"I-It was... someone from the student council," Lenna stammered, her cheeks flushing crimson.
Athique, who had been standing beside her, chimed in, "It was the student council member in charge of documentation. She's always taking pictures of you secretly..."
"Secretly..." I repeated, a knot forming in my stomach.
Lenna glared at Athique. "You shouldn't have said that!" she hissed.
Athique tilted her head, unfazed. "Really? Why not?"
Lenna sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "It's fine," she said, her voice barely audible. "It's not like it's a big secret or anything."
She turned to me, her eyes pleading for understanding. "Anyway, I should go meet my friends. They're waiting for me. What are you going to do, Senior?"
"I'm going to be the MC for the opening ceremony," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual.
"Oh!" Lenna's friends perked up, their eyes wide with excitement.
"Can we come watch?" one of them asked eagerly.
I nodded. "Of course."
Lenna looked at her friends, a playful smirk on her face. "Do you guys want to explore the school grounds or watch the opening ceremony?"
"The opening ceremony!" they all shouted in unison.
I stepped onto the stage, the microphone a familiar weight in my hand. The sea of faces below me was a blur, but I could feel their energy, their excitement for the day's festivities.
"Good morning, everyone!" I announced, my voice amplified by the speakers.
***
High above the schoolyard, Xian Ying's Harbinger stood on the rooftop, its gaze sweeping across the bustling scene below.
Hmm... Now I can sense something from a distance...
It paused, tilting its head.
But it feels far away...
The Harbinger turned, its senses tingling with anticipation.
"Well, well, well! We meet again!" A familiar voice hissed from the shadows.
The Harbinger's eyes narrowed as it recognized the figure emerging from the darkness.
"You again... Murk."
"Heh! It's been a day, and you still haven't evolved?! My Seer master accomplished that in a single day!" Murk taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance.
The two otherworldly beings stood poised on the rooftop, the tension between them crackling in the air. Murk, the Guardian of a Seer, and Xian Ying's Harbinger, the enigmatic protector of a young Unveiled.
"You're wasting your time, Even in my unevolved state, I am far more powerful than you," the Harbinger retorted calmly.
"That was just luck," Murk sneered, his form flickering back into existence. "I wasn't expecting you to strike so swiftly." He brandished a chain that extended from his ethereal body, its end morphing into a razor-sharp blade.
"Once again, I ask you, where is your master?"
"He's coming to this school!"
With a roar, Murk launched the bladed chain towards the Harbinger.
Swoosh!
The Harbinger effortlessly dodged, its movements swift and fluid.
This level of power is insignificant... or perhaps it's because of the distance from his master, the Harbinger mused, continuing to evade and parry the relentless attack
The rooftop transformed into a chaotic dance of shadows and light as the two otherworldly beings clashed.
Murk, fuelled by his master's power and a thirst for dominance, lashed out with his bladed chain, its sharp edges whistling through the air.
The Harbinger, however, remained unfazed, its movements a blur as it effortlessly dodged and parried each attack.
"You're nothing but a phantom! A mere shadow of your master's power!" Murk snarled, his frustration growing with each missed strike.
The Harbinger said nothing, its silence a testament to its unwavering focus. It circled Murk, its movements graceful yet predatory, like a panther stalking its prey.
Murk lunged again, his chain whipping towards the Harbinger's chest. But the Harbinger anticipated the move, ducking under the attack and delivering a swift kick to Murk's side.
The blow sent Murk sprawling across the rooftop, his form flickering as he struggled to regain his balance.
"You dare strike me? I am a Guardian of the Seers, a being of immense power! You cannot defeat me!"
"Power is not measured by titles or lineage, It is earned through strength, discipline, and unwavering resolve," the Harbinger retorted, its voice a low rumble.
With a roar, Murk launched himself at the Harbinger, his chain transforming into a whip-like weapon.
The Harbinger sidestepped the attack, then countered with a series of lightning-fast punches and kicks.
Murk staggered backward, his form flickering erratically as he absorbed the blows. "You fight like a wild animal, Unrefined, undisciplined."
"My methods are not your concern, my only concern is protecting my master," the Harbinger replied, its voice cold and emotionless.
The battle raged on, the rooftop a blur of movement as the two figures clashed. Murk's attacks were relentless, his chain morphing into various weapons, from a spear to a scythe. But the Harbinger was always one step ahead, its movements guided by an intuitive understanding of combat and a deep connection to the shadows.
The Harbinger's strikes were precise and devastating, each blow landing with bone-jarring force. Murk's form flickered and wavered, the energy draining from his body with every impact.
Realizing he was outmatched, Murk changed tactics. He retreated to the edge of the rooftop, his chain lashing out in a desperate attempt to keep the Harbinger at bay.
"You may be stronger than me, but my master will crush you and your pathetic human." Murk growled, his voice filled with a bitter resentment.
The Harbinger remained unfazed, its gaze unwavering. "Your master is not here, and even if he were, he would be no match for Xian Ying's potential."
Murk snarled, his eyes burning with rage. He lunged forward, his chain aimed for the Harbinger's throat.
But the Harbinger was too quick. It caught the chain in its hand, yanking Murk off his feet and towards the edge of the roof.
Murk let out a cry of surprise as he tumbled through the air, his form dissolving into nothingness before he hit the ground.
The Harbinger watched him go, its eyes cold and unyielding.
"Your master will not find us here, and when he does, he will face the full fury of the Unveiled," the Harbinger said to the empty air.
< Chapter 051 > Fin.