The camera showed the familiar building, her previous school or what was left of it.
The front wing had collapsed in on itself like a broken rib cage. Entire classrooms were exposed to the sky, desks and chairs scattered like toys thrown by a giant child. The roof had been torn open, steel beams twisted and bent as if an invisible hand had ripped through them.
Police cars surrounded the area, emergency crews moved in and out, men and women in dark uniforms with strange insignias gift user authorities stood in groups, their expressions tense.
The reporter's voice continued in the background.
"Authorities have confirmed that the night guard on duty was found unconscious at the security booth. Medical teams report no visible injuries, suggesting he was only incapacitated."
Denver's hand froze mid air.
"…The guard."
She remembered him clearly, slumped in his chair, snoring like a dying engine and she had even called him useless.
"So he wasn't just sleeping... he was actually knock out."
Dion clicked his tongue. "That old man survived, but got himself knocked out, that means whoever did this didn't want casualties."
She remembered how the air felt heavy around Lance, like gravity itself was listening to him.
"…He warned me," she muttered.
Dion looked at her confused. "Who warned you what?"
Denver turned off the TV, the room fell silent. Her fingers trembled as they tightened around the remote.
"I was actually there yesterday... I-I saw a boy just around my age."
Her chest felt tight, like someone had wrapped invisible wires around her ribs and was slowly pulling them. She remembered the empty hallway the floating desks, the boy and his calm, cold voice.
"Don't come back here ever again."
Her stomach dropped, her mind tried to deny it.
"No. That's impossible he didn't look like the type who would blow up a school. He was calm, quiet, and maybe a little annoyed but not-"
But the scene replayed in her head, the way the chairs froze when she stepped in. The way the air felt heavy around him and the way his eyes glowed when he got suspicious. He wasn't normal and neither was what happened to the school.
"Denver?"
She flinched.
Mom stood at the doorway, holding a cup of coffee. She was behind her, half awake, hair messy, clearly she had just woken up.
"Oh you guys are up early?" She asked, yawning.
Denver and Dion attention was glued to the TV, noticing they did not pay her any attention she walked in and sat beside them, her expression unusually serious.
"Isn't that your previous school, what happened?"
Denver hesitated.
"…Yeah."
Dion's eyes sharpened. "You actually met someone there? before the incident?"
Mom stared at Denver. "W-wait you were there?"
The room felt colder, Denver's lips parted, but no sound came out. Her gaze dropped to the floor, fingers tightening around the remote until her knuckles turned white.
"…I-I'm not involve in a terrorist attack or somthing," she muttered quickly.
"That's not what I'm asking!" Mom snapped, her voice sharper than usual. She leaned forward, eyes searching Denver's face. "When were you there? Why didn't you tell us?"
Denver hesitated the words felt heavy, like speaking them would make everything real.
"Yesterday, I… wandered there. I thought it would be nostalgic like in the movies you know?."
Dion's expression stiffened. "And you met a strange guy there?."
She nodded slowly.
"He was alone in one of the classrooms everything was floating chairs, tables, even the books." Her voice trembled slightly. "He looked around my age, with green hair and those weird glowing eyes. He said his name was Lance."
Mom swallowed. "And?"
"He told me to leave. Told me not to come back, his voice was calm… but it felt like a warning."
Dion leaned back against the couch, exhaling slowly. "So the building gets blown up right after that, seems sus to me."
Denver bit her lip. "I don't think he destroyed it. He didn't feel like someone who would do that, he felt… controlled. Also he said that he was looking for something."
Mom folded her arms, brows furrowed. "What was he searching for?"
"I don't know."
The TV continued playing silently, footage of investigators scanning the rubble. A blurred figure in a dark coat was shown in one frame, being escorted by authorities, but the camera cut away too quickly.
Dion's eyes narrowed. "If he's that strong, then he's not just some random kid. Telekinesis on that scale? That's high tier archimage or even hybrid class."
Both mom and Denver looked at Dion. "Hybrid?"
"Someone whose gift doesn't fit only on one category. Telekinesis like that could classify him as an archimage, but depending on the range and control, he could be closer to an marksman type anomaly. Basically…" He paused, choosing his words. "…he's not normal even by gift user standards."
Mom's fingers tightened around her coffee cup. "And you talked to him alone."
"…Yeah."
Silence settled over them.
Denver stared at the TV again, watching the debris being lifted by rescue drones. She remembered how the classroom felt quiet, heavy, and obedient to his will.
Her phone suddenly vibrated, she flinched, a notification popped up.
BREAKING NEWS: Authorities suspect a gift user involvement. Identity unknown.
She turned the screen off.
Dion noticed her pale expression. "You think he did it?"
"I don't know." Her voice came out quiet. "But I think I triggered something, he got suspicious when I was there. The air started pressing down, everything started floating higher, like he was getting serious."
Mom frowned. "So you might have been the last person to see him before the incident."
"…Yeah."
Dion ran a hand through his hair. "This is bad, If authorities trace CCTV footage, they might see you entering the school. If that man is tied to some evil organization, they might connect you."
Denver's stomach twisted.
"…I'm totally cooked," she whispered.
Mom looked at her sharply. "Don't say that."
"But it feels like it," Denver muttered. "Weird women, mysterious boys, destroyed schools. I just wanted a peaceful and quiet life."
Dion sighed. "I guess you are too late for that."
She glared at him. "Hey didn't you said last time that you will save my ass if I get in trouble?."
"Well uh... it was only for a limited time..." he replied immediately. "Unfortunately it's now expired."
"Wow great, what am I even expecting."
She stared at the screen again as the reporter continued, voice serious.
"Authorities advise citizens to avoid the area. Any sightings of suspicious gift users should be reported immediately."
Denver's chest tightened, She remembered Lance's last words.
"Don't come back here ever again."
Maybe he wasn't threatening her, maybe he was warning her.