I. Alarm Bells & Cookie Prep
The Academy's bells tolled in a frantic, off-key dirge. Rayan and his friends tumbled from Morwen's diplomacy lab—ghost-potato platters still in hand.
Yeon: "What's worse: crying dragons or angry lions with goat heads?"
Cezar: "We're about to find out."
Tonio: "Sympathy cookies at the ready?"
Rayan grabbed a satchel: "Yes—Morwen insists emotional beasts respond to baked goods."
He shoved a stress-cookie (spiked with calming herb) into Yeon's hand.
"When in doubt, bake it out." —Professor Morwen's motto
II. First Sighting: Walls of Flames
They sprinted into the courtyard to find the Chimera perched on the fountain rim—lion front, goat midsection, serpent for a tail—eyes glowing ember-red. It roared, spitting sparks into the sky.
Cezar (gulping): "I wanted cookies, not combustion."
Rayan: "Deep breath. We negotiated a banshee; we can negotiate a chimera."
Yeon: "I negotiate in tears and blood—so, same?"
Tonio held up a cookie: "Sympathy cookie?"
The Chimera sniffed—its goat half bleated—and lunged. Sparks flew; cookies hissed on the ground.
III. Tearful Apology Attempt
As the creature snarled, Yeon stepped forward, tears in his eyes.
Yeon (sniffle): "I'm sorry! For everything!"
The Chimera paused—lion half cocked its head. Goat half blinked.
Rayan whispered: "Too late for sympathy yet—follow my lead."
He bowed awkwardly.
Rayan: "Noble beast, we regret your distress. Please accept this offering."
He held out a cookie decorated like a tiny Shield of Compassion.
The Chimera sniffed; goat half munched. Its eyes softened—lion half purred a low rumble—then serpent tail flicked: cookie accepted.
Cezar exhaled: "So… cookies work on everything?"
Tonio: "Apparently so, when they're baked properly."
IV. Fangs of Frustration
But relief was short-lived. The Chimera's temper flared—goat side balked at crumbs, lion side bristled at crumbs on its mane, serpent side hissed at crumbs on its scales.
It roared again—this time more enraged—and charged.
Rayan rallied: "Cookie distraction ended—switch to Plan B: please don't die."
Combat Highlights (Hilariously Chaotic):
Yeon tried "Blood Tear Surge" but only produced a single teardrop that evaporated.
Cezar unleashed "Alpha Tempest Roar"—the wind knocked over a cart of sympathy cookies.
Tonio cast "Verdant Plug"—vines sprouted to hold back the Chimera, but goat head started munching them like salad.
Rayan shouted "Chronostasis!"—time slowed, but only for the problem: the goat started bleating in reverse.
The Chimera shook free and snorted flame—singing Yeon's hair into a small afro of soot.
V. Teamwork & the Mega Cookie
Cornered, the four huddled:
Rayan: "We need a mega cookie—one giant enough to distract all three heads."
Yeon: "Bigger than my ego? Because that's huge."
Cezar: "I can carve cookie dough with claws."
Tonio: "And I'll infuse it with calming vine essence."
They combined efforts: Yeon wept into dough, Tonio sang growth tunes, Cezar flattened it with a stamp, and Rayan sprinkled crystallized peace runes.
Mega Cookie: Approximately one-eighth the size of a school desk.
Plated grandly, they rolled it toward the Chimera.
Each head sniffed: goat licked, lion purred, serpent coiled in curiosity—then all three dove mouth-first.
Silence reigned.
VI. Chimera's Verdict & Exit
Moments later, the Chimera belched gently and shook its massive head.
Chimera (three voices intertwined):
"Peace… restored. We… forgive your crumbs."
It turned tail—with the serpent end giving a final flick—and vanished through a magic portal, leaving behind a trail of warm cookie crumbs and soot.
Rayan surveyed the crumbs. "Cookie crumbs. We saved the day with a cookie."
Yeon: "I want credit on my resume for 'Cookie Diplomacy.'"
Cezar: "I want more cookies."
Tonio: "Next time, someone else bakes."
VII. Epilogue: Lessons & Leftovers
That evening, the four sat on the fountain's rim, nibbling leftover crumbs.
Rayan: "Memo to self: always pack a bakery."
Yeon: "Sympathy cookies: 1, Monster temper tantrums: 0."
Cezar: "I propose a new skill—'Baking with Beasts.'"
Tonio: "I'll write the paper… after I audit the cookie stock."
A single crumb drifted on the breeze—remnant of a battle all three heads agreed to call off.
VIII. Whispers of the Shadow Instructor
As the last embers of laughter faded, a hush fell over the courtyard. Students and guards peeked from behind pillars, eyes wide.
A parchment, sealed with black wax and no crest, fluttered through the gate. Rayan caught it with shaking hands; a dozen pairs of eyes turned toward him.
"Your next instructor approaches. Identity unknown. Ranked among the top ten strongest warriors in the Human Realm. Prepare without expectation."
A heartbeat passed. Then the courtyard exploded with noise.
Cadet Mira (wide-eyed, trembling): "TOP TEN!? I HAVEN'T EVEN MASTERED BASIC WIND BLAST!"
Sergeant Broll (gripping his spear): "I FOUGHT BANDITS LAST WEEK! THIS IS WORSE THAN BANDITS!"
Scholar Liana (fainting into her book): "I need four new monocles. I just shattered mine from shock."
Instructor Darron (barking at nobody): "WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A WELCOME SPEECH PREPARED! WHO LET THIS HAPPEN!?"
Training Assistant Kiel (sprinting in circles): "THEY'RE RANKED HIGHER THAN HEADMASTER ELIRA?! I'M GOING TO DIG MY OWN GRAVE NOW!"
Scout Theo (hyperventilating): "Top ten? I skipped breakfast—THIS IS NOT HOW I DIE."
Guard Captain Revna (flicking her sword out): "If they try anything funny, I'll… I'll… okay, no I won't. Please protect me."
Spellcrafter Vynn (ripping scrolls apart): "PREPARE WITHOUT EXPECTATION!? WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN!?"
Supply Master Grel (screaming into a sack of potatoes): "I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A LOW-STRESS ASSIGNMENT!"
And from the top balcony, Instructor Vorell, the one usually composed and unreadable, dropped his chalkboard and uttered:
Vorell (choking): "...Impossible. I trained under the best. And they never mentioned anyone above them."
Amidst the chaos, students shouted, papers flew, someone dropped a vat of mana ink, and a faint trail of lightning sparked in the clouds overhead.
Yeon (whispering): "I... feel like whispering is safer."
Rayan (quietly): "Same. We're not built for this kind of hype."
Cezar (muttering): "I don't yell unless it's in battle. Or for snacks."
Tonio (nodding): "Strategic silence. Loud people get noticed. Not my goal."
They huddled together near the fountain's remains, watching as the Academy turned into a chorus of hysteria.
From the entrance, Headmaster Elira emerged, eyes narrowing as she read the scroll. For the first time, she looked unsettled.
Elira (quietly): "#9 trained under the Iron General. #7 once quelled the Ember Revolt alone. #3… I do not wish to know."
Elira "The rest are The Legendary Strongest in our realm.."
"I wish they were still here."
Rayan glanced at the horizon. "Well… whoever they are, they'll have to deal with us—and our cookies."
They shared a determined nod, whispering against a background of total, unrelenting panic.
End Of Chapter 27