~Chapter 03~
The moonlight spilled softly into Vinese's room, casting gentle shadows across the walls, but the room itself was filled with the lively sound of her voice. She was curled up on her bed, phone pressed tightly to her ear, having been in conversation with Izy for nearly an hour. Their topic had drifted from school gossip to the new students who had recently joined their class, and Vinese found herself unable to contain her excitement.
"Izy… seriously, I can't get him out of my mind," Vinese gushed, a dreamy smile evident in her tone, her eyes gazing up at the ceiling as if seeing someone there. "He's so incredibly handsome! I think I like him. No—actually, I think I love him now."
On the other end of the line, Izy sighed, her voice laced with concern and a touch of exasperation.
"Oh my goodness, Vinese… stop right there! You just met this guy at school recently, and you're already saying you love him? Have you ever thought that maybe they're enemies? You shouldn't fall for someone so easily, especially when you know nothing about them."
Vinese sat up slightly, her expression firming up.
"Can you please stop thinking that way? They aren't enemies, so please don't assume that."
"Why are you so sure?" Izy challenged, sounding skeptical.
"Do you actually know them? What makes you so confident, huh?" She launched into one of her usual lectures, her protective instinct kicking in.
Vinese didn't back down. She paused for a moment before asking softly,
"Then… shouldn't I trust you? Shouldn't I trust all of you?"
The question hung in the air, and Izy fell silent, momentarily at a loss for words. After a brief pause, Izy's voice softened.
"I was just saying that you shouldn't easily trust a boy you just met. That's all."
"Don't be mad," Vinese coaxed, her tone turning sweet and pleading.
"I'm not saying I trust him blindly. I'm just saying maybe they aren't enemies. It's too early to judge, isn't it? Let's just say they're from another world—we don't know where they come from, or what mission they might be on. We just don't know." Her logic was sound, and Izy had to admit she had a point.
"Alright, alright," Izy relented, her voice losing its edge.
"Go to bed now. We have a major exam tomorrow, remember?"
"Hey! Don't be mad at me," Vinese said quickly, sensing the shift in mood.
"You're the only one I tell everything to—the only one I share my feelings with. So please don't be mad. And don't be jealous, okay?" she added in a playful, cute voice.
"I'm not mad! And I'm definitely not jealous," Izy huffed, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice now.
"You really are something else! You better study tonight, because I'm not letting you copy my answers tomorrow. So, you should hit the books."
Vinese groaned dramatically, flopping back onto her pillows. "Hey! I can't study right now. My mind is a total mess because I keep thinking about Dylan, hehehe."
"You're absolutely crazy!" Izy laughed, shaking her head.
"When does your brain ever actually cooperate when you study? It's useless, hahaha!" A new voice chimed in loudly—it was Chezty, shouting from nearby so Vinese would hear her over the phone.
Vinese's eyes widened, and she shouted back, half-annoyed but half-amused,
"Hey, Chezty! Go to sleep! F— you! Just shut up!" But Chezty just laughed heartily in response, unbothered.
"Sleep well already! It's already twelve o'clock! My beauty sleep is completely ruined because of you two!" Izy said, and with that, she hung up the phone. Within moments, exhaustion took over, and she drifted off to sleep. Chezty followed suit, turning off the lights and settling in for the night.
Back in her room, Vinese muttered to herself as she set her phone down on the nightstand.
"Ai! Those two sisters… honestly. Hmph." She pulled the covers up, smiling slightly.
"I should sleep now so I can be beautiful and fresh again tomorrow." With that thought, she closed her eyes and soon fell asleep.
The next morning, the sun was already high in the sky when Vinese's eyes snapped open. She glanced at the clock and her heart leaped into her throat. She had overslept! Her mom had forgotten to wake her, and today was the day of the exam. Panic set in immediately. She scrambled out of bed, rushing through her morning routine, her mind racing. As she hurried, she remembered something important: Alex had mentioned that none of them could use their powers because of the new transferees who had arrived yesterday. Since they still didn't know if the newcomers were friends or foes, everyone was on edge, walking on eggshells.
Vinese ran as fast as her legs could carry her, her uniform flapping as she sprinted through the school corridors. She was in such a rush that she didn't notice a young man walking in the opposite direction, carrying a heavy box stacked high with books.
Thud!
They collided with a solid impact. Vinese stumbled backward and landed hard on the floor, letting out a cry of surprise.
"Ouch!"
The books went flying, scattering across the floor like fallen leaves. The young man immediately set aside the remaining books in his arms and rushed over to her, his face filled with concern.
"Are you alright?" he asked gently, extending his hand to help her up.
Vinese took his hand, feeling a jolt as she stood up.
"I'm fine," she said quickly, brushing the dust off her skirt and blouse.
"Thank you so much."
"Be careful next time," he advised with a warm smile, crouching down to gather the scattered books.
Vinese knelt to help him, but he waved her off.
"It's okay, you go ahead. It looks like you're in a hurry and might be late for something."
For a split second, Vinese forgot all about her rush. She looked at him, and time seemed to slow. But then, the reality of the exam crashed back into her mind.
"Oh my God! I have an exam today!" she gasped, her eyes wide.
"I'm really sorry for bumping into you! I have to go now!" Without waiting for a reply, she turned and sprinted down the hallway.
The young man stopped what he was doing and stood up straight, holding a few books against his chest. He watched her retreating figure, a thoughtful expression on his face. A small, mysterious smile played on his lips as he whispered to himself,
"Looks like we'll be seeing a lot more of each other."
Inside the classroom, the atmosphere was tense. The exam had already begun, and Ms. Nilla, their strict teacher, was pacing up and down the aisles, her sharp eyes watching every student like a hawk.
"Kevin, pass it here, quick," Eli whispered urgently, leaning towards his friend.
"Just a moment. I'll give it to you in a second," Kevin whispered back, his voice trembling slightly. Both boys were trying to sneak a look at a piece of paper taped to the underside of Chezty's chair, which was filled with answers.
"Just put it on the desk so I can see it too!" Eli hissed, growing impatient.
"Stupid! If you're loud, the teacher will catch us!" Kevin snapped back, clearly annoyed.
Unfortunately, their whispers were a little too loud. Ms. Nilla's ears picked up the sound, and she immediately turned on her heel, marching towards their row.
"What are you two doing back there, Eli and Kevin?" she demanded.
Kevin nearly jumped out of his skin, while Eli bowed his head, trying to look innocent. The other six students around them were busy scribbling answers, pretending not to notice the commotion.
"N-nothing, ma'am," Kevin stammered frantically, his hand instinctively moving to cover the paper taped to the back of Chezty's chair.
"What are you covering there? Hand it over!" Ms. Nilla commanded, extending her hand.
Kevin refused to let go, so the teacher reached for his bag. She rummaged through it and found another paper filled with answers, then her eyes darted to the chair and spotted the one taped there as well. She pulled it free and held it up.
"What is this?!" she asked, her voice rising.
"Oh! That's… that's my prayer, ma'am," Kevin answered, trying to keep a straight face.
The entire class burst into laughter. Several students seized this golden opportunity, quickly glancing at the exposed answers while the teacher was distracted with Kevin's ridiculous excuse.
"Prayer?" Ms. Nilla asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.
"Why does this 'prayer' look exactly like the answers to the exam?"
"The Lord has answered my prayer, ma'am," Kevin said with a cheeky grin.
Ms. Nilla's face turned a deep shade of red, her anger bubbling over.
"Shut up! Get up and get out of this classroom! Stand in the hallway with your hands raised until my class is over. Get out now!" she shouted.
Kevin groaned, looking miserable as he stood up. He glanced over at Alex, who was sitting nearby.
"Alex, can't you turn back time or something?" he whispered desperately.
"You're crazy! You know we can't use our powers right now," Alex hissed back, though he couldn't help glancing at the paper for a second himself.
"Alex, I'll give you money, just help me out," Kevin pleaded, but his offer fell on deaf ears. Alex wasn't going to risk it.
Ms. Nilla's gaze then shifted to Vinese, who was sitting with her head bent low over her desk. Suspecting the same kind of mischief, the teacher walked over to her desk.
Vinese suddenly stood up, holding out her paper with a confident expression.
"Ma'am! I'm done." She handed in her test paper eagerly, proud of her work.
Ms. Nilla took the paper, scanned it quickly, and then handed it back to her with a look of disbelief.
"Look at your test paper again, Vinese."
Vinese took it back and looked down. Her eyes widened in shock. All the answers she had clearly written just moments ago had completely vanished, leaving the paper blank. She was absolutely sure she had filled in every space.
"Oh? Why are they gone?" she wondered aloud, her voice filled with confusion.
"Hopefully, you invited me into your dream so I could check your answers, right? Right?" a voice teased from somewhere in the class.
Vinese slowly looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. She turned back to the teacher with a bright, albeit nervous, smile.
"Would you like me to try again, ma'am?"
The class erupted into laughter again.
"Quiet! All of you, get out of the way! And you, stand outside with your hands raised!" the teacher shouted frantically, her patience wearing thin. She had hoped this year would be different, but it seemed this class was determined to drive her crazy.
As Vinese stepped out into the hallway, she saw Kevin, Eli, and Brex already there, kneeling on the floor with their hands held high in the air.
"What are you all doing here?" she asked, looking at them curiously.
"Why? Where did you come from? Don't you know why we're out here?" Kevin asked, looking at her with a mix of annoyance and resignation.
"What happened, Kevin?" Vinese asked, and without hesitation, she knelt down beside them and raised both her hands, fitting right in.
"Ma'am caught my 'prayers,' obviously," Kevin explained.
"Eli got caught using his cellphone—I sent him a message with the answers. And Brex… well, you can guess. Did you get kicked out because you were sleeping during the exam?" he asked.
Vinese giggled.
"Hehehe, something like that. So, what exactly happened with Brex?"
"My cheat code fell on the floor, and ma'am saw it," Brex answered simply, looking a bit sheepish.
And that was how these four troublemakers ended up outside the classroom, kneeling and holding their hands up, much to the amusement of anyone who passed by.
Two hours later, the bell rang, and the exam was over. Ms. Nilla walked back out to the hallway, holding the stack of test papers, her expression grim.
"What are the results, ma'am?" Eli asked immediately, hoping against hope that he might have scraped a passing grade.
"And you still have the courage to ask?" Ms. Nilla scoffed, looking at him as if he had lost his mind.
"You think you have a result worth hearing? Well! All of you have failed—except for the four transferees who came from that famous school. Do you think I'm happy with your performance today? I really 'appreciate' your intelligence—it goes all the way down to the bottom!"
Chezty, who had followed the teacher out, interrupted her bluntly.
"Ma'am, all we really need to hear is our results. We don't need the commentary."
This sparked an uproar. Everyone except the four new students began arguing and yelling, protesting the results.
"That's enough! Be quiet!" the teacher shouted, her anger flaring up again.
"Eli! You even misspelled 'human nature'!"
"Ah, so do I have a result, ma'am?" Eli asked, still clinging to a sliver of hope.
"No! Don't say another word!" Ms. Nilla snapped.
Someone in the background laughed loudly.
"Hahaha! Eli's answers are half-baked, man. He wrote 'Human Inherate' instead of 'Human Nature'—the spelling is still wrong! Hahahaha!" It was Chillie, unable to contain his amusement.
"Shut up! Be quiet, Chillie!" the teacher barked, turning her glare on him.
"And you! You wrote 'mental status' instead of 'marital status'! Do you want me to send you to a mental hospital?" she shouted at another student.
"You may be mistaken, ma'am. I saw it written on Izy's paper, isn't that right, Izy? It was 'mental,' right?" one student tried to deflect.
"Be quiet over there! That's not what I wrote," Izy muttered, looking embarrassed.
"And you, Chezty," the teacher turned to her, pointing a finger.
"What do you mean by writing 'frights' as your answer?"
Chezty didn't even flinch. She looked the teacher right in the eye and said,
"Ma'am, haller!!! You don't even know what 'frights' means? Don't you have a dictionary in your house?"
The entire class stared at Chezty in shock, amazed by her boldness.
"Hahaha, yes ma'am!" Brex chimed in enthusiastically.
"Frights are those things that fly or take off! Did I explain it correctly, Vinese?"
If this had been the 1980s, Ms. Nilla might have grabbed a stick and slapped her students with it. Her face was so red it looked like it might explode.
"Yes, you're right, Brex! Your brain cells are working overtime today," Vinese complimented him, trying to hold back a laugh. Several other students nodded in agreement.
"Wait, is it really 'frights'? Isn't it supposed to be 'fight'?" Aiko whispered, looking thoroughly confused.
"What do you mean? 'Frights'? You really think you're right, Brex? Hahaha!" Eli retorted, finding the whole thing ridiculous.
"This is how stupid this section is," someone muttered from the back, shaking their head.
"I hope you guys can keep up with this level of… whatever this is."
"Really, Eli? You thought the answer was 'fling'? I thought it was 'flatting,'" Kevin added, looking just as confused as everyone else.
Ms. Nilla finally reached her breaking point. She could take no more.
"SHUT UP!!!!"
Her voice was so loud that everyone instinctively covered their ears. It felt as if the entire classroom was shaking from the force of her shout.
"STUPID! STUPID! ALL OF YOU HAVE NO BRAINS! You really don't have a brain in your heads!" she screamed, her voice cracking with frustration.
The four transferees sitting at the back just stared, their eyes wide. They couldn't believe how silly and chaotic their new classmates were. It was like watching a comedy show.
"Do you think your answers are right, Brex, Kevin, and Eli?" the teacher demanded, taking a deep breath to calm herself.
"The correct answer is 'flight'! Not 'frights,' not 'fling,' and especially not 'flatting,' Kevin! Do you want me to 'flat' you? Do you even know what that means?"
"No ma'am," Kevin frowned, looking genuinely puzzled.
"And you still answer back?" she snapped.
"You asked me a question, so I answered, ma'am," Kevin said innocently.
"My mom told me that if an elder asks me a question, I should always answer."
"Elder? Me? Elder? Ahhhhhhh!" Ms. Nilla screamed in sheer frustration, throwing her hands up in the air.
"I'm going to go crazy because of you," she muttered, rubbing her temples.
"Ma'am, just relax," Clatty said, trying to soothe her.
"Don't be angry with Kevin. It's not our fault his answers are wrong."
"What is so hard about the question I gave you?" the teacher asked, looking at the ceiling as if seeking patience from above.
"The only question was: What is the word for a hasty departure? Even a first-grade student can answer that! It's 'Flight'! Flight! Flight!" she repeated the word three times, emphasizing each syllable.
"I wish you had just told us the answer earlier so we wouldn't have been confused," Chezty said, sounding genuinely sad about the misunderstanding. Several other students nodded in agreement.
"Alright! This is enough," the teacher said, her voice tired. "It is useless to waste my energy on you. Talking to you serves no purpose The teacher took a deep, steadying breath, visibly forcing herself to calm down. If she hadn't reined in her temper right then and there, she was absolutely certain she would have ended up in the hospital with a stress-induced illness.
"Because most of you have failed this exam," she announced, her voice weary but firm,
"You will write a personal narrative about your own life to earn additional points. This is your chance to improve your scores. Class dismissed. Make sure to submit your life stories by Friday. See you tomorrow."
Without waiting for a response, Ms. Nilla turned on her heel and marched out of the classroom, eager to put as much distance between herself and her chaotic students as possible.
As the door clicked shut, the tension in the room evaporated instantly, replaced by the usual chatter. Everyone packed their bags and began heading home. Aiko lingered near the back, noticing Eli standing by the window, sipping contentedly from a small cup. Curious, she walked over to him.
"Is it delicious?" she asked, eyeing the cup.
Eli took another sip, a strange, satisfied glint in his eyes.
"Yes. Very much so. Do you want to try?" he offered, holding the cup out to her.
Aiko shook her head quickly, taking a small step back.
"No, thank you. I've seen enough blood at my dad's hospital to last me a lifetime. But… do you want some? I could probably get some for you," she offered softly.
A wide, genuine smile spread across Eli's face, and he nodded eagerly.
"I would like that very much."
"Waaa! Today has been so exhausting," Vinese yawned loudly, stretching her arms before draping them over Izy's shoulders in a warm hug. She playfully nudged her friend, and Izy shot her a mock-glare, though the corners of her mouth twitched upward. The group erupted into good-natured laughter.
"Let's go buy waffles!" someone in the group suggested enthusiastically.
"Me too! Count me in!" Kevin shouted, immediately latching onto Izy and wrapping his arms around her in a bear hug. Izy was taken aback for a moment, but seeing his earnest, puppy-like expression, she softened and smiled—it was actually kind of cute.
"Geez, you're impossible! Alright, let's go," she said, shaking her head but making no move to push him away.
"Wait for me!" Che-che called out, hurrying to catch up.
"Me too!" Xandrex added, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
"Don't leave us behind!" Brex pleaded, looking worried that he might miss out on the fun.
"Me~" Aiko started to say, ready to join the crowd, but Eli gently placed a hand on her arm, stopping her.
"My… supply is running low," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper, his eyes holding a silent request.
Aiko looked at him, understanding dawning on her face. She nodded, a look of resignation mixed with affection in her eyes. She wasn't going to get out of this.
"Alright," she said softly.
"Let's go," Eli said, a sense of relief washing over him as he wrapped his arm firmly around her shoulders, guiding her away from the group and toward a quieter, darker path.
Koren World
— Ivobil Kingdom —
Loilla POV
The air in the royal chambers was heavy, thick with the scent of medicinal herbs and an unspoken sorrow. I stood in the dimly lit corridor, turning to the Queen's personal maid, my voice low and urgent.
"How is Her Majesty doing?"
The maid lowered her eyes, her expression grave.
"She remains in a coma, Colonel. She is very weak. We cannot say for certain when—or if—she will regain consciousness. I am so sorry."
I let out a deep, heavy breath, the weight of the situation pressing down on my shoulders. I offered her a nod of thanks and stepped past her, pushing open the heavy wooden doors to the Queen's sickroom.
Inside, the room was silent, save for the faint, labored breathing coming from the bed. Prince Aris sat beside his mother, his figure silhouetted against the fading light. He looked small and vulnerable, nothing like the future king he was meant to be.
"Prince Aris," I greeted him softly, careful not to startle him.
He turned his head slowly, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with sadness. He looked back at the unconscious figure of his mother.
"Colonel… I am not used to seeing Her Majesty lying here like this, so weak and still. I am used to her voice filling these halls—loud, commanding, and always smiling so brightly. Seeing her like this… it breaks my heart."
"Forgive me for arriving so late, Your Highness," I said, stepping closer.
"Tell me what needs to be done. How can I help you in this dark hour?"
Prince Aris stood up, his movement stiff. The sorrow in his eyes hardened into something sharp and dangerous—rage. He turned to face me fully, his gaze piercing.
"I want you to find the Prince of Apal," he commanded, his voice trembling with suppressed fury.
"He is the reason our city of Ivobil has been thrown into chaos. Find him, Loilla… and kill him. I want his head brought to me."
I stood perfectly still, accepting his order without reaction, though my mind raced. I understood the source of his anger. It was true that the Prince of Apal was blamed for the invasion that had turned Ivobil into a mess of destruction and sorrow. But I also knew there was more to the story, a truth hidden beneath layers of war and politics. My mind drifted back to the events that had led them to this point.
Flashback
The throne room had been in an uproar. A messenger had burst through the doors, breathless and terrified.
"Your Majesty! News from the border! The new King of Apal has been crowned!" he announced, his voice echoing off the high stone walls.
"What? Who?" The Queen demanded, her face draining of color. She swayed on her feet, looking as if she might collapse right there on the throne.
"Valon," the messenger replied.
"Valon is the new king of the Vamons."
"We cannot stop the coronation now—it is already too late," the Queen said, her mind instantly shifting from shock to strategy. She straightened her back, the warrior in her taking over.
"Prepare for war. They will not stop at the border; they will definitely attack our city. First, send forces to rescue Dwarfemia and its neighboring villages. They will be the first targets, and we cannot let them fall."
She turned her head, calling out sharply,
"Gornichnaya! Gornichnaya!"
"Yes, Your Majesty?" Her loyal maid appeared instantly, bowing low.
"Prepare my battle armor," the Queen ordered.
"We face a great war, and I will not hide from it." She then turned her gaze to me, her eyes intense and filled with a mother's desperate love.
"Colonel, your duty is to keep the Prince safe. I do not want him harmed in this war. As long as he is secure, you must leave the kingdom." She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a fierce whisper.
"Find the Prince of Apal. Find him and return the throne to its rightful owner. Clear his name. And above all else, do not let anyone harm Prince Aris. Do you understand your mission?"
End of Flashback
I looked back at the young man standing before me now. Prince Aris knew nothing of his mother's true plan; he only knew the war and the blame placed on the Apalian prince. I knew that telling him the truth now would only stun him and cloud his judgment further. So, I chose to remain silent, offering him a respectful bow as if I fully agreed with his command.
But in my heart, I made a silent vow. The Prince of Apal must be found—not to be killed, but to be brought back so he could clear his name. And I would do everything in my power to fulfill the Queen's wish and help her restore peace to our land.
To be continued...