After returning from the mall, everyone gathered in pairs, forming a line before beginning the three-hour climb up the hill. The cool breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the distant chirping of birds. Lukas adjusted the straps of his bag, his golden eyes fixed ahead.
Beside him, Alex—his designated duo for the climb—nudged him with an elbow. "So, did you read that light novel I lent you?"
Lukas kept his gaze forward, his tone neutral. "Yeah. Thanks for letting me borrow it. I'll give it back tomorrow."
Alex let out an exaggerated groan. "No, dude! I'm not asking about that. I wanna know—did you like it?"
Lukas hesitated for a moment before shrugging. "The story was decent, but it didn't have the information I was looking for."
Alex furrowed his brows. "Wait, what? It's a light novel! What kind of 'info' were you expecting?"
Lukas sighed, already predicting the reaction he'd get. "Even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me. Just drop it."
Alex gasped dramatically. "Oh, hell no. This is the first time I've seen you get interested in something that isn't science, and you expect me to let it slide? No way. You're not leaving me on a cliffhanger—spill!"
Lukas shot him a sidelong glance before exhaling in defeat. "Fine. Just calm down."
Alex grinned, satisfied.
Lukas ran a hand through his dark purple hair, choosing his words carefully. "Lately… I've been having this weird dream. The same one, over and over. I'm standing in the middle of a battlefield. Everywhere I look, I see humans fighting strange creatures—monsters, beasts, things that shouldn't exist. And me? I'm at the center, holding a sword. In front of me, an entire army charges straight at me."
Alex's grin faltered. "Whoa… And what do you do?"
Lukas's fingers unconsciously tightened around his bag strap. "I don't run." His voice was quiet but firm. "I stand my ground, sword in hand… ready to fight."
For once, Alex had nothing to say.
Here's the refined version with smoother dialogue and natural flow:
Lukas sighed, shaking his head. "See? I knew you wouldn't believe me. That's why I didn't want to talk about it."
Alex quickly waved his hands. "No, no, it's not like that! I think I do know what's going on with you."
Lukas arched a brow. "Oh? And what's that?"
Alex smirked, pulling out his phone. "It's called Eighth-Grader Syndrome."
Lukas narrowed his eyes, unimpressed. "Are you mocking me right now, Alex?"
Alex grinned, shoving the screen in Lukas's face. "Nope, it's legit! Look, it's a real thing—people start believing they have special powers or some grand destiny when they're around our age."
Lukas scoffed. "Idiot. That's not what's happening here. I don't think I have superpowers, and I sure as hell don't believe I'm some chosen hero. I just keep having these weird dreams, that's all." He crossed his arms. "Besides… I can't believe there's actually a syndrome for something like that. Talk about weird."
Alex chuckled. "Well, if the shoe fits—"
"Shut up."
Alex laughed harder as they continued their climb. they finally reached the top. Many students rushed to the edge, eager to take in the breathtaking view, while others, exhausted, collapsed onto a patch of grass as if they had no strength left.
Alex beamed, turning to Lukas. "Lukas, look! It feels like we're looking down on Earth from heaven!"
But Lukas wasn't looking down. His worried eyes remained fixed on the sky above.
Alex, noticing Lukas's uneasy expression, followed his gaze upward. His eyes widened as he saw the dark clouds had thickened, swirling ominously overhead. Before he could comment, a loud siren blared from below, cutting through the air like a warning bell.
"Attention! A heavy storm is approaching! All people must descend immediately!" The announcement echoed up the hill, urging them to act fast.
Lukas turned to Alex; his voice urgent. "I think we should get down as fast as possible."
"I'm with you on this one," Alex agreed without hesitation.
The teacher, having heard the announcement, quickly took control. "Everyone, form a line and move down in an orderly fashion! No running!" he commanded, though he noticed Lukas and Alex had already taken off, dashing ahead of the group. "You two! Be careful!" he called after them, but the warning was lost in the chaos.
A light drizzle began, but within moments, the sky unleashed a torrential downpour. The rain pounded the ground with such force it felt like small stones pelting against their skin. Visibility dropped rapidly—students couldn't see more than a few meters ahead. The dark clouds had swallowed the sunlight, making it feel like night had fallen in an instant. Thunder roared above, shaking the air, and streaks of lightning split the sky. The wind howled like a wild beast, bending trees dangerously, their branches snapping under the pressure.
Lukas and Alex ran as fast as they could, their uniforms soaked through, clinging to their skin. Cold water dripped from their hair, and their shoes slipped against the muddy ground. Lukas's face was tense, his golden eyes flicking between the treacherous path and the stormy sky. Fear gnawed at his gut, but he pushed forward. Alex, beside him, had his arms slightly raised for balance, his breaths coming in frantic gasps.
Then, amidst the chaos, Lukas suddenly halted. His heart pounded not just from exertion but from something else—a voice. A deep, eerie whisper echoed through his mind.
"Return..."
A chill crawled down his spine. His wide eyes darted around, searching for the source, but there was nothing. Just the storm.
"Lukas! What are you doing?! We need to hurry! It's not safe here!" Alex shouted over the wind, grabbing Lukas's wrist and trying to pull him along.
Lukas barely registered his words. His breath hitched as the voice returned, clearer this time.
"Hurry... or someone will die."
His body tensed. He turned to Alex, his expression filled with both fear and determination. "Did you hear that?"
Alex looked at him in confusion. "Hear what?!"
"A voice... It said someone is in danger. I need to go back!"
"What?! Are you crazy?! That was just thunder! We need to—"
But Lukas was already breaking free from Alex's grip. His drenched blazer flared as he spun around, sprinting back toward the peak. A bolt of lightning struck a tree nearby, the deafening crack sending vibrations through the ground.
"LUKAS! STOP!" Alex screamed, panic overtaking his voice. But Lukas didn't stop.
The voice whispered again, urgent and commanding.
"Left. Go left."
Lukas didn't hesitate. His feet moved before his mind could question it, carrying him toward the trees. Rain lashed against his skin, cold and relentless. The wind roared in his ears, but the voice in his mind cut through it with an eerie clarity. His soaked shoes sank into the muddy ground, slipping slightly as he sprinted forward.
Then, through the blinding downpour, he saw him.
A boy from his school, no older than thirteen, hunched against the trunk of a tree, his face twisted in pain. His uniform was drenched, and his leg was awkwardly bent—his ankle swollen and red. He must have wandered from the main route and injured himself in the chaos.
Lukas skidded to a stop, relief flooding through him. "Hey! Are you okay?" he called, though his voice barely carried over the storm.
The boy looked up, his expression a mix of fear and desperation. "I… I can't move my ankle," he stammered.
Lukas knelt beside him. "It doesn't look broken. You can still walk if I help you," he reassured, reaching out.
But before he could pull the boy up, a deafening crack split the air.
Lightning struck.
The blinding flash illuminated the world for a fraction of a second, and then—boom!
A massive tree behind them groaned as its trunk, now split and smoking, gave way. Time seemed to slow as Lukas's eyes widened in horror. The massive tree tilted, its thick branches clawing toward the earth, aiming straight for the injured boy.
Lukas didn't think.
With adrenaline surging through his veins, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around the boy and yanking him backward with all his strength. The two of them tumbled onto the wet ground just as the tree crashed down where the boy had been moments before.
The impact sent tremors through the ground. A spray of mud and leaves flew into the air. The sheer force of it rattled Lukas's bones.
For a moment, all he could hear was the pounding of the rain and the harsh gasps of his own breath. His heart slammed against his ribs. The boy in his arms was trembling, eyes wide with shock, his fingers clutching tightly to Lukas's sleeve.
"You… you saved me," the boy whispered, his voice barely audible over the storm.
Lukas exhaled sharply, realizing only now how fast his own heart was beating. His hands were still gripping the boy's shoulders, his muscles locked with tension.
He swallowed, forcing himself to steady his breath. "Can you stand?" he asked, his voice rough but firm.
The boy hesitated before nodding.
"Good." Lukas stood, pulling him up. "Let's get out of here before the storm decides to throw another tree at us."
Supporting the boy's weight, Lukas trudged back toward the main path. As soon as Lukas turned to leave, the voice returned, cold and unyielding.