'Should I trust him?' Luxe pondered, a sudden chill raced down his spine, raising tiny bumps along his arms.
"You don't trust me do you?" Lancelot muttered.
Luxe and Lancelot walked side by side along the stone path leading away from the basement entrance. The golden evening light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the white uniforms and black pants they both wore.
"I do trust you, it just felt out of the blue. would you mind telling me how they are a cult?" Luxe asked, his heart heavy yet his eyes showed curiosity.
"Listen. I have learned that people who have abilities or superhuman abilities are called Wishers." Lancelot said.
"Not that I don't trust you but is that really the name?" Luxe questioned. "It sounds so cartoonish."
"Why are you questioning me? I'm not the one who made that name!" Lancelot retorted. "Let me finish will you?"
"Uh, fine." Luxe said.
"GA is basically what you call power. It's more of a fancy way to introduce a name. There is a progression, but I won't delve into it. The wishers are basically the opposition, it may sound like they are heroes by their names. It is not." Lancelot explained.
They walked in silence along the winding path to the dormitories. Lancelot ascended the narrow staircase. The wooden steps creaking faintly beneath his weight.
Lancelot opens the tall, rectangular door with simple carving on its top. Painted in faded white that glowed softly under the Golden dream light.
Lancelot walks towards the bunk bed, both covered in white long cloth. Alongside the bed was two white pillows that's neatly arranged on the side.
"Sit next to me." Lancelot said, tapping the bed, it's cushion soft and smooth silk.
"You basically explain the power system to me but you didn't prove any proof that they are a cult." Luxe said, his suspicion grew stronger.
"I'm not done yet." Lancelot sighed and seconds later, "The capsules, in the deeper part of the basement. From the space movies I had seen, it mostly used to hibernate, causing people not to age. But these capsules are not. They are used to experiment. Students like us. The person who started this sick and twisted experiment is none other than. The Principal."
Luxe thought once again, confused and overwhelmed.
'i can't even believe? Should I really believe him? But if I don't then a lot of students will suffer more!'
"We must do something! Because if we don't—" Luxe began to suggest an idea, but Lancelot interjected before he could finish.
"I already thought of that. We must not let other students suffer. So I came across a single plan." Lancelot paused then finally continued, "Expelled."
"Expelled?" Luxe repeated, tilting his head. "How?"
"We will create a problem, that even the principal must cooperate to fix it. For the expelling part, it's simple. Let them see the truth." Lancelot said, getting on the bed, his both hands rested on his head. "For now, let's sleep. It's much better to do something with a good sleep rather than not sleeping at all."
"Ok." Luxe climbed the ladder and slept at the upper part of the bunker bed.
A sudden noise can be heard outside, waking Luxe up.
Luxe pushed open the door, raising both of his hands as a wide yawn escapes him. He turned his head from left to right then he lifted his gaze upward, sun hung high above its golden light shimmering warmly through the window behind him casting a soft, radiant glow across the corridor.
"You awake?" Lancelot said, suprising Luxe.
"Would you mind?" Luxe said.
"Sorry not sorry, Let's go.We don't have much time to execute this."
"Where are we going?" Luxe muttered, descending down the narrow wooden stairs.
"I'm going to the broadcast room." Lancelot said. "And for you, by the time I announce where they will go, you will lead them to the capsule Project.You got it?"
"Yes."
----
Lancelot walk to the Broadcast Room passed in tense silence. He opens the door, the room was a circular chamber with high vaulted ceilings. On the center was a tall, ornate silver podium with a glowing crystal microphone and several large speakers were mounted on the walls, their surface etched with faint glowing runes.
Lancelot reached over and flipped the small switch on the podium. A quiet click echoed in the room as the system powered on. The microphone was now live.
Lancelot stood behind the podium, his voice steady and clear as it echoed through every speaker in school.
"Students of the Academy.
By now, many of you have heard the Principal announcement. Graduation has moved forward. Our time here is ending sooner than what we expected.
But before we blindly follow this rules, step to the unknown... I ask you to consider this:
How many of you truly know what lies beyond this gate?
How many of you have asked why we rushed out suddenly?
How many of you ever thought across your minds what secret lies on this Academy?
I have seen things in the basement, horrific things, we are not being prepared for the better future. We are being used.
If you want the truth, meet me in the basement.
I will show you what they don't want you to see.
This is not a request for chaos nor clarity.
Choose for yourselves."
In the wake of Lancelot announcement, heavy and uneasy silence settled over the Academy. Students from the classroom who have ongoing lessons with their professors, rushed out, and straight away go to the basement. All line up.
"Follow me." Luxe said as he guide over the students who listened and chose to believe Lancelot.
Like the usual Luxe opens a specific part of the wall, opening a door on the left side.
As they entered the dark room, Luxe clapped his hands and the lights lit up, revealing the countless massive capsules.
Afterwards, students one by one chattered, different emotions flooded their mind. Some of them are shocked, amused, and most importantly afraid. Then in the long hallway, there stands a pillar with red button on top.
Luxe pushed the button. The ground they're standing goes down, finally at last, they have arrived at a long narrow hallway from left to right, and like the last time it was countless jail cells. The same thing that made Luxe horrified.
Then Lancelot followed, going down and meets with the students who believes him. One by one started asking questions.
"Is it really true? We're being used?" One student said his both hands clutched to his head and started chuckling wildly, as if he had finally lost it. "We're fucked!"
"You're lying aren't you? None of this is real! None of this!" One student at the back said his tone high.
"As much as I want to believe this isn't true, I can't." Lancelot murmured.
"So what are we going to do now!? We can't just stand around here and do nothing!!" Another student barged in.
"I know, but I want you to remain calm. So I was locked up here and I created an escape on that jail cell and we all fit perfectly. So there won't be much problem." Lancelot said.
"Then let's go!!" All students raised their voice.
Afterwards that short meeting, all of them goes right and opens the jail cell where Lancelot was held.
"We are going here." Lancelot said as he pointed below the bed. "I saw the ventilation. I measured myself and the ventilation and I fit perfectly. And so all of you." Lancelot said. "Let's go we don't have much time!"
All students pull the bed on its position, revealing the large ventilation grille that was built into the lower part of the wall.
Lancelot picks a screwdriver on his pocket.
"Where did you get that?" Luxe said.
"I picked it up on my way here."
Lancelot loosely remove the screws on the four corners.
In a matter of seconds, it was finally open.
One by one, each student enters, finally the remaining ones are Luxe and Lancelot but before they even enter, outside the jail cell stood Merlin and Cedric.
"If this were the original world, you'll be going to the jail for breaking many rules." Merlin said.
"But were not in the original world." Lancelot answered.
Luxe went back, seeing Lancelot standing and actively talking with two students.
"Who are they? Are they also a part of the cult?" Luxe questioned.
"Yes. They're my friends, but I was too late. They were already brainwashed."
Lancelot murmured, his tone low, his eyes showed sad expression.
"Don't listen to him." Merlin said.
"Sorry but I don't want my brain to be brainwashed, besides what are you going to do with me anyway? My brain is empty."
Luxe raised both his hands and tapped his head.
"Go back. I'll handle them." Lancelot said.
"Sure. Just come back and get done with it." Luxe said and entered the large ventilation.
Before Lancelot spoke up, he waited a few more seconds, waiting if luxe finally went out and then, "Merlin, if you forgot what happened, then let me remind you." Suddenly a katana appeared on his hand, holding it firmly.
"How!?" Cedric narrowed his eyes, as he slightly step back.
"What did you do?" Merlin said.
"Nothing." He said his voice dripping into low, dangerous whisper.
"I might have been Awakened."