I awoke with a start, finding myself alone in a quiet, sterile room. The faint smell of antiseptic and the sight of a medical cot confirmed that I was in the nurse's office.
Where's IM? I wondered, sitting up and looking around.
I left the room, and the scene that greeted me was pure chaos. Shards of glass littered the hallway floor, and students were scrambling to clean up the mess.
"What happened?" I asked, my voice filled with confusion.
I approached a nearby student who was diligently sweeping up the shattered glass, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Hey, what happened?" I asked, my voice filled with feigned curiosity.
"Oh, Senior Xian!" he exclaimed, startled. "We're not really sure. The windows suddenly exploded... and before that, we heard gunshots coming from the roof. We think maybe it was some kind of... government operation?"
I nodded, a small smile playing on my lips. It seemed they were just as clueless as I had hoped.
"Thanks," I said, patting him on the shoulder before continuing my search for IM.
The school was in disarray, glass shards glinting menacingly under the flickering lights. I carefully navigated the hallways, avoiding the broken fragments as I made my way towards my classroom.
Students were scattered throughout the corridors, diligently cleaning up the debris. As I approached my classroom, Rayhan spotted me and hurried over.
"Xian!" he exclaimed. "Where have you been? We were worried!"
"I was in the nurse's office," I replied, my voice raspy. "I think I passed out for a bit."
"Was it because of the explosion?" Rayhan asked, his eyes wide with concern.
I nodded slightly, unsure of how much to reveal.
Just then, IM emerged from the crowd, a broom in hand. "You're awake," he said, a relieved smile on his face.
"Help us with the cleanup, Xian," he suggested, gesturing towards the shattered glass.
"Alright," I agreed. "What should I do?"
Dinda approached me, holding out a pair of thick rubber gloves. "Here, The headmaster gave these to us. Let's get to work."
I took the gloves and pulled them on, a newfound sense of purpose filling me.
"Let's clean up this mess," I declared, grabbing a broom and joining the others in their efforts.
We worked tirelessly, sweeping up shards of glass, wiping down surfaces, and clearing away debris. The once pristine classroom was now a testament to the destructive power unleashed during our encounter with the demon.
"I can't believe this happened," Dinda muttered, her voice barely a whisper. "It's like something out of a nightmare."
"Yeah," Marcel agreed, his eyes darting nervously around the room. "I hope the school doesn't hold us responsible for this."
"Don't worry," IM reassured him, his voice calm and steady. "We'll take care of it."
He glanced at me, a silent question in his eyes. I nodded, understanding his unspoken request. I closed my eyes, focusing my energy on the shattered windows.
I can't do this in front of everyone, I need some privacy. I realized, a wave of frustration washing over me.
"I need to use the bathroom," I announced, a convenient excuse to escape the curious stares of my classmates.
The others exchanged puzzled glances, but I didn't elaborate. I quickly get away from there and made my way to the nearest restroom.
The dimly lit bathroom provided a welcome privacy. I took a deep breath, focusing my thoughts and channeling my energy.
I need to fix those windows, I can't let anyone know the truth about what happened. I told myself.
I closed my eyes, visualizing the shattered glass reforming, the cracks disappearing, the windows seamlessly returning to their pristine state. I could feel the familiar warmth spreading through my body as my Blue Blood surged, responding to my will.
Let me see... everyone will forget about the explosion, The windows were never broken. I added to my visualization.
I could feel the power coursing through me, the strands of my hair standing on end as the energy intensified. I opened my eyes, a wave of dizziness washing over me.
I stepped out of the bathroom, my heart pounding in my chest. The hallway was quiet, students passing by with textbooks in hand. The shattered glass was gone, the windows intact.
I smiled, a sense of accomplishment filling me. "It worked..."
I returned to the classroom, where the lesson was already underway.
"Sorry I'm late," I mumbled, slipping into my seat beside IM.
I glanced at him, trying to gauge his reaction.
He leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper. "You did it," he said, a hint of awe in his eyes. "You rewound time."
I was stunned.
Rewound time? Could it be because of my power?
The realization hit me like a lightning bolt. It seemed that my abilities were far more vast and complex than I had ever imagined.
***
The school day finally drew to a close, and IM and I walked through the now-empty hallways towards the parking lot. The afternoon sun slanted through the windows, casting long shadows that danced and shimmered on the walls.
"I never imagined my power could rewind time..." I mused, still trying to process the events in the bathroom.
"What exactly did you imagine?" IM inquired, his curiosity piqued.
< Chapter 087 > Fin.