"I've always wondered what lies beneath that mask," the figure rasped, its voice echoing eerily in the dimly lit corridor.
Ajal stood his ground, his posture radiating a calm focus despite the tense situation. His opponent, a blur of motion, lunged forward, aiming to rip the mask from his face. Ajal reacted instinctively, employing his honed martial arts skills. With a swift movement, he evaded the attack, using the momentum to deliver a powerful strike aimed to the opponents chest. The clash sent a shockwave through the air, the force echoing through the deserted hallway.
Ajal's strike connected with a sickening thud. The figure stumbled back, momentarily stunned.
A sliver of moonlight, illuminated the figure.
Laughter and lighthearted conversation filled the air as the young couple strolled hand-in-hand. They reminisced about the break and exchanged anxieties about the upcoming challenges of their third year.
Suddenly, a cold breeze swept past the girl, sending shivers down her spine. An unsettling feeling of being watched crept over her.
"Are you okay?" her boyfriend asked, noticing her discomfort.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she stammered, forcing a smile.
They continued their walk, the unease lingering. Just as they leaned in for a kiss, the girl swore she saw something move in the darkness.
Her boyfriend, sensing her apprehension, inquired, "Is something wrong? You've been acting strange for a while now."
"I don't know," she replied, her voice barely a whisper. "I feel like we're being watched."
"Don't worry," he reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm highly sensitive to changes in the environment, especially after all the survival missions I've been through. If there was anything here, I'd sense it. Besides, who would dare cause trouble on academy grounds?"
He winked playfully, attempting to ease her nerves.
Despite his confident words, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
As they drew closer, their faces inches apart, he abruptly shoved her aside. A condensed beam of light shot out from his hand, slicing through the empty air.
"What's wrong?" she exclaimed, startled by his sudden action.
"I think you were right," he said, his voice tense. "We are definitely being watched. Show yourself!" he boomed, his voice echoing in the stillness.
Silence. No response.
He strained his senses, searching for any sign of their unseen stalker. An unnatural breeze ruffled the leaves around them. He reacted instinctively, another beam of light lancing out, only to be deflected by an unseen force.
"So, you've noticed," a voice slithered from the shadows. "A keen student of Morningstar indeed. But your skills won't save you today. My orders were to capture specimens alive, but a little roughhousing wouldn't hurt, would it?"
The voice held a twisted sense of amusement.
"What do you mean by specimens?" the girl shrieked, her voice trembling.
"Run!" her boyfriend yelled, his eyes scanning the darkness. "Get help!"
She bolted, legs pumping, but a strange paralysis gripped her. Her body refused to obey her frantic commands.
"Seems the sedative is working perfectly," the voice taunted. "Don't worry, dear, it won't be long now."
Panic surged through the girl as she watched her boyfriend struggle against a similar fate. His movements grew sluggish, his attacks becoming erratic.
Suddenly, a hand clamped down on his head, slamming it against the ground with brutal force.
"You!" he gasped, a flicker of recognition in his eyes before succumbing to the effects of the drug.
The figure chuckled, a chilling sound in the quiet night. "Sweet dreams," it whispered, its form remaining obscured in the darkness.
The girl, paralyzed and powerless, could only watch in horror as the figure loomed closer, a menacing smile stretching across its unseen face.
As the figure stood bathed in moonlight, Ajal found himself facing a dark-skinned male with a lined tattoo snaking down his neck. It was Yaw.
"Every record dead ends," Yaw spat, his voice laced with barely concealed fury. "Your past vanished the moment you joined the Dragovichs."
Ajal remained stoic. "My past is none of your concern, Yaw."
A dark grin stretched across Yaw's face. "Maybe not, but that damned mask..." His eyes flickered with malice. "And frankly, I'm curious how strong the 'prodigy' of the Dragovich family truly is."
Ajal met Yaw's gaze, his expression unflinching. "This is unnecessary. We can settle any differences during the exams."
"Too slow." Dark flames erupted from Yaw's arms, a wall of searing heat aimed directly at Ajal.
With no escape in the confined corridor, Ajal met the inferno head-on. Smoke billowed as the dark flames licked at his flesh, charring his exterior. Yet, even as they burned, a faint, cool sensation pulsed beneath the surface, pushing back the fiery onslaught. The flames sputtered and died, leaving Ajal standing defiant, his body healing instantly, the burns fading like embers in the wind.
Yaw's eyes widened in disbelief. The flames, renowned for their persistence and inextinguishability, were extinguished. "What the...? How did you do that?" he stammered.
Ajal, his gaze unwavering, met Yaw's stare. Black flames, mirroring Yaw's own, ignited around his arms.
Yaw's realization dawned on him as he stared at the black flames looking shocked. "You... you can copy?!"
Ajal said. "Time to return the favor," he said, shooting dark flames even stronger than what Yaw had unleashed.
Yaw reacted swiftly, erecting a wall of his own flames to block the attack. The flames clashed, the confined corridor echoing with the sizzle and crackle of their powers.
A manic laugh erupted from Yaw. "So you can copy!" He spat, his voice dripping with disdain. Just a cheap imitation!" His eyes gleamed with a twisted amusement, relishing the thought of exposing Ajal's weakness.
"Seems there are limitations to your ability," Yaw continued, his voice laced with sadistic glee. "My flames burn you even as you copy them. Clever trick using someone else's healing ability to counter the burn, though."
Just as Ajal prepared to counter Yaw's taunt, a sudden crack of energy split the air. A translucent barrier materialized in the space between them, effortlessly deflecting Yaw's next volley of flames. The searing heat dissipated harmlessly before reaching Ajal.
Hizuru, the student council representative, stood bathed in an ethereal glow, her eyes narrowed in fury.
"This fight ends now!" she declared, her voice echoing through the corridor.
Yaw scoffed, a flicker of defiance dancing in his eyes. He spat a derogatory remark under his breath, completely disregarding Hizuru's authority.
But a single glare from the enraged representative sent him slinking away. Left alone with Hizuru, the weight of the situation settled on Ajal. His clothes were singed, a reminder of the near-fatal encounter. A pang of hunger gnawed at him as he looked at his ruined dinner.
Hizuru's voice cut through his thoughts, laced with exasperation. "You'll both be summoned by the Student President. Don't think your family name or influence protects you here. You'll both be punished severely for this reckless display and damaging school property.
As Hizuru departed, leaving Ajal standing amidst the aftermath of the confrontation, his gaze wandered, scanning the surroundings. In the distance, barely perceptible amidst the shadows, a figure lingered, its form obscured by the darkness.
Ajal's eyes locked onto the distant silhouette, a flicker of recognition stirring within him. Despite the considerable distance, he sensed the figure's presence keenly, as if they had been watching the entire exchange.
The figure remained still, their presence a mere whisper in the night. Yet, Ajal could feel their eyes upon him, a silent observer in the shadows.
Then, as if acknowledging Ajal's awareness, the figure spoke softly, almost to themselves, "To think he noticed me from this distance."