[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Main Food Court: Bennelong]
tap...tap...tap...
Cam tapped her foot against the polished marble floor.
"What''s taking her so long?" she muttered, a worried knot forming in her stomach.
"Jan wouldn''t say no, would he?"
Had she been too blunt? A celebratory dinner might have felt insensitive after his loss.
She felt guilty thinking about her selfish actions.
Maybe Valencia was desperately trying to convince him toe…
"Perhaps she''s lost?"
Lyra''s voice swayed slightly, breaking the tense silence. "We should check—"
"No." Cam clenched her jaw. "Let''s find our seats first."
She needed a moment to collect herself and strategize another approach if Jan had refused.
THRUM...THRUM...THRUM...
Just then, a tremor pulsed through the food court.
"...!"
Heavy footsteps echoed, each thud sending a shiver down Cam''s spine.
The air grew thick with an overpowering energy that had nothing to do with the celebratory atmosphere.
"Can you feel that, Lyra?" Cam whispered,
Lyra nodded, her eyes wide. "Surely… surely it''s not—"
THRUM!!!
The footsteps grew louder, and closer.
Instinctively, they both turned towards the source.
A towering, shadowy figure emerged, casting an rming pallor over the brightly lit restaurant.
"..."
"Oh! Lyra! Cam!" A booming, yet surprisingly gentle, voice cut through the tension.
The girls blinked, their racing hearts slowing as a familiar face came into focus.
Wrinkled, but still maintaining the remains of a once-handsome youth, the features were unmistakable.
His blonde hair was fading, but his broad smile remained the same.
"Mr. Freya," Cam greeted, her voice warm.
"It''s good to see you." Lyra offered a respectful nod.
Gerrard chuckled. "None of that formality, youngdies. Where''s the usual crew? Not celebrating the end of the tournament, are we?"
"They should be joining us any minute," Cam assured him.
Gerrard''s gaze softened. "Speaking of champions, have you seen Valencia by any chance? Haven''t seen her since the awards ceremony ended."
Lyra responded, "I think she''s talking with Jan right now, Mr. Freya."
Gerrard''s smile faltered slightly.
"Jan, eh? Well, that''s…interesting."
BZZZZT!....BZZZZT!
He nced at his watch, a furrow appearing on his brow and his expression hardened for a split second.
"Apologies, girls," he said, his voice regaining its usualposure.
"Seems something unexpected hase up."
"Of course, Mr. Freya," Cam said. "Take care..."
With a curt nod, Gerrard turned and strode away, his broad frame carrying surprising agility.
His departure cast a subtle shadow over the lighthearted atmosphere.
Lyra leaned closer to Cam. "He seemed…on edge."
Cam pursed her lips.
"Something is definitely bothering him. But knowing Mr. Freya, he won''t share details unless he wants to."
Their light chatter subsided, reced by a thoughtful silence.
The weight of Gerrard''s unease remained in the air, casting a veil of uncertainty over the evening''s ns.
***
{Valencia''s POV}
[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Presentation Hall]
The lights flickered on, revealing the empty presentation hall.
As I recalled that I handed Mr. Kolek the folder, he reassured me that he''d put it in a safe ce.
Determined, I scanned the room. It seems those same chairs from the semi-final draw haven''t moved...
I ced my katana by the door and started my search.
I couldn''t admit it, but a tiny voice hoped the contract would be hidden dramatically, worthy of its importance.
[5 minutester...]
haah...
Minutes passed by and I still haven''t found the folder of the contract.
I wondered If Mr. Kolek actually took it with him instead... Then if it''s true I might not-
BZZZT!...BZZZT!...
[Snoozed Notification: You''ve gotten an email from: Teacher: Kolek - 1 hour ago]
[Evening Ms Freya, I have ced your folder into the bottompartment of the podium. Please make sure you have it collected before 7. All student facilities including the Presentation Halls will be locked.]
[From Mr Kolek.]
A blush crept up my cheeks.
I felt a frown touched my lips.
How did I not think of that? Of course, the most important spot in the room...
Approaching the raised tform, I wondered how I was supposed to hand this to Jan.
Should I be straightforward?... Or just y it off like it''s nothing?... or just be me?
[Harp sound effect...]
[Valencia''s Imaginary Scenario]
"Ahem, Jan! As future guild leader of Miracles, it is my honour to present this offering on behalf of my father…"
*Valencia hands Jan the contract*
"Valencia, sign me up! There''s no need for me to read this!"
"Yay!!!"
Cam and Lyra appear, their enthusiastic voices joining Valencia''s in celebration.
"Wow, Valencia! You signed Jan! Your mother would be so proud. And guild leader, starting today..." His voice held a warmth, a weight she couldn''t quite ce.
"You''ve made me so proud."
[Valencia''s Imaginary Scenario End]
hehe... me? a leader!
khum...
oh...uh right.
With the contract in hand, I grabbed my katana and confidently walked out the door.
It was time to face reality, and hopefully, Jan.
...
...
...
[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Hallways...]
I clutched the contract tight, hurrying through the hallway.
A nce at my watch confirmed it – I''d need to pick up the pace if I wanted to make the dinner celebration.
whooosh...
As I rounded a corner, a sudden gust of wind mmed into me, raising goosebumps on my arms in an instant.
achooo!
I sneezed, the sound echoing in the sudden silence. "Odd," I muttered.
"Isn''t it a bit early for this sort of weather?"
All the windows were closed. But where was this st of cold airing from?
The overhead lights flickered menacingly, plunging the corridor into a jumble of murky shadows.
Was this some prank? "If you''re there," I demanded, my voice thin, e out now."
Silence answered.
Yet, as my eyes scanned the empty hallways, the unnerving sensation of being followed clung to me.
Each turn revealed more deste corridors and a persistent flicker of darkness just out of sight.
Instinct, honed through years of training, screamed that this was no prank of the light.
Someone, or something, was tracking me.
Rounding another corner, I strode confidently to the centre of the long stretch of hallway and came to an abrupt stop.
My breath caught in my throat.
An overpowering silence pressed against me, and ahead, in the deepest shadows, a figure seemed to merge…
mmmmmm...
My fingers tightened around the contract. "Who…who are you?"
The words caught in my throat.
A tremble, barely visible, betrayed my growing unease.
It was unnatural, the way this figure had seemed to rise from the ground itself.
"A news reporter..."
Their face, half-hidden in shadow, twisted into an evil smile.
I doubted that he was a reporter with each passing second.
My grip shifted to the hilt of my katana.
"You''re not supposed to be here. All the media left after the tournament."
The ''reporter'' merely tilted their head, that smile widening.
"What''s wrong? Can''t the tournament champion answer a simple question?"
My free hand slid behind me, fingers flying across my watch.
A desperate message – a plea for help – shot into the ether before the voice spoke again.
"Are you familiar with devils?"
A chill ran down my spine.
This had nothing to do with interviews. "No," my voice cracked, "why?"
"Because…" The reporter''s tone shifted reced by something more sinister,
"This world is locked in a struggle for dominance. And you, my dear, would make a fine addition to bing one."
I''m not sure what he was talking about... But it''s clear he''s a lunatic.
"I don''t know what you''re talking about," I retorted, edging back, "but I think I''ll just—"
"You''re not leaving." Their voice was a coldmand.
A surge of dark energy rippled around him.
My eyes widened in horror as the reporter''s form dissolved, revealing a figure covered in ck, a single mask obscuring half his face.
As I reached for my katana, a wave of weakness washed over me.
"...!"
Why wasn''t my mana –?
My gaze dropped. Dark strings, like a spiderweb, clung to my legs, draining me.
I could feel my body getting lighter by the second, my vision was blurry, and I was struggling to catch sight of his appearance.
"It''s no use fighting," the figure''s voice rasped.
"You''ve fallen into my trap, Valencia Freya. You''reing with me."
A jagged strand of darkness shot towards me.
My eyelids fluttered, and all I could do was watch helplessly.
...I''m...scared...
"Someone...help...me..."
Closing my eyes the world around me blurred into a swirl of darkness.
Shapes melted and dissolved, leaving only a menacing figure shrouded in shadow.
DASH!!!
Then, just as I felt my legs give out on me, a rush of warmth enveloped my body as their arms slid beneath my shoulders, steadying me against the dizzying fall.
Opening my eyes again I felt a heartbeat pulsing against my cheek, frantic, fast and strong.
His? I couldn''t make out his face, but in my fading vision, strands of inky ck were all I could see.
His hair, perhaps?
Then a sudden familiar weight of my katana moved.
SHING!
Followed by a sharp, shing sound that echoed in my fading consciousness.
I wasn''t sure if I even had the strength to speak, but a whispered plea nheless escaped my lips...or was it only in my mind?
Then, a voice drifted through the darkness.
Familiar, but impossibly distant.
It seemed tinged with an emotion I was too weak to understand...
"…seriously…why do you keep running so far from me?"
______________
To Be Continued...
______________
Authors Notes:
- Morwen''s transformation ability works through killing his target and then consuming them to gain their looks, physical features, etc.