I, too, watched Alicia's ascent, a sense of closure washing over me. I had helped a lost soul find her way home, and that was a reward in itself.
"Did we just... see a strange thing again...?" Annie said, her voice hushed with awe.
Hanna brought her hands to her face, covering her eyes. "I don't know... I can't see. It's too overwhelming." Tears streamed down her cheeks as she processed the emotional scene.
Charlotte chuckled softly and patted Hanna's head. "There, there. You're being too emotional. Remember, she wasn't truly part of this world to begin with."
Hanna nodded slowly, wiping away her tears. "You're right," she sniffed. "But it's still sad to see her go."
"It is," I agreed, my own voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "But at least she's finally at peace. That's what matters."
The girls fell silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts, the bittersweet farewell lingering in the air.
"Alright, it's getting dark!" Charlotte's cheerful voice broke the silence, her energy revitalized. "Let's go back and prepare for the concert!"
Energized by Charlotte's enthusiasm, the girls headed towards the exit, their conversation shifting to the upcoming concert. Their passion reignited, they discussed setlists, choreography, and costume changes, their voices buzzing with anticipation.
***
Backstage at the concert venue, I watched as the girls took the stage, a whirlwind of energy and charisma. The crowd roared, their cheers echoing through the massive arena. The lights danced and shimmered, casting an ethereal glow on the performers as they moved in perfect synchronicity.
"How's it?" The manager's voice cut through the din, her eyes fixed on the performance.
I looked at her, a bit confused. "What is 'how'?"
"The concert," she clarified. "Is it looking good to you?"
"I mean... yeah, their dancing is in sync," I replied, stating the obvious.
The manager chuckled, a rare smile gracing her lips. "That's not all there is to a good performance," she said, her voice softening slightly. "It's about connecting with the audience, conveying emotions, and creating an unforgettable experience."
I nodded, intrigued by her perspective. "I see," I replied. "But I'm still new to all of this. I'm just enjoying the show."
"Well, keep watching," she encouraged. "You might be surprised by what you discover."
I turned my attention back to the stage, my senses heightened. I observed the girls' every move, the subtle nuances of their expressions, the way they interacted with the audience, the energy they exuded. It was a captivating performance, a testament to their talent and hard work.
"How did you become close with Hanna, anyway?" the manager asked suddenly, her voice pulling me out of my trance.
I jolted a bit, caught off guard by the question. I certainly couldn't tell her the truth about stalking Hanna...
"Well... it was an accident," I said, choosing my words carefully. "I was about to text someone else, but I accidentally sent it to her..." It wasn't a complete lie, but it was definitely a simplified version of the truth.
The manager sighed, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "I should keep telling her not to reply to random people... but I'm glad it was you. You're an exception," she said with a smile, her gaze returning to the stage.
As the concert progressed, I found myself drawn into the performance, the music and energy washing over me. The girls were captivating, their voices blending in perfect harmony, their movements synchronized with flawless precision. It was a spectacle of light and sound, a testament to their talent and dedication.
The manager, observing my reaction, smiled knowingly. "See? There's more to it than just dancing in sync," she remarked, her voice filled with a quiet pride.
I nodded, a genuine smile spreading across my face. "You're right," I admitted. "It's truly amazing."
The concert ended with a thunderous applause, the crowd chanting for an encore. The girls, beaming with joy, returned to the stage, their energy still boundless despite the hours of performing. They launched into their final song, a powerful ballad that showcased their vocal range and emotional depth.
As the final notes faded, a hush fell over the arena, followed by an eruption of cheers and applause. The girls took their bows, their faces glowing with the satisfaction of a job well done.
***
Meanwhile, under the cloak of night, Yolan, IM, Lili, and Elang were on a covert mission. They sat in a car, their superhero suits hidden beneath ordinary clothes, as Yolan navigated the winding road leading to a desolate mountain. The once-lush slopes were now barren, scarred by a recent fire that had left no tree standing.
"You sure it's here...?" Yolan asked, her voice laced with uncertainty as she glanced at the bleak landscape.
"Yeah, here," Elang confirmed, his gaze fixed on the mountain. "This is where the seers usually train. But at night, it's deserted. There's a hidden room with a lot of secrets..."
The car continued its ascent, the air growing colder and the silence more profound with each passing meter. The only sounds were the steady hum of the engine and the occasional crackle of the radio, their voices a stark contrast to the vast, empty darkness that surrounded them.
Finally, they reached a clearing near the summit, a barren expanse of scorched earth and twisted metal. Yolan parked the car, and the four of them stepped out, the chill night air biting at their exposed skin. They huddled together for warmth, their breaths misting in the moonlight, creating fleeting clouds of condensation.
"Where's this room, Elang?" IM asked, his voice barely a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the eerie stillness of the night.
Elang pointed towards a seemingly solid patch of ground. "The button's here," he said, a hint of grim satisfaction in his voice. He focused his fire power, channeling it into his hand, and pressed it against the ground. The earth beneath them began to smolder, then crack, revealing a hidden button beneath the surface.
He pressed the button, and with a grinding metallic groan, a section of the ground slid open, revealing a hidden staircase leading downwards. The darkness below seemed to beckon them, promising secrets and revelations.
"I never knew about this place before..." Lili whispered, her voice filled with a mix of awe and trepidation.
Elang looked at her. "That's because it's only used for training Seers with potential," he explained.
Lili sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Yeah, I know. My invisibility power is useless here."
Yolan, ever the pragmatist, brushed aside the lingering emotions. "Come on," she said, her voice firm and resolute. "Let's see what's down there." With that, she descended the stairs, her footsteps echoing in the damp, musty air.
The rest of the group followed Yolan, their apprehension growing with each step deeper into the earth. The air grew thicker, the silence more oppressive, as they descended further into the hidden complex. The only illumination came from the dim glow of emergency lights lining the walls, casting long, eerie shadows that danced and flickered with their every movement.
Finally, they reached the bottom of the stairs, emerging into a vast, cavernous space. The room was stark white, its walls, floor, and ceiling all painted in a blindingly bright hue. It resembled a gymnasium, but with an unsettling sterility. Rows of exercise equipment lined the walls, their metallic surfaces gleaming coldly under the harsh fluorescent lights.
They cautiously made their way through the room, passing by a security checkpoint that was, thankfully, unmanned. They reached the center of the space, where an array of weightlifting equipment stood, their heavy iron plates casting ominous shadows on the white floor.
"So, what's in here?" Yolan asked, her voice echoing slightly in the vast emptiness. She scanned the room, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"There's one room that I've never seen or been allowed to access," Elang said, his voice low and filled with a hint of trepidation. He pointed towards a door at the far end of the room, opposite the entrance they had just come through. "It's back there."
Intrigued, the group cautiously made their way towards the mysterious door. The air crackled with a nervous energy as they approached, their footsteps echoing loudly in the otherwise silent room, amplifying their sense of anticipation and unease.
Reaching the door, they found it locked, a sturdy metal padlock securing it in place. Elang stepped forward, his hand glowing with a familiar purple heat, ready to melt the lock with his fire powers.
"Stand back," he warned, his voice a low growl.
But IM, ever the impatient one, stepped forward. "Let me check what's behind it," he said, his voice calm and collected. Just then, he vanished, passing through the solid door as if it were nothing more than a mirage.
Yolan, Lili, and Elang waited anxiously, their eyes fixed on the closed door, eager to hear what IM had discovered on the other side. The silence stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity.
But then, with a soft click, the door swung open. IM stood in the doorway, a key dangling from his outstretched hand.
"There's a key inside," he announced, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Come in. Seems like this room has a lot of papers."
Curiosity piqued, the group cautiously entered the room. The interior was a stark contrast to the sterile white gym they had just left. The walls were lined with shelves overflowing with books, documents, and files, creating a sense of overwhelming knowledge and hidden secrets. A large wooden desk dominated the center of the room, its surface cluttered with more papers and a lone, antiquated computer. The air was thick with the musty smell of old paper and dust, hinting at the room's long neglect.
Yolan approached the desk, her eyes scanning the scattered documents. "What is all this?" she muttered, picking up a faded file and flipping through its pages. The information within seemed dense and complex, filled with scientific jargon and cryptic symbols.
Lili joined her, her brow furrowed in concentration as she examined a stack of old books. "It looks like research data," she said, her voice hushed. "Experiments, observations, theories..." The titles on the spines were equally enigmatic, hinting at forbidden knowledge and dark experiments.
Meanwhile, Elang stood in the doorway, his eyes darting around the room. He had been in this facility before, but he had never been allowed access to this particular room.
"What is this..." Lili whispered, her voice filled with a mix of awe and trepidation. She carefully opened one of the books, its pages brittle and yellowed with age.
Yolan, drawn by Lili's hushed tone, walked closer and peered over her shoulder. Her eyes widened as she read the title of the book: 'Unveiled Power'.
"This is... the lord, our ancestor's book...." she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. The realization of what they had stumbled upon sent a shiver down her spine. With a sense of urgency, she pulled out her phone and began taking pictures of every page, capturing the ancient knowledge contained within.
The book, a treasure trove of forgotten lore, revealed the secrets of the Unveiled Family's origins. It chronicled the tale of their ancestor, the first to manifest the power of imagination, and the trials and tribulations they faced in a world that feared and misunderstood their abilities.
The pages were filled with detailed descriptions of various powers, their strengths and weaknesses, and the techniques used to harness and control them. There were diagrams and illustrations, ancient scripts and cryptic symbols, all weaving together a tapestry of knowledge that had been passed down through generations.
Elang, his curiosity piqued, joined Yolan and Lili at the desk, his eyes scanning the pages with a newfound fascination. The book spoke of a time when the Unveiled Family were revered as protectors, their powers used to defend the innocent and uphold justice. But it also spoke of a darker era, a time when their abilities were feared and exploited, leading to persecution and exile.
As they delved deeper into the book, they discovered the true extent of their ancestor's power, the boundless potential of the imagination. It was a revelation that filled them with both awe and a sense of responsibility.
< Chapter 175 > Fin.