"Just....Rest in peace!"
They barely had time to react when the mysterious attacker was about to make his next move. The fight had already left Layla and Jacob bruised and shaken, and Leon's heart pounded with every second. Just as the attacker lunged forward, a sharp, commanding voice cut through the tension.
"Stop right there!"
The dean of the academy appeared like a storm, moving faster than they expected. He was a tall man, with a calm but serious expression that instantly made everyone else freeze in place. Even the attacker hesitated, his eyes narrowing.
Leon felt a sudden wave of relief wash over him. The dean had come just in time.
The attacker's confident grin faltered as the dean stepped closer.
"I've been watching what's been happening in this secret realm for a while now," the dean said quietly but firmly. "I know about people like you."
Leon noticed the attacker's hands clench into fists. He must have realized he wasn't dealing with just any ordinary person.
The dean's gaze didn't waver. "You think your cause is righteous, but you're just a pawn for something far worse."
Before anyone could say a word, the attacker pulled out a small blade hidden in his sleeve.
"You don't understand," he spat. "The supreme way will prevail, no matter what."
Then, without warning, he slit his own throat.
Leon, Layla, and Jacob all stepped back in shock, watching as the attacker collapsed to the ground. Blood pooled around him, and his final words hung heavy in the air.
The dean sighed deeply and shook his head. "It's always like this. They'd rather die than be stopped or questioned."
Layla glanced at him, eyes wide. "Why didn't you stop him sooner? You could have saved us earlier."
The dean's expression darkened, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone that carried weight beyond the moment.
"I could have stopped him," he said slowly, "but sometimes, it's not about saving just one moment. It's about opening your eyes to the truth. The world you live in… it's a fragile illusion. Peace is a lie we cling to because the alternative is far more terrifying."
He paused, his gaze piercing. "I wanted you to understand that danger lurks everywhere. Not just in the shadows, but in the hearts of those who walk beside you. There are forces at play that seek to unravel everything we hold dear. You have to learn to walk carefully, to trust cautiously. This path you've chosen… it isn't easy, and it certainly isn't safe."
Leon swallowed hard, the weight of those words settling deep inside him.
The dean motioned for them to follow. "Come with me. Staying here any longer isn't wise."
They hurried back to the academy, their pace brisk but cautious. The attack had shaken them, but the dean's presence brought some comfort, even if his words left a chill behind.
Back inside the academy's medical wing, a teacher with a healing beast was already waiting. The beast—a large, gentle-looking creature with shimmering fur—approached them calmly.
"Let's get you patched up," the teacher said kindly, kneeling beside Layla first.
The healing beast gently placed a paw on her back, and a soft glow spread out, knitting the bruises and cuts. The process was quick, but it left a soothing warmth in its wake.
Jacob went next, then Leon. The wounds were serious enough to slow them down, but thanks to the healing beast, none of the injuries felt life-threatening.
As they sat quietly recovering, Leon finally gathered the courage to ask the question burning in his mind.
"Dean, who was that guy? What did he mean by the 'supreme way'?"
The dean hesitated, rubbing his chin thoughtfully before speaking. His voice was low and heavy, as if each word was weighed down by years of sorrow and knowledge.
"He was one of many," the dean said slowly. "A fanatic, blinded by a twisted faith. They call themselves the 'Enlightened Ones'—but their enlightenment is darkness itself. They believe that true power lies in surrendering to the Evil God sealed away long ago."
He looked away for a moment, then back at them with a shadowed gaze. "They've been gathering in secret, their ideology spreading like a plague. They think that by giving themselves to this 'supreme way,' they can gain immortality, strength beyond reckoning… but it's a hollow promise, a poison wrapped in gilded words."
Leon frowned. "So they want to release the Evil God?"
The dean nodded grimly. "Exactly. And anyone who stands in their way, anyone who might stop their plan, becomes a target. You three are fortunate this time."
He sighed, his expression distant. "There are battles far older and darker than the ones you face now. This is just the beginning."
Layla nodded slowly, still processing everything. Jacob looked grim but determined.
The dean stood, stretching his back as if to shake off the weight of the conversation. "I wish I could tell you everything, but some truths are too dangerous, too early to share."
He fixed them with a steady look. "Rest now. Heal well. You will need all your strength for the days ahead. And remember—always be vigilant. The world you thought you knew… is breaking apart."
As the chapter closed, Leon's mind raced. That mysterious attacker's last words echoed again—The supreme way will prevail.
What exactly was the supreme way? And why were people willing to die for it?
Leon knew one thing for sure—this was no ordinary fight. It was a battle for the soul of their broken world, and the path ahead was far from clear.
The walk back to their homes was quiet. Not a single word was spoken between Leon, Layla, and Jacob. The city lights flickered faintly as they moved through the streets, shadows stretching long in the evening air.
Leon's mind replayed the attack over and over—the sudden strike, the mysterious man's cold eyes, and the chilling words about the "supreme way." The dean's heavy warnings echoed inside him, filling him with a sense of both fear and determination.
'This world isn't as safe as I thought, he realized. And if the world is breaking apart, then I have to be ready.'
Layla walked beside him, her steps slow and measured. She kept glancing at the quiet streets, her heart still pounding. The image of the attacker's ruthless strikes lingered painfully. But beyond the pain was a growing resolve—she would protect those she cared about, no matter the cost. Who are these 'Enlightened Ones'? she wondered. And how deep does their darkness run?
Jacob, usually so brash and confident, was unusually quiet. His thoughts were tangled with the dean's words about fanatics and immortality. He clenched his fists, a spark of anger flaring inside him. How dare they threaten us like this, he thought. They don't know who they're messing with.
As they each stared ahead, lost in their own worlds, the city around them continued unaware. The peaceful night masked the brewing storm beneath—the dangerous path they had just stepped onto.
Leon and Layla finally reached their home, the quiet night wrapping around them like a soft blanket. They stopped just outside the door, the weight of the day still heavy in the air.
Leon looked at Layla seriously, his voice low and calm. "Hey, Layla... about what happened today—"
She met his eyes, waiting.
"Don't tell our parents about any of it," Leon said firmly. "They'd just worry too much. We've got to handle this ourselves."
Layla nodded slowly, understanding the unspoken meaning behind his words. "Yeah... I get it. They don't need extra stress."
The siblings shared a long glance before entering their home together. The moment the door closed behind them, they put on smiles—tired, but convincing enough.
That night, long after everyone had gone to bed, Leon lay awake staring at the ceiling. His thoughts swirled with the attacker's words, the Dean's warning, and the weight of what was coming.
The world wasn't peaceful. And they were just getting started.