Chapter 6

"Third one. We need to hurry," Kingsley said as he roamed the dim-lit streets with Lyn.

Blue eddies coiled around Lyn's spearpoint blade, linking it with the fiery essence of his Timeless Flare. Frost crept over his skin, his blood slowing to an icy pulse—yet he felt no pain. His gaze flashed blue, echoing the power from Lyn's sword as a wave of heat surged through him, seamlessly merging with her icy energy,

Forged by the same swordsmith, these swords opposed one another if one existed for a different purpose. Stained with thick marks of blood and tears, Deathless Ice and Timeless Flare bore an indomitable will to serve their owners faithfully until death did part them.

Kingsley shuffled through the bushes, leaped up the trees, and hopped down into the tunnels. He scanned his surroundings; darkness pressed in from every side. Most shops lay shuttered, leaving only a handful of all-night storefronts casting faint, ghostly glows across the empty streets.

Just as he was about to call it a night, a chill ran down his spine, contracting the fine hairs at the back of his neck. His sword trembled in his grip, shaking violently as if sensing something he couldn't yet see.

"You felt it too?" Lyn nudged his elbow, tightening her grip on her Deathless Ice that reacted the same way.

Kingsley nodded and raised a brow, urging her to play it cool. They continued walking, with the mysterious presence persistently trailing them, drawing nearer as time ticked away. As they approached a secluded alley, they quickened their pace, slipping against the wall and darting into the narrow passage.

Holding her icy sword tightly, Lyn stepped onto an isolated broken wooden box to back up her brother, ready for the impending fight.

Kingsley stuck close to the wall, swallowing hard. The moment the mystical shadow came into view, he unsheathed his fiery blade at once and lunged toward the opponent.

While he charged at full force, his strike surprisingly landed on nothing.

He frowned in incredulity, watching the bizarre smoke disperse after spiraling his sword for a few rounds. Had he not seen it, he wouldn't have believed that what was after them was nothing but smoke—greenish smoke.

"W-What?" Lyn was stunned. 

Kingsley was puzzled too. But it wasn't the time for them to think.

"Let's get back first," he said and grabbed Lyn's hand. "We need to tell them about this."

When they returned home, Kingsley knew his father had told Miracle about the situation upon seeing the grave expression on her face.

"Dad..." Kingsley shook his head, his voice heavy. "They are evolving too fast."

***

The next day, Miracle nearly lost her footing as she stepped into 5 Lilium. Lyn was jostled aside, and Kingsley was shoved to the back, stumbling over his undone shoelaces that he had hesitated to tie before entering. While straightening his tie, he shot a quick glance at his sister. 

She didn't look any better than him. Her maroon hair was disheveled, and her face was puffy from all the pushes by her excited classmates.

"Whoa, Kingsley!" Peter smirked, resting an elbow on his shoulder. "You, too, have a day like this."

"Shut up if you don't want me to spill the tea." He gave a rough shrug to drop his hand.

Everyone was crowding around Miracle, eager to get to know her and create a sense of closeness. These were humans. They only cared about one another if the other party was pretty, rich, or dying.

"Hey, hey, Miracle! Have you heard of the dark secret in our school?" This particular voice overtook the rest.

'Dark secret?' Miracle shook her head though she could foresee what it was going to be.

The girl was about to start when Rex interrupted.

"Oh, come on, Jessamine! Don't scare our new classmate! We don't even know if it's true," he said, putting a knee on his chair as he turned around to take attendance.

"Please, I doubt it's a rumor. Students get horribly killed every eighteen years. This place is so freaking cursed. Have you forgotten how secluded this island used to be? And you call yourself a Syihuex-ian?—Oh, wait," Jessamine paused, remembering a point. "I forgot you just moved here a few months ago."

Rex rolled his eyes. "Even you're saying it now—used to. Which means it's getting better! See? I'm a very good example. Nobody chases me out even though I wasn't born here."

"Are you scared, then?" Miracle muttered.

It was a question directed to Jessamine. 

"What?"

Lifting her eyes to meet hers, she repeated louder this time, "Are you scared of the dark secret?"

Jessamine chuckled. "Well, it'll be a lie if I say no. Even my mom always tells me there are monsters out there that eat up humans and whatnot..."

Rex slacked his jaw. "And you're still staying here?"

"Aren't you the same?" she retorted. 

"Well, that's because..." 

Jessamine didn't wait for him to finish his words. "I'm an atheist; in fact, those of us born on this island, we're all atheists because we don't worship or pray to any specific god. We were brought up that way. But for me, I believe there are good beings doing their best to protect us from evil. I've never regretted being born here."

"Good beings? You mean like... mythical creatures?"

Rex jerked his head in Miracle's direction upon hearing that.

"Mythical creatures? Phoenixes and dragons? Nah, nobody believes in myths in this generation, Miracle. How should I put this? Something like good witches, perhaps? Or maybe someone with supernatural abilities. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this way. You see, there are still quite a number of people living here, despite knowing the dark stories of Syihuex Island."

"So it's witchcraft and sorceries you believe in."

"It's the closest assumption we can relate to."

Decorating her thick lips with a smile, Jessamine walked back to her seat and grabbed a sandwich from her bag to head for her break.

The scent of her rose perfume was strong. She wasn't a difficult person, but the way she carried herself made her seem like one. The heavy makeup on her—blue eye shadow matched with glossy orange lipstick—was simply impossible to ignore. She probably failed in her art classes if she ever attended one.

"It's the cycle, exactly like what you had in mind," Kingsley confirmed, walking toward the round table at the corner of the cafeteria. "The 18th-year cycle. Some think it's because of the witches' spells that created the mess, and some believe it's the work of a serial killer."

"So are the witches real?"

"Nope. Never seen one," Lyn said, eyeing the students in a group of three walking past their table to the vending machine.

"If there is, it won't be just one 18th-year cycle," Kingsley continued.

"But I still don't get it. Even if it's as Jessamine said earlier that this place is being protected by good beings, why would they enroll in a school like this if they already know it's no good? Can't they just stay home?" Miracle asked. "It's safer, at least."

Her face twitched as she took a bite of the bread stuffed with bacon and cheese that Hayden had prepared. It was meaty, but not raw-y.

"Don't make that face!" Lyn helped her flatten the bread so it would fit inside her mouth for the second bite. "Well, mortals here think education is the only weapon to improve their lives. Syihuex Island is developing at a slow pace, and this is the only school they have at the moment."

"Honestly, this entire island is not safe. But Stellaerio is the worst because it's sitting exactly on the center point of the three worlds," Kingsley chimed in, wiping the mustard sauce he had dripped on the rusted bench. "Remember the three victims Dad told you about last night?

Miracle nodded, acting as though that was the first time she heard it and she wasn't there with them at the café yesterday.

"The cycle is already repeating. It's just that it has yet to occur in this school," he continued.

"And the eerie green smoke we encountered. Those evils weren't able to shapeshift eighteen years ago," Lyn paused. "They're evolving."

"Who else knows about this?" Miracle tried her best to chew the food as she scanned every human who came into her view. "I'm pretty sure the students know nothing about this—the real story, I mean."

"Yes, only the principal knows," Kingsley said, clicking his tongue when he saw Peter head to the snack counter. 

Needless to say, his friend ignored him. 

"Principal? He's a TinXi?"

"He is, but we only get to meet him once a year during the annual dinner. Dad forbids us from engaging with him due to personal reasons which we don't know." Staring at her watch, Lyn exclaimed, "Shit, Kingsley! It's twenty minutes past ten! We've got to meet Mr. Sam!"

"For what? I'm still not done with my bacon." He frowned.

"Idiot!" She smashed the remaining food into his mouth. "We failed his paper last week. Let's go before he really thinks we're some sort of dumbass. Catch up with you later in class, Miracle. Bye!"

"DoooIIIlookkklikeIcareboutliteraturee?" the brother muffled, spitting out some of the breadcrumbs before he was dragged away.

Miracle chuckled and left the table right after they did. She walked down the corridor that connected the two blocks, one of which housed junior high students.

All of a sudden, her gaze shifted to the announcements stapled to the abandoned noticeboard in the corner, fluttering at one end. Curious, she stepped closer, and as soon as she saw what it was about, she hastily snatched the papers, leaving torn pieces stuck under the tarnished thumbtacks.

'2001—Missing students found dead,' she read inwardly. 

A gasp escaped her lips, and her hand shot to her mouth, eyes wide with shock. Sweat trickled down her neck as she scanned the seemingly endless list of names—victims from eighteen years ago. She skimmed through the details, each line pulling her closer to the truth she dreaded.

"Hearts stolen" was the keyword in the descriptions.

And it was all she needed to conclude.

"Miracle? Miracle!"

A familiar voice drifted to her ears, followed by a warm and soft tap on her left shoulder.

She came back to herself at once. "H-Huh?"

"Miracle..." He trailed off as his eyes fell on what she was holding. "You're... interested in these?" Rex asked, cupping the stacks of worksheets in his hands.

He tapped his knee against the slipping pieces to keep them stabilized. When that didn't help much, he tiptoed to the side and rested the chemistry materials against the handrail of the stairs.

"Um..." She hesitated.

Without waiting to her to finish speaking, he winked. "Anyway, I'm here to ask you out tonight. You free?"

She stared at him, clearly startled by what he said. Her lips parted, but no words left her throat.

Rex's patience only lasted for a while.

"I'll take that as a yes, okay? Tonight, 7:00 p.m. at Cappuccino Café. See ya!" He rushed off in the other direction.

"Hey! W-Wait..." She only ran after him two steps before stopping. 

Too bothered by what she saw on the board, she had neither the time nor the energy to deal with him.