He sent it to Radit, Raphael, Felicia, Thivi, Zinnia, Livia, and Ethan.
A quiet warning. A silent call for those who understood.
Time passed until the final bell rang. Its echo felt like a death knell for the day Isabel hoped to survive unnoticed. She packed her books and headed toward the gate, wishing to avoid every gaze, every question.
But as soon as she stepped out from the building's shadow, Frans was already there. Standing tall against the wall, waiting. His hands were tucked casually into his pockets, but his gaze cut through the air like an unseen blade.
"Isabel," he called.
His voice was deep, steady and firm. Not loud, but sharp enough to stop anyone in their tracks.
Isabel froze. That voice slid into her chest like a slow, deliberate blade. She turned around, inch by inch, and met Frans's eyes. Her breath stuttered, caught somewhere between fear and anticipation.
Frans stepped forward once, unhurried, but sure.
"Do you have a moment? I'd like to talk," he said. His posture was calm, yet the tension in his jaw betrayed the weight behind his words.
Isabel bit her lower lip. A small movement, but enough to show the storm inside her. Her eyes flicked around, the hallway buzzed with students heading home, but somehow everything felt distant, muted.
"What do you want to talk about?" she asked. Her voice aimed for flat and steady, but a faint tremble hid underneath. Her left hand tightened around the strap of her bag, as if she needed something, anything, to hold on to.
Frans looked straight into her eyes, deep, unwavering. It felt as if his gaze dove into the ocean floor of Isabel's emotions, searching for truths long buried.
"Just a moment," Frans repeated softly. "There's something about Kaivan we need to talk about."
That name. A name that struck her like an explosion inside her skull. The world around Isabel seemed to crumble, slowly, inevitably. Her chest rose and fell; she drew in a long breath, trying to remain composed.
"Alright," she finally replied. Her voice was quiet, but steady. Yet in her eyes, doubt flickered. Fear. A wound freshly torn open.
With heavy steps, she followed Frans toward a quieter corner, toward a conversation that would change everything.
From afar, a group of students watched them. Radit stood with his arms crossed, expression unreadable. Beside him, Ethan lit a cigarette, casual in posture but sharp in his scrutiny. Thivi whispered to Zinnia, guessing what Frans and Isabel might be discussing. Felicia, Livia, and Raphael were there too, each lost in their own thoughts.
Tension hung in the air as Isabel and Frans walked along the school's outer path. Isabel kept her distance; Frans moved slowly, choosing his words.
"I know you've been avoiding this," he said gently. "But I need an answer, Isabel. What really happened between you and Kaivan?"
Isabel lowered her head, her hands clenched at her sides. Her breath trembled; the words stuck in her throat.
"I'm not your enemy, Isabel. I just want to understand. If you don't want to talk, I won't force you. But at least… know that we care," Frans added, stepping closer.
Isabel looked up, eyes shimmering. "I…I can't say it. It's too complicated."
Frans nodded, swallowing his curiosity. "Then I'll wait until you're ready."
When they returned to the front gate, every gaze followed them. Beneath the gray clouds, Isabel felt her secret drifting closer to the surface, and knew this conflict was only beginning.
Meanwhile, in the underground room that had long turned into a makeshift lab, Kaivan sat before his workbench. Electronic components and explosives lay arranged with meticulous precision. Beside him, the Tome Omnicent glowed with a faint blue light.
"Kaivan, you won't survive if you do this again. It's a trap," the Tome warned, its voice reverberating.
Kaivan stopped for a moment, then stared coldly at the Tome. "I don't care if I get caught. As long as I can destroy more of his business, make him suffer, it's enough. I'll keep going until he shows his true face."
He returned to assembling the explosives, his movements calm yet fueled by an unshakable resolve. The Tome could only watch silently as Kaivan drowned himself in anger and purpose.
Back at school, Felicia and Livia waited near the gate. Felicia stepped forward, her eyes firm.
"Isabel," Felicia called. "Do you know where Kaivan is right now?"
Isabel froze, trying to hide her unease. "No, I don't."
Livia leaned in, hopeful. "Please, Isabel. Tell us. Where is Kaivan?"
Isabel's heart thudded painfully. She knew they cared, but she also knew Kaivan was walking a dangerous path. She couldn't drag them into it. "I really don't know," she repeated, more firmly.
In the underground room, Kaivan zipped his backpack shut; the newly crafted bomb sat neatly inside. He scanned his small hideout, took a deep breath, then stepped toward the door.
Before he could open it, the Tome spoke again, more urgent this time. "Are you sure you won't ask your friends for help, Kaivan? This time, the chance of capture is high. They're already waiting for you."
Kaivan glanced at the Tome's screen and shook his head. "No. I won't drag them into my personal grudge. This is my battle," he said coldly. "If this is a war I must fight alone, then I'll bear the consequences alone."
With those final words, Kaivan opened the lift door and stepped inside. The mechanical hum echoed through the room. His eyes were calm, unwavering, focused solely on his mission: to destroy Vella's operations once more, and make him feel the same suffering Kaivan had endured.
The lift stopped. Its doors slid open with a soft chime. Kaivan stepped out, leaving the dim underground room behind. He walked into the night carrying a backpack filled with explosives, and a rage he could no longer contain.
The full moon hung high above, its pale glow washing over the road now traveled by Radit, Raphael, Felicia, Frans, Thivi, Zinnia, Ethan, Livia, and Isabel. They moved together, their steps out of sync, some hurried, some hesitant, but all wrapped in the same unease. The night wind carried faint whispers of whatever awaited them at the end of this path.
Inside the car, Isabel sat in the front seat. Her fingers trembled as she held the map. With a voice barely above a whisper, she said, "A place where everything began. I went there with Kaivan once… my grandmother's house. The one who gave him the Tome Omnicent. Maybe he's there."
Silence settled over the car. From the back seat, Radit leaned forward, his expression razor sharp. "And you're telling us this now?" His voice cut through the air. "We wasted so much time! If you knew, why didn't you say something earlier?"
Isabel lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes. "I wasn't sure he'd be there," she said softly, her voice nearly lost beneath the engine's hum. "And… I didn't want to drag everyone into this if I was wrong."
Livia reached from beside Felicia and gently held Isabel's hand. "It's not your fault, Kak Isabel. We just want to make sure Kaivan's safe," she said, her tone soothing.
Even Felicia, usually quiet, spoke up. "If that place is important, then we need to check it. Whatever happens, I won't let Kaivan face this alone," she said firmly, her eyes filled with determination.
Isabel took a deep breath and began guiding the driver. The ride felt long despite being only minutes. No one spoke, they were all lost in their own thoughts.
When the car finally stopped, silence fell again. A large house stood before them, its white walls glowing in the moonlight, tall iron gates guarding its pristine yard. It looked as though it hid something vast behind its elegant facade.
"This place looks like it belongs to some noble family," Ethan murmured, his eyes tracing the luxurious architecture. "I didn't even know Kaivan had any connection to something like this."
Isabel got out first and walked toward the gate. She typed a code into a small panel. The gate groaned open, revealing a stone path leading to the entrance. She paused, turning to the others.
"It's just a guess," she said plainly. "But I hope we find something."