"IT'S TIME FOR ASSEMBLY!" The siren wailed, echoing across the school grounds as students poured from every corner to gather.
At assembly, the usual buzz of chatter filled the air, but today it was heavier, darker. Something significant had happened.
The crowd fell silent as the headmaster stepped forward.
"I would say good morning, as usual," he began, "but this is not a joyful morning. Last night, a tragic event befell our school. We lost a student. She was sent to the hospital, but they were unable to save her. Investigations are underway to determine what happened. Thank you."
Murmurs spread across the crowd. Rumors twisted the story with each retelling, and the administration carefully managed the narrative to keep parents and media at bay.
"We will hold a pre-burial service for her. Some teachers and students will be selected to attend. May her soul rest in peace."
The crowd gradually dispersed.
Jessica's death lingered on everyone's minds, especially within the Golden Circle. Even Kelvin, who hadn't been close to her, found himself at a loss for words.
The group was sent to the infirmary to recover from their minor injuries. They were too traumatized to speak, and in a strange way, it was a relief—the school wanted to expel them for breaking curfew and for not explaining the events of the previous night.
Even Kelvin, usually so composed, was stunned.
Later, they were summoned to the headmaster's office, where he, a police officer, and his assistant awaited answers.
"You need to tell me exactly what happened right now!" the headmaster shouted, banging his desk in anger. His assistant and the police officer flinched, but the students sat numb. To Kelvin, it was ironic. He had been told he would "smile," and now—after all that horror—smiling seemed impossible.
"Sir, if I could speak with you privately?" Kelvin asked, his voice breaking the silence for the first time in two days.
All eyes turned to him, silently asking seriously? But Kelvin's demeanor wasn't fear—it was calm, deliberate, a gesture of control.
The headmaster nodded, and the two of them left the room.
"So…" the headmaster began, expecting Kelvin to start nervously.
"Well, you want me to speak," Kelvin said, "but once I'm done, it's either juvenile detention for us or expulsion—even though we aren't to blame."
"…Not to blame?!" the headmaster bellowed, then, after a moment, regained some composure. "You were found with a student whose head had been torn off. If not for the fact that you couldn't have done it, and we wanted to avoid a public scandal, you'd be in chains heading to juvenile detention."
Kelvin leaned forward, hands planted on the desk, and spoke calmly but firmly.
"With all due respect, an irresponsible man such as yourself… cut the crap. This school has suffered for ages while you sit back in silence. Well, I'm going to do something. We"—he gestured to his friends waiting outside—"are going to do something. If you want to hide, that's your choice. But if you want this school to remain open, and I want answers and safety, don't stand in our way. Our parents are major contributors here and powerful. Since you haven't called them yet, I'm guessing you want to control this quietly. I'll do you a favor: I won't go public with the evidence I've gathered—cover-ups, testimonies from students and parents—I have everything to shut this school down. Stay out of our way… and tell Mr. Smile, Kelvin James Oduro is coming for him."
He stormed out, leaving the headmaster speechless. The assistant and police officer followed, and the case was quietly closed that same day. Kelvin had saved them again.
He was chosen to attend the funeral, alongside Cynthia. The others refused.
Outside the church, Kelvin found Cynthia seated at the back, tears silently streaming down her face. He walked over, sat beside her, and asked gently,
"Are you okay?… I know it sounds dumb, but I'm asking anyway."
She looked at him, tears in her eyes. "You didn't know her. You don't like us much. You can blame yourself—we kidnapped you, put you in danger, and yet you protected us. Maybe… maybe it's because you're not human. Which human can fight a monster like that, take down Emilia and Stephen, survive wounds like that in no time? Whatever you are, I guess you're on our side. So… thank you."
She sobbed, leaning into him. "She was my friend."
Cynthia cried into Kelvin's chest, and he let her. Then, suddenly, she looked into his eyes and kissed him.
It was like every neuron in his brain fired at once. When she broke away, she remained in his arms silently, and he didn't move either.
Days passed. The school slowly returned to routine. The Golden Circle convened once more, heavy with silence. Pain and sorrow hung over them, along with simmering resentment toward Stephen, whose pride had delayed Kelvin's involvement.
"Welcome to the Golden Circle," Stephen said, trying to sound authoritative.
Emilia scoffed. "He has the audacity to speak."
"Excuse me?" Stephen's eyes narrowed.
"Excuse you?!" Emilia's voice rose, fury barely restrained.
"Emilia," Victor interjected, trying to calm her.
"No! This asshole is the reason she's dead. If he had put pride aside and asked Kelvin reasonably, maybe—just maybe—she'd still be alive."
"Me?! No! If anyone's to blame, it's Kelvin, who didn't show up in time. If he had come with me, maybe we would still have her," Stephen shot back, flushed with anger.
"Your pride and inability to make the right decisions render you unfit to lead," Emilia said, her voice cold. "I call for a vote to remove you and place someone else in charge."
Everyone froze. They hadn't expected this.
"Emilia, what are you doing? Look, I'm sorry…" Stephen stammered.
"I vote Kelvin. Those against, say 'nay.' Those for, raise your hands."
"Nay. This is not a democracy. We haven't left yet, and he just arrived. He doesn't know our methods. We still don't know if we can trust him. Have you forgotten he appeared with a glowing sword and defeated Dzetro? Does anyone even ask how he can move like that? Who he is? Do you think that's a coincidence?" Stephen argued.
Slowly, apart from Stephen, no one spoke. Then Cynthia raised her hand, followed by Victor. Emilia's hand was already up.
"Karma's a bitch, isn't she? Stephen, I hereby relieve you of leadership and place it on—" Emilia turned to Kelvin.
"No, I'm not here to lead. Just to get answers and help," Kelvin objected, hands raised defensively.
"And you can help by leading," Emilia insisted.
"No. I call for a vote to make Emilia leader. All in favor, raise your hands."
No one raised a hand.
"Well… I guess that makes you our leader," Emilia said, a faint smile forming.
Kelvin thought, This is a blessing in disguise. If I take it, I can direct without explaining much. I have all the help I need… and I keep my neck intact.
"Okay, so let's say I accept. How does this work?" Kelvin asked.
"Normally, we'd teach you how to fight," Emilia said, tone lightening, "but it seems you've got that covered. You defeated a monster none of us have ever faced. We've never seen anything that big. And you show up for the first time, moving like a samurai sword master with a glowing blade," Cynthia added.
"I'm not sure how I did that," Kelvin admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
"What do you mean?" Emilia asked.
"My body… just reacted," he shrugged.
"See what I mean? He might be a conduit for some spirit and not know it," Stephen muttered.
"Then why would he attack his own people?" Cynthia shot back.
"Does it matter what I am? You use spells and weapons to fight. I think I can show you how to use them more effectively. Then if I turn against you, you'll have the power to stop me," Kelvin said.
Stephen leaned close. "This isn't over. You might fool everyone, but know I'm watching," he whispered, then stormed out.
Kelvin addressed the group. "If I'm going to lead—or help—you, I need to know everything: how you've been fighting, your methods, your roles, and the monsters you've faced."
"I'm sorry I didn't come in time to save her," Kelvin said, voice heavy with regret. "I realize now we're on the same side."
"Wow… so it took someone dying for you to see that?" Stephen muttered.
"I understand several languages, which we need to decipher the book. I don't know why Jessica reacted the way she did, but I didn't. For now, I'm assuming I'm the only one who can hold it," Kelvin explained.
They led him to the room where he found the book, hidden behind the shelves. There were weapons: a rope with spikes, a bow without arrows, and two daggers.
"Jessica enchanted these, but now… they'll eventually become useless," Victor said.
"Cynthia, you were learning from her—can't you re-enchant them?" Kelvin asked.
"No. She refused to teach me," Cynthia replied.
"Great… just great," Emilia muttered.
Kelvin retrieved the book from his bag. "We can start here…"
He opened it.
"Wait… I don't see anything," Victor said, squinting.
"Then open your eyes," Cynthia rolled her eyes.
"No, seriously," Victor insisted, bewildered.
"This is weird… I can't see anything either. Maybe it's enchanted," Kelvin said.
"But I see writing," Cynthia said. "It says… 'Oteh' and some gibberish I don't understand."
Kelvin pulled out a pen and paper. "Write down what you see."
She complied. The characters looked like nonsense.
"Kelvin, you said you know languages that can help us decipher this. Do you know gibberish?" Victor asked.
Kelvin gave him a 'seriously?' look, then focused. "Cynthia, write it backwards."
She wrote. It read: Heto… and other symbols.
"Wait… I know this language," Kelvin said suddenly. "It's my mother tongue."
He began translating, word by word.
It read:
"ANSWERS FROM THE ONE WHO CAME THE CLOSEST TO ENDING IT ALL, CLERA JAMES ODURO."
"I found it," Kelvin said, shock and awe in his voice.