The first day back at school after "The Bloody Night" was surreal. The air was thick with unease, as if the walls themselves carried whispers of the tragedy. Students moved cautiously through the corridors, their laughter muted, their voices tinged with a shared grief. Memorial flowers and handwritten notes lined the front gate, a sobering reminder of the lives lost at Mt. Raya.
Remond and Sid trudged into the school grounds, both looking worse for wear. Though their injuries were healing, the emotional scars were harder to hide. Heads turned as they passed by, hushed conversations trailing behind them. They ignored the stares, walking in heavy silence to the principal's office.
Inside, Principal Howard's stern face greeted them. His neatly combed hair and pressed suit did little to soften his sharp demeanor. He leaned back in his chair, his hands steepled as he scrutinized the two boys.
"You two are lucky to be standing here today," he began, his voice calm but authoritative. "What you did at Mt. Raya was reckless, foolish, and could have cost your lives."
Sid opened his mouth to respond, but the principal raised a hand to stop him.
"However," Principal Howard continued, his tone softening, "it also saved lives. I don't condone your methods, but I can't ignore the outcome. Thank you—for protecting your classmates when no one else could."
Remond shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He wasn't sure how to feel about being scolded and thanked in the same breath.
"This doesn't mean you're off the hook," Howard added, pointing a finger at them. "Stay out of trouble, or I'll make sure your next stunt lands you in detention for the rest of the semester. Now get to class."
"Yes, sir," they muttered in unison, quickly leaving the office.
---
Classes felt strangely normal. The monotony of lectures and assignments provided a welcome distraction from the chaos of recent events. Sid leaned back in his chair during math class, doodling in his notebook while the teacher droned on about algebra. Remond, sitting beside him, stared blankly at his textbook, his mind elsewhere.
When the bell rang for break time, the two boys made their way to their usual hideout: a bench beneath the towering pine tree in the southwest corner of the school complex. The spot was quiet and hidden from view, a perfect refuge from prying eyes.
To their surprise, Innes was already there, leaning against the tree with her arms crossed. She looked out of place in the serene setting, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings as if expecting trouble.
"Innes?" Sid said, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't think you'd know about our little retreat."
She smirked. "I have my ways."
The three of them settled onto the bench, the silence between them surprisingly comfortable. Innes leaned her head back against the tree trunk, closing her eyes and letting out a deep sigh.
"This place is... nice," she admitted after a moment. "Peaceful."
"Yeah," Remond said, his voice soft. "It's why we come here. Sometimes you just need a break from everything."
Innes nodded, her expression unusually relaxed. But the moment didn't last long. She opened her eyes and fixed them on the boys.
"Have you heard the rumors?" she asked.
Sid snorted. "Which ones? There are probably a hundred flying around right now."
"The ones about you two being heroes," Innes replied. "People are saying you fought off wild animals to save everyone. Some even think you took down a gang of traffickers on your own."
Remond and Sid exchanged a glance, unsure whether to laugh or groan.
"Great," Sid said sarcastically. "Just what we need—more attention."
Innes smirked. "Don't worry. I didn't tell anyone the truth. But you should know that people are watching you now."
Sid leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Speaking of attention… the werewolf kid's still in the hospital. The doctors think he's just a regular kid, but he's bound to wake up eventually. What are we supposed to do then?"
Silence fell over the group as they considered the question.
"We can't just leave him there," Innes said finally. "He's dangerous. But if we tell the authorities, they'll treat him like a monster."
Remond's mind drifted to the dream he'd had in the hospital—the glowing library, Dr. Edwards, and the name etched into his memory: Master Ho Dieng.
"I think I know someone who can help," he said, breaking the silence.
Sid and Innes looked at him, surprised.
"Who?" Sid asked.
"An old friend of my uncle's," Remond replied. "Master Ho Dieng. He's… well, let's just say he's good at handling situations like this."
Innes raised an eyebrow. "You're sure about this guy?"
Remond nodded. "If anyone can keep the kid safe—and teach him how to control whatever's inside him—it's Master Ho Dieng. And if you ask me about surety.... well I will say that I have met him before and I have a actually rough interaction with him. Hahah...." he tries to laugh it out.
Sid let out a low whistle. "Well, I hope you're right, because this kid's future might depend on it." Though Sid wanted to know how Remond meet that man still he pulled himself back. "I don't think it's right time to ask it."
"Hey can you meet us with that Master Ho Dieng? He sounds to be an interesting individual." Innes asks in genuine curiosity.
"Yeah certainly." Remond answers.
After that there was a silent for a few moments.
Sid was the first to break the silence, leaning forward with an incredulous look. "Alright, Remond. Spill it. What the hell was that back there?"
Remond, sitting cross-legged on the bench, avoided their eyes. "What was what?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
Innes shot him a pointed glare, her arms crossed. "Don't play dumb. That orange glow, the insane strength—you were fighting that thing like you weren't... you."
Sid chimed in, gesturing wildly. "Yeah! One moment, you're this scrawny guy who struggles to lift his backpack, and the next, you're throwing punches that could knock out a bear. So, what's going on?"
Remond sighed, running a hand through his hair. He had been dreading this moment but knew it was inevitable. "It's… complicated," he began.
"Complicated?" Innes repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Try us."
Remond hesitated, glancing between the two of them. Their expressions were a mix of curiosity and concern, but he could also see trust. They deserved the truth—or at least part of it.
"Remember when I got exposed to that serum Sid?" Remond started.
"Yeah?" Sid said.
Innes leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "And what does this serum do? And what the hell is that even? Is it the gooey stuff you were covered that day Remond?"
Sid then explains to Innes about what happened before meeting her.
"My God! You two have gone through a lot it seems like." Innes exclaims.
"Yeah that's true." Sid says. "Now Remond explain how is that even connected to your sudden change?" Now with a serious glare.
"It's hard to explain," Remond said, struggling to find the right words. "It changed me. My body can absorb kinetic energy—like punches, impacts, whatever—and store it. Then I can release it in bursts of power."
Sid's eyes widened. "Wait, so you're like a human battery?"
"Kind of," Remond admitted. "But it's not as cool as it sounds. Every time I use it, it takes a toll on my body. If I push too hard, I feel like I'm going to fall apart."
Innes frowned, her sharp mind already piecing things together. "That's why you were so beat up after the fight. It's not just the injuries—it's your power draining you."
"Exactly," Remond said. "It's dangerous, and I don't fully understand it yet. That's why I've been keeping it a secret."
Sid let out a low whistle. "Man, this is insane. You're like some kind of superhero."
Remond shook his head. "I'm no hero, Sid. I barely know how to control this thing. If anything, it's more of a curse than a gift."
Innes studied him for a moment, her expression softening. "You might not see it now, but what you did that night—saving those people, protecting us—that's not something a curse would let you do. It's what a hero would do."
Remond looked away, the weight of her words sinking in. He didn't feel like a hero, but their belief in him was enough to spark a flicker of hope.
Sid grinned, punching Remond lightly on the arm. "Well, whether you like it or not, you're stuck with us. So, if you're going to figure out this power of yours, you'd better believe we're going to be right there with you."
Remond smiled faintly, the knot in his chest loosening just a little. "Thanks, guys. I mean it."
Innes leaned back against the tree, her lips curling into a rare smile. "Just don't go getting yourself killed again, okay? We've got enough drama without you adding to it."
"Deal," Remond said, a hint of warmth returning to his voice. For the first time in days, he felt like he wasn't carrying the burden alone.
As the three of them sat beneath the pine tree, the weight of the unknown hung over them. The Bloody Night had changed their lives forever.