I Killed The Main Characters

Chapter 180: There's More To It [1]

The academy garden was filled with the chatter of first-year students gathered beneath the glowing sky.

The sun hung just above the horizon, painting the clouds in shades of orange and yellow, casting an almost magical ambiance over the garden.

Most of the students lounging on the soft grass were girls, save for a few boys scattered among them.

Their conversations overlapped, lively and spirited, as they exchanged stories, laughed, and teased one another.

At the center of a particular group sat a bold-looking girl named Marielle, animatedly spinning a tale that had her listeners leaning in.

Her voice carried a mix of intrigue and eerie drama, perfect for the ghost story she was about to share.

"You've all heard of the cemetery west of the forest, right?"

Marielle began, her dark eyes glinting with mischief.

A hush fell over the group, with a few students glancing nervously at each other.

"Well, it's not just any cemetery.

Buried there is the spirit of Commander Edran Vale—the academy's most vengeful ghost."

"Vengeful ghost?"

One of the boys, a wiry student named Eric, echoed skeptically.

Though his tone betrayed a hint of nervousness.

Marielle grinned, sensing her audience's growing interest.

"Yes, vengeful...

Edran Vale wasn't just some ordinary soldier.

He was a brilliant commander during the War of Shattered Crowns centuries ago.

Ravenwood Academy was a fortress back then, and he was its protector.

They say he defended these lands with unmatched courage, fighting for the kingdom even when the odds were impossible."

The group nodded, caught in the drama of her story.

"But…"

Marielle's voice dropped, forcing everyone to lean closer.

"During the final battle, Edran was betrayed by someone he trusted—one of his closest comrades.

The traitor deliberately gave away the fortress's location to the enemy in exchange for gold.

And so, when the enemy stormed the grounds, Commander Vale was ambushed, overwhelmed, and captured."

One of the girls, wide-eyed, clutched her friend's arm.

"What happened to him?"

"They dragged him deep into the forest west of the academy..."

Marielle continued, her voice low and somber.

"There, they tortured him, demanding he reveal the kingdom's secrets.

But Edran was loyal to the end.

He refused, even as they drove their blades through his chest.

His dying breath was a curse—a vow to never rest until he found the one who betrayed him.

His spirit was said to be so full of rage and regret that it couldn't move on."

The group shuddered collectively.

A few glanced nervously at the western edge of the garden, where the forest loomed in the distance.

"And now..."

Marielle added, her tone dripping with ominous finality.

"...his ghost haunts the cemetery.

They say that if you visit at night, you might hear his voice whispering in the wind, asking if you're the traitor.

And if he decides you're lying…"

She paused for effect, looking around at the captivated students.

"He possesses you."

"Possesses you?"

A boy scoffed, though he shifted uncomfortably.

"What does that even mean?"

Marielle leaned forward, her face lit with mock-seriousness.

"It means he takes over your body, turning you into a puppet to do his bidding.

Some say students who go missing near the cemetery are found days later wandering aimlessly, their eyes blank.

They don't remember what happened—but they all complain of hearing a voice calling them a traitor."

A few students visibly shivered, while others nervously laughed.

"Come on," Eric said, attempting to sound confident.

"That's just a story. There's no real ghost."

"Besides I've heard that story multiple times now...

There are actually more tales that senior students pass down to their juniors every year just to scare the shit out of them... "

"Think what you want..."

Marielle replied with a shrug, but her smirk lingered.

"But if you ever get curious, the cemetery is still there.

Who knows?

Maybe Commander Vale is waiting for his next victim."

As the group broke into murmurs, one of the girls turned toward a figure sitting quietly at the edge of the gathering.

It was the princess, Elara, who had recently returned to the academy after mysteriously going missing and a bunch of guards found her neat the forest.

Her red hair caught the light of the setting sun, but her expression was distant, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

"Hey, Princess..."

One of the girls called out, her tone light.

"You've been awfully quiet...

Are you feeling okay?"

Elara blinked, startled out of her thoughts.

"Oh.. Huh.. I-

I'm fine."

She replied softly, though there was a slight tremor in her voice.

"Really?"

nother girl chimed in, her smile sly.

"Are you sure?

You were recently found near the forest, weren't you?

Near the cemetery, if I'm not mistaken."

Roselyn stiffened, her hands gripping her lap tightly.

"Maybe you were possessed!"

Marielle teased, earning a ripple of laughter from the group.

"Did Commander Vale's ghost get to you?"

"Or maybe she's still possessed..."

Eric added, grinning.

"And she doesn't even know it."

The group's laughter grew louder, though a few students cast wary glances at Elara, as if expecting her to suddenly act strange.

"That's enough..."

A quiet voice interjected.

It was Roselyn, one of the more reserved students in the group.

She shot the others a disapproving look.

"It's just a story. Don't be mean."

The teasing died down, but a tense silence hung in the air.

"Apart from her highness that second year senior went missing on that day too...

Till date the academy higher ups haven't found him.

You think the ghost commander got to him?"

Eric muttered.

"That's just a stupid ghost story...if the senior is missing, it must be because of something else.... "

Roselyn added.

Elara remained silent, her cheeks flushed, but she didn't rise to defend herself.

Instead, she turned her gaze back to the horizon, her expression unreadable.

As the conversation shifted back to lighter topics, the group slowly dispersed, though a few stayed behind to enjoy the fading daylight.

Elara stayed rooted to her spot, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn't shake.

Whether it was the ghost story or something else entirely, the unease lingered.