The following day, the academy was abuzz with chatter about the previous night's explosion. Students and faculty gathered in groups, their voices a mix of excitement, fear, and curiosity. The event had quickly become the hottest topic, overshadowing all other discussions.
"Did you see the sky last night?" one student exclaimed. "It looked like a second sun appeared for a moment!"
"I heard it was some secret experiment gone wrong," another speculated, their eyes wide with intrigue.
In the palace, the news had spread even faster. Nobles and servants alike whispered about the explosion, each adding their own theories to the mix. The event had made headlines, and the city was alive with speculation.
In her quarters, Siliver picked up her phone and called Robert. He was just waking up, the remnants of sleep still clinging to his mind as he splashed water on his face.
"Robert," Siliver's voice came through the phone, tinged with concern. "Did that explosion cause any harm to the academy?"
Robert blinked, still a bit groggy from sleep. "Explosion? What explosion?" he asked, genuine confusion in his voice. "I slept like a log. What happened?"
Siliver let out a small laugh. "You slept through that? It was all over the city! A massive explosion, like nothing we've seen before."
Robert, now more awake, shook his head in disbelief. "No harm done to the academy. Just... wow, I missed quite the show."
Meanwhile, back in the castle, the knight assigned to investigate the explosion was at his wit's end. He stood in front of his comrades, his face flushed with frustration.
"Are you kidding me?!" he yelled, waving his arms dramatically. "We've got no leads, no witnesses, and the only thing we've found is a crater so big you could lose an entire castle in it! How am I supposed to report this to the King? 'Your Majesty, it seems someone has mistaken our land for a giant dartboard and decided to throw a boulder at the bullseye!'"
His comrades couldn't help but chuckle at the knight's exasperation, despite the seriousness of the situation. The knight rubbed his temples and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
"Alright, let's go over it one more time," he said, his voice a mix of determination and weariness. "Somewhere out there is the answer, and we're going to find it."
As the investigation continued, the academy and the city buzzed with theories and speculations. The explosion had left its mark not only on the land but also on the minds of everyone who witnessed its sheer power. And while the mystery of its origin remained unsolved, one thing was certain: the events of that night would be remembered for a long time to come.
"Operation 'XJ-472,' has been completely destroyed," the leader announced, his voice echoing through the room. The murmurs of shock and frustration spread among the group, each member grappling with the reality of their loss.
He continued, "The only footage we have recovered shows five women effortlessly toying with our guards. They moved with precision and skill, dismantling our defenses as if it were child's play."
The leader gestured to a screen behind him, where the footage played on a loop. The group watched in stunned silence as the five women, each displaying remarkable agility and strength, outmaneuvered and overpowered the guards. Their movements were almost graceful, a stark contrast to the chaos they left in their wake.
Back at the academy, Robert lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling with a heavy heart. His black hair was tousled, a stark contrast to the neat and composed demeanor he usually presented. Holding his head in his hands, he felt the weight of regret pressing down on him. The explosion he had caused was far more powerful than he had intended, leaving nothing but a massive crater and no one left to question about the cult.
His mind raced with thoughts of what could have been. If only he had been more precise, more controlled. Now, the opportunity to gather crucial information was lost, vaporized along with the cult leader and their stronghold.
Back at the academy, Robert was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling with a heavy heart. His black hair was tousled, a stark contrast to the neat and composed demeanor he usually presented. He held his head in his hands, the weight of regret pressing down on him. The explosion he had caused was far more powerful than he had intended, leaving nothing but a massive crater and no one left to question about the cult.
Suddenly, the door to his room burst open. Leo and Max stormed in with all the subtlety of a freight train.
"Wake up, Jasper!" Leo shouted, shaking Jasper's bed.
Max, not to be outdone, started pulling the covers off him. "Come on, guys! It's Saturday, and we've got to go see that crater! You don't want to miss it, do you?"
Robert, not asleep but deep in thought, looked up with a start. "What crater? What are you guys talking about?"
Jasper, now awake but groggy, rubbed his eyes. "Is this some kind of prank? It's way too early for this."
Leo and Max exchanged exasperated looks. "Are you serious? The explosion last night! There's a huge crater just waiting for us to check it out," Leo explained.
Max grinned mischievously. "And besides, it's not every day we get to see the aftermath of a mysterious blast. It's like a real-life adventure!"
Robert sighed and sat up, his mind still heavy with thoughts of the previous night. "Alright, alright. Just give us a minute to wake up properly."
Jasper chuckled, stretching his arms. "You guys are relentless. But I guess a crater adventure does sound kind of fun."
Leo nodded enthusiastically. "That's the spirit! We'll give you five minutes, and then we're heading out. Oh, and don't forget to bring snacks."
Max added with a smirk, "Yeah, Jasper. We know how you get when you're hungry. Wouldn't want you to start gnawing on rocks."
As Robert and Jasper quickly got dressed, the room filled with laughter and banter. The prospect of an unexpected adventure brightened their morning, and the four friends soon set off, ready to explore the mysterious crater and whatever secrets it might hold.
The area around the crater was chaotic. Knights stood in a solid line, pushing back curious onlookers who tried to get too close. Some people were streaming live vlogs, their cameras capturing the destruction and excitement of the scene.
"Please stay back! This area is off-limits!" one of the Knights shouted, his voice authoritative but struggling to be heard over the din.
Amid the crowd, Robert, Jasper, Leo, and Max pushed their way through, eager to catch a glimpse of the crater. As they navigated the sea of people, they came across a well-known establishment, the Darkspire Citadel, a mall owned by a rising faction with the same name. It was respected highly for its quality products and upscale atmosphere.
Just as Robert was about to comment on the situation, a lady appeared beside him, her grip firm yet gentle as she pulled him away from the crowd. "Come with me," she whispered urgently, leading him into Darkspire Citadel.
"Hey, wait!" Jasper called out, but the lady's determination was evident, and Robert allowed himself to be guided.
She led him through the vast, elegant interior of the mall, past luxurious displays and into a secured area. Robert couldn't help but feel a sense of unfamiliarity with the place, his curiosity piqued. The doors opened to reveal a conference room, where Liora stood waiting.
"Robert," Liora greeted him, her expression serious. "We've been expecting you."
Robert nodded, glancing around. "What is this place? I've never been here before."
Liora smiled slightly. "Welcome to Darkspire Citadel. It's more than just a mall; it's our headquarters."
She motioned for him to sit. "We've discovered that demi-humans have certain advantages over regular humans—enhanced strength, agility, and quicker healing. However, their lifespan is significantly shorter."
Robert listened intently as she continued. "We've been running experiments, giving them a small amount of our power to see if it would extend their lives. But we discovered that too much power leads them into a rage mode. Yet, under guidance and proper control, they've shown remarkable results."
Liora snapped her fingers, and a glass tube at the far end of the room illuminated. Inside, an attractive lady with fox-like features stood, her presence almost ethereal, reminiscent of characters from anime.
"Meet Kaori," Liora introduced. "She will demonstrate the shadow ability."
Kaori gracefully stepped forward, her movements fluid and mesmerizing. The shadows began to swirl around her, taking shape and moving with precision. Kaori controlled the shadows effortlessly, making them dance and shift at her command. The shadow worked in a way that was remarkably flexible, morphing and adapting to her will.
Robert watched in awe as Kaori's demonstration ended, the shadows dissipating back into the tube. "Incredible," he whispered.
Liora nodded. "This is just the beginning. With the right guidance, demi-humans like Kaori could be a great asset."