As the sun bathed the Nexus Academy grounds in its morning glow, Mentor Kage stood near Kira's secret spot with a furrowed brow, his expression etched with concern, Kira had been absent for a full day, venturing into Enigma Grove. With the nature of that place had always sparked unease, and now, with Kira missing, Mentor Kage couldn't shake the nagging worry.
In the depths of his concern, Mentor Kage couldn't shake off the worry that crept into his mind. 'Kira, where are you? You should have been back a couple of hours ago,' he thought.
Mentor Kage, well aware of Kira's independent and prideful nature, understood that she rarely asked for help unless absolutely necessary. Also knowing that if Kira had ventured into the Enigma Grove and encountered trouble, she might choose to face it alone rather than seek assistance.
Releasing a heavy sigh, Mentor Kage's brows creased in a display of his growing worry, In the midst of his silent contemplation, a soft, feminine voice reached his ears from behind. Instantly recognizing the voice,
"Hey Kage"
Mentor Kage, quick to respond to the sound of the soft, familiar voice, swiftly turned around to find a striking woman standing before him. Her presence commanded attention, standing at a height of 5'8" with radiant brown skin that seemed to glow in the morning light. Long, ebony fishtail braids framed her face, cascading diagonally and twisting down her back like a waterfall of dark silk, Her eyes, a captivating shade of amber, With the soft curvaceous body and curve of her E-Cup bosom.
"Oh, Vayuna," Kage said, a slight smile framing his face, reduce some of his worries.
"What's wrong? You looked worried about something before I entered," Vayuna asked softly in interest.
Kage's face regained a hint of worry. "It's about Kira. She has been gone for a day after I sent her into the Enigma Grove," he confessed.
Vayuna smiled slightly. "You really do care about her, don't you?" she remarked.
"..."Kage didnt answer but Vayuna, observing Kage's silent response and the worry etched across his face, The unspoken communication between them, forged through years of shared experiences Kage, a figure of cold and calm, now wore an expression of genuine worry that had not surfaced in all their years together.
"I'm sure she's fine. Maybe Kira is just getting the most she can out of the Grove," Kage said, trying to reassure himself and Vayuna, also remembering that Kira was on the verge of a breakthrough, harnessing the potent Nexus energy. Kage understood the significance of such a development, recognizing the potential for growth and power that came with a Nexus breakthrough.
However, the realization that Kira couldn't stay in battle for too long cast a shadow over the optimism that the breakthrough brought.
"What did you come for anyway?" Kage asked, temporarily diverting his thoughts from Kira as there was little he could do about it at the moment.
Vayuna smirked with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Ah... What's wrong? Why can't I check on you?" she said.
Kage's cold demeanor broke, and he showed a slight hint of panic"No I didn't mean__" before clearing his throat and returning to his usual icy demeanor. "Of course, you can," he said.
Vayuna chuckled softly watching kage funny panic, as kage know that she always tend to pull jokes on him but its alway unexpected and soemtime he slips up thinnking she actually hurt by his cold demenor.
"Now, seriously, I came here because our division got a task to explore the Enigma Grove," Vayuna said with seriousness in her tone.
"Why?"
"For the past month, there have been over a hundred missing students not coming back from the grove," Vayuna explained.
"For a month now, and we are just hearing about it?" Kage expressed surprise, though his face remained impassive behind his cold demeanor.
The revelation that Nexus Academy students had been going missing in the Enigma Grove for a month sent a chill through the air. Mentor Kage and Vayuna exchanged a glance, their shared understanding. The Enigma Grove was known for its dangers, and it was not uncommon for students to face dangerious creatures within its forest. However, the prolonged span of disappearances raised a troubling concern.
The fact that it had been happening for a month and the academy had only recently begun its investigation added an element of mystery. The Nexus Academy was known for its vigilance in safeguarding its students, and any disturbance was typically addressed promptly.
Kage walked up to Vayuna. "Let's go now and try to find any clues," he said to her, a sense of urgency in his voice. In his mind, the task at hand was an opportunity to also search for Kira and ensure she was alright.
Back Underground...As Alexei and Kira navigated the dimly lit corridors, their steps echoed through the chilling silence, while walking they encountered more skeletons. Instead of hostility, they seemed to recognize Alexei, responding to her words with a peculiar understanding. The normal skeletons, once poised to attack, turned away as if Alexei communicated with them in a language only they comprehended.
Kira, intrigued by this unexpected turn of events, proposed a theory. "Alexei, did you create these skeletons? And the skull knight as well?"
Alexei's expression hinted at a complexity of emotions as she nodded.
Continuingfoward, The atmosphere was laden with an ominous energy, they found themselves in a section that held an uncanny resemblance to a laboratory, secret dark equipment adorned the space, and flickering candles cast eerie shadows on the walls. Kira's keen eyes caught glimpses of strange contraptions and symbols etched into the stone surfaces.
Kira stopped, causing Alexei to halt as well. "What's in there?" she asked, her gaze fixed into the laboratory
Alexei turned to where Kira was looking, and a pained expression appeared on her face. She lowered her head before finally answering, "That's where Motherwitch does her experiments."
"Can I see inside..." Kira began to ask, but she noticed Alexei's downcast head down and with evident pain on her face.
Is it inside there that Morgana conducted experiments on Alexei?
"Alexei, I just want to say what I learned from my mentor... is that to move on from our fear and pain is to face them head-on," Kira explained.
"..." Instead of answering, Alexei looked up with a steely gaze at the lab, walking forward to enter it with Kira.
The scent of old and potent blood hung thick in the air as Alexei and Kira enterred into the laboratory...The haunting aroma triggered a visceral reaction in Alexei, unleashing a flood of memories that swept her back to a harrowing scene. The room, its center dominated by a cold, unyielding table, held Alexei restrained and vulnerable.
In the vivid recollection, the sound of Alexei's screams echoed against the walls as Morgana subjected her to multiple injections. The relentless experimentation, fueled by a pursuit of power that twisted into an agonizing ordeal, had left its indelible mark on Alexei's psyche.
As the flashback ended Alexei's breathing quickened, and the weight of the memories bore down on her. However, she managed to wrestle control over the tumult of emotions.
Kira, observing the turmoil in Alexei's eyes, felt a pang of sympathy.I cant imagine what she went throught. The thought of wielding such bone-centric powers, which appeared excruciatingly painful as she wondered how she didn't die from it yet.
"What experiments does she do in here?" Kira asked.
"I don't know... but there was something she worked on in secret before coming to the academy," Alexei explained.
"How many years has it been since you've known Morgana?" Kira inquired, removing her hand from Alexei's shoulder and walking around.
"I don't know. I barely remember... But I always remember the day in my old village. I will say it's been about 5 years, which also makes me 17 years old," Alexei shared.
Kira conituued to limp round the lab while liseneing to alexie, noticing the walls adorned with unsettling symbols and diagrams, depicting forbidden rituals and experiments. Strange concoctions bubbled in glass vials, emitting an otherworldly glow that bathed the room in an unsettling ambiance.
Cages lined with remnants of failed subjects hinted at the atrocities committed in the name of forbident titual, In one corner, she discovered a table covered with old paper and blood-stained parchments. These grim manuscripts detailed the twisted fusion of bloodline powers, forbidden incantations, and the manipulation of life forces.
As she delved deeper, Kira stumbled upon a chamber concealed behind a heavy, iron door. Intrigued and wary, she cautiously pushed it open, revealing Morgana's inner sanctum.
Kira's eyes widened as she beheld the remnants of recent experiments – shattered bones, dark residue, and the lingering echoes of suffering. The air itself seemed tainted with malevolence, she felt a shiver run down her spine.Turning her head, she noticed Alexei standing behind her, observing from a distance.
As Kira's eyes fell upon the black cloth and the mysterious objects it concealed she cautiously approached the covered items.
Upon removing the cloth, Kira discovered a series of semi-old papers affixed to the wall. each revealing an unknown creature with unique and unsettling characteristics. One displayed a creature with a pointed tail. Another showcased a being with four wings.The final image depicted a creature with four arms.
Turning her gaze to Alexei, Why doesn't she seem more alarmed by this?...Why? Because her mind has been corrupted by the influence of Morgana, and now, many sinister or repulsive things no longer faze her. Her thoughts have become accustomed to the darkness, perceiving these occurrences as ordinary and commonplace in the world.
'These papers have a look as if they weren't here for long,' Kira thought, examining the documents scattered around the lab.
Kira's eyes lingered on the large, opened cage standing ominously on the side. The cage, stretching five feet in height. Unlike the other cages that had remnants of failed experiments, this one still contained a viscous gooey substance within it.
What is this gooey substance? And where is this experiment?