Frozen Flame of Dawn - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Chapter 13: The Ominous Broadcast_2

Lila hesitated. She saw the eagerness in their faces, the fragile optimism that refused to die despite everything. Her shoulders sagged. “Fine,” she relented. “We’ll try it. But only after the house is secure, and we’re safe in the basement. Until then, no risks. Got it?”

The siblings nodded, their fear momentarily forgotten as they threw themselves into action. The house soon buzzed with movement—cans clattering into bags, blankets dragged down the stairs, whispered reassurances passed between them. In the face of chaos, they clung to what they could control.

In a High Rise Apartment:

Three roommates sat in tense silence in a cramped apartment located in the center of the city. The broadcast’s stark warnings cast a somber shadow over the room as it was played on a holographic display.

“This is crazy.” Raj mumbled and paced, “Are you sure this is real? Spiritual Energy surges? Powers of magic? It’s only a joke.”

“It doesn’t feel like a joke,” Annie replied quietly. She sat cross-legged on the couch, her brow furrowed. “Why would someone fake something like this? It doesn’t make sense.”

“That’s the point of a prank.” Raj snapped, “To make you believe silly things.”

“Stupid or not, I think we should prepare,” their other roommate, Zoe, interjected. She stood by the window, staring out at the city below. “What’s the harm? We stock up, we try this cultivation thing, and if nothing happens, great. If it does… at least we’re not caught off guard.”

Raj scoffed but didn’t argue. Annie exchanged a glance with Zoe and nodded. They didn’t need unanimous agreement. They just needed action.

In a Remote Mansion:

Far from the chaos of the cities and towns, a sprawling estate stood surrounded by manicured gardens and high walls. Inside, Victor reclined in a leather chair, a glass of wine in hand. The broadcast played on a massive screen, but he barely glanced at it.

“Spiritual Energy surge? Cultivation? Utter nonsense,” he said as he sipped his wine. “This is just another scare tactic to get people to buy survival gear.”

“But suppose it’s not silly?” His wife, who was sitting next to him, frowned, “Vic, what if this is real?”

“No,” Victor cut her off. “We’re perfectly safe here. Let the fools panic. Nothing will happen.”

In the Slums:

Crowds gathered around makeshift screens in the crowded, crumbling alleys. Fear and hope mingled in equal measure. Few immediately began practicing the suggested cultivation methods, mimicking crude meditation poses.

Others got scared and stocked up on goods while fortifying their homes. Some people questioned the broadcast’s credibility. A lot of people thought it was just an attempt to scare people.

In the Forest Village:

There was no panic in the rolling hills of a remote village that was far away. Folks who used to live here, like hunters and farmers, were surprisingly calm about the broadcast because they were used to seeing strange things happen.

They had seen the changes in the world firsthand—the beasts in the woods growing larger and more dangerous. The villagers had noticed the unnatural energy that seemed to hum beneath the surface of the earth.

When the broadcast played on an old, crackling radio in the town square, the reaction was muted. While standing with his arms crossed, Torin, the village elder, looked grim but not shocked.

“We’ve felt this coming,” he said, his voice carrying across the gathered crowd. “We don’t need their warning to tell us what we already know. The surge is real. Prepare yourselves. Sharpen your weapons. Strengthen your minds. And meditate. Let the energy flow through you, not against you.”

The people in the village dispersed without a doubt, moving with the same level of composure and efficiency as individuals who had experienced innumerable storms in the past.

Located in a Secured Apartment:

A woman named Mira watched the show in a locked room. Her eyes were filled with hope and determination. She paid full attention to the part about the cultivation method. She repeatedly listened to it until she understood every word and instruction.

The calm yet imperative tone of the voice in the broadcast resonated with her, as if this could be the opportunity to transform everything.

As she got ready, her heart was beating fast. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, she closed her eyes and aligned her breathing to a rhythm she could almost feel in the air around her.It sounded like the method was absurd or even impossible. But something about it felt so real that she couldn’t resist the impulse to attempt.

She focused on herself and carefully followed the instructions. Slowly shutting out the sounds of the outside world, focusing on the faint feeling of energy moving through her body.

She imagined the flow of the spiritual energy as described, guiding it through her as if it were a tangible force. The minutes went by, and she stayed still the whole time. It felt like an hour.

After that, it happened. Initially, it was a small change that felt like a jolt under her skin. Her body tingled and her heart was beating fast. All of a sudden, she felt a wave of warmth that spread through her veins like light. She gasped and her eyes snapped open. The force of the feeling made her short of breath for a moment.

She stumbled to her feet, her hands trembling as a faint golden glow flickered at her fingertips. “It worked,” she whispered, her voice quivering with disbelief. Then louder, with rising excitement: “It worked!”

The glow was faint and fleeting, barely controllable, but it was there. She stared at her hands, exhilarated by the spark of possibility they held. This isn’t fake. It’s real, she thought, her heart pounding with expectation.

Although the effects didn’t show up right away, she could feel what was possible. If she kept training, she might be able to handle it properly.

Turning to the window, she gazed out at the city, her mind racing with plans. She pulled out her phone and started to order food, water, and anything else she might need. She decided to stay locked in her apartment, determined to master this strange new power in safety and isolation. Whatever was happening, she wouldn’t waste this opportunity.

There were thousands of scenes like the one in Mira’s room going on all over the world. People meditated in some places with great hope, eager to find the power they thought was inside them. In others, doubters ignored the message, but a quiet voice in their heads told them to be careful. Some people took to social media and started heated arguments, while others stayed out of the spotlight and got ready for the worst.

In the Monarchical Empire of Eryndor:

In the southwest of Eldoria, across the seas, in the huge, gothic halls of the Eryndor Empire, Emperor Alaric III watched the repeat on a screen that sparkled. The words of his council members could be heard resonating through the huge room.

“This reeks of conspiracy and manipulation, Your Majesty,” one advisor sneered. “How can we trust the word of a shadowed figure?”

The Emperor, however, raised his hand and made the room quiet. “Enough.” He spoke in a low but firm voice, “The surge is real. We’ve felt its effects already. Whether this broadcast is true or false, we cannot afford to dismiss it.”

“Mobilize the Royal Guard.” He turned to his generals. “Strengthen our borders and safeguard our citizens, as for cultivation method…” His gaze hardened. “Verify and send our Martial Masters to train those capable. The rest will fend for themselves.”

The advisors exchanged uneasy glances but bowed, knowing better than to argue.

In the Federation Capital:

Chaos broke out in the Federation government’s sleek glass towers. Analysts rushed to check the broadcast, and their pale faces showed that their satellite scan and instrument had picked up an odd spike in the energy field, which proved the forecast. Chancellor Helena Varn was in charge of the operations room, and her hand was clenched hard on the steel table.

“Get in touch with Defense Command.” She gave a sharp order, “I want all Energy-sensitive equipment to be strengthened and all military outposts to be on high alert.” She then asked her top scientist, “Is there any truth to these cultivation methods? Can we prepare our citizens?”

The expert thought for a moment, and sweat ran down his forehead. “Madam Chancellor, the cultivation method match what we know so far about how Spiritual Energy works with other things. But using them on a large scale…” It was clear what he meant when he stopped talking. They did not have enough time.

“Do what you can,” Helena snapped, her gaze steely. “And prepare an emergency meeting. We need to discuss before this turns into a disaster.”

*****

With a quiet hiss, the elevator doors shut, leaving Aiden and Tommy alone in the small elevator space. The awkward, heavy, and unsaid silence between them was out of character. Aiden leaned against the mirror wall and crossed his arms. Tommy stood stiffly and looked at the bright floor numbers.

It was Tommy who broke the silence, his voice unusually serious. “What do you think? Your lady friend involved in this?”

A slight smirk formed on Aiden’s lips as his brow raised. “Lady friend? Really?” he drawled.

Tommy shrugged but didn’t take the bait. “You know what I mean.”

Aiden’s grin faded away, and he looked at me with serious eyes. He didn’t need to be told; he already knew. “It’s definitely her,” he said, his voice becoming softer and more dejected. “I could tell her voice from anywhere.”

He ran a hand through his dark hair, exhaling deeply. “I don’t know what her full agenda is or what she plans to gain by this, but one thing’s clear—she wanted the public to know about the danger.”

Tommy snorted, crossing his arms. “Still defending her, huh? Thought you’d be more… I don’t know, judgy. Against her. But you’re not. Why?”

Aiden looked at him, but his expression couldn’t be read. He didn’t directly answer. But he understood in his heart why. Things that were said on the broadcast were too accurate to be made up, and the warnings fit with the changes he had already seen in the world.

When the elevator bell rang, the doors slid open to show the hall that led to the conference room. Aiden was the first to walk outside, and Tommy was right behind him. Their boots squeaked on the shiny floors.

The atmosphere in the conference room was suffocating, a mix of tension and anticipation so thick it felt like a living thing. The room was already full, with murmured conversations bubbling across the long, oval table at the center. Aiden’s sharp eyes scanned the room, taking in the faces.

At the head of the table, Chancellor Helena Varn sat composed, her piercing gaze locked on her notes. Her chief guard stood behind her, stoic and unyielding. To her left, Vice-Chancellor Rienfeld leaned toward a cluster of advisors, whispering in hushed tones.

On her right, Minister Abbott was in a heated yet muted argument with a younger delegate, his hands gesturing wildly as his voice barely stayed below a shout.

Aiden and Tommy found their seats toward the middle of the room. Just as Aiden settled in, Tommy leaned over, his voice low. “Bet ten credits Abbott’s going to lose it and yell before this meeting’s over.”

“Make it twenty,” Aiden replied dryly. “And don’t count on it. He’s predictable, but not that predictable.”

Before Tommy could reply, the spokesperson, a wiry man with a perpetually stern expression, stood and tapped the microphone. The murmurs died down almost instantly as every pair of eyes turned toward him.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the spokesman said first, his voice clear and strong. “thank you for coming on such short notice. This meeting has been called under emergency protocol. Chancellor Varn will now address the purpose of this assembly.”

He stepped aside, gesturing to the Chancellor. All eyes shifted to her.

Helena Varn stood slowly and moved carefully. She was a woman who got people’s attention without speaking out loud. Just being there was enough to stop any whispers. She put her hands on the table and leaned forward a little as she looked around the room.

“We are at a crossroads,” she began, her voice calm but heavy with meaning. “The broadcast you all saw—or have undoubtedly heard about—cannot be ignored. Its content, regardless of its origin, has already sent shockwaves across the globe. Panic is spreading. Questions are rising faster than we can answer them. And most importantly…” She paused, her gaze hardening. “Most of those warnings have been just verified by experts now.”

A ripple of reaction swept through the room. A few gasps escaped, and low murmurs began to bubble up. Ministers shifted uncomfortably in their seats, while advisors exchanged wary glances.

Aiden, seated toward the middle of the room, didn’t react outwardly. His face remained a mask of indifference, but internally, he braced himself. Of course, it aligns, he thought. This was inevitable.

Helena straightened, her voice rising slightly, commanding attention once again. “We cannot dismiss this as a mere fabrication,” she continued. “Whether the broadcast is the work of an independent actor or an orchestrated group, the information it contains poses a threat we must address immediately. If the warnings are accurate, the implications are clear. And if this is part of an effort to expose the incidents we’ve tried to manage discreetly—”

“—or cover up,” someone muttered under their breath, though not loudly enough for Helena to acknowledge.

“—then we must prepare for the fallout.”

Before Helena could continue, Vice-Chancellor Rienfeld leaned forward, his voice cutting through the room. “With all due respect, Chancellor,” he began, a tinge of frustration in his tone, “are we seriously entertaining the idea that this cryptic broadcast could be legitimate? It sounds like little more than calculated fearmongering to me.”

Minister Abbott turned sharply, his expression sharpening like a blade. “And you’re certain of that, Vice-Chancellor?” he shot back. “Because the Chancellor just said the warnings align with our own data. Or are you dismissing that too?”

Rienfeld scoffed, his tone dripping with condescension. “Coincidence. Anomalies can be explained in simpler terms, Minister.”

“Enough,” Helena said, her tone icy, her words slicing through the tension. Instantly, the room fell silent. “This is not the time for petty arguments. We are not here to debate whether the broadcast is true or false. We are here to decide how we respond to the possibility that it is.”

Aiden leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his gaze flickering between the arguing officials. He wasn’t paying attention to their bickering—not really. His thoughts were elsewhere, replaying the broadcast in his mind. Whatever her reasons, she’d stirred the hornet’s nest, and now they were all in the thick of it.

Tommy nudged him with an elbow, pulling him out of his thoughts. “You good?” he whispered.

Aiden gave a curt nod. “Yeah. Just… thinking.”

Tommy smirked. “Bet you’re thinking about her.”

Aiden didn’t respond, though the flicker in his eyes was answer enough.

The room grew louder again as Rienfeld raised his hand, demanding the floor. “If we’re discussing possibilities, then we must consider this: the rogue group behind the broadcast may very well be the member of the disbanded Phoenix Unit.”

The name dropped like a stone into still water. The murmur of voices surged into loud whispers and heated exchanges. Faces turned toward one another in disbelief, some skeptical, others visibly alarmed. Aiden’s posture stiffened ever so slightly, but he kept his expression neutral.

Minister Abbott was the first to speak, his voice sharp with denial. “You’re grasping at straws, Vice-Chancellor. The Phoenix Unit was disbanded a year ago, and Captain Amira—” He gestured pointedly. “—was detained. You oversaw it yourself, if you remember.”

Rienfeld didn’t flinch. “I remember it well, Minister. Which is why this situation is even more concerning. Our surveillance on some former Phoenix Unit members has turned up anomalies. Many have gone missing from their posts in the last few days. And,” he added, raising his voice over the growing murmurs, “we’ve lost communication with the detention center where Captain Amira was held.”

The murmurs swelled into outright debates, voices overlapping as disbelief and suspicion collided. Aiden’s jaw tightened, though he kept his eyes forward. Of course she’s involved, he thought. Who else could pull something like this off?

Helena raised her hand, silencing the room with a single commanding gesture. “Enough,” she said, her voice firm. “This is not the time to assign blame or speculate on responsibility. We can assign that task to an investigation team later. For now, our priority is clear: we need every department on high alert.”

She turned her gaze to the Defense Minister. “Intelligence teams will trace the broadcast’s origin. Defense units must begin preparing for a potential Spiritual Energy surge. And the communication team,” she added, looking toward the press secretary, “must work to manage public perception. This is our reality now, and we have no choice but to face it head-on.”