Note: I'm going to introduce new characters so you might be confused if you're following me for some time
Jacob pried open the bushes that concealed the beach that overlooked the remains of Clockwork Town, where he used to live. The smell of iron and rust filled the air, and fog obscured Jacob's vision as the calm waves rocked back and forth.
A shiver ran down Jacob's spine, and he turned around to check his six, a faint silhouette quickly slipped into the shadows. No one was there anymore. Jacob squinted suspiciously and got up apprehensively. He started to walk towards the place where the outline was and tripped on a rock, creating a small cut on his knee.
"I know you're there, Crios."
The bushes behind him rustled.
"What? So now you're a coward? If you wanted to see me, you would just barge straight in without any hesitation. So show yourself."
Crios revealed himself, his brown hair messy, and his red eyes wild and wary. "It's high time we met again... after the incident."
"What do you want from me, you sick f**k?" Jacob snarled, venom dripping in his voice. It was clear he wasn't messing around. "We'd already cut contacts with you and your band of merry men-"
"It doesn't matter. I've come to settle a deal. You join our faction, and I-" SMACK! Jacob smacked Crios in the face, leaving a bright red mark on his cheek. "And what would that cost? I betray my friends and everybody I've ever known? I put you, of all people, before the people that rely on me to help them? You're sick." Jacob unsheathed his sword.
"The best wizards, in the most dire situations, managed to turn off their emotions. This managed to let them make the best decisions. I am afraid you do not have that power."
"That's because you're cold and you have a heart of ice!" Jacob retorted.
Crios laughed, then he smirked coldly. "You say that again."
"You're cold, and you-"
Those were the last words Jacob attempted to reply before he was sent flying to the ground. Crios then put him in a chokehold. "You're a traitor. Rather than joining the Academy, you decided to go rogue and form a faction of your own. And look where that has gotten you. Hmph."
"C-can't... b-breathe..."
Soon, Crios let go of Jacob and walked away before Jacob blacked out.
"All we wanted was to separate ourselves from the Academy and start a new life. Now the Academy is holding grudges on the and we're at war," Jacob complained in the infirmary. Swoopy kicked back and sighed. "I know how that feels. It's hard trying to do this. First they make fun of you, then they attack you. But remember that after every cold, black night, it'll dawn a morning clear."
"I don't think that'll happen anytime soon, but I appreciate your optimism."
Derek Shardwisp and Keisha Flamegiver were messing about in the basement, busy forging new wands as his niece, Diana, waffled with her friends in the room above. "They're too small to think that this isn't a game. They're just too young... and too innocent." Derek complained.
Above, on the surface, Team G.R.A.T catered for some refugees (Evergreen had sided with the Academy, leaving Team G.R.E.A.T, so some naming conventions had to be made) in some tents. "I understand that this isn't much, but remember that it comes from the heart," Rohan smiled to an old lady as he handed over her broth.
Meanwhile, back down below, plans were being made to ambush the Academy and the Coliseum. It was the Siege of Lamplight Town. Swoopy called the soldiers over to the main hall.
"The guards will be armed with relics, so they can only target one person at a time. Try to distract them and flank them from behind. When we breach the security systems, we aim for the town square and try to harm as little civilians as possible. Then, the rest of our forces will surround them from the outside and slowly move inwards. Soon, Lamplight will be ours."
"We'll just go over here, and... holy sh*t."
Giant, mutated wizards patrolled the outside of the giant stone walls of Lamplight. Some of them had ripped skin, and others had giant stakes stuck in their heads.
The soldiers immediately set up camp as the archers prepared to shoot at the abominations. What was Jacob trying to do? Trying to make his way into Lamplight, trying not to look like a target.
Swoopy passed Jacob a Morph Marble. "Here, you'll need this. Thank me later." Upon further inspection, this changed his appearance to that of a commoner in Lamplight. Perfect! Jacob gave Swoopy a fist bump.
"I'm going to improv and tell them that you're attacking us. Then, when they send out their forces, I'll remove the disguise and attack them."
Swoopy simply nodded.
...
Jacob inconspicuously sauntered around History District and snuck into the Vine Library when the walls started to rumble. Then there was a sharp crackling noise and rubble flew all over Pet Park as an abomination toppled over, dead.
Then the soldiers took out their wands, relics, and- Jacob couldn't believe it- some literal guns that the Order of Arcadia managed to get somehow. Jacob shook his head, pinched himself, and looked outside the window, contemplating his life decisions. After that, he burst out of the door to witness the attack.
Rohan charged into the town with his Enchanted Cudgel, wielding his door as a shield, and bashing it into the Academy Wizards' heads as easily as he had filed paperwork. Swish. Dead. Swish. Dead.
"Nice job!" Gemini laughed. Tanner smirked and launched a Downpourtal onto the Town Square. He then passed Jacob a rifle as the carnage ensued.
The statue of the Stone Dragon toppled over and crumbled as it hit the cold hardwood floor. Cheers and screams echoed from behind the alleyway.
What was Jacob doing? Inconspicuously making his way to the team, trying not to look like a target nor an enemy.
"What do I do now?!" He hissed once he reached Gemini. "I don't know. I didn't think we'd get this far without getting gunned down. Just... improvise."
"Hah! You're crazy. Let's do this."