[Midday_Eclipse: The chapter ends with a cliffhanger!? Did Sir Theo succeed in activating a cliffhanger, or was that solely the work of 'The Author'?]
"Hmm?" Aurora emerged from the hotel on the island, her mind filled with concerns that kept her from sleeping. She glanced at the moon shining in the sky and muttered to herself, "What should I do?"
Observing the village, she noticed that it was shrouded in darkness. The island lacked advanced technology, and even the hotel she stayed in was no more than a modest house. Power supply was limited, relying solely on solar panels, which were often turned off to conserve energy.
Aurora struggled to navigate her surroundings in the dim light. With sleep eluding her, she decided to take a stroll to tire herself out. The spider cave near the cliff came to mind, and without hesitation, she made her way toward it, seeking solace in the beauty of the moon and the cool breeze.
Unbeknownst to Aurora, two figures lurked in the darkness, spying on her. Concealed from sight, their presence was barely detectable. In hushed tones, they discussed their mission.
"What should we do?" one asked cautiously, ensuring they didn't alert others to their conversation.
"Our mission is to observe and report their movements to the base," the other replied.
"But this is the perfect opportunity to capture her. If we miss this chance, we might need more manpower."
The two men furrowed their brows, torn between seizing the opportunity and the difficulty of carrying out their plan on the island without being discovered.
"Perhaps we can secure her now and use the cover of night to make our way back to the mainland," one suggested.
"Idiot. The high tide would surely hinder us," the other rebuked.
"Then, what if we wait for the tide to recede slightly? In the early hours of the morning, we steal a boat and leave the island. Since they are a group of teachers and students, they're unlikely to return to the mainland until around 9 or 10 AM. By that time, we would have already reached safety," the first proposed.
Silence hung in the air as they considered the plan. While it would avoid a confrontation with the teacher, they still needed to exercise caution.
"Let me inform the boss first," the second man decided, retreating to his room to contact their base.
After a brief wait, the call was answered. "What's the matter? Did they make a move? Why did they return during the night?"
"I need to speak with the boss. It's an unusual situation, and I require his decision. If we capitalize on this opportunity, we might secure the target without facing the teacher."
There was a momentary pause on the other end of the line, annoyance lacing the boss's deep voice. Clearly displeased at being awakened, he grumbled, "Explain the situation to me."
The second man proceeded to describe the circumstances and how it could benefit their mission. After some consideration, the boss inquired, "That teacher is Theodore Griffith from the Demon Realm, correct? The one associated with a Royal Grade Demon?"
"Yes, Sir. While confronting him might allow us to deceive him and secure the target, it's impossible to escape unscathed. Some of us may lose their lives in the process. However, given his ability is rumored to be an illusion, there's a good chance it would be ineffective against us."
"Hmm..." The boss contemplated for a moment before giving his approval. "Very well. Secure the target and immediately steal a boat to return to the mainland once it's safe to do so."
The boss seemed enticed by the prospect of executing the plan without losing any subordinates. Thus, he sanctioned their actions and advised caution.
"Also, ensure that the teacher is asleep. It could be an illusion," the boss warned.
"But boss, have you ever seen an illusion cast from a kilometer away?" the second man questioned.
"You're right... If someone can cast an illusion at such range, they could envelop an entire small city. In that case, the teacher should be more famous than his current reputation suggests. Nonetheless, proceed with caution."
"Understood." The man set his plan in motion, splitting up to confirm Theo's slumber and prepare for their departure. The other man was tasked with securing the target.
...
At the cliff's edge, Aurora stood, captivated by the moon's radiance. Serenity graced her face, calming her troubled heart.
"To think my teacher is so amazing," Aurora murmured with a smile. "He said we would take down those who seek to kidnap me for whatever reason. If he succeeds, I suppose I will trust him even more."
Recalling Theo's incredible prowess against the spiders, she recognized his immense strength. Even the elves, renowned for their affinity with essence, would struggle to exhibit such control.
"But the real challenge will come when we return to the mainland. I wonder if his plan will unfold flawlessly," Aurora pondered, a smile lingering on her lips.
However, the spirits around her grew restless, interrupting her thoughts.
"Hmm?" Aurora furrowed her brow, noticing the agitation among the floating spirits. "Why are you so rest—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a presence approached her with alarming speed.
"!!!" Aurora swiftly turned around, but in the darkness near the cliff, there was no vegetation or rocks to conceal the intruder. She easily spotted the figure advancing toward her, though the moonlight struggled to illuminate them.
"Who—" Aurora began to raise her hands to defend herself, but Theo's earlier warning echoed in her mind. She needed to learn martial arts to avoid being at a disadvantage in situations like this. And his warning proved true.
Despite her instinct to fight, she was swiftly overpowered in close combat. A blow struck her stomach, causing her to cough up acid.
"Gah!" Aurora coughed and collapsed to all fours, her pain rendering her helpless.
Exploiting the situation, the assailant swiftly covered her mouth with a cloth, causing her to inhale chloroform. As her consciousness faded, her final thoughts were of her teacher.
...
The next morning, two figures carried oversized backpacks, one filled with tools and clothes, the other with a peculiar shape.
With the sun yet to rise, their movements went unnoticed. They placed the backpacks in a random fishing boat and swiftly pushed it into the water. Starting the engine, they sped away into the distance, successfully escaping the island without detection.
Meanwhile, Mia and the others had just woken up an hour later. Serena hummed cheerfully as she packed her belongings, oblivious to the unfolding events.
"Hmm, hmm, hmm... What a beautiful day," Serena remarked.
Mia, engaged in her own preparations, inquired about Aurora's whereabouts. "Serena, have you seen Aurora?"
"Nope. She's probably around somewhere. Elves are a bit different, you know. The morning air is incredibly refreshing. She might be performing a ritual or something reminiscent of her life in the Mythical Realm," Serena replied casually, continuing her task.
"Is that so?" Mia tilted her head in confusion, accepting Serena's explanation without further thought. Besides, her father was present, so she assumed he would handle any issues that arose.
However, as time passed, Aurora failed to return. What was initially one hour turned into two, and the atmosphere gradually warmed with the rising sun.
"Are you sure Aurora is around? Why hasn't she come back yet? We were supposed to return in another thirty minutes. And come to think of it, my dad is also missing," Mia expressed her growing concern.
Mia decided to leave the room and seek out Lancelot, who shared a room with her father.
"Lancelot, have you seen my dad?" Mia asked while approaching him.
"No, Mia. I couldn't find him anywhere," Lancelot replied, his worry mounting. "Maybe he's talking with the soldiers? The proof of completion should have been done by now."
Mia considered Lancelot's suggestion and nodded. "That's possible. He might be finalizing things with the military. We should go to the military camp and inquire about his whereabouts."
Relieved to have a plan, Mia made her way to the military camp. She hoped to find answers and locate both Aurora and her father.
As she arrived, she met Anderson, the person in charge of the military team.
"Ah, you must be Sir Theodore's daughter," Anderson greeted Mia.
"Yes, that's me. Have you seen my father? I've been looking for him, but he seems to be nowhere in sight," Mia explained, her tone filled with concern.
Anderson's expression turned serious as he responded, "Actually, your father asked me to hand this to you." He presented a brown envelope. "It's the proof of completion. He instructed me to give it to you this morning. Also, he left you a note..."
Curiosity mixed with apprehension, Mia accepted the envelope and unfolded the note. As she read the words written by her father, her jaw dropped in disbelief.
"Are you serious?" Mia uttered in shock, her voice barely above a whisper.
The contents of the letter had delivered unexpected news, shaking Mia to her core.