ARTIFACT CLASS...
Luken sat at the end of the class and watching outside the view of the tree, the shop, the birds, everything instead of listening and taking notes in the class.
He wasn't the only one to blame. The entire class was the same.
The entire class looked half-dead. Yawns echoed from every corner as students struggled to stay awake.
The teacher continued explaining artifacts—what they were, where they supposedly came from, and why most people believed they were nothing more than myths passed down through generations.
Luken raised his hand. "Sir… can artifacts be dangerous?"
Before the teacher could answer, a boy beside Luken whispered, "Artifacts aren't real."
The teacher cleared his throat, his voice firm. "Artifacts may be lies," he said. "Or they may be real. History often hides truth behind disbelief."
He mentioned that one such artifact was kept in a museum.
Luken wondered why something believed to be fake would still be guarded so carefully.
As he lowered his head, the chain around his neck reflected light into his eyes. He frowned and tucked it back inside his shirt.
That was when he noticed something strange.
Kai was asleep.
That alone felt wrong. Kai was usually the most energetic one in class.
Ding. Ding.
The bell rang, sending the students rushing out for break. Groans followed when they remembered the next session was another artifact class.
Luken walked over and tapped Kai's desk.
Kai stirred, blinking one eye open. "Oh… hae, it's you," he muttered. "I'm tired, man."
"What happened?" Luken asked.
Kai closed his eyes again. "I don't know."
Luken smiled. "Come on, Kai. My treat."
"Another day," Kai replied weakly.
Luken placed a hand on his shoulder. "Wake Up."
The moment he said it, Kai felt something press deep inside his chest—like a sudden pull. His eyes snapped open as he sat up straight.
"Whoa," Luken said. "I thought you were exhausted."
"I was," Kai replied slowly, then "his expression tightened. "But now… I feel fine."
Suddenly, his expression changed. "Come on! What are you waiting for? It's your treat,
remember?"
Luken stared at him, confused by the sudden burst of energy.
"Hey—wait! Don't run so fast!" he shouted, chasing after Kai.
As Luken moved, the chain beneath his shirt hummed softly, glowing faintly.
He didn't notice.
DURING THE BREAK...
The students were out on break, the corridors buzzing with noise and careless laughter.
THE TEACHER Mr. Fron, however, had no plan for the next artifact class. With time to spare, he headed to the library, hoping to find something interesting enough to keep his students awake.
He moved through the dusty shelves, pulling out an old, worn book on ancient artifacts. As he flipped through the pages, something felt off. One page was torn.
Frowning, he turned the pages carefully and noticed a slight bump near the book's spine.
Curious, he pressed it—and a folded piece of paper slipped out.
It was the missing page.
He unfolded it slowly. Drawn on the paper was an artifact called HENXIL—an X-shaped object with a spiral engraved at its center. The design was simple, yet unsettling, as if it pulled the eyes inward the longer one stared at it.
"This is interesting…" Fron murmured, excitement building. Without hesitation, he took only the torn paper and left the book behind, already imagining the lesson.
When the next class began, boredom filled the room instantly.
"Again artifact class?" one student groaned. "Mr. Fron, your class again?"
Fron smiled faintly. "Yes, I know. But today, I have something interesting."
No one believed him. Some students leaned back in their chairs, others rested their heads on desks. Luken was drifting on the edge of sleep, and Kai was sprawled out, eyes closed.
Fron placed the torn paper on the table and took a breath. "Today's topic is an artifact known as—"
Silence.
The words refused to leave his mouth.
The classroom grew unnaturally quiet. Students looked up, confused by the pause. One of them suddenly pointed forward.
"Sir… your nose—!"
Blood began to drip from Fron's nose. Then from his mouth.
Luken suddenly awoke, his eyes locking onto the teacher in shock.
Fron tried to speak again, but each attempt only made more blood pour out. His breathing turned erratic, his movements sharp and unnatural. Panic spread through the class.
"Get help!" Kai shouted. "Call another teacher!"
Fron's eyes turned red, bulging as if something inside him was breaking. He thrashed violently—but Luken couldn't look away.
Because he saw something no one else did.
A dark, ominous red presence was leaking out of Fron's body, twisting like smoke, as if his life itself was being drained. It coiled upward, pulsing faintly.
Without thinking, Luken ran forward.
"IT'S OKAY," he said, placing a hand on Fron's shoulder.
The moment he spoke, the violence stopped.
The bleeding slowed… then ceased.
Luken glanced at the table. The paper lying there began to change.
The spiral on it twisted unnaturally, folding inward on itself, forming a strange rotating shape before collapsing and vanishing completely.
His heart pounded with confusion .
What… was that?
Other teachers rushed in moments later. Seeing Mr. Fron collapsed on the floor, they quickly carried him to the medical wing. Kai helped lift him, his expression tense and unreadable.
Later, the doctor said Fron would survive, but his brain had suffered damage and would take time to recover. He remained unconscious.
As they left the campus, Luken's thoughts spiraled.
His hand clenched around the chain beneath his shirt.
This doesn't belong here…
Then why do I have it?
The questions never ended.
On the walk home, Luken finally spoke. "Kai… do you think something weird is going on?"
Kai replied after a pause, "Maybe. But I think it's normal."
The answer felt wrong.
Luken decided not to press further. I can't involve him, he thought. It's too dangerous.
But Kai's eyes told a different story.
He was hiding something.
At the crossroads, they parted ways, each walking toward their own home—both carrying secrets neither was ready to share.