I chuckled, shaking my head. "Of course, IM. Always blaming the equipment."
He shrugged, a good-natured grin spreading across his face. "Hey, it's not my fault if I'm too powerful for their cheap hoops!"
I glanced around the office, my eyes landing on Yolan and Lili, who were still seated on the chairs. "Anyway..." I trailed off, turning my attention back to Yolan. "Yolan," I called out.
Yolan looked up, meeting my gaze. "What's up?"
"About that guy... how is it? The harbinger who came here... you know, the one we wanted to recruit."
"Oh, that guy," Yolan replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "No response."
"Well, that's weird... his harbinger came here to say he wanted to join us, but... he didn't come..." I said, a frown creasing my brow. The situation was puzzling, to say the least.
Shaking off the confusion, I clapped my hands together. "Anyway, it's time to close up. Let's go back home, guys."
Yolan and Lili rose from their seats, stretching their limbs. Yolan then tossed a hefty keyring towards me.
Clank! The keys landed in my hand with a loud jangle, the sheer number of them surprising me.
"...which one's the key?" I asked, bewildered by the sheer number of keys on the ring.
Yolan chuckled, "Just try them one by one until you find the right one. It's a good exercise for your patience!"
I sighed playfully, but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. "Alright, alright. You two go ahead, I'll lock up."
Yolan and Lili waved goodbye, their footsteps echoing down the hallway as they left. IM stretched lazily, yawning widely. "I'm heading out too. See you tomorrow, Xian."
With a final wave, he too disappeared from sight. I was left alone in the office, or rather, not quite alone. I still had IM's presence by my side.
"Let's go, let's turn off everything and lock the building... I don't even know why we should lock it. This building is huge." I mused aloud, already starting to make my way around the office, switching off lights and checking that everything was secure.
IM walked beside me, his presence a comforting reassurance as I went about my tasks.
After a while, I finally found the correct key and locked the main entrance. "Done..." I sighed, the weight of the day finally catching up with me. "The key, I think I should teleport it to Dove..." I mused aloud.
"Go on," IM encouraged.
This key will arrive in Dove's pocket, I imagined, focusing my will on the object.
Meanwhile, Dove was sound asleep after a long day of photoshoots. She was still wearing her cosplay costume, her body curled up comfortably on her bed. Suddenly, she felt something slip into her pocket.
"Hmm..." she mumbled, shifting slightly and turning over, but her slumber remained undisturbed. The key, now safely nestled in her pocket, would await her discovery in the morning.
"There you are, hello… its me again, Libido" a voice echoed through the quiet office, sending a shiver down my spine.
IM and I spun around to find the source of the voice. Standing before us was the albino kid, Libido, and his imposing Guardian, Murk.
"Kekeke!" Murk cackled, the chains in his hands rattling ominously.
"I've been searching for you, and here you are..." Libido said, his voice dripping with a chilling intensity.
I tilted my head, my curiosity piqued. "What do you guys want?"
"Seems you've gotten stronger, huh?" Libido continued, a predatory grin spreading across his face. "How about a fight?"
Swooosh!
Without warning, Murk lunged towards IM, his chains whipping through the air with deadly intent.
But IM simply stood his ground, his body phasing effortlessly through the sharp chains as if they were mere illusions.
Murk's eyes widened in disbelief. The chain passed harmlessly through IM's form, leaving him unscathed.
It missed? No, it was not... Murk thought, confusion clouding his features.
Meanwhile, I calmly approached Libido, my curiosity outweighing any fear. "What can you do?" I inquired, my voice steady.
"...Anything." Libido's response was a chilling whisper, his gaze locked onto mine with an unnerving intensity.
"Do you even know my power now?" I pressed, my voice laced with a hint of challenge. "Or do you still think I'm nothing?"
Libido's lips curled into a sly smile. "Hmm... you're supposed to be a strong person, aren't you? But let's see if you can handle this."
Suddenly, the air around Libido crackled with energy, the temperature dropping several degrees. A swirling vortex of darkness formed around him, casting eerie shadows across the ground outside the company. I felt a surge of unease, my instincts screaming at me to be cautious.
An ice...? I thought, confused by the sudden change in the atmosphere.
"This is my new power, one I found to protect myself from betrayal," Libido declared, his voice echoing with an icy chill. "Hell Level 4, Ice Hell."
Thruk! A sharp spike of ice erupted from the ground, aiming directly for me.
With a calm demeanor, I simply blinked.
Crack! The ice spike shattered instantly, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.
Libido remained stoic, his expression unreadable even after witnessing his ice spike's sudden destruction. "Hmm... interesting. What's your power?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"Search for it yourself," I replied, a playful smirk tugging at my lips.
Meanwhile, IM continued to stand his ground, observing Murk with a mocking grin. "Can't even touch me? Come on, low-evolved Guardian, can't you even evolve into a human like me?" he taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Murk growled, his chains lashing out again in a fury. But once more, they passed harmlessly through IM's intangible form. The frustration on Murk's face was evident, his attacks proving futile against IM's unique ability.
Libido, however, seemed unfazed by his Guardian's struggles. His eyes narrowed as he studied me, his mind racing to decipher the nature of my power. "Very well," he finally said, a hint of respect creeping into his voice. "I'll find out eventually. But for now, let's see if you can withstand this."
He raised his hand, and the air crackled with renewed intensity. The darkness around him swirled faster, coalescing into a swirling blizzard of ice shards. The temperature plummeted further, the chill seeping into my bones.
This is getting serious, I thought, a shiver running down my spine. I knew I couldn't simply blink away this attack. It was time to reveal a bit more of my capabilities.
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and focused my mind. The world around me seemed to slow down, the blizzard of ice shards moving in slow motion. I could feel the power of my imagination surging within me, ready to be unleashed.
"Imagine... can control time..." I whispered, my voice barely audible above the howling wind.
And then, with a surge of willpower, I reached out and grasped the fabric of time itself.
The blizzard of ice shards froze in mid-air, suspended in a silent tableau of impending destruction. A hush fell over the scene, the only sound the faint whistle of the wind as it whipped around us.
With a deliberate step, I walked closer to Libido, my footsteps echoing in the sudden stillness. I stopped directly behind him, my presence a silent threat.
Time continue, I imagined, my focus unwavering.
In an instant, the world snapped back into motion. The frozen ice shards resumed their deadly trajectory, but now their target had shifted. They hurtled towards Libido, who stood oblivious to the impending danger.
"Looking for me?" I taunted, my whisper barely audible against the roar of the approaching ice storm.
Libido's eyes widened in shock as he realized his own attack was now turned against him. He spun around, but it was too late. The ice shards slammed into him with a deafening crack, encasing him in a prison of his own making.
A pained cry escaped Libido's lips as the ice shards pierced his flesh. He struggled against the icy prison, but it held him fast, the cold seeping into his very core.
Murk, seeing his master in peril, roared in anger. He lunged at me, his chains whipping through the air with renewed fury. But IM was ready. He danced effortlessly around the attacks, his intangible form making him an elusive target.
"Give it up, Murk," IM taunted. "You can't touch me. Your master's lost this fight."
Murk's frustration grew with each failed attack. He snarled, his eyes burning with a primal rage. But even his brute strength was no match for IM's ability to phase through solid matter.
I turned back to Libido, who was now shivering uncontrollably, his face pale and lips blue. "This is what it feels like to be powerless, Libido," I said, my voice a cold echo of his own. "To be at the mercy of forces beyond your control."
Libido closed his eyes, his face a mask of grim determination. He took a deep breath, and with a surge of willpower, the ice encasing him shattered, crumbling into harmless fragments.
Tap! Tap! He straightened his shirt, his composure returning despite the ordeal he had just endured.
"Well... that was uncreative, Murk!" he yelled into the empty space where his Guardian had once stood.
With a final ripple, Murk vanished into the shadows, leaving only a lingering chill in the air.
Libido turned back to me, his expression unreadable. "Just wanted to give you a greeting," he said, his voice surprisingly calm. "You're famous everywhere now, and we know that your descendant is still alive. Just be careful."
With that cryptic warning, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the night as mysteriously as he had arrived.
I watched Libido's retreating figure, a mix of confusion and unease swirling within me. His words echoed in my mind, a cryptic warning that left me with more questions than answers.
"What was that all about?" IM asked, breaking the silence.
I shrugged, my brow furrowed in thought. "I'm not sure. But it seems like we're not the only ones aware of my lineage."
***
At school, the usual hustle and bustle of exam week filled the air. I finished my test early, as always, and rose from my seat, placing the paper on the teacher's desk.
"Can I go now?" I asked Mrs. Nay.
She nodded, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Yes, you can... but are you sure?"
I nodded confidently. "100%."
Mrs. Nay chuckled. "You seem more confident these weeks, always the first one to finish."
"Xian... number 10," Marcel whispered from across the room, his eyes pleading for help.
I discreetly mouthed the answer, 'B,' not only to him but to everyone who was watching. A wave of relief washed over the room as students hurriedly filled in their answer sheets.
I chuckled inwardly and left the classroom, the whispers and grateful glances following me out the door.
Outside the classroom, I spotted Lenna walking briskly down the hallway, her head slightly bowed as if lost in thought.
"Hey, Lenna," I called out, hoping to catch her attention.
"Ah, Senior," she acknowledged with a quick nod, but continued walking without slowing down.
She's in a hurry, I guess... I thought, watching her retreating figure.
I shrugged and made my way to a nearby bench, taking a seat and pulling out my phone. The screen lit up, revealing a flurry of notifications, mostly from the Unveiled Family group chat, Hanna's messages, and Instagram updates.
"Hmm... what did Hanna chat about today..." I wondered aloud, tapping on the messaging app to see what my friend had been up to.
[Hanna: Morning morning! Hey Xian, guess what I got today?]
"Hmm... two hours ago, damn, I should reply faster..." I whispered to myself, a pang of guilt hitting me for not responding sooner. I quickly started typing a reply.
[Me: Sorry for the late reply, what is it?]
As I waited for Hanna's response, I scrolled through the rest of my notifications. The Unveiled Family group chat was buzzing with activity, mostly updates from Dove about her latest photoshoots and IM's usual playful banter. I smiled, grateful for the sense of camaraderie and support I found within the group.
Finally, my phone vibrated with a new message from Hanna.
[Hanna: You're lateeee uuuu]
I chuckled softly. "Well, sorry about that..." I muttered to myself.
[Me: Sorry, I was in the middle of an exam and didn't see the notification this morning]
[Hanna: ahaha alright it's okayy anyway, I've been talking about the next concert in Singapore, I told you, anddd...]
[Hanna: do you wanna know more?]
[Me: tell me about it]
[Hanna: hehe, my manager is willing to pay for your plane ticket and a VIP ticket for you! To watch us!]
My eyes widened in surprise. "Damn, they're too generous to me.." I mumbled under my breath.
[Me: Why?]
[Hanna: Because last time you saved people from that guy who spread the fire! Of course! Now don't even think about rejecting it, I'm forcing you to approve! 😡😡😡]
I chuckled at her playful insistence.
[Me: Haha, okay okay, I'll accept.]
"Hey Xian," a guy's voice said beside me, snapping me out of my conversation with Hanna.
I looked up and was surprised to see Pila's boyfriend standing there, his arms crossed and a challenging look in his eyes.
"What's up?" I answered, casually fixing my long hair.
"Why didn't you reply to my message on Instagram, hm? Scared?" he said suddenly, his tone accusatory.
Instagram message? I thought, genuinely confused.
"Sorry, my direct messages are flooded with requests. I didn't see yours," I explained, trying to defuse the situation. "What's up?" I asked, hoping he'd get to the point.
He scoffed, "Don't act dumb, I know you saw it. You just ignored me."
"I really didn't," I insisted, feeling a bit frustrated. "I get a lot of messages, it's easy to miss one."
"Whatever," he said, rolling his eyes. "Just stay away from Pila, got it? She's mine."
I raised an eyebrow, a spark of annoyance flickering within me. "I'm not interested in Pila."
"Then why did you give her money with your name on it?" he asked, his tone accusatory.
"A gesture of gratitude," I replied calmly. "Don't be jealous, bro. If you're insecure, fix yourself, don't blame others."
He scoffed again, but his bravado seemed to falter slightly. "Just remember what I said," he muttered, before turning and stalking off down the hallway.
I let out a sigh, shaking my head. "Jealous boyfriends... seriously?" I muttered under my breath.
I'm not even interested in Pila. I just used her that time because I didn't want to think and just looked at her exam paper, I thought, shrugging my shoulders and leaning back on the chair.
Kring! The bell rang, signaling the end of the exam period.
The hallway, once quiet, suddenly erupted into a cacophony of voices and footsteps as students poured out of the classrooms. I watched the scene unfold, a sense of detachment settling over me. The contrast between the mundane world of school and the extraordinary events of the night before felt jarring.
IM and others emerged from the classroom, making their way towards me. Marcel took a seat beside me while IM stood in front, his curiosity evident.
"What's up with Pila's boyfriend?" IM asked, his voice laced with amusement.
"Yeah, I saw him walk up to you earlier," Marcel added, his tone echoing IM's curiosity.
I chuckled lightly, recounting the brief encounter with Pila's boyfriend. "He was just being territorial, telling me to stay away from Pila."
IM raised an eyebrow. "Jealous much?"
"Apparently," I replied, rolling my eyes. "But I assured him I have no interest in her."
Marcel leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "So, are you interested in anyone else?"
"Maybe," I replied, keeping my face stoic.
"Ohhh, is it one of the school students?" Marcel pressed, his excitement growing.
I shook my head.
"No? Then another school?"
I shook my head again.
"Hmm... damn..." Marcel mumbled, trying to guess.
"What's up with this?" Rayhan's voice cut through the air as he approached our group, a curious expression on his face.
"Xian, a handsome guy, is in love!" Marcel declared dramatically, throwing his hands up in the air.
Rayhan's jaw dropped. "Hmm... let me guess... is it that junior at our school?"
I shook my head, a small smile playing on my lips.
"Hmm... a middle schooler?"
"Even worse, no."
"So you're in love with a loli?" Rayhan blurted out, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"That is the worst guess!" Marcel yelled playfully, dissolving into laughter.
I chuckled, enjoying their playful banter. It was a welcome distraction from the weight of my responsibilities as The Imaginary.
Roro and her two companions approached our group, their curiosity piqued by the laughter and raised voices.
"Why are you guys being so loud?" Roro asked, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.
"We're just discussing Xian's love life," Marcel chirped, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
Roro's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Xian, you have a crush?"
I chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of my neck. "It's not really a crush... more like a complicated situation."
"Ooh, intriguing," Roro said, leaning in closer. "Do tell!"
"No, no, no, we should take guesses," Marcel interjected, his excitement palpable.
And so the guessing game began. Wild theories flew around, ranging from the plausible to the utterly absurd. Some students who were passing by, drawn in by the commotion, even joined in, adding their own outlandish suggestions to the mix.
"Maybe it's a celebrity!" one girl exclaimed.
"Or a superhero!" another chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Nah, it's probably someone from another dimension," a boy with a penchant for science fiction declared.
I laughed along with them, enjoying the lighthearted atmosphere.
The guesses continued to fly, each one more outlandish than the last.
"Maybe it's a mermaid!" a girl with a fondness for fairy tales suggested.
"Or a vampire!" another chimed in, her eyes wide with mock horror.
"Nah, it's probably a time traveler," a boy with a fascination for history declared.
"Or maybe... it's someone we already know," Roro said thoughtfully, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
The group fell silent, considering the possibility. A few curious glances were cast my way, making me blush slightly.
"Ooh, Roro, you're good!" Marcel exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "That would explain why Xian is being so secretive about it."
"Come on, Xian, spill the beans!" another student urged.
I laughed, shaking my head. "I'm not telling. You'll just have to keep guessing."
"Like... if Xian has a crush on someone, no way it's just a normal girl, right?" one of the students piped up, voicing the unspoken thought that hung in the air.
A murmur of agreement rippled through the group. The idea that someone like me, with my extraordinary abilities and mysterious past, would be interested in an ordinary person seemed almost inconceivable to them.
"Yeah, she's probably a princess from a hidden kingdom," a girl suggested, her eyes sparkling with romantic fantasies.
"Or a powerful sorceress," another added, her voice filled with awe.
I couldn't help but chuckle at their wild imaginations. While their guesses were far from the truth, it was heartwarming to see how they perceived me. It made me feel appreciated, even admired, in a way I hadn't experienced before.
< Chapter 162 > Fin.