Xavier couldn't believe what he was seeing. Everyone knew that the only child of the Helleck family was born with no magic. He had accepted that when they had been put on a team together. Honestly, he couldn't judge Angelo because Xavier was also from a strong family, and he was extremely weak.
He expected them to get killed fighting this monster but he figured it didn't matter, his family wouldn't miss him. What he never expected was Angelo to suddenly use magic he'd never heard of before. Just who was this kid that stood in front of him.
"Angelo", a voice echoed through the tunnels before Xavier could ask.
Angelo quickly dismissed Z and turned to Xavier. The look on his face was as plain as if he'd said the words. "Please don't tell them what you saw" was written all over. Xavier thought for a second.
On one hand the whole world knew that Angelo had no magic. Reporting it would expose the greatest scandel ever and bring back his standing in his family. On the other hand his family had never done anything for him. Angelo had already proven that he was nicer and more fun.
Xavier held out his hand and smiled, "I think we're going to be good friends."
Angelo shook it and the two walked towards the entrance, straight into a hulking white figure. Angelo was almost bowled over by who he could now see was Titus, the principal and a crystal magic user. He wore an all white suit with a black tie and his arms were covered in a thick crystal armor.
"Angelo Helleck", his voice thundered and then softened.
"Are you alright boy?"
Titus was a good friend of Angelo's father, so he had a soft spot for the kid.
"Yeah, we're good", Angelo stammered trying not to look up at Titus.
Before he could say anything else, Mr. Adonis and the girl that they had saved appeared behind Principal Titus.
Adonis asked the girl, "Are these the two that saved you?"
The girl opened her mouth to speak but, when no words came out, she simply nodded.
Principal Titus and Mr. Adonis exchanged a look and then Principal Titus said, "Very well. You boys did well but it's time to let the adults handle the rest. Go with Mr. Adonis and the rest of us will go take care the beast."
Angelo's mind began racing. What will they say when there's no beast to take care of? How will he be able to explain how he, a person with no magic, escaped a monster like that? He glanced at Xavier and saw that he was just as panicked
They followed Mr. Adonis down the tunnels and then out to the bus. Everyone was buzzing with anxiety and excitement. When they walked up, all eyes locked on them and the group went silent.
Jake was the first to speak up, "How the hell did you make it alive? Let me guess, you just peed your pants and cried until the teachers came." He and his buddies laughed.
"Oh shut it Jake, at least he had the courage to try. You just hid behind Mrs. Rose "
The sweet but commanding voice belonged to Olivia, Jake's sister, and the only student who had always been nice Angelo. They were academic rivals and would get into debates that would last the entire class period.
Jake turned red and sat down as he shouted back, "Stay out this you brat."
Olivia chuckled and then turned to Angelo, "You ok? What happened in there?"
Angelo froze. He hadn't thought of what to say. What was their story? He opened his mouth but Xavier stepped forward.
"I handled it", he said in a calm manner, like it was no big deal. "I've been studying monster's weak points and knew that it's armor had to have a gap, so I attacked it there. Angelo helped to distract it though. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have been able to sneak up on it."
The other students looked at Xavier in awe. Angelo looked at him and gave a weak smile. Maybe he could trust him, only time would tell though.
Just then Principal Titus came back. He whispered something to Ms. Rose and she whispered back.
Ms. Rose calmly said, "Everyone back on the bus."
Angelo and Xavier started making their way to the bus but were stopped.
Looking down at the duo Principal Titus said, "You two have some explaining to do."
On the bus ride, Xavier and Angelo sat together in the back. Making sure no one was listening, Angelo whispered to Xavier, "What do we tell them?"
"The same story we told the other students", Xavier said calmly. "We can't change it. If someone finds out that we gave two different stories, then we're done for."
Angelo nodded slowly, "What happens if they find out?"
"Prison, banishment, death. Who knows? I've never heard of anyone hiding something like this, so I have no clue what they'll do. But I do know that I don't want to find out", Xavier exclaimed before turning to look out the window.
He knew that he could still turn Angelo in. His family would respect him and he'd avoid any of the outcomes that he just listed. But there was something about Angelo that made him want to trust him. He just hoped that Angelo wouldn't crack under pressure.
Angelo was having similar thoughts. He wondered why Xavier chose to help him. He hoped that Xavier wouldn't betray him when they were questioned. Most of all, he wanted to learn more about this Grimiore, about Necromancy, and about why it was so hidden. As the school slowly came into view, all of that dissolved and he just hoped that he could keep up the lie.
The bus came to a stop and the students began piling out. Principal Titus was there to intercept Angelo and Xavier. They walked to the Principal's office and they noticed two men in police uniforms were waiting inside. It was then that the boys began to realize something. This wasn't just a lie—it was a decision that could ruin both of them.
As they entered the office, Principal Titus gestured for them to sit, but neither Angelo nor Xavier moved right away.
The air in the office felt heavy, like it was pressing down on their shoulders. One of the officers leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, while the other stood near the desk, flipping open a small notebook.
"Sit," Titus repeated, his voice calm but firm.
They obeyed.
The door clicked shut behind them.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then one of the officers stepped forward.
"Let's keep this simple. We just want to understand what happened down there." His tone was even, but his eyes were sharp.
"Start from the beginning."
Xavier didn't hesitate.
"We got separated from the group when the tunnel split," he said, his voice steady. "That's when we found her." He nodded slightly toward the door, referring to the girl. "She was hiding. Said there was something in the tunnels."
The officer scribbled something down.
"And the creature?" he asked.
Xavier shrugged lightly. "We didn't get a good look at it. It stayed in the dark mostly. Big. Fast."
There was a brief pause.
Angelo could feel his heartbeat in his ears.
"We tried to move quietly," Xavier continued, "but it found us anyway. I remembered something I read about armored monsters—how they usually have weak points. So I waited for an opening."
The officer looked up. "And you found one?"
"Yeah," Xavier said. "There was a gap in it's neck. I got close and struck it."
Angelo swallowed, then added, "I kept it distracted. Threw rocks, made noise… anything to keep it focused on me instead of him."
The second officer finally spoke. "That's a dangerous move."
Angelo forced a small shrug. "Didn't have much of a choice."
Silence filled the room again.
The first officer tapped his pen against the notebook. "And after that?"
"It backed off," Xavier said. "We didn't stick around to see what happened next. We grabbed her and ran."
The officer's pen stopped.
"It backed off," he repeated.
Xavier nodded once. "Yes, sir."
Another pause.
This one lingered longer.
Angelo shifted slightly in his seat, his hands tightening in his lap. For a split second, he thought about saying more—about explaining how the creature had fallen, how the tunnels had gone quiet—but he stopped himself. That wasn't the story.
Stick to it.
The second officer exchanged a glance with the first.
Principal Titus hadn't said a word the entire time.
But he was watching.
Not Xavier.
Angelo.
"Interesting," the first officer finally said, closing his notebook. "Because when we arrived… there was no sign of a creature. No tracks. No damage. Nothing."
Angelo's chest tightened.
Xavier didn't react.
"Like I said," Xavier replied, "we didn't stay. It must've gone deeper into the tunnels."
The officer studied him for a moment longer, then gave a slow nod.
"Maybe."
The room fell quiet again.
Titus finally moved, stepping forward slightly. The faint sound of crystal shifting along his arms broke the silence.
"You both did well to bring the girl back safely," he said. His tone was measured, but there was something beneath it. Something unreadable. "However… this situation raises questions."
Angelo forced himself to meet his gaze, even though every instinct told him not to.
Titus held that eye contact for a second longer than comfortable.
Then he looked away.
"For now," he continued, "you are not to discuss what happened in those tunnels with anyone. Not your classmates. Not your friends." His voice hardened slightly. "No one."
"Yes, sir," Xavier answered immediately.
Angelo nodded. "Yes, sir."
One of the officers stepped toward the door and opened it.
"You're free to go," he said. "But don't leave campus."
The boys stood.
Angelo could feel the tension in his legs as they walked toward the door. Just as he reached it, Titus's voice stopped him.
"Angelo."
He froze.
Slowly, he turned.
Titus was watching him again. That same unreadable expression.
"If you remember anything else," Titus said, "anything at all… you will come to me directly. Understood?"
"…Yes, sir."
For a brief moment, it felt like Titus was about to say something more.
But he didn't.
Angelo and Xavier stepped out into the hallway, the door closing behind them with a soft click.
Neither of them spoke as they walked.
Not until they had put enough distance between themselves and the office.
Only then did Angelo let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
Xavier glanced at him. "You almost slipped in there."
"I know," Angelo muttered.
They kept walking.
For now, the story held.
But Angelo couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't enough.
As they turned the corner, he felt it again—that lingering gaze, even without looking back.
Like something had seen through the lie… and was just waiting.
Escaping the tunnels had been one thing.
This?
This was something else entirely.