Chapter 48 The Aftermath

The current time was 5:30 AM, and the sun was about to rise in a few moments, the instructor slowly regained his consciousness while the rest of the group was still unconscious. He groaned in pain as he attempted to sit up.

"Morning," I greeted him, hoping that he wouldn't notice the rest of the group still unconscious on the ground around us.

"What happened?" he asked, confusion and pain etched on his features.

"I'm not entirely sure," I admitted, gesturing at the destruction surrounding us. "There was a blinding flash of light and an explosion, and the next thing I knew, this was the scene."

The instructor's eyes widened in shock as he took in the carnage around us. Trees had been ripped from their roots, and the ground was littered with craters and debris. It was a miracle that we had all survived.

"When did you wake up?" he asked, his voice strained with pain.

"About an hour ago, I think," I replied.

"Did you suffer any injuries or feel uncomfortable in any manner?" the instructor asked, his gaze turning to me.

"None," I said. I shook my head, he was relieved that I was unscathed.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the ruined landscape, we stood amidst the debris of the night's chaos.

It was going to be a long day, with much to clean up and even more questions to answer.

We were soon interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. Guards wearing semi-military suits, masks, and helmets entered the clearing and immediately assessed the situation.

Xander took charge and instructed them to take the injured students to the infirmary for medical attention.

With swift and careful movements, the guards hoisted Sun, Ji-Ho, and Stella onto stretchers and carried them out of the clearing.

Xander continued to instruct them, "Ensure that the children receive a thorough medical examination and the best care possible at the infirmary."

"Yes sir," The guards responded in unison, as four of them took charge of the stretchers while the fifth offered assistance to me. However, I declined, and instead stood up on my own from the trunk of the tree.

I headed towards my dorm, the same place that was always in disarray. As expected, upon entering the apartment, I found a chaotic mess.

I made my way to my room and found Ruby and Remi sleeping peacefully, surrounded by empty cans and pizza boxes.

I couldn't help but shake my head at their lack of responsibility. I collapsed on my bed next to them, feeling the exhaustion of the day's events catch up to me.

Despite the mess and noise, I found myself drifting off into a deep sleep, comforted by the familiarity of my surroundings.

----[POV: Xander]

I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about Kael. He had been calm and collected despite being in a situation of panic, and it felt as if he was merely playing with us.

His actions were deliberate and calculated, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was truly human or if he was trying to be one.

It was clear that Kael was holding back a lot, and I couldn't help but wonder what kind of potential he was hiding.

It was as if he knew exactly what was going to happen as if entering hell was inevitable, and he was merely biding his time until the right moment.

He woke up before me, his clothes might be in a depraved state but he didn't have a scratch on his body. His voice never stuttered.

After ensuring that the kids were safe and none of them suffered a life-threatening injury, I exited the infirmary and teleported near the principal's office. I knocked on the door three times and in response, the principal's voice resounded.

"Come in"

I entered the office, and the principal was seated behind his desk, engrossed in some documents. He looked up at me and gave me a warm smile.

"Ah, Xander. How are the injured students?" he asked, his tone empathetic.

"None of them suffered life-threatening injuries, sir. They will be fine," I replied.

"That's good to hear. I have already received the reports from the infirmary. Now, tell me, what brings you here?" he asked, putting down his documents.

"I have some suspicions about Kael, sir. He is behaving suspiciously and I feel he is hiding something. I want to investigate further," I said, getting straight to the point.

The principal sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Xander, I understand your concerns. But I must remind you that Kael is a student here and has the same rights as any other student. We cannot accuse someone of something without proper evidence. Besides, Kael has been a model student and has never caused any trouble. I have complete faith in him," he said firmly.

"But sir, I have a feeling that something is not right. Kael is hiding something," I insisted.

The principal looked at me with a still expression. "Xander, I appreciate your dedication to your job, but you must understand that we cannot simply accuse someone without any proof.

We do not want to create unnecessary panic and suspicion among the students. I suggest you focus on your duties and leave the investigation to me. If there is any concrete evidence against Kael, we will take appropriate action," he said.

I nodded reluctantly, understanding that the principal was not going to budge on this matter.

"Yes, sir. I understand," I said.

"I understand your concern, Xander. But Kael has proven himself to be a valuable asset to our school. We cannot simply dismiss him based on unfounded suspicions," the principal reasoned.

"But what about the safety of the other students? If Kael is really hiding something, it could put everyone in danger," I argued.

"I assure you, Xander, we have taken measures to ensure the safety of all our students. Kael is no exception," the principal assured me.

"Just remember, Xander. Sometimes, things are not as they seem. Don't be too quick to judge," he added.

I nodded in understanding, but deep down, I knew I couldn't let my suspicions go just like that. I had to keep a close eye on Kael, just in case.

"Understood, Principal. I'll keep that in mind," I replied, bowing respectfully before leaving the room.

As I walked down the hallway, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. I knew I had to be careful and keep a close eye on Kael without raising any suspicion.

Over the next few days, I will make sure to observe Kael from a distance, taking note of his every move and interaction with other students.