Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series

Dinner that night was quiet. The only sound from the Great Hall was the clanking of cluttery and sometimes, a small whisper here and there. When the three arrived, they were suddenly hit with a feeling of deja vu.

Whispers filled the space between clinking utensils and hushed conversations, the earlier attack still fresh in everyone's minds. The student who had been attacked was nowhere to be seen, and the staff table held an air of quiet discussion.

Aiden wasn't particularly hungry, but he made himself take a few bites. Across from him, Sevan was quiet, stirring his food absentmindedly while Adrian tapped his fingers against the wooden table, staring at nothing in particular.

Then, amidst the sea of students, a shadow moved closer.

"Don't look up too quickly," came a low voice from behind them.

Aiden tried so hard not to look and to compose his self from looking at the physical education teacher.

"I need the three of you to follow me," Sir Bernard continued. "Don't make it obvious. Finish whatever you're eating and leave separately. I'll be waiting near the eastern hallway."

And just like that, he was gone, disappearing into the crowd as swiftly as he had arrived.

"What do you think Sir Bernard wants?" Adrian muttered under his breath, stabbing at his food.

"Isn't it obvious?" Sevan whispered, glancing around. "We were there when it happened. He wants information."

Aiden nodded slightly. It made sense. They were among the students who had seen the girl before she collapsed. If Sir Bernard was questioning them, it was likely under the Headmaster's orders.

"Well, better not keep him waiting," Adrian sighed, pushing his plate aside. "I was getting bored anyway."

They followed Sir Bernard's instructions, leaving one by one and making their way toward the eastern hallway. The corridors were dimly lit, the torches casting long shadows against the stone walls. The further they walked, the quieter it became, the noise of the Great Hall fading behind them.

Sir Bernard stood near an alcove, his arms crossed, waiting. When all three of them arrived, he gestured for them to follow.

"This way," he said, leading them through a side corridor that was rarely used. It wasn't long before they reached his office- a room filled with gym equipment and mounted neatly along the walls. A polished suit of armor stood in one corner, reflecting the glow of the lanterns. It reeked of sweat.

He gestured toward the chairs in front of his desk. "Sit."

Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan did as they were told.

Sir Bernard remained standing, looking at them with a serious expression. "I was tasked with gathering information about today's incident," he finally said. "And since you were present when it happened, I need to hear exactly what you saw."

"You mean the attack?" Aiden asked.

Sir Bernard nodded. "Everything you remember. No detail is too small."

Adrian leaned back, crossing his arms. "What's the point? It was obvious someone went after her. The real question is who?"

"That's what we're trying to determine," Sir Bernard replied. "So tell me what you know."

Aiden exchanged a glance with Sevan before taking a breath. "She was already running when we saw her. She was bleeding with two gashes on her face, parallel to each other. She looked terrified."

"She was shooting at something." Sevan added.

"Did you see what she was aiming at?" Sir Bernard asked.

Aiden shook his head. "No, she was facing the forest, but I didn't see anyone or anything coming after her."

Sir Bernard's expression darkened slightly, as if deep in thought. "And then?"

"She collapsed," Adrian said. "That older guy picked her up, and she kept saying someone tried to kill her before she passed out."

Sir Bernard remained silent for a moment, studying them carefully. Then he exhaled. "I see."

"Do you think it's connected?" Aiden asked. "To Savion?"

Sir Bernard's sharp gaze landed on him. "What makes you think that?"

"Because," Aiden hesitated, glancing at Adrian and Sevan before continuing. "It also happened in the forest, and I don't think monsters could do a clean cut like that. It could probable be claw marks or the most likely, a blade."

Sir Bernard studied the three of them for a long moment, his gaze steady and unreadable. The weight of his silence pressed down on them before he finally spoke.

"I appreciate your cooperation," he said, his voice firm. "But you are students, not investigators. It would be best if you stayed out of this."

Aiden frowned. "So you're telling us to ignore it?"

"I'm telling you not to concern yourselves with it," Sir Bernard corrected. "The faculty is already handling the matter. We don't need students nosediving into theories and making reckless connections."

Adrian scoffed, crossing his arms. "You mean we should just sit back and pretend this isn't happening? A girl was attacked. And what if it happens again?"

"That is not your concern." Sir Bernard's tone was final. He leaned forward slightly, his expression darkening. "You may think you're helping, but you're not. You'll only make things worse for yourselves."

"It is our concern. It's our safety."

"And the faculty wil be swiftly investigating this matter."

Sevan let out a slow breath, clearly biting his tongue. But Aiden wasn't ready to back down just yet.

"What if we already know something useful?" he asked, watching for any change in Sir Bernard's expression.

"Then you tell me or the Headmaster. Not Lopt. Not each other. And certainly not anyone else."

"How did you know we are friends with Lopt?" Sevan finally asked.

Sir Bernard didn't answer immediately. Then, with a sigh, he straightened and folded his arms behind his back.

"Because I know how you three are. And because you're predictable. It isn't really hidden knowledge that Lopt would recruit the students behind the blue incident."

That stung more than it should have.

"Look, you don't have to like what I'm saying, but you will listen," Sir Bernard continued. "For your own safety, stay out of this. Whatever happened to Savion and the girl is not something you want to get involved in. Do you understand?"

The silence stretched between them.

Aiden wanted to argue. He wanted to say that staying out of it wasn't an option. That they couldn't just ignore what they knew.

But Adrian was the first to break the silence. He let out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck. "Fine. We'll stay out of it."

Aiden turned to him in surprise. Sevan, too, looked thrown off by Adrian's easy agreement.

Sir Bernard narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. But after a long pause, he nodded. "Good."

He stepped aside, motioning toward the door. "Go get some rest. The Trials are still happening. Don't let yourselves get distracted."

They left the office without a word, the heavy silence between them stretching down the hall. It wasn't until they were outside in the cool night air that Adrian finally spoke.

"We're actually staying out of this?" he asked, his voice quieter than usual.

Sevan nodded. "Yeah. We are."

Aiden looked between them, expecting to see hesitation, but there was none.

"Why?" he asked. "Since when do you two listen to authority?"

"I listen. It's Adrian you should be asking that."

Adrian shoved his hands into his pockets and exhaled. "Because Sir Bernard's right. This is dangerous. And if we keep poking around, you're the one who's going to get caught up in it, Aiden."

Sevan nodded. "You're already involved more than you should be. If we push this any further, it might not be us that pays for it. It'll be you."

Aiden opened his mouth, then closed it.

They weren't wrong. And for once, they weren't joking or brushing it off. They were serious.

"Let's just focus on the Trials," Adrian said. "And keep an eye on things from a distance. But no more digging. Not unless we absolutely have to."

Aiden nodded slowly.

For once, they were going to stay out of it.