whispered, his voice catching:
– "Serayn... You're... alive?"
The girl smiled confidently, brushing strands of hair from her face, and said:
– "What did you think, Nir? I told you before... We'd meet again."
He stared at her in bewilderment:
– "You've gotten stronger... You killed the Fros monster with a single blow!"
She replied with a slight smile and a sarcastic tone:
– "Aha, so you know Fros then... That makes explaining easier.
But honestly, I didn't expect it to die that quickly, which means only one thing: it was weak.
The Fros come in types, some strong, and some who don't deserve the name at all... And luckily for you, you faced one of the second kind."
Nir lowered his head and said in a quiet voice:
– "I didn't know that... I was just trying not to fight any of them."
Serayn shrugged, saying:
– "In any case, let's continue this conversation somewhere safer."
He asked her:
– "Where to?"
She answered confidently:
– "To the hideout."
She said it before suddenly surging forward and leaping off the building.
Nir froze for a moment as he watched her descend lightly, then he muttered with a smile:
(Okay, let's do this...)
He took off his glasses, and they instantly transformed into a gate of blue light.
He jumped through it and found himself in the air, across from Serayn as she smoothly descended.
She raised her hands, releasing a slight wave of water beneath her, allowing her to land safely.
Nir clapped, smiling:
– "Amazing, Serayn!"
She chuckled lightly:
– "Thanks, Nir. Now, the important thing is, follow me."
They walked together down the dark street.
Nir asked her:
– "Is the hideout far?"
– "Not too much, it's essentially an underground shelter."
– "Aha, I see."
And suddenly...
A heavy silence fell, and a suffocating dark aura formed in the air.
The two froze in place, before a small boy appeared with black hair and yellow eyes, his pupils vertical like a monster's.
He wore a baggy, dark gray suit and a short-sleeved shirt, topped by a hood that covered his face and cast dark shadows upon it.
Serayn was about to attack, but a black substance emerged from the ground and tightly bound them.
The boy said in a chillingly calm voice:
– "Don't be in a rush, beautiful... If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it the moment you eliminated the monster on the roof."
Serayn trembled and asked cautiously:
– "Who... who are you?"
He raised his hand with a cold smile and said:
– "I am one of the Six Shadows' followers... My name is Edi, from the cannibalistic Fros."
Nir's face paled, and his inner voice was frantic and hesitant:
(Is this a Fros?... Six Shadows? Who are they? If this is a follower, what must the master be like? Is this my end? Am I going to die after finally meeting Serayn? Damn... Can I escape from this devil?)
Edi approached with slow steps, his body elongated, and his arms stretched out like snakes.
He extended his finger to touch Serayn's cheek and said with a wicked smile:
– "Don't be stubborn, my sweet... I was just saying hello."
Then he turned away, the aura around him gradually dissolving.
He said in a quiet voice as he vanished into the darkness:
– "It was a pleasure meeting you, Serayn and Edi... See you soon."
He disappeared completely, and with him, the restraints dissolved.
Serayn breathed rapidly and said:
– "Damn... I thought for a moment we were going to die!"
Nir answered, exhaling:
– "Me too... Why did he leave us and go?"
She said with nervous worry:
– "I don't know, but it's better we get away before he changes his mind."
In a towering place, atop the very same building, Edi stood on the edge, watching them disappear into the distance.
He muttered with a cunning smile forming on his lips:
– "Delicious... I wonder what you'll taste like, Serayn. Will it be appetizing?"
Then he turned, heading towards the center of the rooftop, where a man was bound hand and foot, his mouth gagged.
Edi raised his head and said in a soft, grating tone:
– "It's lunchtime."
Movement suddenly ceased. Edi violently tore off the cloth gagging the man's mouth. The "man's" screams immediately erupted, mixed with tears of terror:
– "Please! Let me go! Don't do this to me, please, sir, don't eat me!"
Edi, who moved heavily with every step, advanced, his eyes glowing with a cold brilliance. He answered in a deep, nonchalant voice, wiping his lips slowly:
– "Frankly, I have to eat. And the meal I saw downstairs has quite whetted my appetite. No hard feelings, fellow."
Edi slowly extended his hand. It wrapped around the bound "man's" body like a snake, while the man screamed in insane desperation:
– "Noooo! Noooo!"
Edi brought his face closer and pressed a long, sickening kiss onto the man's mouth. The man's eyes widened in shock and sheer terror.
In that horrifying moment, the arms restraining the "man" turned into something resembling dark-colored, viscous tentacles. The tentacles covertly infiltrated the man's trousers from behind and began to torturously manipulate him slowly.
The "man" violently resisted, trembling and writhing in unbearable pain, but his resistance was useless against the tentacles' strength. Edi continued to kiss the man, while the tentacles sucked something out from inside his body. He only stopped when the man's strength completely gave out.
Edi withdrew the tentacles, then threw the man's body to the ground. The "man" was nothing but a lifeless mass of emaciated flesh, as if he were a structure stripped of everything within him.
Edi wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, smiling contentedly, and whispered:
– "What a delicious meal!"
He then sat down at the edge of the building, gazing at the sky with serene looks, as if nothing had happened at all.
Suddenly, a huge brown bird appeared behind him, transforming before him into a man with wings and sharp blue eyes.
The newcomer said in a coarse voice:
– "Master Edi, I came looking for humans in this area."
Edi replied with a smile:
– "There are no humans here, Asmeld."
– "Are you sure, Master? The smell of humans is prevalent here!"
– "Oh, that's my breakfast... I was just saving it."
Asmeld stared at him intently with a faded smile, then said:
– "Well, I will return, then."
He transformed into a bird again and flew away.
Meanwhile, Edi remained looking down, where "Nir" and "Serayn" had vanished in the distance, and said with a wicked look:
– "No need to thank me... my sweet Serayn."
In the meantime,
Serayn and Nir arrived at the hideout.
Nir said, looking around nervously:
– "Are you sure he won't follow us, Serayn?"
She answered confidently as she walked down the dark corridor:
– "I don't think so... If he wanted to kill us, he would have done it from the start."
She suddenly stopped, turned to him with a serious look, and said:
– "I don't know if you felt what I felt, but I felt a strange thirst for blood... and for him specifically."
Nir said in astonishment:
– "Thirst... You felt a thirst for blood? Do you mean he desires to eat you?"
Serayn exhaled impatiently and said:
– "Forget about that for now."
She continued walking until she reached a metal door, which she opened with quiet steps and entered.
The room was dimly lit, its metal walls cold, reflecting the shadows of the lamps.
Nir followed her in cautious silence.
A girl, slightly short in stature, burst into the scene, drawing attention with her elegant contrast. Her skin was dark brown, covered with a deep, dark tinge, surrounded by short, neatly styled black hair the color of night. As for her eyes, they were a sudden flash of light blue; the color of a clear sea that broke the intensity of the dark colors, hinting at sharp intelligence and constant vigilance.
Her appearance was a skillful blend of strength and femininity.
She mainly wore a black long-sleeved shirt which gave her a practical and serious look, and over it, a short, sleeveless dark purple dress that added a quiet boldness and allowed her to move lightly.
A wide black belt was wrapped around her waist, from which a small pouch dangled, proof that she never went out unprepared.
She completed her look with high black military boots, which stabilized her steps and gave her presence an undeniable solidity.
Suddenly, a girl rushed out of the room, yelling with joy:
– "Siri! You're back! Welc"
She stopped suddenly and stared at Nir in astonishment, pointing her finger at him:
– "And who is this?"
Serayn answered calmly, bordering on seriousness:
– "This is Nir... A new companion with me."
The girl smiled slightly and said:
– "Aha, I understand now."
Nir raised his hand, greeting gently:
– "Pleased to meet you."
But the girl began to circle him with curious, scrutinizing glances that made him freeze in place.
Then she stopped in front of him and said with childlike astonishment:
– "Why do you wear glasses? It's the first time I've seen someone with a special ability wear glasses!"
Serayn chuckled lightly and said with a sarcastic tone:
– "Vanice, have you seen anyone with a special ability other than me and Zeff to ask that question?"
The girl's face flushed, and she said shyly, putting her hand on her head:
– "You're right... Sorry, Nir!"
She extended her hand with a pure smile:
– "Hello, I'm Vanice, pleased to meet you!"
Nir shook her hand, smiling gently:
– "No worries, Vanice, and I'm pleased to meet you too. I'm Nir Spashi."
Vanice said with childish enthusiasm:
– "I know! Siri talked about you a lot, always saying, 'I'm sure he's still alive!"
Serayn chuckled lightly and said:
– "Yes, Nir, I was confident you would survive..."
Nir lowered his head shyly:
– "Thank you, Serayn... I didn't expect to see you again, I thought you were dead..."
She interrupted his conversation with a calm smile:
– "Forget about that for now, sit down."
Nir sat on the couch, while Serayn sat opposite him, leg crossed over leg, resting her arms on her thighs.
She said with a slight smile:
– "Speaking of which, Nir, what's the reason you wear glasses? The last time I saw you, you weren't wearing them."
He answered, adjusting them on his face:
– "Honestly, I don't know, but after a while, I started to feel like I couldn't see well. Luckily, the gelatinous substance I possess, which is part of my ability, I can shape however I want. Now I shape it into glasses to help me see."
Serayn said, examining him with interest:
– "That's strange indeed... Perhaps one aspect of your ability affects one of your senses, or an internal reaction is weakening your sight."
Nir replied with a contemplative calm:
– "It's possible. But I think my sight is weakening like any normal human.
I don't know if my father wore glasses, but my mother didn't... Maybe it's a genetic reason, from my father's side."
Vanice said, her eyes twinkling with curiosity:
– "Nir! Show me your abilities! I want to see how they work! And can I pass through them like you did?"
Nir laughed and said:
– "I don't think so, I tried it with a cat... And it didn't work."
Vanice lowered her head in slight disappointment:
– "What a pity..."
Suddenly, the door burst open, and a person with scattered light brown hair walked in, as if he had just woken up from a deep sleep.
His eyes were golden and shiny, carrying a mischievous, playful look, and he wore a short brown jacket over a black shirt and elegant dark trousers, and long-legged leather boots. Around his neck, a metal pendant dangled, swinging with every step.
He said, smiling as he looked towards Serayn:
– "Serayn, you're back from outside!"
He kept staring at her for a few seconds, fixing his gaze on her chest, before Vanice flared up and yelled with fierce anger:
– "You pervert! Where are you looking with your despicable eyes? Why are you staring at Siri like that?!"
Zeff shouted, holding his head in pain after she hit him:
– "Ouch, Vanice! Always violent! I wasn't looking at her with lustful eyes! In the end, Siri is my beautiful girlfriend."
She hit him again on the head, saying sharply:
– "Your girlfriend who?! You idiot!"
Zeff kept hurting and rubbing his head, then he noticed Nir. He corrected his posture, stepped forward, and extended his hand for a handshake:
– "Hello, I'm Zeff Kolan, are you the new companion?"
Nir shook his hand and said with a smile:
– "Yes, pleased to meet you, Zeff. I'm Nir Spashi."
Zeff smiled cunningly and said slyly:
– "Ahaa, you're the guy Siri talked about a lot... I'll tell you from the start. Just because Siri knew you before doesn't mean she's yours, Siri belongs to me. But if you want, you can take Vanice, I have no problem!"
Before he could finish, Vanice strongly kicked him in the butt, making him fall to his knees in pain, and she yelled:
– "And who decided that, you dimwit?!"
He raised his head, in pain, trying to joke:
– "Believe me, it would be great... I take Siri, and you take Nir... It will be like milk chocolate!"
Vanice yelled in anger, her veins throbbing strongly, and her eyes sparkling like sparks:
– "You never think about what you say, you despicable, perverted fool!"
She extended her hand and summoned her huge sword with a flash of blue mana, directing it toward his neck, saying in a low voice full of threat:
– "Do you have any last wishes?"
Zeff raised his hands in surrender, smiling with an annoying coolness:
– "To caress Siri's breasts."
Before he could continue his words, Vanice launched like a storm and fiercely kicked him in the face, screaming:
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up, you scum!"
Nir said, looking surprised:
– "What is this?"
Serayn replied with slight coolness:
– "Don't worry about it, this is business as usual for us."
Nir nodded:
– "Indeed."
Serayn said, smiling slightly, confirming his words:
– "Indeed."
Vanice hung Zeff up with ropes, looked towards Nir, and said:
– "Speaking of which, Nir, what happened to you? Tell us, we have the whole night to listen to you."
Nir looked at the person hanging in front of him, then turned to Vanice, who was standing coolly, surprised by her cruelty.
– "Don't ask me why you hung him like that."
Nir said, pitying Zeff.
– "Be a little kinder to him."
Vanice replied in a voice as cold as ice, which held no trace of hesitation:
– "If I let him walk around any longer, he would have tried to look under my skirt, and I'm not wearing underwear right now."
Nir stared at her, his face showing signs of astonishment at her excessive frankness.
Nir said:
– "I'm sorry for asking, but regardless of you not wearing underwear... Why are you telling me this so comfortably?"
Serayn intervened calmly, trying to end the awkward situation:
– "Nir, don't worry about this too much. Just start talking."
Nir sighed then said:
– "I don't know where to start, but everything began when my father ran away and left us drowning in a lot of debt."
Afterward, Nir narrated his story until he reached the part about the spider.
Zeff intervened with clear excitement, even while hanging:
– "Wow! Was her body hot, Nir?"
Vanice slapped him with her hand, waved threateningly, and said sharply:
– "Continue, Nir, ignore him, he's nothing more than a pervert."
Nir replied, correcting Zeff:
– "No, she wasn't hot, she was the ugliest thing my eyes have ever seen."
Afterward, Nir continued the rest of the story's events.
Vanice stood up, overcome by sadness and sorrow, and said:
– "I'm sorry, Nir... I know well what it means to lose someone dear to you."
Nir replied in a calm voice, imbued with honesty:
– "I don't know how to say this, but in the beginning, I saw things for what they were, I didn't sugarcoat them. If something was bad, it was bad, and if it was good, it was good. The idea of always seeing things positively is an idea I don't see as right at all. But when Ayaka died... I felt the meaning of surrounding betrayal for the first time. To lose everything... your mother and sister... and to remain alone. To feel that you are completely alone in a world of hell."
Serayn said with gentle kindness:
– "I understand your feeling... I was like that, until I met Vanice and Zeff."
Vanice confirmed her words:
– "Yes, Nir, if it weren't for Siri, I wouldn't be here now."
Zeff said, his usual smile never leaving him even while hanging:
– "Me too!"
Nir added:
– "It's beautiful that you got together. Speaking of which, Serayn, I haven't heard your story yet, I want to know your story too."
Serayn said, placing her hand on her head as if gathering memories:
– "My story? I don't know... A lot happened to me."
Nir urged her with a small, encouraging smile:
– "It doesn't matter, I want to know everything that happened before we met coincidentally on that street then."
Serayn sighed and surrendered to the request:
– "Fine... It starts when my mother was pulling me by the hand into the room where my father was."
An old woman holding a small girl by the hand broke into the room, approaching an old man who was sitting on a seat.
The woman said, her face clouded with worry:
– "Darling, what should we do?"
The old man answered with a resigned calm:
– "Nothing."
The old woman replied pleadingly:
– "But our daughter! Will she live alone? Do you see this as a suitable fate for her?"
The old man said with bitter despair:
– "There's nothing we can do, Katherin... We will inevitably die."
The old woman said, placing her hand on her chest and looking at the old man with painful disappointment:
– "Jota..."
The girl looked at them with a sad gaze, incapable of full comprehension.
Serayn paused for a moment, then resumed in an internal voice:
(I didn't exactly understand what was happening then. But after a while, both my father and mother died, and they told me they died because of the disease "Al Saba." Because of this disease, people age very quickly, lose their health, and die.)
(After I reached adolescence, I was working in sewage, of course, because I had the ability to control water, so fixing any blockage was very easy. That's when I met Nir... Back then, I felt an aura of energy coming from him, but it was strangely stable. I approached him and talked to him, and that was the first time I spoke to a boy my age in my life. I was so engrossed in the conversation that I forgot I had work, and when I wanted to leave for my job, I felt shy telling him I worked in unblocking sewage. I don't know why I didn't want to tell him... So I told him I had a meeting, and when he asked, I was confused, so I said it was a secret.)
(Then what happened happened... The monsters occupied the city, and I was at home then.)
Serayn's memory returned to that day...
Serayn rushed to see scary-looking monsters from the window, rampaging on everyone below.
Serayn said to herself in terror:
– "What should I do? What should I do?!"
Then she saw a little girl hiding in a garbage bin. It ran through her mind:
(Damn... She's little, how can I go and save her?)
Serayn left the house and quickly went down until she reached the next floor. She looked outside and saw nothing, and suddenly a monster passed by, running fast. Serayn quickly moved away so it wouldn't see her. The monster passed in front of the gate, then Serayn rushed out and took the girl out of the bin, quickly carried her, and went up, entered her house, and closed the door.
Serayn said to the little girl, holding her close:
– "Don't worry, don't worry... Everything is fine."
And the girl did not utter a word from the intensity of the fear.
Serayn returned to the present conversation:
– "Afterward, I lived with Vanice until now, she and I protect each other."
Vanice said, smiling happily and intertwining her fingers:
– "Of course... You're the big sister I never had."
Nir said, smiling:
– "What about Zeff? You didn't mention him."
Serayn said with a small, subtly teasing smile:
– "He's not important."
Zeff loudly protested, still hanging:
– "Huhhh? I'm not important?! That was the best part you should have said!"
Nir asked, wondering curiously:
– "How so?"
Zeff said, looking with pretentious pride:
– "They found me slumped!"
Vanice quickly covered his mouth and said to Nir:
– "Trust me, Nir, you don't need to know."
Nir smiled an embarrassed smile, understanding the matter, and said:
– "Okay..."
Serayn stood up and said, heading towards the door:
– "It's time for sleep, follow me, Nir, to show you the rest of the place... You'll like it."
Nir stood up and walked behind Serayn toward the door.
Zeff said from behind them, still hanging:
– "Vanice! Am I going to stay hanging like this for a long time?!"
Vanice walked behind them, ignoring his screams.
Zeff screamed pleadingly:
– "Vanice! Are you going to leave me hanging?!"
Vanice went out and closed the door behind her, so Zeff muttered with tearful eyes, consoling himself:
– "Siri... Surely she will come and untie me soon, she won't leave me like this... Right?"
In the adjacent room,
Serayn said, pointing as she walked down the corridor:
– "This is the dining room, and this is the kitchen. As for the bathroom, there's one designated for boys and another for girls."
Nir said, impressed as he examined the place:
– "Wow... The place is really big inside!"
Serayn nodded:
– "Yes, I told you it's an underground shelter, designed to be used if a disaster or the like happened. And the room we were in is the meeting room."
Nir said, surprised, with question marks in his eyes:
– "Strange... Why are we the only ones here, if it was designed for a disaster?"
Serayn said, shaking her head as a sign of confusion:
– "I swear to you, Nir, Vanice and I have been asking ourselves that question until now and haven't found an answer. But in any case, it has been used by us. And this is the bedroom, you will sleep with us from now on, Nir."
Nir said, smiling with relief:
– "Good, I need a wash."
Serayn said:
– "Alright, if you need any clothes, you'll find them in the room right next to the bathroom."
Nir said, bidding farewell:
– "Thank you, Serayn."
Nir headed in the opposite direction.
Vanice said, following Nir with her eyes:
– "He's a good person, isn't he, Siri?"
Serayn said:
– "Yes, I haven't spoken to him much, but he seems as you say."
Vanice said with wonder:
– "What do you mean?"
Serayn said with a slight smile, admitting a mistake:
– "I thought he was like Zeff... I don't know why."
Vanice said, amazed:
– "What? Really? Did you think that?!"
Serayn answered calmly:
– "Unfortunately, yes. But it turned out to be the opposite... I was thinking randomly, almost."
Vanice said, placing her hands on her waist:
– "No matter, I'm going to take a shower."
Serayn said:
– "I'll take a shower too."
Vanice said, looking at Serayn with mischievous cunning:
– "How about I wash your back, Siri?"
Serayn said, smiling and simply agreeing:
– "Fine, agreed."
Vanice said with feigned astonishment:
– "Haa?! You're not objecting, unusually!"
Serayn said simply:
– "What's the problem?"
Vanice said, exasperated by the situation:
– "You're no fun!"
Vanice walked towards the bathroom, while Serayn chuckled lightly at her.
In the room, Zeff was still hanging, calling out in a voice tinged with sadness and despair:
– "Vanice... Siri... Nir... Guys, don't tell me I'm going to stay hanging like this all night alone?"
After a few minutes, Nir came out of the bathroom after changing his clothes and headed towards the room. There, he saw Serayn sleeping on the bed, so he approached her with quiet steps and said:
– "Serayn, can you hear me?"
She opened her eyes calmly and replied in a quiet, questioning voice:
– "Yes, Nir."
She sat up straight, adjusted her seating, and then asked:
– "What is it?"
Nir said, sitting on the edge of the bed:
– "Do you know how much time has passed since the Fros monsters' catastrophe began?"
Serayn answered after a short thought:
– "I'm not exactly sure... but I think it's about six years."
Nir asked, surprised:
– "How did you know it was six years?"
She smiled slightly and said:
– "When the catastrophe happened, I was eighteen, and now I'm twenty-four."
Nir slowly raised his eyebrows and said:
– "This means I'm now twenty-three..."
Serayn laughed lightly and said in a slightly joking tone:
– "Ha! That means I'm older than you, and you have to respect me from now on, Nir!"
Nir smiled, then asked her seriously, his eyes hiding worry:
– "Why didn't you tell them what happened to us with the Fros monster?"
A slight sadness appeared on Serayn's face as she said:
– "I don't want to worry them... Vanice is sixteen now, and Zeff is seventeen. And I'm fine, Nir, and that's what matters."
Nir nodded calmly, understanding her decision:
– "I think you're right. Anyway... I'm going to sleep."
Nir stood up, then headed towards the other bed and lay down on it. Serayn followed suit and lay down on her bed. She closed her eyes and whispered in her mind:
(I hope things go well... If I have to lose everything again like what happened with my mother and father, I won't allow it this time... even if it costs me my life.)
In another place, under the clear sky of Kenimar.
Rion was walking next to Kairen... until they reached the latter's mother's house.
Kairen knocked on the door, and her mother opened it, saying with overwhelming joy:
– "Kairen! Welcome, my dear!"
Kairen threw herself into her mother's embrace, saying:
– "I missed you, Mom."
The mother replied, hugging her with warm tenderness:
– "Me too, I was worried about you. Come on, come in so we can talk inside."
Rion entered afterward and said with immense respect:
– "Hello, Madam Thaner."
The mother smiled and said playfully:
– "Rion, you're still calling me by my name?"
He immediately corrected himself and said:
– "Ah, sorry, Mom."
The mother laughed and said gently:
– "That's better. Come in, I've prepared delicious food you won't find anywhere else!"
Then she closed the door behind them with the warmth of the home.
Inside the Director's Office, Director Dalia was lost in thought, staring at the scattered papers on her desk.
Iris entered and said calmly:
– "How are things going, Madam Dalia?"
Dalia sighed helplessly and said:
– "I don't know, Iris... I still feel like I rushed the mission decision. I haven't planned all the details yet."
Iris smiled, trying to alleviate the tense atmosphere:
– "Well, let's start with the teachers. Who will you send?"
Dalia said with regained confidence:
– "You first, then Toby and Manata."
Iris raised her eyebrows in astonishment:
– "So that's only three? Didn't you say there were four? And... are you planning to send all the teachers? The council won't like this."
Dalia smiled and said with quiet confidence:
– "Don't worry, I'll handle the council myself. As for the fourth... it's Pier Hasbon."
Iris's face changed, and she said worriedly:
– "Pier?! But he's from the council himself! What if he exposes you to them instead of joining us?"
Dalia smiled with penetrating confidence and said:
– "He has already agreed. I knew he would, I know his past... and his desire to go there."
Iris was silent for a moment, then said:
– "Fine, let's determine the teams now. Who will be with me?"
Dalia said, placing her finger on her cheek, thinking:
– "The leader with you will be Rion. He's strong enough to lead the team."
Iris said, smiling:
– "Good idea, and who are the rest?"
Dalia started counting on her fingers:
– "Second, Trangen, third, Amani, fourth, Mai, and fifth..."
She paused slightly, so Iris said eagerly:
– "What's the matter?"
Dalia replied:
– "Who do you think is suitable to be the fifth?"
Iris said after brief thought:
– "I suggest Touka."
Dalia smiled and said:
– "Excellent. So the first team will be: Iris Valon, Leader Rion Grein, Trangen Sorl, Amani Walter, Mai Powell, and Touka."
Iris laughed and said:
– "Don't be too happy, there are still three other teams. Who's with Toby?"
Dalia said:
– "Teacher Toby Kiron, Leader Yuya Lead, Natsumi Maren, Vodo Kaba, Bern Shiron, and Seiya Witer."
Iris nodded approvingly:
– "A strong team indeed. And what about Manata?"
Dalia said, flipping through the file pages:
– "Teacher Manata Tyren, Leader Alex Wilson, Meow Bell, Kim, Ken, and Misaki Maosi."
Iris said:
– "Excellent. Only Pier Hasbon remains."
Dalia smiled intelligently and said:
– "His team is simple: Leader Atsuri Rika, Kairen Shiro, Mira Grein, and Max Mitra."
Iris raised her eyebrow, asking:
– "Only four?"
Dalia said with unwavering confidence:
– "Pier doesn't need more than that."
Iris laughed and said as she got up:
– "Fine, do as you wish, Madam Dalia, the important thing is that we finished forming the teams that were worrying you."
Dalia said, looking at the paper in front of her:
– "Yes... All that remains is to determine their dispatch locations in Valdoris."
Iris smiled and said:
– "Then I'm no longer needed here, I'll leave now."
She left the office with quiet steps, leaving Dalia to sink back into her thoughts.
After announcing the teams, the team names were officially sent to all students' phones.
In Madam Thaner's house, Kairen was staring at the screen with tearful eyes, then she turned to Rion and said in a trembling voice:
– "I'm not on the same team as you, Rion..."
Then she threw herself into his arms, crying bitterly:
– "No, no, noooo..."
Her mother approached and said with genuine concern:
– "What is it, my daughter? Why is Kairen crying?"
Rion patted Kairen's hair and said with a reassuring calm:
– "Just an academy matter, Madam, don't worry... Everything will be fine."
The mother said, looking at him tenderly:
– "Alright, Rion, as you wish."
Meanwhile, Rion said in his mind:
(Trangen must be happy now, no doubt... And I'm sure my sister will cry just like Kairen.)
At the Academy Gate, Trangen stood proudly, her head held high, saying with possessive joy:
– "Yes! That's what I'm talking about! Finally, I'm on Rion's team!"
Mai laughed and said enthusiastically:
– "Me too! This is great!"
In contrast, Mira stood with tears streaming down her face, screaming angrily in despair:
– "I'm not with Rion! Damn you, Madam Daliaaaa!"