The morning sun was rising over Titiwangsa, casting a soft, golden hue over the quiet streets of Kuala Lumpur. The storm of darkness that had surrounded the school was finally gone, but the air still carried a sense of unease. The mystery had been solved, the rift closed, and the students freed from the clutches of the shadowy impostors. Yet, as Naurah and her team made their way back to the school, they couldn’t help but feel the weight of their mission pressing on their shoulders.
The familiar gates of the school came into view, and Naurah felt a surge of relief. They had done it. The impostors had been eliminated, the rift sealed, and now, they were returning as the heroes—although they weren’t the kind of heroes that needed recognition. What mattered to them was that they had protected the innocent students, and the darkness had been defeated.
As they walked through the school’s front entrance, the students who were outside paused to glance at them. Many seemed more relaxed than they had before, and their eyes no longer held the fearful suspicion they once had. In fact, there was a sense of normalcy in the air—just as Naurah had hoped.
“They’re all back to normal,” Alex said softly, her voice barely audible over the rustling of leaves in the wind. She smiled, her usual cheerfulness returning as she looked at the students laughing and chatting in small groups.
Danial, walking beside her, glanced around with his usual quiet observation. His dark hair fell loosely around his face, the strands moving in the breeze, and his expression was one of deep satisfaction. His wolf side had been tamed by the success of the mission, but he still radiated the calm strength that made him a natural protector.
“We did good,” Jian said, his usual nonchalant tone softening for a brief moment as he looked at the students. "Everything feels... right again."
Zariel flapped his wings, casting an amused glance around. “Well, I wouldn’t say it’s perfect—but it’s certainly better than before. And no more creepy rifts. That’s a win in my book.”
Naurah nodded, her heart lightening at the sight of the school returning to its former state. “We still need to speak with the headmaster and make sure everything is in order,” she said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion that was starting to weigh on her. The battle with the rift had drained her, but she could feel the strength of her team around her, each of them standing firm beside her.
As they walked toward the administrative building, the students parted to allow them through. The hallway leading to the headmaster’s office was quieter now, the tension that had once plagued it lifted. It felt almost surreal—like they had just walked out of a nightmare and into daylight.
They reached the headmaster’s office, where they were greeted by the stern but kind-faced man they had met on their first visit. Headmaster Ismail looked up from his desk, his dark eyes filled with concern. The past few days had clearly taken a toll on him, but seeing Naurah and her team return with a sense of quiet victory seemed to ease some of the tension in his posture.
“I assume you have good news?” the headmaster asked, a weary but hopeful look crossing his features. “The students… are they all safe?”
Naurah gave him a confident smile, though she could feel the weight of the past few days hanging on her like an invisible cloak. “Yes,” she said simply. “The threat has been eliminated. All of the students are now back to normal.”
The headmaster’s face softened with relief, and for the first time in days, a smile tugged at his lips. “Thank you… I don’t know how to express how grateful I am for what you’ve done for this school.”
“We did what we had to,” Jian said nonchalantly, leaning against the wall with his usual calm demeanor. “The real question is how you want to handle the students now.”
Headmaster Ismail looked at Naurah, his brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” Naurah began, her voice thoughtful, “the impostors didn’t just erase students. They twisted the very nature of the school itself. If we leave any remnants behind, they could be triggered again.”
“I understand,” Headmaster Ismail said, nodding. “We’ll have to keep an eye on things. But for now, I can’t thank you enough. You’ve saved this school from a fate far worse than anyone could have imagined.”
Alex, ever the optimist, leaned forward with a grin. “Don’t mention it! We were just doing our job. But if you ever need us again, you know where to find us.”
The headmaster chuckled, clearly relieved. “I’ll remember that. It’s not often we get such capable investigators in these parts. You’ve certainly earned my trust.”
Naurah smiled, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. They hadn’t just solved a case—they had helped save lives. They had stopped a force that could have destroyed everything, and now the school, the students, and the entire city of Kuala Lumpur were safe once more.
“Well,” Naurah said, standing a little straighter, “our work here is done. But we’ll be keeping an eye on the school, just in case. If anything unusual happens again, we’ll be ready.”
With that, they left the headmaster’s office, the weight of their mission finally lifting off their shoulders. As they made their way down the hallway, they passed a few students who waved at them, their faces now full of curiosity and gratitude. Some even called out their names.
"Thank you, Investigators!" one girl called out, a smile lighting up her face.
“Glad to see you're safe!” Naurah waved back, feeling a surge of warmth spread through her chest. It was moments like these that made everything worth it.
They exited the school, stepping into the bright sunlight that bathed the courtyard. The city outside had returned to its usual hum, the bustling life of Kuala Lumpur unfurling before them.
“So, what now?” Zariel asked, his wings flaring out as he spun around, his fiery presence lighting up the space around them.
“We rest,” Naurah said, letting out a long sigh of relief. “We’ve earned it. But not for too long. There’s always another case out there waiting for us.”
Danial, ever thoughtful, paused and looked at the others. “I think we’ve learned a lot. About each other, about our strengths—and our weaknesses.”
Jian gave him a sly smile. “Yeah, and how you’ve got the best build for someone who likes to hide in oversized hoodies.”
Danial chuckled softly. “It’s not all about appearances, Jian. It’s about strength when it matters.”
“Exactly,” Alex said, wrapping her arm around his. “And strength isn’t just physical. It’s in the heart. And we’ve got the strongest hearts.”
Zariel grinned, his fiery eyes alight with mischief. “Not to mention, we’ve got one heck of a team.”
The group shared a laugh, their bond growing stronger with each passing moment. They had faced the darkness and come out victorious, but it was clear that their journey was far from over. There would be more challenges ahead, more mysteries to solve, but they would face them together.
As they walked away from the school, the sun high above them, Naurah knew that the team had become more than just a group of investigators—they had become a family. And no matter what came next, they would always stand together.
For now, though, they had earned their rest.
“We’ll be ready for whatever comes next,” Naurah said quietly, looking at her team with a smile. “But for today, we rest. We’ve earned it.”