Al let out a sigh and turned to Dila.
"So this was your goal with that weird date. Had enough of the drama yet?"
He stood, slipping the card loosely into his pocket.
"Dila… You and Idham planned this, didn't you?"
"I-I… um… A-Al… I just… He asked me to do it, I lost a bet. I thought it was weird too, but—"
Dila stammered, her cheeks red and eyes flustered.
Al glanced around. A few people were still watching them.
"Huff… troublesome. Let's get out of here," Al said to Dila.
He lifted Idham onto his back.
"We're taking him to the hospital."
Dila followed behind.
"Dila, can you drive?" Al asked.
"Drive? Of course not! According to National Traffic Law No. 17, Article 21, regarding the licensing age—"
"Okay, okay, that's enough! After all this, you still have the energy to lecture?" Al cut in quickly.
They reached the parking lot. A luxury car came into view.
"That's Idham's car, right? He didn't bring a driver?"
"Apparently not," Dila replied.
Al examined the car and tried to open the door.
"Where's the key?"
"No key," said Dila. "That's a new smart electric model. It uses a card instead."
Al nearly slipped up. "Really… Man, I feel so outdated."
"Guess we're taking a taxi then."
---
Inside the taxi, Al sat in the middle seat, supporting Idham's unconscious head.
Dila sat in the front, constantly glancing back—her expression a mix of worry... and amusement.
"What kind of date is this..." Al muttered wearily, staring out the window.
Dila was a little offended by Al's comment, but deep down, she knew it was true. This whole date was a joke.
Still, one thing lingered in her mind—in a good way. She was genuinely happy being compared to someone like Miss Aiza.
The taxi sped toward the hospital, carrying the three of them into the deepening night—leaving behind a story filled with chaos, a dark aura, and jealousy... that turned out to be just the beginning.
---
Upon arriving at the hospital, the nurses and doctors immediately rushed over, panic on their faces as soon as they saw Idham.
"That's… That's Young Master Tamarvich!"
"Quick! Prepare a VIP room! Make sure nothing happens to him!"
Al, who just wanted to get this over with, pointed toward the general ward.
"Just put him in a standard room. The sooner he's treated, the better."
But Dila quickly interrupted.
"No way! He's the son of someone important, Al. He has to go to the VIP ward!"
The hospital staff all nodded firmly, their faces tense.
"Sorry, Sir. According to protocol, a VIP patient like Mr. Idham must be treated in the private unit. The risk is too high. And... well, it's also about the hospital's reputation."
Al let out another sigh.
"So patients don't get to choose their rooms anymore, huh?"
Dila gave him a knowing look.
"If you were from the Tamarvich family, they'd be carrying you in on a golden stretcher."
In the end, Al gave in and let them take Idham to the VIP ward.
Dila went up with him, already familiar with the Tamarvich family.
Al stayed behind in the lobby, holding Idham's belongings.
---
Not long after, a man and woman in their late fifties arrived with several bodyguards in tow.
Idham's parents.
The mother immediately eyed Al suspiciously when she saw him holding Idham's watch and wallet.
"You… Who are you? Did you touch my son's belongings?"
Al opened his mouth to answer, but before he could speak—
"Calm down, Lia," said the husband—Lefon Tamarvich—as he gently touched his wife's shoulder.
"I know this boy. He was at our family event the other night. He's Miss Aurielle Virellano's assistant, if I'm not mistaken. If Aurielle trusts him, then he's not just anyone."
Al handed over the items without a word.
"I was just helping. I'll take my leave now."
Idham's father nodded.
"Thank you, young man. You've done our family a favor."
Al turned and walked away, while Dila stayed behind with the Tamarvichs. From a distance, she gave him a small wave.
---
Outside the hospital, three figures stood quietly waiting.
A middle-aged man in a formal black suit, and a younger man and woman in doctor's coats.
As Al approached, the three bowed in unison.
But Al quickly raised a hand, signaling them to stop.
"Not here. Too many eyes. Follow me," he said calmly.
Without another word, Al walked along the side of the building, heading for a secluded back area, away from public view.
Once there, the three bowed again—this time with deep reverence.
"Greetings... Master."
A heavy, invisible pressure filled the air.
Al stood with his back to them for a moment, then said:
"Check the residual energy in the Tamarvich boy. I suspect something was planted. It wasn't just an emotional outburst. Looks like one of them has begun to awaken."
All three nodded deeply.
"Yes, Master. We'll report the results directly to Sebastian."
"Good," Al replied curtly. "Carry out your work. Make sure there's no trace left behind."
"Understood, Master."
The three gave one last precise bow—
and in an instant, their bodies vanished—dispersed like mist in the wind.
Al lifted his gaze, staring at the starless night sky above.
A breeze tousled his hair.
No sounds of the bustling city reached this hidden place.
"A new problem… and a more troublesome one," he muttered.
"I searched for them all this time to stop this… but now, they're waking up—one by one."
And then, Al's figure vanished as well—
as if he had never been there to begin with.
---
Several days passed.
Al returned to school, going through his routines with a reluctant heart.
Suspicious stares, admiration, even envy bombarded him ever since the tryout results were announced.
To some students, Al was a strange miracle who emerged from the shadows of an orphanage. To others, he was a cheater who manipulated his score.
To Al himself, all of this was just minor noise in the middle of far greater problems.
---
In a dark, quiet corner of the school—rarely passed by anyone.
Behind an old, nearly forgotten building...
Two figures stood against the setting sun—Al and Sebastian.
"Master," Sebastian whispered seriously.
"After investigation... the energy residue found on the Tamarvich boy matches what we detected from the infiltrator at the party. It looks like they were the ones who implanted that dark energy."
Al nodded slowly, his voice calm but firm:
"I assumed as much. No wonder Idham's behavior has been odd since that night. Do you think we should send a few more people to Australea to investigate more thoroughly?"
Sebastian paused for a moment before answering,
"Ideally, yes, Master. If we want to prevent them faster and more certainly. But for now, the movements of that brown-robed faction are too extreme," he said.
"Rearranging formations and repositioning our forces could easily lower our surveillance over our own troops. And that could become an opening for them—to sabotage or recruit our members," he explained.
Al could only lower his head and let out a sigh upon hearing that.
"You're right. Ensuring oversight and control over our members now is more urgent and must be the priority."
He then lifted his head to gaze into the distance,
"In truth… I don't really care whether they rise or not. It's just… their power becomes the greatest threat to entities like us," he said tensely.
Sebastian stared at Al and muttered,
"A power that can influence emotions stronger than we ever imagined."
Al nodded,
"At times like this, humans like us should unite and face that threat. That energy is the most real threat to humans like us, compared to ordinary humans. Yet here we are, fighting among ourselves. And the only group aware of this danger is us—with the fewest members," he lamented, feeling the irony of their situation.
Sebastian nodded,
"You're right, Master. But whatever happens, even if we are the fewest, we will still stand by your side and be your soldiers," he said, bowing slightly, showing his loyalty.
"Because what you aspire to is what we aspire to," he added.
Al smiled faintly and shook his head,
"No, Sebastian. No. You're mistaken."
Sebastian stepped back a little, confused.
Al stepped forward and firmly patted Sebastian's left shoulder,
"You and the others aren't my soldiers. You're my family. So stop belittling yourselves in front of me. Together we face everything—not as master and subordinates, but as something more complete, closer, and mutually empowering," he said.
Sebastian smiled faintly at that, letting go of some of the cold persona he usually showed, and nodded.
Al laughed as he gazed into the distant sky, until his eyes sharpened once again.
"Their awakening can't be stopped now. But their energy hasn't fully returned yet. We still have time before they reach full power. Until then, we need to track them down—
and eliminate their pawns."
Sebastian swallowed. His breath was slightly heavy. Even after all those motivational words, the worry in his eyes was still clearly visible—a sign that the threat was no joke.
"The next full moon… we have to be ready. Gather more intel. More evidence." Al instructed.
"Yes, Master," Sebastian replied, bowing low.
And in the blink of an eye—he vanished.
Al stood alone, gazing at the sky darkening behind the school's crumbling walls.
The evening wind brushed against his hair, and for a moment, the world went still.
"This is... seriously annoying," he murmured.
Then he turned and walked away—letting the shadows swallow him whole, as if becoming one with the darkness he had always carried inside.
---