After a long moment of shared grief, Longs and Shari finally left the cursed basement, sealing the heavy door behind them.
As they left for the funeral shari's mind drifted back long ago in the past…
A little girl sat cross-legged on the wooden floor of her dusty room, surrounded by knitted dolls. Strange paintings covered the walls, chaotic scribbles and unsettling faces, like a child's dream turned sour. To one side of the room sat toys meant for boys, dinosaurs, a knight in shining armor, sleek toy cars, and trains. Unlike her dolls, they gleamed and were polished, they were well cared for and shiny.
This was young Shari.
Her eyes narrowed at the frilly doll in front of her. With a scowl, she yanked it by the leg and hurled it at the wall. The head popped off with a satisfying pop.
"Ugh! I told Grandma I don't want cute, girly toys," she huffed, storming over. But then… an idea lit up her face. "Oh wait, I think I can save this one."
She scooped up the dismembered head and torso, grabbed her paints, and began her surgery. She gave it a green skin, leathery wings, and a long tail. She shredded the silky red dress until it looked like demon rags.
"Now that's better. Welcome to the family." she whispered, introducing the new creation to a misshapen, horned doll beside her. Without warning, she smashed them together. Bham! Boom!
Her voice shifted, deeper, dramatic.
"Ah, why, Father? Why have you covered my world in fog and cold clouds? It doesn't even rain anymore!" she said, mouthing the words for the smaller demon doll.
Then, with the other: "No, son… you did this yourself. You wanted sunlight, and rain that brings joy… but joy is not okay for demons, you will die."
The dolls dropped from her hands at the sudden crack! of the door opening.
"Sister! Sister!! You're not gonna believe me, I, I have superpowers now!!"
She raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "Why do you dumb boys always want powers and superheroes? It's so bo-bo-boooooring!"
"Oh my God, you have superpowers?!" Her tone flipped, excitement flooding her voice.
Her little brother stood in the doorway, eyes wild, his body glowing faintly with mana. A strange digital screen flickered mid-air in front of him.
And just like that, the memory ended.
Back to the present at the school funeral:
On the school grounds, a somber crowd gathered near the cliff overlooking the brooding black ocean. The sea crashed endlessly below as students worked together in silence, preparing for the funeral. They dug a grave for Giselle's older sister, who would now be honored and laid to rest there. Kowa helped with the digging, while Isaac and the girls arranged the memorial with care.
Off to the side, Randa stood motionless, her eyes blank, her presence vacant like her soul had drifted far away.
Lal noticed. "I can't believe it… she's dozing off again? At a time like this?" she whispered, annoyed.
She snapped her fingers in front of Randa's face but the girl shuddered, her body weakening instantly. Sweat rolled down her pale skin, and without a word, she collapsed.
"Randa?!" Lal screamed, rushing to her side. "Oh my God, are you okay? Say something!" She held her tight, shaking her gently while the other girls cried in panic. Isaac quickly dropped to his knees, checking her pulse and breath.
"She's fine," he said, trying to calm them. "Her vitals are okay, she must be exhausted. Her body just shut down."
Lal's eyes filled with tears. She hugged Randa tightly, sobbing. "Don't scare me like that again… I thought, I thought something bad happened to you…"
At that moment, Longs and Shari arrived. Once known for their constant smiles and lightheartedness, they now walked like shadows of themselves, faces drawn, eyes heavy with sorrow. They were no longer in armor, but in their school uniforms, which were bloodied, torn, and stained with dirt. Cuts and bruises marked every inch of their bodies.
"Oh my God," Lal gasped. "And what happened to you two?!"
Longs tried to speak, but Shari cut in with a small, forced smile.
"There was… an accident in the basement. We were looking for clues for the catacombs, and something collapsed on us," she said with a wink and a weak giggle. "But we're okay. Just a bit shaken, that's all."
But deep down, she was still crying.
Randa's eyes fluttered open, and when she saw them, she sprang up and threw her arms around them.
"I'm sorry!" she sobbed. "I'm so sorry! I should've been there with you! I should've never left you alone and come to the funeral … I tried to go back, I really did, but you were already gone, and I was late.."
Longs and Shari held her back tightly, smiling as warmly as they could manage. Tears gushed from randa's eyes, and like a dry cloth, both Shari's and Longs' bodies quietly absorbed them. A faint warmth followed where the drops had touched, subtle and fleeting, almost like a blessing.
"It's okay," Longs said softly. "We're here now."
Lal sniffed the air and winced. "Urrgh… what's that smell? You two stink like corpses." She pinched her nose dramatically. "This is a funeral, not a gathering for the undead. Go shower!"
They all laughed, softly, nervously. A brief moment of levity in the midst of mourning.
Longs and Shari quietly stepped away, leaving behind the sea breeze, the dirt-stained grave… and the weight of everything they couldn't say..
Back in the empty hallway, it echoed with silence, ghostly and cold. From the far end, a figure emerged, his clothes torn, body covered in dirt and scratches. It was Cydal. As always, he walked toward the principal's office like it was just another ordinary day, he looked tired, almost sleepy. Like had been searching for the creator in the entire school but he had found nothing.
Cydal checked his map on the floating digital screen in front of him. The entire school layout was displayed as a blueprint, detailed and interactive, ready for him to analyze.
He tapped on the basement section. It appeared as a single, large room. Strangely, the gates within it didn't seem to lead anywhere.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. If the basement could open portals to other worlds... could it be the creator is hiding in one of them and not in our world?
That would explain why he hadn't been able to detect anything about them so far.
But there was another problem.
He had already tried returning to those gates. When he did, the screen flashed a quiet message:
[You must wait 6 hours until the gate recharges for a boss quest. Players must note that this quest is only available after you have defeated the boss of this gate in your world.]
Another message followed:
[For the continuing side quest, you must wait 24 hours after leaving the gate for it to open again. It's important to note that the partner you were given the quest with is required to open this gate.]
[This quest isn't mandatory. You may select other available quests. However, completing it grants valuable items and experience to level up faster.]
Cydal frowned. The game had a way to delay with requirements and quests to keep the players in check with what it wanted them to achieve, not what the players wanted. But if these quests truly led closer to the creator's trail, he had no choice but to be patient.
Shari's jaw tightened at the sight of Cydal. Her fists clenched. Before Longs could say a word, her body moved on its own.
SLAP!
The sharp crack of her hand meeting his cheek rang through the corridor. Longs flinched and startled, but Cydal didn't even blink.
"You're disgusting," Shari spat. "How dare you walk here like nothing happened? I'm going to make sure you're held responsible for everything we lost today!"
Cydal remained silent. Still and unfazed.
Then a shaky voice interrupted. "W-what's going on here? Children… did something happen between you two? A quarrel?"
The voice's owner stepped into view, and Longs went pale. Shari's fury faltered as her eyes landed on them, her defiance now trembling in the presence of whoever had just arrived.
It was principal Kashi Muruo, and he was wearing a warm, gentle smile, he stepped forward and drew both Shari and Cydal into a comforting embrace. His arms rested around them with fatherly tenderness. Shari stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock, uncertain of how to respond, caught between confusion and guilt.
"My dear children, when discord arises, let us not give way to wrath or pride. Instead, we shall speak with gentle hearts, for only through understanding can peace be restored. Remember, anger clouds judgment, but compassion brings clarity. In the house of God, we seek not victory, but harmony."
Shari and Cydal gently slipped out of Principal Kashi Muruo's embrace.
"I'm sorry, Principal," Shari said softly, avoiding his eyes. "I, i didn't know you were here."
He chuckled warmly. "Ah, it's merely a coincidence. Though, if I may ask out of concern… what happened to the three of you?" His gaze drifted to their clothes which were dirtied, torn, barely holding together. Yet to their surprise, he said nothing about the injuries that were supposed to mark their bodies.
"It's nothing to worry about," Shari answered quickly, bowing her head. "But I will apologize, we snuck into the basement… all three of us. We went against your rules."
"We just wanted to explore," she added, fumbling for words, "as a project for my club."
Longs jumped in with a forced laugh. "Yeah! But some stuff fell over and scratched us up a little. We're totally fine though, Principal. You can check if you like!"
Principal Kashi's gentle smile never faded, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that so?" he said calmly, clearly unconvinced. "Strange… because my dear child Cydal here mentioned he got his injuries during an altercation with fellow students."
He paused, then sighed quietly. "Unfortunately, as i understand… it may take time for the other students to truly see Cydal for who he is, and accept him so i may ask you two to look out for him okay? He is a nice boy, only misunderstood."
Shari glanced sideways at Cydal. One eye met his. There was no gratitude in her expression, only discomfort… and quiet disgust.
Cydal glanced at them back, his gaze calm but edged with quiet disappointment. They had offered a completely different excuse… and now the truth was unraveling faster than they could control.
Shari and Longs froze, expressions stiff like children caught in a lie by their father. Cydal stepped forward and gently changed the course of the conversation.
"My apologies as well, Principal," he said with a slight bow. "It's true we entered the basement without your permission. We meant no disrespect by lying. I was just… concerned about what you might think. So I panicked, and changed the story. I lied that I got into an unexpected fight."
Principal Kashi let out a soft chuckle, not loud, but warm and controlled.
"It's all right," he replied, eyes gleaming with familiarity. "What matters to me is that even after all this time… you're still the same child I once knew in my orphanage."
He paused, his voice dipping into memory.
"Do you remember your friend? That little boy R'ham?"
The name hit Cydal like a wave. His eyes widened, and a bead of sweat rolled down his temple.
Kashi smiled wistfully. "You two always found a way to sneak into the storage rooms… stealing food, extra clothes even toys. And Sister Miriam would chase after you both, scolding you until her voice was hoarse."
He closed his eyes briefly, then pressed two fingers to his forehead, chest, and shoulders in the sign of the cross.
"May he rest in peace, by the Father's grace."
"Now then," Principal Kashi said gently, his voice steady and warm, "let me apologise for keeping you all in this ever-growing conversation and chatter… but we must soon head to the funeral grounds for the committal service."
He turned slightly toward Cydal. "I was offering him some fresh clothes but I insist that you two come along as well."
"Uh no, it's okay, Principal," Shari said quickly, exchanging a glance with Longs. "We were headed into town anyway. We'll return after a quick shower."
"Nonsense," Kashi said firmly, though still with a kind smile. "There's no time. You'll come to my office, we keep spare uniforms for every student's size. I won't have you showing up to a fellow student's farewell looking like wounded runaways. That's unheard of!"
As they followed Principal Kashi back to his office, a quiet stillness settled over them. The room was immaculate, clean as a king's throne chamber, yet far from cold or sterile. The walls were adorned with drawings and paintings made by children through the years, vibrant colors bleeding into the past like echoes of laughter. Handmade dolls and small school projects sat neatly on shelves, some pristine, others burned, torn, or missing pieces. Each item felt like a quiet memorial to the children from his former church, tokens of lives once nurtured under his care.
Kashi walked over to a tall wardrobe and opened its polished doors. Inside was a surprising array of neatly folded clothes and lined-up shoes, each piece organized by size, prepared with foresight and love.
"Come now," he said gently, "pick whatever fits. No student under my care should feel lesser, especially on a day like this."
Longs's face lit up. His eyes locked onto a sleek black blazer and a dark red tie. This wasn't a school uniform but it fit and he loved it. So he lifted them with trembling fingers, unable to hide his joy. His parents had only managed to buy him a shirt and pants before sending him off to school but this? This felt like dignity, like belonging.
"Thank you… thank you, sir," he murmured, voice catching in his throat as he bowed slightly. "I'll take good care of it. I promise."
Then Cydal's eyes landed on a suit set apart from the rest, tailor-made, white as untouched snow, and fitted perfectly to his build. It stood out not only for its craftsmanship but for the single red rose tucked gently into the chest pocket.
Something about it held him still like it had been waiting.
"Ah… my apologies," Principal Kashi said with a soft chuckle as he noticed Cydal eyeing the suit. "That one is for you. I had hoped to keep it a surprise until the main event… but I suppose the moment's already slipped, so I might as well explain."
He stepped closer, his hands clasped behind his back, speaking with that ever-gentle tone of his.
"I had this suit made for your wedding. Do you remember my daughter, Nara? I know you've barely been here half a day, but I trust she's been treating you kindly."
His eyes grew distant, fond, as if reliving old memories.
"She was always weak… frail. Other children would tease her endlessly, mocking her for that quiet, frowning face. That child never truly belonged anywhere... until she met you."
He turned to look at Cydal, smile warm, but tinged with a father's deep gratitude.
"After you came into her life, she began smiling more. Talking endlessly about you, how kind you were, how gentle. And soon, it was rare to see the two of you apart."
He gave a small sigh, almost bashful.
"So… we decided. That I would offer you my daughter's hand in marriage. Not as a burden or a duty, but as a blessing for both of you."
Then, after a pause, his voice softened further.
"Of course, there's no pressure. I would never force you into such an important decision. If your heart leads elsewhere, or if you're unsure… you are free to say no. Truly!"
Cydal didn't respond, at least, not yet.
The students quietly picked up their new clothes and headed toward the locker rooms to wash up. Since there were no separate showers for girls, Shari was offered the space first, while the boys waited outside.
The sound of running water echoed softly through the tiled hall, a gentle rhythm in the silence. It cascaded over her smooth, curved skin and chest like a fragile relief cleansing away dirt and dried blood, but never the weight of everything they had just endured.
Eventually, Shari stepped out, fully dressed in her long school skirt and crisp white blouse, the fabric clinging just enough to hint at her curves. She adjusted her tie with a sigh, giving the boys their turn at the showers.
The boys entered the room for their bath. Longs had already stripped down, his skin was bare and glistening under the dim light. His eyes trailed over to Cydal, watching him with quiet curiosity. It struck him as strange, cydal removed every scrap of clothing before stepping into the water, yet the eyepatch never came off. What kind of wound was he hiding under there? The question lingered in Longs' mind as he stepped into the shower beside him, the steam already beginning to blur the space between them.
Inside, warm water poured down onto bare skin, cleansing them of the grime and chaos. Longs let out a loud, startled cry.
"Ah! AHHHHH!"
To be continued.