Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series - Chapter 139

Chapter 139: Orchestral Sumphony [4]
Aiden followed Emmeranne through the crowd, weaving past clusters of students who were still buzzing about Lopt’s match and was waiting for the next to start.

As he walked, something made him glance back. Maybe it was instinct, or maybe it was the lingering feeling of unease that had settled in his chest.

He turned his head, searching the stands for Adrian and Sevan.

They had been sitting in the same spot for a while now, Adrian undoubtedly still basking in the chaos while Sevan probably looked ready to disappear into the floor to avoid further association. It only took a moment to find them. Adrian was gesturing wildly about something, his face full of amusement, while Sevan sat next to him, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed by whatever ridiculous conversation was happening.

“Where’s Professor Anwar?”

Aiden let out a breath and turned back, only to find nothing.

Emmeranne was gone.

He stopped in his tracks, scanning the space ahead of him.

Just seconds ago, she had been walking right in front of him, her dark silhouette unmistakable against the shifting crowd. Now there was no trace of her.

Aiden’s stomach twisted. He furrowed his brows and took a step forward, glancing around. Had she walked ahead too fast? Taken a different path? No, that didn’t make sense. She had been leading him somewhere.

Silence.

Aiden turned in place, expecting to catch a glimpse of her somewhere among the students. He checked left, right- he even took a few steps back to see if she had somehow ended up behind him. But the more he searched, the clearer it became.

She was gone. Completely.

Not thinking much, Aiden carried on on his own, weaving past students until he spotted Professor Anwar near the edge of the arena grounds, deep in conversation with Sir Bernard and Professor Pippa. The three of them stood in a tight semi-circle, their expressions serious.

For a moment, Aiden hesitated. There was no urgency in their posture, no indication that the professor had been searching for him. But still, he pressed forward.

“Professor,” Aiden said as he approached.

Anwar turned to him, his eyes flickering with curiosity. “Yes, Mr. Chase?”

“You were looking for me?”

Anwar blinked. “Was I?”

Aiden felt his stomach drop slightly. He had expected confusion, but not outright denial.

“Emmeranne told me you needed to see me,” Aiden clarified, his words careful. “She came to me during the matches and said you were looking for me.”

At this, Anwar’s brows drew together. “What did you just say?”

“Emmeranne told me to follow her,” Aiden repeated. “She said you were looking for me.”

Silence stretched between them.

Then, Anwar exhaled slowly before turning to Sir Bernard and Professor Pippa. “Excuse me,” he said smoothly. “I’ll be borrowing Aiden for a moment.”

Neither professor questioned him, though Professor Pippa gave Aiden a passing glance before nodding in understanding.

Without another word, Anwar gestured for Aiden to follow him, stepping away from the gathering.

Aiden fell into step beside him, his mind racing.

The echoes of battle still reverberated through the modified colosseum-like arena as Aiden followed Professor Anwar down the stone hallways. The further they walked, the more distant the roaring crowd became, replaced by the rhythmic tapping of Anwar’s boots against the polished floors.

“Are you available for the remainder of the day, Mr. Chase?” Professor Anwar’s voice cut through Aiden’s thoughts.

Aiden blinked.

“I don’t have anything to do aside from watching the matches. Why?” he replied, his tone careful. “Professor?” he added.

Anwar continued walking without looking at him. “The Headmaster has requested your presence.”

That made Aiden slow his steps slightly. He narrowed his eyes, studying the professor’s posture.

“The Headmaster?” Aiden repeated, glancing back toward the stands where Adrian and Sevan were probably still watching the duels.

“Did he say why?”

“If he had provided one, I would have conveyed it to you. I was only given instructions to bring you to him. That is all I know.”

Aiden frowned. He wasn’t sure if that made him feel better or worse.

“Then-” he hesitated, before trying again. “Can I at least let my friends know where I’m going?”

Anwar finally turned to look at him, his eyes sharp yet not unkind. “It will not take long,” he said. “There is no need to worry them.”

Aiden clenched his jaw but didn’t argue.

Professor Anwar’s words weren’t untrue. The Headmaster wouldn’t call for him without reason, but at the same time, it didn’t seem like something that would take up his entire day.

Yet, there was no point in resisting. The best thing to do now was follow along and see what the Headmaster wanted.

With one last glance toward the stands, Aiden took a deep breath and nodded.

“Alright,” he said. “Let’s go.”

Without another word, Anwar led him deeper into the corridors, heading toward the Headmaster’s office.

Aiden walked a step behind Professor Anwar, his thoughts twisting into knots.

He glanced at the professor’s back, debating whether to voice his thoughts.

Clearing his throat, Aiden finally asked, “Professor, did you really send for me?”

Anwar didn’t break stride. “No, I did not.”

Aiden narrowed his eyes. He had expected that answer, but hearing it aloud made his pulse quicken.

“Then why are we going?”

“If it was Miss Emmeranne who told you that I was looking for you, then I suspect it must be important,” Anwar said evenly. “I would rather not dismiss the possibility without further inquiry.”

Aiden hesitated before his next words. His heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stay composed.

“Am I allowed to speak freely?”

Anwar gave him a brief glance. “Within reason.”

“If I say something- something that’s just a theory but backed a bit- would you get mad?”

Anwar stopped. The professor studied Aiden with quiet intensity, but he didn’t seem angry.

“That depends entirely on what you intend to say,” he replied. “But I am listening.”

Aiden swallowed. This was it.

“…I think Emmeranne might have killed Savion.”

A long silence stretched between them. Anwar’s face was unreadable, but Aiden saw the slight tightening of his jaw. Then, without a word, Anwar turned his head and subtly scanned the corridor around them.

When he spoke again, his voice was quieter.

“Where is this coming from?”

Aiden exhaled slowly. “When we were… lost, me and Adrian and Sevan saw Emmeranne went outside. We tried to follow her but she closed the entrance before we could walk through. The next day, Savion was found dead. Then Lopt was saying something about how Emmeranne is suspicious and then it all checks out since she’s always outside and why is she outside?” He gestured vaguely toward the path ahead.

“Something isn’t right and I thought Lopt told the Headmaster but clearly not since Emmeranne is still here and I feel like she’s targeting me since she’s always there when something bad happened and maybe she’s with that Kairos guy during my fight.”

Anwar said nothing for a moment, then turned on his heel.

“Come,” he ordered. “Hurry.”

Aiden didn’t need to be told twice. He followed swiftly, the professor’s urgency only confirming his own unease.