Siva remained silent as she stared at what was happening before her.
Kai, battered and covered in wounds, was now standing right in front of her. His eyes were opened as wide as they could be, staring straight at Siva. His remaining hand was tightly gripping her shoulder, as if that were the last thing Kai could do to keep himself from collapsing.
Siva stared at him in astonishment. Her eyes dropped to his arm, which was still bleeding, then to his trembling legs. Her gaze shifted toward the direction she had sent Kai flying earlier.
Almost immediately, Siva's expression returned to its usual coldness.
"This guy… he actually managed to crawl all the way here in this condition? But even if he did, why couldn't I sense him? And how was he able to get here so quickly with this many injuries?" Siva thought.
She then looked directly at Kai's face.
His expression had not changed. His eyes remained wide open, staring straight at her.
"You… Since when…"
Kai slightly opened his mouth.
His breathing had become heavy and broken. His entire body trembled, and his legs were barely strong enough to support him anymore.
Kai struggled to raise his head.
"Ca….caught..you…"
The moment he finished speaking, Kai's eyes rolled back.
All the strength left his body, and he collapsed beside Siva.
Blood continued to pour from his wounds, forming streams that soaked into the ground.
Siva stood motionless.
Her face suddenly turned an unnatural shade of pale.
Her normally calm breathing became heavier, and she felt as though her head was being struck with a hammer.
"Caught you!"
A voice screamed inside her head.
"Stop whining around you little bitch!"
Then more voices followed.
Screams.
Chaotic, desperate screams echoed throughout Siva's mind.
The cafeteria before her disappeared.
In its place was a village engulfed in flames.
Fire burned everywhere.
Blood covered the ground.
Chunks of flesh were scattered among the collapsing houses.
"Siva! "
A voice called out from somewhere in the distance.
Siva tried to look toward it.
But she couldn't make out the person calling her.
Who was it?
Why were they calling my name?
Siva grabbed her head with both hands, her entire body trembling violently.
"No…"
"Siva!"
The voice called her name again.
This time, it no longer sounded like it was coming from outside.
It was as though the voice was ringing directly inside her head, pulling her back to reality.
"Siva!"
Siva slowly opened her eyes.
The burning village disappeared.
The cafeteria returned to view.
Siva took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down and steady her breathing.
"That scene… what was it…?"
Her train of thought was interrupted by Sopharie's voice, still calling out to her.
"Siva, are you there? Is something wrong?"
Siva lowered her head slightly.
"I am here, Lady Sopharie," Siva replied.
"How did everything go?" Sopharie asked in an exhausted tone.
Siva looked around.
Kai, Duke, Mike, and Hansile were all lying unconscious on the floor.
Siva remained silent for a moment before answering.
"It is done, Lady Sopharie. May I call the medic team in?"
A sigh came from the other end.
"Alright… Once you're finished, come to my office. There is something I need to discuss with you."
Siva nodded.
"Understood, Lady Sopharie."
The communication ended.
Siva turned around, preparing to leave the cafeteria.
But she stopped.
She stood there for a moment before turning back toward Kai.
She walked over to him.
Siva knelt down beside him. She reached out, grabbed Kai by the hair, and lifted his head.
Kai's face was covered in blood. His eyes were tightly shut, and he showed no reaction whatsoever.
Siva stared at him for a long while.
"You…"
"…I will remember you."
Siva let go.
Kai's head fell back onto the ground.
She stood up and left the cafeteria.
Some time later, the cafeteria doors opened again.
A rescue team consisting of more than twenty people dressed in white entered the room. They quickly examined the condition of the four students and began administering first aid.
Afterward, all four were carried out of the cafeteria.
…
…
Sunlight shone through the window.
Kai was lying on a bed.
His entire body was covered in bandages.
Suddenly, Kai shot upright.
"Ahhh!… Ah… it hurts…"
Pain immediately surged through his entire body, causing Kai to grimace.
He looked down at his left arm.
It was in a cast.
Kai looked around.
The room was surrounded by four walls covered in green leaves. Various medical devices were placed between them.
It took him a few seconds to realize where he was.
Suddenly, the door opened.
Two familiar figures walked in.
Duke looked toward the bed.
"Oh, you're awake?"
Duke and Mike approached Kai. Mike was carrying a basket of fruit in his hands.
Mike placed it beside the bed.
"Eat. I got it from the cafeteria."
Kai looked at the two of them, then glanced around the room again.
"Hey… where am I?"
Duke answered:
"The school's medical ward. You've been asleep for more than a day."
Kai looked bewildered.
"A whole day…?"
Mike nodded.
"You got completely wrecked along with that bastard elf. When we woke up back in the cafeteria, we'd already seen them carrying you away."
Kai remained silent for a moment.
Fragments of his memories began returning.
The cafeteria.
Hansile.
Siva.
The punch.
Then darkness.
"Right… the cafeteria…"
Kai lowered his head.
"I'm sorry for dragging you two into this."
Mike and Duke looked at each other.
Then they both burst out laughing and shook their heads.
Mike said:
"We chose to stay. Besides, we were afraid there wouldn't be anyone around to carry your ass back."
Kai looked at the two of them before laughing.
"You bastards…"
The three of them laughed and joked around in the room.
The tension from everything that had happened seemed to disappear, at least for the moment.
But only a short while later, the smiles on Duke and Mike's faces gradually faded.
The two exchanged glances.
Then Duke turned toward Kai.
"Hey, Kai… there's something important we need to tell you."
Kai looked at them suspiciously.
"What is it?"
Mike reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a dark red letter.
The academy's logo was stamped in the center.
Mike handed it to Kai.
"Read it…"
Kai took the letter.
He tore open the seal and began reading.
To the three students, Kai, Duke, and Mike.
You three will be suspended from school for one week.
Use this time to reflect upon your reckless actions.
After one week, the three of you are to meet with the person currently in charge of this facility and face your sentence.
P.S. Sopharie.
Kai finished reading the letter.
He silently stared at the words in front of him.
Then his eyes stopped on one particular phrase.
"Our sentence…?"