Very early the next day, Lieutenant Ashton, dressed in his usual soldier's apparel, strode briskly down the quiet hall leading to the guest quarters. He stopped at each door-first the boys', then the girls', leaving neatly folded uniforms for a meeting with the superintendent.
When the group emerged out of their rooms, Kymani frowned at the grey, soldier-patterned outfit with his name stitched across the chest. He tugged at the stiff collar, eyeing the heavy black boots.
"So what, are we soldiers now?" he muttered, shooting a glance at Lynx, who stepped out behind him in the same attire.
"Whatever," the hazel-eyed boy replied flatly. "Let's just get to this meeting. I've got a lot of questions that need answering."
Sitting at a huge table laden with assorted breakfast dishes, the crew took in the unfamiliar figures gathered around the superintendent, each dressed in strange attires.
Valtor froze when his eyes landed on a face he recognized-, the stranger he had bumped into days earlier. A flicker of memory stained his thoughts as he struggled to piece it together.
The man, seated beside the superintendent, noticed his stare and offered a small smile with a nod. Valtor, though stiff at first, returned the gesture.
Orea followed his gaze. When her eyes fell on the suited man, realization widened them. She turned back to Valtor, catching the tension tightening his features. Quietly, beneath the table, she slid her hand into his.
His eyes flicked to hers. Her gentle smile steadied him, and the strain drained from his face as he squeezed her hand in return.
From the other side, Lynx watched the exchange, his brows slightly knitted together When Orea's head turned toward him, he quickly looked away, feigning disinterest.
Superintendent Jeremy rose to his feet, his posture firm as he addressed the table.
"As head of military affairs in this district, I welcome the regional council", he gave a respectful bow toward the unfamiliar figures"..and our valued guests." His eyes shifted to the reluctant youths. "Thank you for being part of this crucial meeting. Today, we will discuss matters that shape all of our futures. In the meantime, please, help yourselves to the delicacies before you."
With that, he resumed his seat.
One by one, the unfamiliar faces introduced themselves- the regional heads representing the five great regions of the world.
Valtor's gaze locked onto the suited, middle-aged man among them. His chest tightened as the man introduced himself: a professor from Nexis, the region famed for its mastery of science and technology, and an affiliate of the Vatican government.
As the introductions ended, the Vatican leader, seated as the head of the council, leaned forward. His voice carried a measured authority as he began to address the true purpose of the gathering,- the reason behind the selection of the youths.
"We could no longer stand idle while our world is invaded- by aliens, by monsters," the Vatican leader began, his voice echoed across the table.
"The first of these creatures appeared in Nexis, in a barren stretch of land scattered with small settlements. The Nexist army eradicated them swiftly with specially modified weaponry. For a time, we believed the threat had ended. But it had only begun.
"Their second arrival was here, in Vatica- greater in number, more vicious than before. They infested a forest reserve once cherished as a center of tourism. This time, eradication proved impossible. To contain the spread, we forged a massive metal barrier, sealing off the infected zone as an impenetrable wall between what remained safe…and what did not."
Valtor, Zara, Orea, and Kymani exchanged uneasy glances, silent understanding flickering in their eyes.
"But containment is not enough," the leader pressed on. "We accepted the truth: these creatures are not gone. They will return- at any place, at any time, in any of the five regions. So, the council gathered. Together, we sought a permanent solution."
He lifted a hand toward the suited man from Nexis. "Through collaboration with Nexist scientists, we have designed a way to create superhumans- warriors enhanced to repel this threat and protect all life on our world."
His gaze settled on the youths. "And that is where you come in."
The group shifted uneasily, glancing at one another as the weight of his words hung heavy in the air.