[img]http://i.imgur.com/WDVJyuu.png[/img] [b][u]Aliquam: The Academy of the Arts: North Sector: Performance Hall[/u][/b] “They plan to… steal the entire Academy itself?!” Tobias shouted, flabbergasted, as the transmission from the Masked Phantom ended. The idea itself was so ludicrous, so utterly preposterous. There was no way such a statement could be true. It was impossible. How would one go about stealing the entire Academy itself? Even if they had explosives primed to rip the Academy from its foundations… how would one then go to move it? It was a lie. It was just a dramatic bold faced lie, one probably meant to distract and confuse them all, whilst he made away to steal whatever it was their real target was. Because stealing the entire Academy was simply… ridiculous. “Do something?” Tobias looked to the others once they began questioning what to do. He shook his head with a scowl. “There’s nothing really to do, other then think about how to catch this criminal. Stealing the entire Academy is simply… ridiculous.” [img]http://i.imgur.com/AIt9B3l.png[/img] “For once I… agree with Tobias,” Dylan replied, hesitating on his words and spitting them out as best he could. He looked at the indigo haired patron and frowned, before turning with a calmer smile to the rest of his friends. “There’s no way they can steal the Academy. How could they possibly go about that? Carrying it on their shoulders? And where would they hide it? Or possibly begin to sell it?” [img]http://i.imgur.com/8I5EqBQ.png[/img] “…No, they’re… they’re telling the truth.” Dalia’s comment from the side of both gentlemen startled everyone. As they turned, they saw the Priestess looking directly at Jay, and after a brief start, his noticing of her looking (which in turn led to more spontaneous nose bleeding). Other then that, he was generally calm and composed, and on top of that… “His aura didn’t fluctuate. Not once when the Masked Phantom was speaking.” Dalia explained. “Normally, when a person is lying… or even when someone else is lying, and the other person knows that to be a lie… their aura fluctuates. A person can hide their feelings, but not their aura, and his aura, it… well… it didn’t change…” “That doesn’t exactly mean anything,” Tobias folded his arms over his chest and rolled his eyes. “His aura wouldn’t change if he believed what the thief said, right? Well, just look at him. He’s an idiot. Not hard to imagine him believing that.” “Hey!” Jay frowned. [img]http://i.imgur.com/8mPMSWF.png[/img] “Whether or not it’s true, we still need to decide what to do.” Marcus stood up from his seat, and began looking around the room, inspecting it as best he could within the gloomy darkness. The Masked Phantom’s demands and assertions… to leave the Academy and give back to him their captured thieves, not only for their sake and that of the Priests and Priestesses that had been driven unconscious but the held hostage Angel too… the Pride couldn’t give up. They couldn’t give in to what felt naturally like the demands of a terrorist. They couldn’t allow a group of thieves to cause all this chaos and damage and spirit away with anything. But they had literally been forced with their backs against the wall, and put in a position where they had no choice whatsoever. Regardless of if the threat of explosives was or wasn’t true, he still had Angel, and they couldn’t risk hurting him, could they? They couldn’t actively plan anything either… not with Jay there to watch him. As much of a benefit as it had been to capture him, it also left him able to witness any decision they’d make. And Marcus… he suspected that the thieves probably had a way of communicating between themselves, which meant any plans for an ambush would be given to the Masked Phantom before they could happen. What could they do? What could they…? “We’ll just have to do as he says.” Marcus' brow raised in curiosity, turning to find Dylan standing with his shoulders haunched, looking down at his clenched fists, and the tension rife within his body. Out of all of the Guilders, this would hurt him the most. Even if Dylan had abandoned the Academy due to troubled memories between him and Tobias, this was his home. Dalia was his sister. Angel, Rose, Simon, Keeva, as well as all of the other students, priests and priestesses of the Academy… they were his friends. They couldn’t begin to understand how he might feel. “Give up?” Tobias scowled. “You can’t be serious…” “Does it look like we have a choice?” Dylan raised his head. “He has Angel! And he’s threatening everyone inside of here! I… I love the Academy. Aislin knows, I do. But… but it’s still just an Academy. A building. It can always be rebuilt. Replaced. People… they can’t.” “Dylan…” Dalia nodded with a smile. “It's hard, but... I agree.” “No. [i]No way.[/i]” The patron’s hands were thrown into the air. “No way in hell am I accepting this.” “Then what’s your bright idea?” Aria asked, her own arms folded over her chest. “Knowing, of course, that killing [i]this[/i] guy,” Her head nodded to Jay. “Isn’t really going to work.” “Ngggraaph…” A loud pop echoed throughout the [url=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/98/Kodak_Hall.png]Performance Hall[/url], surprising each and every one of the occupants within. Several bright lights flashed throughout the large room, several red glowing flares dropping from the sky and wafting gently to the ground, illuminating some areas of it whilst throwing wild deep shadows amongst others. A loud chuckle drew the Pride’s attention away from the main entrance to the Hall, to stare down at the stage resting below them at the end of the rows upon rows of seats. There, hanging suspended in the air atop a swirling vortex of air used as a transparent platform, was the Masked Phantom himself, effortlessly holding the bound and gagged Angel over his shoulder, his blonde locks fluttering about him. “Well, my friends,” The Masked Phantom grinned. “It’s an honor to make your acquaintance and meet you all at last.” “Tell me,” He said. “I hope you've all come to a favourable decision?” [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/KfQDBLF.png[/img][/center]