"We're too late."
"Why? What happened?" Layla whispered.
Quinn wasn't sure how to explain it to Layla that he knew something happened to Erin without telling her about the system. Even if he did, he doubted that she would believe him.
He shook his head. There was still a chance that he could do something, that it wasn't all over. Erin's stats page was still there, and the fact that there was a notification about a transformation as well as him still having access to the system, it was likely that she was still alive.
"Did you mean too late to leave?" Layla eventually guessed, "I'm sure we can still do something to escape here."
"Yeah, that's right, I can still do something," Quinn replied, thankful that Layla had provided an excuse.
They were both still stuck in a hole together, and it was very dark making them too afraid to move. Quinn then lifted his hands, controlling the earth around them to give them more space, and creating a tunnel in one particular direction. He had to be careful not to make a lot of sound in case Duke would hear.
Slowly, but surely, as they tunneled away from Duke's office, Quinn dug faster now that they were moving out of earshot. Eventually, once he believed they were far enough away, Quinn poked his head out from the ground. They were in the hallways again, thankfully without any students around. He climbed himself out, and helped Layla by grabbing her hand.
Now that they were free, they saw there was still a hole left in the ground. Quinn started to close it, but there was still a problem. He didn't have enough MC to completely fill in the tunnel, and with how long it had been, he used up even more MC. All he could do was cover up the hole.
"Alright, let's go," Quinn said as he started to turn around and leave.
Layla followed suit, and they were quick to leave the second year's building. Before they could fully leave, an adult in uniform had turned the corner of the halls, spotting them.
"Where do you think you're going?" The adult scolded.
She was a sergeant with a large black afro, and wore large black sunglasses. Despite her eye wear, you could tell there was a stern look to her face.
They both stopped in their tracks, and slowly turned around. Did she see them leave the hole? Did she find out that they snuck into Duke's office? Was there some sort of other rule they didn't know about that was going to get them in trouble?
She gave them a quick glance over, which felt unbearably long. Both of them nervously gulped.
"Why are you two first years here unattended?" She ended up saying, "If you're going to be here, you need to be granted permission, or have someone from the second years staff watch over you. Surely, you've been told about the new rules, right?"
Quinn and Layla anxiously glanced at one another, neither not quite sure how to respond, before Quinn ended up saying something.
"Well you see, we were on our way back from uh—" Quinn actually didn't know any second year staff, and said the first name that came to mind, "—Duke's office, and he said he was done with us so we were going to head back."
"Is that so?" The sergeant raised an eyebrow, "I suppose Duke does let the first years come here quite often, and with the fire alarm, it was no wonder you guys were left without a staff member. I'll escort you two out."
Quinn and Layla were relieved, and promptly were escorted out of the second year's campus to its perimeter walls.
"Next time, make sure there's someone keeping an eye on you, we don't want another assembly incident, do we?" The sergeant said, before leaving.
"That was some quick thinking," Layla sighed, wiping her forehead, "It was good that you mentioned Duke, especially since he brings first years over a lot."
"I didn't know who else to name!" Quinn quickly replied, "But I don't think we have a lot of time. I don't know how much longer Erin and Fex could survive on a red portal planet."
Her face turned a little somber. Ever since Erin didn't come back to the dorms yesterday, Layla had been worried about her well being. She needed to leave and do something now that she had important information.
"I'm going to see if I can buy the help of a traveler," Layla said.
"Oh, right, you're going to need my money," Quinn began, about to slide his watch over Layla's before she yanked it away.
"It's fine!" Layla replied, "I know money is hard for you to come by, and I can spend the cash on this just fine. Trust me, I can pay every credit."
Quinn knew he had access to Erin's beast crystals, and could've sold them to make back his money, so it wouldn't have been a hassle for him at all. Despite his desire to want to help Layla, this would've sprung up the question of how he even got beast crystals in the first place.
"Alright, good luck. I'm going to ask for help too," Quinn spoke, before heading off to a particular classroom.
—
Layla rushed back to her dorm room, and saw that no one was inside. Either way, she placed a chair right under the door's knob, and locked it.
"Good, she isn't here, as per usual," Layla muttered.
She was referring to her roommate, Cia, who didn't spend a lot of time at their dorm. Layla did wonder a little why that was, but her thoughts were busy with something else.
Bending under her bed, she took out a small shoebox. Opening it, there was a black sphere inside. Layla didn't worry if there would be anyone listening in on her actions, she had already checked the room for hidden cameras and microphones a long time ago.
Tapping the top of the sphere, there was a small click before a white ring lit up the top of the sphere. It spun around for a few seconds before it lit up.
"Agent 83, what seems to be the problem?" A voice spoke from the ball, "Is it to do with the mission?"
Layla nodded, "Indeed it is. I have found important information regarding a few missing students at military base 2. It is unclear if this is fully related to the people who've lost their abilities, but two students were forced onto a red portal planet by one of the heads of the military. Are you able to send any agents to help pick them up?"
"I'll see what I can do… What is the name of the planet?"
"Planet Pioletic."
"Give me a few moments… I'm afraid all of our agents have left that planet a while ago, is there anything else I can help you with?"
"Are you not able to send anyone there now?" Layla asked with a hint of urgency.
She knew she was pushing it, but she had to at least try. Every moment Erin was on a red portal planet meant she was risking death.
The voice paused, "You are not of the authority to make such a request. I am aware that it is a dangerous planet, but even if we could have sent our agents to that planet, I would've told you so. Now, is that all?"
Layla gulped her feelings down, "No, that is it. Thank you."
"We will be expecting a full report on your discoveries later. May Pure be with you."
"May Pure be with you," Layla replied.
She turned off the sphere, and sat there on her knees, defeated. Even though she hadn't known Erin for long, they had gotten familiar with each other rather closely. With how Layla couldn't even send someone to help her, it felt like she was failing her friend.