Tess's jaw remained agape, her senses heightened as the tension in the air thickened. The room seemed to hold its breath, captivated by Lanse's words. Lanse's eyes darted from Szedra to the ground, unable to tear away from the memory he was recounting. Every word he spoke sent a shiver down Tess's spine, her heart racing in anticipation.
"The hooded one never touched her," Lanse's voice quivered with intensity, "It was the one with short black hair. He or she..." He paused, the weight of the moment hanging heavily in the air. "It moved so fast, one blow from its hand was all it took to end her."
Szedra, overwhelmed by the horrifying tale, clutched her hands tightly over her ears, shutting out the world, yet unable to escape the vivid imagery painted by Lanse's words. The scene unfolded before Tess's mind's eye, each detail etching itself into her consciousness.
Lanse's words cut through the silence as he continued. "It said in a voice that sounded oddly feminine, 'End this meaningless slaughter and deliver us the fragment now.' The voice was loud, echoing through the forest, as if every tree spoke in unison. I swore the hooded one jumped when it spoke."
Tess's breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in disbelief. The enormity of the situation was palpable, engulfing the room in a suffocating aura of danger. Lanse, his hands now resting on his thighs, exuded a mix of fear and determination.
Zack's admission of his own cowardice added another layer of tension to the room. Zino, unable to bear the weight of the revelation, wiped her nose with the sleeve of her arm, her vulnerability exposed. Tess's frown deepened as she contemplated the dire circumstances they found themselves in.
The heavy silence was broken by the creaking of the large doors being pushed apart. The sound reverberated through the room, echoing the dread that hung in the air. All eyes turned to the door, anticipation building with each passing moment.
Two figures emerged from behind the door, one dressed in white and the other in the green Primus uniform. Their low conversation carried a sense of urgency, their purpose shrouded in mystery. Tess's senses heightened as she tried to decipher their intentions, her heart pounding in her chest. Another second and they left the door.
Zack's voice broke the silence, tinged with uncertainty. "They must have come to check up on us?" he ventured, knowing the two intruders could not hear him from their distance.
Tess noticed Szedra's gaze fixed on the door, her attention drawn to the movement she seemed to have heard even when shielding her ears. A chill coursed through Tess's body, the realization of deception sending shivers down her spine.
Lanse's frustration surfaced as he clenched his hand into a fist, the impact against his palm echoing the resolute determination within him. "I hope they bring Sensei. I need to have a word with him about these bloody telecoms," he exclaimed, his voice laced with urgency and exasperation.
Tess's mind raced, suspicion gnawing at her. "They're keeping secrets from us," she asserted, her voice firm. "I need answers, a sensible explanation for our missing wounds and scars. I don't believe that healing nonsense."
"Let's wait. He has to come," Lanse said, his voice filled with a mixture of determination and anticipation.
"Until then, keep talking. I can't wait to hear the part where you die," Tess taunted, her laughter echoing through the room as she leaned back on the bed, her teeth gleaming white in the dim light.
"As you wish, granny," Lanse retorted, a mischievous spark in his eyes. But as Tess registered his words, her mouth shut tight and she shot him a glare, her gaze filled with indignation.
Undeterred, Lanse continued his tale, the room hanging onto his every word. "I jumped down there with my one good arm, summoned a sword, and said, 'If you want this fragment, come and get it.'"
Tess's left eye twitched with disbelief. "What? Stop lying! There's no way you did that."
Zack interjected, his voice filled with a mix of resignation and defiance. "Yes, he did. That's why I jumped down too. After what happened to you guys, I just wanted it to end. Eighteen years old, and I was going to die by slaughter for some stupid rock. I summoned a sword and told them to fight me too."
Lanse's narrative carried on, each word painting a vivid picture in the minds of those listening. "That's when the one with black hair that ended Szedra spoke again. It said, 'Why waste my efforts on mere mortals? Hand me the fragment, and your deaths will surely follow. All must perish to put an end to the pain that plagues this world—present and future.'"
Zack couldn't help but laugh, a mix of incredulity and nervousness escaping his lips. "Dude, why do you remember all of that?"
Lanse seemed confused by the question. "Why wouldn't I?"
Zino, leaning away from Zack's infectious laughter, watched in bemusement. "I was so scared, all I heard was gibberish. What did all that even mean?"
Tess, her patience wearing thin, demanded more action and less questioning. "More talking and fewer questions," she asserted, her voice commanding attention.
As Lanse prepared to continue his account, Zack grew still, a sense of unease washing over him. He gulped, bracing himself for the retelling of his own demise. There was no doubt in his mind that Lanse would make it sound more outrageous and laughable than it actually was. The thought of fleeing briefly crossed his mind.
"The black-haired one raised a hand towards Zack, and dark clouds formed over his head," Lanse resumed, his voice dripping with suspense. "The clouds morphed into several large blades, their sharp tips pointing down towards him. With a mere flick of its fingers, like squishing an invisible ball, the blades descended upon him from every angle. His body fell to the ground, resembling a porcupine pierced by countless spines."
The room fell silent, the weight of Lanse's words hanging in the air. Zack's jaw dropped, his disbelief evident in the way his mouth hung open. Tess couldn't decipher if it was due to Lanse's graphic description of his death or the way he had comically portrayed him as a porcupine.
Zack's hand instinctively moved to press the bridge of his nose between his closed eyes, seeking to alleviate the growing tension.
Zino offered a comforting pat on Zack's back, her voice gentle and reassuring. "It's okay, Zack. It's over," she repeated, echoing his own words back to him in an attempt to bring solace.
Tess, always quick with her teasing, couldn't resist the opportunity to add fuel to the fire. "Four down, one more to go," she taunted, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Lanse, not one to back down, snapped back at Tess, his voice tinged with amusement. "The end," he retorted, a wide smirk stretching across his face.
Tess's confusion and frustration boiled over as she blurted out, rising to her feet in protest. "What?" Her determination radiated from her stance, demanding an explanation.
Lanse's smirk grew even wider, relishing in getting under Tess's skin. "I'm sorry, what I meant to say was game over," he burst out laughing, reveling in the reaction he provoked. Tess's anger was like a prize he enjoyed winning.
Tess's feet moved with purpose as she marched over to Lanse, her gaze burning with indignation. "No way, that's not how it ended. Keep talking!" Her demand hung heavy in the air, refusing to accept a comedic resolution to such a grave situation.
Zack chimed in, his voice tinged with resignation as he opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the sheet before him. "He doesn't remember how he died. It must have happened so fast. You didn't remember how you died either, remember?"
Lanse's shoulders shook with laughter as he reveled in the absurdity of it all. Tess, gritting her teeth, felt his mocking demeanor push her further. Why was it that whenever he laughed like that, it seemed to involve her in some way? She clenched her jaw, taking a step back before finally dropping onto her bed, her frustration apparent.
Refusing to endure another moment of Lanse's laughter, Tess rolled onto her side and pressed the pillow firmly against her other ear, hoping to drown out the irritating sound. Yet, his grating laughter persisted, piercing through her defenses. Frustrated, she flipped over onto the opposite side, facing a long row of beds, effectively turning her back to the outside world.
Seeking respite, Tess decided it was a good time to take a nap. However, as soon as she closed her eyes, a chilling smile materialized in the darkness of her mind, causing her eyes to snap wide open. She blinked rapidly, trying to dispel the haunting image and refocus on the beds surrounding her.
Suddenly, another creaking sound emanated from the door, prompting an exclamation of surprise. Tess shot up in bed, her attention drawn to Zack rushing across the aisle, his bare feet slapping against the floor as he hurried to reach his bed.
Tess's gaze extended past him, catching sight of a tall man with blond hair and piercing green eyes approaching them. A wave of urgency coursed through her entire body, causing her eyes to widen in alarm. It was Sensei!
Sensei, with both hands tucked away in the outside pockets of his jacket, commanded attention with his resonating voice, which cut through the air, overpowering the flat thud of his footsteps. His gaze, seemingly fixed on something in the distant corner of the room, made Tess shudder with an unexplained sense of importance. She couldn't tear her eyes away from him.
Sensei, an enigmatic figure, stood before them with an air of authority, both of his hands concealed within the outer pockets of his jacket. His voice boomed through the room, cutting through the silence, as his flat footsteps echoed with purpose.
"You cadets have been asleep for nine hours," Sensei declared, his words commanding attention. "That's three hours more than the recommended amount." His intense gaze fixated on something distant, neglecting to make eye contact with any of them. It was as if his focus lay beyond the realm of their comprehension.
He advanced with deliberate strides, traversing the aisle with unwavering determination, paying no mind to Lanse, who stood silently in his path. With a slight turn, he veered into the narrow space between Zack's bed and Tess's. Intrigue mingled with apprehension, gripping Tess as she questioned the purpose of Sensei's approach towards her.