Soren walked slowly, while fidgeting with his hands. In front of him was the school principal, which he still couldn't believe. What was he doing here? Did he know about the disappearances all this time? If he did, how did he know, and why didn't he do anything about it? And if he didn't, then what happens now? Also, his friends … what had happened to them?
"So, I take it you have questions to ask?" asked a voice, derailing his train of thought.
"Yes Sir. H-how d-did you k-know about the temple? And Reeve … Rizaneth … w-what happened t-to them back t-there?" he asked while looking at his feet.
"There are two things that you have to know first. Tell me something, back when you fought against the girl with the silver hair, what do you remember?"
"I … I … I was walking along the corridor, then everything went blank. What I remember next is being in a bubble made of water droplets."
"What you experienced is called a Manifestation. There's a bit of a god's power inside you, and using the link to that power, the god can manifest and take over your body for some time. As for why the two of you were fighting, it's another story. However, that's the same thing that happened to your friends. Some gods manifested their power through your friends' bodies", explained Rokkai, with a casual demeanour.
Soren stopped walking, as his eyes widened. He felt a pit in his stomach, and his chest tightened. This was too much to process. And no … he couldn't be blamed on this one. How was he supposed to react? He was only human.
"B-but … h-how …"
"I know it must be difficult for you to understand. Right now, we need more people like you. The world is in danger, and only people who can use that power can save it."
"L-like me…? In danger from what? How am I supposed to help? And my friends ... Are they going to be okay?"
"Don't worry about your friends. In fact, this might actually be good for them. As for the approaching danger, this is not the place to discuss that. If you want to know more information, come to my office tomorrow."
"B-but --"
"Like I said, don't worry. We'll discuss this tomorrow", as he finished saying this, Reeve came out of the hall while carrying an unconscious Rizaneth. He looked very confused, and Soren couldn't blame him. "You should help your friend; don't you think so?"
Soren turned to look at Reeve and he realized that the principal was right.
Meanwhile, on one of the floating islands, an old man was standing on baren ground. He looked at the sand covered island, before turning to look at the towering volcano behind him.
A few minutes later, a middle-aged man came into view. Behind this middle-aged man was a girl with long slender legs, and silver hair. The two walked towards the old man.
However, as they arrived before the old man, the sand began to coalesce, forming a giant lump! The lump began to take shape faster, until it was now humanoid. Its face now had large hollow eyes, and a gaping maw which would have passed for a mouth, if there were teeth present.
The old man frowned, before saying, "Varkas, you're late!"
ROOOOOOAAAAARRRRRR! ROOOOAARRRRRR!
Before Varkas could reply, the humanoid, sand-like giant unleashed roars that caused the entire island to shake!
"It looks like we have run out of time", was all Varkas could say.
"Yes. You have run out of time", someone else replied in the old man's stead. The newcomer was average in height, with long black hair. He looked like he was seventeen years old. Behind this young man, there was a masked figure. This figure was wearing black armour, with red stripes, and they had a large sword strapped on their back.
"Ezrom! Should I even ask what you are doing here?" asked the old man.
"Hello Oldavin, it is nice to see you too. As for what I am doing here …" Ezrom pointed at the sand giant.
"What are you scheming?" asked Oldavin.
Ezrom chuckled, before pointing at the masked figure behind him and replying, "He's the one who's scheming. I prefer to destroy everything completely, like I did with the dragons. I believe schemes are a waste of time."
"I should have known! Should I call you Pride, or V--"
"I am honoured that you know me, Lord Oldavin. Please call me Pride. Can you answer a question I have been dying to know?" the masked figure replied, interrupting Oldavin.
"What do you want to know?"
"What would happen if humanity faced a calamity, they are unable to deal with? Would they evolve, or would they perish?"
"Don't tell me--"
Before Oldavin could finish, everything froze! Well, not everything. Only Ezrom and Pride could move.
"Time is relative. Anyway, we have to hurry. That titan will not last long under the effects of my spell", warned Ezrom.
A giant spell rune appeared under the sand giant before it disappeared completely. Some seconds later, Pride and Ezrom disappeared too, leaving Oldavin, Varkas, and the silver-haired girl. The good news was that they could all move, and the bad news … well … Harazade was about to find out.
Back in Harazade, Rokkai suddenly frowned and then stopped walking. He was getting into Artemine, when he suddenly had a feeling that something was wrong, yet he couldn't place it. And that was when it happened.
Above the Harazade, a giant rune appeared, before a sand giant fell down into the city. Some houses were caught in the wave that resulted from the fall, and they were obliterated.
"This is not good!" Rokkai said, as he started floating into the air.
Lady Kyrra floated into the air beside him, before asking, "Do you think they found out I'm here?"
"No. Otherwise they would not have sent only one sentinel", Rokkai replied.
The sand giant stood up, and then unleashed a roar that caused another wave! A few more houses were destroyed in the process.