"Mr. Principal, aren't you going to fix this problem?" Ben said flatly.
"What problem are you talking about? be more specific." The Principal said, his hands clasped.
"You should know what problem I am talking about." Ben said, tone serious.
"I do. In fact a lot. But let me tell you— it is deeply concerning to see students who have been misled by these false allegations made by such an individual. But what can we do? and even if we fix it right away our reputation is already tarnished."
The Principal stated.
Ben looks at the Principal, his eyes showed disappointment. "You still care for your reputation. Like the last incident." Ben let out a soft chuckle before he continued, "I'll do it myself." Ben turned his back, just as Ben reached the doorknob—he paused, "You may have the authority, but you don't know how to use it."
Afterwards, Ben heads straight for the basement.
———————
"I might have been Awakened."
Lancelot advanced, steps heavy and deliberate. Merlin and Cedric instinctively stepped back but Lancelot kept advancing, the distance between them shrinking with every stride.
"Whatever you are thinking, don't do it." Cedric said, tone worried.
"Don't interfere, this is none of your concern." Lancelot intoned.
"Are you sure? I'm right here! It's part of my concern!" Cedric stepped forward, voice cracking with intensity, "Merlin, i think— we have a chance. His alone and we outnumber him." He insisted.
Before even Merlin responded, he pondered.
What would I get? What would happen to me? What would happen if I help? Nothing.
Simply nothing. Conflict rises the more I get involved. It gets dangerous as long I'm part of it. Risking the life that I have and others.
"Merlin! Merlin!" Cedric shouted shaking Merlin's shoulders, both of them sitting on the ground.
"None of this wouldn't happen if Merlin just listened to me, but he didn't." Lancelot said. He advanced further, finally reaching a certain distance for him to raise his katana.
"You've gone mad, haven't you?" Cedric said.
"If I can't get the thing I need, then you won't get it either." Lancelot murmured.
Lancelot raised his right hand, holding firmly on the katana, then swings his katana downward, eye's focus at Merlin, intended to hurt him. But suddenly a shot was fired, its immersive force causes the katana to fall.
A crack like a whip split the air, bullet hammered into the hilt, destroying wood and silk wrap. The impact was not merely just a fall, it was ejected. The katana spinning into the ground, hand snapped back, fingers splayed wide and locked in a rigid, vibrating paralysis.
He stood, his arm centered and raised, clutching at nothing but just cloud of splinters and gunsmoke. No pain—just a heavy, dead-weight numbness and continuous ringing silence of a ruptured eardrum.
He scanned the area, eyes narrow, It was Ben. His aim held, his gaze cold. as if under no circumstances would he let Lancelot move.
In few seconds Lancelot let out a soft chuckle, nodding his head slowly back and forth, "Soon. You'll understand me. Remember this." Lancelot paused, his left hand holding his right, around at the veins, still shaking, "I will come back." Then Lancelot bolted out.
Ben lowered his gun, and stepped to Cedric side. Together they hoisted Merlin up, draping his arms on both of their shoulders and bracing his weight against their own.
Together they walk to the infirmary, laying Merlin on the bed. It's been a minute since Merlin passed out. To Cedric and Ben it may be just a stress. But they didn't know that this happens when Merlin is triggered, reliving his past trauma.
Cedric sits on the next bed, his back pushing against the white curtain, and Ben standing near the bed's footboard.
"What should we do now, it's all a mess." Cedric rasped, his head looking down.
"I don't know either. I'll be straightforward with you. The principal doesn't care at all. I already talked to him but he refused to help." Ben sighed, "I think we need to rely on ourselves now."
"Is that really true? If so then this place is no different than the original." Then Cedric realized something, "wait, do you know that we aren't from here?"
"Yes, all of you, even that Luxe."
Cedric let out a breath, holding his chest, "I thought I made a mistake by revealing ourselves."
Suddenly a light groan shocked them both.
Merlin slowly steps back, leaning on the triangle shaped bar that hangs over the head of the bed from a metal frame. Left hand pressed to his forehead.
"A question. You shot Lancelot right? How is it possible he can walk like nothing happened? You pierce his leg." Merlin muttered, voice strained.
"It might be the Effect." Ben stated.
Cedric and Merlin gazed at him, as if trying to press out the information on Ben's brain.
Ben looked at both of them, no hope at all trying to hide the information.
"The Effect, is part of the Awakening. There are three parts. First Is the Input. This is the starting point of awakening. your heart will start hurting, this is the important sign of being awakened. Second is Cause. You will gain strength. It is not superhuman strength, it is like having the strength of a muscular man. Lastly is The Effect. It heals any pain, stab, or shot." Ben adjusted his glasses, "did you all get that?"
"Yeah, word for word. My turn. How do you know all of this? Besides you're a student. And also what would happen if the awakening fails?"
Ben opened his mouth, answering the question but Merlin interjected. "His not just a student, I don't know his role but he really knows a lot of things. Like he is some sort of a spy."
"Can I?" Ben said.
"Go ahead." Merlin answered.
"Since Merlin answered the first one, then I'll go to the second question. The awakening will fail, if you don't meet these certain requirements. It's two but they are very important. Your emotions are in a state of confusion. In the Input, you must be certain of something or someone. This is the only way to enter the first part and pass it. But when you are in the Cause and you hesitate, you will become something. A monster or some sort. I'll tell you the name later. The second part is Focus. Throughout the first part and at the last part you must remain focused. What I'm talking about is to be awakened you must be certain and focus on your goal or dream. It could be something or someone." Ben explained, adjusting his glasses. "Example here is Lancelot, he was certain at his goal to go home, and remain focused on it. That's why he was awakened."
"You explain very well." Cedric clapping his hands. "Is there a certain time?"
"No not all. It must be you, you'll know it when time is ready, your mind will shape on its own."
"The name?" Merlin said.
"Oh— I forgot.They are called Dreaters."
IN THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE.
The Principal stood up from his chair, opened a gray file drawer from the top, its handle white.
The principal scanned, skimming through all the files. Then he picked up a small file, its folder brown and smooth.
The principal opens the folder and reads what's written.
"Name:Ben Nastauro
Status: Alive
Age: 18
Related to
Watts Nastauro(Brother) Status:Alive
Astor Nastauro(Father) Status: Deceased
Aloa Sholshire(Mother) Status: Deceased
Friends with Arthur Xindercry
Status: Deceased
While the principal was reading, the door slid open.
"Reminiscing about the past, aren't we?" Stranger spoke, his tone bravado. "When are you going to tell him? that the incident was his fault."
The principal puts back the file and close the drawer. "I can't, he won't handle it and it will just cause a mental breakdown."
"So will you keep acting that you're responsible?" He said, sitting on the principal black desk.
"Are you going to do something? You came down here just to talk to me? I think you should leave, when someone remembers you and notices you, they will be enraged."
The principal flipping the hourglass.
"Are they angry at me because I didn't do nothing? I just accept wishes, I don't have a sort of physical or any magical power besides that. What can I do?"