explain the mortal world ban, which no one was allowed to exit the realm due to the threat of hunters. Diem sat next to Maxim and Sera in the stands. “Where’s Freya? I see Kira and Talia.” She asked.<br/><br/>“She left Lancaster.” Maxim said solemnly. “She wasn’t going to let Professor Relic or the Headmaster strip her of her dignity. In our culture, as warriors, that’s all we have in the end. I respect her decision.” He nodded.<br/><br/>“Me too . . .” Diem was of the belief that the decision to hold Freya back was for the purpose of humiliation. Expulsion or suspension would have been a befitting punishment, and considering Freya was a genuinely good person she was likely punishing herself for her error in judgement.<br/><br/>“I’m beginning to think Professor Relic gets some sick, high and mighty pleasure out of ‘putting people in their place.’” Sera noted.<br/><br/>“Look at you, talking about high and mighty. A few days with the common folk and you think you’re one of us,” Diem smirked, though she was more inclined to agree with Sera’s assessment. He made it abundantly clear that he didn’t care about anything. It made her curious as to why he was even a professor at all.<br/><br/>“Funny, Diem.” Sera whispered, folding her arms across her chest. “I'm sorry about your sister and I know it's probably too soon, but what the hell are we going to do about a trainer now? Do you think Kira or Talia will do it?”<br/><br/>“They may not be up to it without Freya. I’ll figure something out. We may be able to get Urion to do it. He’s the tournament coach. Might take some begging, but he’s our best shot. He’s insanely powerful—exponentially more powerful than the professors here,<i>and</i>he’s a damn good man. It’s off season, so I’ll reach out to him.”<br/><br/>“I fucking hope he says yes.” Sera sighed. “Otherwise, we’re going to be a piss poor excuse for a team.”