10 days had passed since the headmaster was killed.
The hospitals were filled. The chaos that ensued 10 days ago had long-lasting side effects.
Within the busy hospital, two men sat at one of the marble tables, seeming to be waiting for a loved one who had been affected by the incident.
"It's crazy, huh?" the first man said to the second man. The first man was an old elf with grey hairs indicating his years. His eyes sparkled blue, and his gaze maintained that childlike wonder.
He appeared amused by the situation.
"Hm? What's crazy?" the second man, sitting right before him, was a demi-human. The wolf type, leaning further toward the animal than man. Light-grey fur, with beady green eyes. He held a toothpick in his mouth.
"To think something like this would happen. Doesn't it make you feel really conscious about your life?"
"I guess you're right. I could've died today, arf."
"It shows us that our lives won't always be as easy as we think. To always keep your guard up."
The demi-human man nodded, his eyes closed. He opened his eyes, grabbed the cup that was placed on the table, sipping.
He then cleared his throat.
"What's even crazier is who the suspect is."
"Hm? They released that kind of information to the public?"
The demi-human nodded.
"Apparently, arf, it's this young boy. 15 or so. The name's Julian Thorne. An unremarkable boy."
"How'd they find out it was him?"
"Suspects all described the boy to the dot, arf. They even said he killed the headmaster of the nearby school. Dinet's Boarding School."
"Wow... that's really tragic." the elf rubbed his beard.
"Those are the type of kids you really have to look out for."
. . .
. .
.
"I'm... alive."
Lionel was expecting him to see the bright lights of the afterlife upon opening his eyes. Instead, he saw the stone ceiling of the hospital where he was stationed.
He felt his head resting against a soft pillow. Not too different from the snow he was laying on previously.
His movement was heavily restricted. Looking down, wiggling to move the blanket off him, he saw that he was bandaged from head to toe.
"Haa... I'm so glad. I really thought I was going to die."
A warm smile crept onto his face until it was a completely bright grin. He turned to the side, trying to get more comfortable.
"Boo."
"Kya!"
Beiric faced Lionel, in the same position as him.
"You sound like a girl."
He sat up, using all of the strength left he had.
"You're... alive?"
"I'm surprised too. I was fully ready to die that day. Die, a loser."
"..."
"But I'm glad I didn't. Going off on a loss would be way too embarrassing."
"It's not like anyone would have remembered you if you died. I don't know why you're so worried about it."
"..."
. . .
. .
.
Ian Chirgidz shook the wrinkled, coarse newspaper, straightening it. He flattened it against the burly wooden table.
"No... way."
The navy-blue-haired elf was visibly disturbed. Shocked. A friend of Julian's.
"That's... Julian."
Cera Clearflow stood beside him, her hand placed on his shoulder. She let out a shuddering, deep exhale.
"It couldn't have been him. There's no way. They have to be getting this wrong, right?"
"Now that I think about it... he was acting strangely. Quiet, a lot more reserved. He was always like that, but it became unusual recently."
"We should've picked up on it... maybe then... we could've stopped him. And stopped the senseless murders."
. . .
. .
.
"The school is going to be closed for an undetermined amount of time. Dorms can be entered for 2 more weeks, but it is expected that everyone leaves the campus. Are you aware of that, my lady?"
Valerie Rultrib stood in front of the hooded figure. The former student council president. Her long jet-black hair tied neatly into a bun.
The cold desolate alleyways were one of the few things that remained, that stood in the town of Dinet.
Surrounding the perimeter of the town, yellow caution tapes stretched and encompassed.
"I'm aware. The headmaster has been killed. It was a shame."
Kibim Sisk pulled his hood off.
"Like you told me to do, I killed the woman. Yet, you still haven't told me the purpose of it. Why did you make me do it?" he asked, leaning against the remains of the wall.
"... I thought I could bring out one of 'them'. The war will narrow down my search. I can feel their energy very faintly, and it's starting to grow." She said, blankly. She crossed her arms, looking up to the sky. Kibim stared at her, one brow raised.
"I really wish I could understand you."
"You don't need to understand me. Now, come on. Let's go. We need to begin preparing."