"Gran! Gran!" The school's emergency bell blared, sending a ripple of excitement and anxiety through the hallways as students hurried toward the auditorium. The chatter grew louder as they filed in, a mix of curiosity and impatience filling the air.
"If NHC is a perfect college, its only problem is the Quick Call," one student grumbled, rolling their eyes.
"Seriously! We're in college, not high school," another chimed in, crossing their arms in annoyance.
The Quick Call, as it was affectionately dubbed by the students, was an emergency meeting held at the start of every semester. Its purpose? To welcome everyone back and recap the previous term. The man in charge was none other than the school director, Edwin Draco.
After a few moments of shuffling and settling, the auditorium buzzed with anticipation. Finally, Edwin Draco strode to the podium, his emerald green suit perfectly complementing his striking green eyes and hair. Even in his late 50s, he exuded a sharp, handsome charisma that commanded attention.
He cleared his throat, and the room quieted. "An excellent morning to you all," he began in before continuing, "Last term was overall peaceful, and I'm pleased to announce our top scorer: Kieran O'Brien!" His gaze locked onto Khaos , who looke away as the audience erupted into applause
"This semester, we hope for a peaceful yet competitive academic environment," Edwin added, and the students clapped again, some exchanging excited glances.
But then, the mood shifted. Edwin's expression turned somber. "A heart-wrenching incident occurred last term when we lost a student, Johnson Riley, the only son of Dol Riley. It was a painful loss, and we hope his soul rests in peace." The applause faded, replaced by a heavy silence as the weight of his words settled over the room.
"As we begin this semester, I urge everyone to uphold good morals. Thank you." Edwin concluded his speech, his tone formal throughout. Just as he turned to leave, he paused, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "Khaos Draco, report to my office now!"
Khaos, who had been sitting quietly, shot up from his seat, his face showed no expression but his coldness magnified . He followed Edwin out, leaving the rest of the students to process the news.
As the auditorium emptied, whispers erupted about Johnson's death.
"Honestly, Johnson was such a jerk. Good he his gone," one student scoffed, shaking their head.
"I heard he was murdered by a masked man," another chimed in, eyes wide with intrigue.
"The masked killer again? Wasn't he the same guy who took out Danny Raven?" someone else added, their voice laced with a mix of fear and fascination.
The students continued to discuss the shocking news as they made their way to their various lecture rooms.
**Jungle**
Aurora stood alone in the jungle, her expression as still as the air around her. She surveyed the area where the incident had occurred, her face betraying no emotion. The police had cleared the spot of any signs of murder, but she felt a pull to investigate further.
Bending down, she traced the outline of where Johnson's corpse had lain, using a stick to circle the spot. She stood up, twirling the stick thoughtfully in her hands as she scanned the surroundings.
As she walked around, her keen eyes caught a crack on the branch of a large tree. Without a second thought, she climbed up, feeling the rough bark beneath her fingers. She jumped down, mimicking the way the masked man had likely attacked Johnson. The impact sent a jolt through her, and she quickly jotted down her observations in a notebook.
Just as she was about to continue her investigation, her phone buzzed with a notification.
Unlocking her phone, she read the message:
"We found a clue. There is a prime suspect. I'll send you the picture. - Informant."
She dipped the phone back into her pocket and walked out of the jungle in cool strides.
*Administrative Building**
Meanwhile, Kieran and Knox stood at the only exit of the Administrative Building, waiting for Khaos to emerge.
Kieran nudged Knox playfully. "Do you think he'll come out with that sad expression again?"
Knox shrugged, his voice uncertain. "I mean, it's kind of his thing. Every time he goes in there, he comes out looking like someone just stole his lunch."
"Only God knows what he talks about with his dad," Kieran said and sighed, glancing at the door.
Just then, Khaos stepped out of the building, his face a mask of cold indifference, just as expected. He led the way, and Kieran and Knox fell in step behind him.
Kieran, ever the optimist, broke the silence. "You know, the earth is a beautiful place. Its good features might be dimmed by stormy nights, but when the sun comes out, everything shines. It's not the stormy nights that define us, but the sunny days." He paused, flashing a bright smile. "So, I hope you'll always smile like a sunny day, Khaos, so your good features can shine too!"
Khaos turned back, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before a small smile broke through his cold demeanor. Kieran's infectious positivity was just too hard to resist.
Just then, a girl approached, holding out a card and a rose to Kieran. "Hi Boo-boo! I'm your biggest fan!"
Kieran's face lit up, his eyes sparkling as he accepted the gift. "Thank you, beautiful sis!" he said, his voice warm and genuine. The girl blushed and walked away, her heart clearly fluttering.
As she passed, she called out, "Hi Charming! Hi Zheus!"
Knox replied with a gentle smile, but Khaos merely glanced at her, a look of disgust flickering in his eyes.