THE NOBLE CITADEL
RESIDENTIAL WING
President Bernard Dale had been peacefully resting in his massage chair, enjoying the soothing classical music in his room when his son, Jedroz, abruptly barged in. “Dad, someone bullied me today!”
Trying to control his frustration, Bernard clenched his teeth and resisted the urge to raise his voice. Should I teach him a lesson? he thought. No, let’s just stay calm. After all, the end is already near. He took a deep breath and turned to Jedroz. “Isn’t it usually the other way around?”
“No, Dad,” he said, frowning. “This time, I was really bullied by a transfer student. He’s strong, and I couldn’t beat him.”
Bernard chuckled and responded in a relaxed tone, “Well, there is a saying: If you can’t beat them, join them.”
Jedroz was about to protest, but Bernard’s phone suddenly rang, interrupting their conversation. He instructed, “Rest up, son, and don’t forget to close the door when you leave.” As soon as he left the room, Bernard answered his phone. “Speak.”
“Good evening, sir. The items have successfully cleared customs. You can expect them to be delivered tomorrow before noon.”
“Good job. Make sure to notify Dr. Johnson about this.”
“Yes, sir.”
Bernard hung up the phone and took a deep breath, feeling satisfied. He then started humming along to the melody of the music.
THE NEXT DAY
During Bernard’s joyful lunch with his wife, Brenda, the Senate President, a call interrupted him. His brows furrowed when he saw that it was Marcus calling. Why is he calling me now? After wiping his mouth with a napkin, he answered the phone.
The person on the other end of the line seemed hesitant before finally speaking. “Sir, the items are missing.”
“What did you just say?” Bernard’s voice rose. “How did that happen?”
“The truck driver responsible for the shipment claims that the packages inside the vehicle suddenly disappeared.” Marcus continued with an apologetic tone, “I’m sorry about this, sir. I will resolve this issue, as soon as possible.”
“You better make sure to resolve it today!”
“Yes, sir. I apologize once again.”
__________
MAZLE CITY
As Keiro woke up from a nightmare around 2 AM, a surge of determination compelled him to venture out into the city. With his extraordinary power, he effortlessly conjured strings that acted as his means of propulsion and improvised transportation. Just like the beloved fictional character Spiderman, Keiro gracefully swung through the urban landscape. From the towering skyscrapers to the remote corners, he tirelessly roamed, driven by the hope of alleviating the haunting guilt that burdened his heart.
“You killed me! You’re a murderer!” a chilling voice echoed in his head, a torment he faced nearly every night. Sleep evaded him, often leaving him wide awake in the dead of night or, if he was lucky, just before dawn.
“Help me. Someone, please help me,” another voice pleaded, reverberating through his mind.
Finally, Keiro thought. He sighed deeply. It’s ironic how I yearn for someone to need help, only to feel a pang of guilt when it actually happens.
In the unsettling scene below, a man gripped a knife tightly, poised to strike another person. The intended victim narrowly escaped the attack and ran. Despite his desperate cries for help, the neighborhood remained eerily silent. The silence might have been due to the residents being asleep, but in reality, even in broad daylight, no one would be willing to intervene. They preferred to avert their gaze and prioritize their own safety.
Unfortunately, Ranace was notorious for its rampant crime rate, making it the most unsafe place to reside. The severity of the situation was such that other countries had even imposed bans on its citizens entering their territories. This was driven by the fear of the criminal elements that plagued the nation, especially evil conjurers.
As the intended victim fled, Keiro swiftly descended upon the attacker, landing a powerful kick from above that sent him crashing to the ground. Acting quickly, he dragged the man into an alley, ensuring that the victim had escaped without witnessing the encounter.
The man retaliated and attempted to stab him, but Keiro swiftly grabbed his wrist and twisted it, causing him to lose his grip on the knife. The man whimpered, and strangely, his skin turned cold. He quickly withdrew his hand from Keiro, shivering involuntarily. Despite the current season being autumn, his breath became visible in the air as if it were already winter.
Rubbing his arms, the man quivered and asked, “Why did it suddenly get cold? Are you a conjurer? Did you use your powers on me?”
Keiro furrowed his brows. “I didn’t use any power on you.”
“If you didn’t, then why am I suddenly feeling cold?” The man scratched his neck and then began scratching all over his body. Soon, he started having difficulty breathing.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong with you?” Keiro asked. Then it dawned on him, a sense of familiarity with the situation. He declared, “You’re coming with me.”