Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series - Chapter 90

Chapter 90: Scout’s Return Chapter 90: Scout’s Return Lunch was well underway in the Great Hall when an unexpected hush fell over the students.

The sound of heavy wooden doors creaking open reverberated through the room, followed by a distinct shift in atmosphere.

Conversations dwindled, the clatter of utensils softened, and all eyes turned toward the entrance.

Headmaster Kairos had arrived.

Unlike his usual, almost lazy stroll through the academy halls, today he walked with purpose, his deep green robes trailing behind him like the swaying leaves of an old oak.

His eyes behind his owl mask, alight with something both knowing and amused, swept over the hall, taking in the gathered students as if reading a story written across their faces.

Even without speaking, Headmaster Kairos had a way of commanding attention.

He stepped onto the elevated dais at the front of the hall, where the professors usually sat, and with a simple wave of his hand, silence settled like a spell.

“Good afternoon,” he greeted, his voice warm yet firm, carrying through the vast space with ease.

“I’ll keep this brief, as I know many of you are still eating.” A murmur of curiosity rippled through the students.

He wasn’t the type to interrupt a meal without good reason.

Kairos clasped his hands behind his back and smiled.

“As of this moment, all afternoon classes are cancelled.” A pause.

Then, an eruption of voices- surprise, excitement, and confusion bursting across the room like wildfire.

Kairos let the noise simmer before speaking again, his tone light.

“I see that some of you are pleased.

Others, curious.

Some, even wary.” His gaze flicked toward the more studious students who clearly didn’t like unexpected disruptions.

“Rest assured, there is a reason for this.” He tilted his head slightly, the golden rings in his ears catching the candlelight.

“The scouts, who have done their best to guard the border, are returning home tonight.” The shift in energy was immediate.

The older students-third years and above- exchanged knowing glances, while the younger ones, particularly the first years, sat in bewildered silence.

Aiden, who was seated between Adrian and Sevan, leaned slightly toward Ivara, who was finishing off her meal with the same composed air as always.

“What does that mean?” he asked in a low voice.

Ivara, unfazed, glanced at him before spearing a piece of fruit with her fork.

“The fourth years,” she said simply.

Aiden frowned.

“What about them?” “They go on scouting missions,” Ivara explained.

“Beyond the border.

Outside of Soleil.” Adrian, who had been listening, leaned forward slightly.

“Wait.

Scouting missions?

Where?” “For information on Nillufer.” That made Sevan look up from his plate.

“Nillufer?” he echoed.

“Why?” Ivara set down her fork, finally giving them her full attention.

“Because I hear Nillufer is moving.” Aiden didn’t like the sound of that.

A cold weight settled in his stomach.

He wasn’t as familiar with the political tensions in this world as the others, but he knew enough to understand that when a force like Nillufer started shifting, it wasn’t for anything good.

Especially when Professor Flinders, who would always nitpick him for not knowing the history of Soleil, would always tell them of Nillufer.

“And by moving, you mean…?” Adrian pressed.

“They’ve started heading north.” Aiden frowned at Ivara’s words, turning them over in his head.

“Moving north… That means Nillufer is trying to close the distance with Soleil, doesn’t it?” Ivara nodded gravely.

“Exactly.

If they keep pushing further, it means they’re growing more confident.

Or more desperate.” Adrian crossed his arms, watching the upper years as they murmured among themselves.

Some of them looked uneasy, others seemed deep in thought.

Whatever information the scouts had gathered, it was going to change things.

“Does this happen often?” Sevan asked.

“Scouting missions, I mean.” “Scouting, yes.

But not like this,” Ivara replied.

“Usually, they monitor the borders, check for movement, gather intel.

But for them to send scouts deep into Nillufer territory?

That’s different.

I hear the scouting team responsible for infiltrating Nillufer territory was the best of the fourth years.

The rest stay just by the border.” Amihan, who had been listening quietly, bit her lip.

“It must mean Nillufer is planning something big.” Aiden exchanged a glance with Adrian.

If Nillufer was making a move, it could change everything for Soleil.

And if they were closing the distance, it meant a conflict was coming- sooner rather than later.

Ivara sighed, her expression grim.

“If Nillufer is moving, it means war is inevitable.

It may not be tomorrow or next week, but it’s coming.

And if it’s coming, most of the fourth and fifth years will be called to reinforce the border.” A heavy silence settled over the group.

Adrian tapped his fingers against the table, eyes sharp.

“So they’re basically training us just to send us off to war?” “It’s always been that way,” Ivara said.

“Soleil doesn’t have the luxury of waiting until we’re fully trained.

When war comes, anyone who can fight will be sent to fight.” Amihan lowered her gaze.

“Even the ones who don’t want to?” “Even them.

That’s why they enforced the Top 10 System.

If by the time you are in your fourth year and get to stay without losing your spot, you are given a chance to withdraw from the war.” Aiden felt the weight of those words press against his chest.

It wasn’t just about classes or duels or whatever petty rivalries existed within the academy.

This was real.

They were training for something far greater, something far…

deadlier.

Aiden exchanged glances with Adrian and Sevan.

The weight of that statement was clear even to them.

Nillufer had always been a looming presence in the south, but if they were advancing northward, that meant trouble, possibly war.

The first years, still largely confused, continued whispering amongst themselves, trying to make sense of what was happening.

Meanwhile, at the front, Kairos observed them all with an expression of quiet amusement.

Then, as if sensing that their curiosity had reached its peak, he clapped his hands together once.

“That will be all,” he said, his voice effortlessly drawing attention back to him.

“You are dismissed.

Enjoy your afternoon.” And just like that, he turned and strode out of the hall, leaving nothing but an air of mystery in his wake.

As soon as the doors shut behind him, the room exploded into conversation.

Aiden furrowed his brows as the murmurs of students discussing the scouts continued to ripple through the hall.

His mind went back to what the older students had been whispering about earlier.

“The Lopt that the higher years were talking about…” he began, glancing between Ivara and Amihan, “is he related to the scouts?” Before either of them could answer, a girl he hadn’t noticed before slid into the conversation.

She had a scattering of freckles across her nose, big-rimmed glasses that slightly slipped down, and brown hair woven neatly into two braids.

“Oh, definitely,” she said, pushing up her glasses.

“Lopt is the leader of the elite scouting team.

He’s basically a legend.” Aiden, Sevan, and Adrian exchanged looks.

“Wait,” Sevan said, leaning in, “so the guy responsible for that whole exploding transfer student thing is the same guy leading the elite scouts?” The girl nodded eagerly.

“According to my cousin in third year, every time there’s a ridiculous prank involving a ‘new student,’ it usually means one thing- the scouts are back.

More specifically, Lopt is back.” Adrian exhaled, shaking his head in amusement.

“So the guy is off doing dangerous missions outside Soleil and still finds time to pull something like this the moment he returns?” The girl grinned.

“That’s Lopt for you.” Aiden, however, was still stuck on the first thing she said.

The leader of the elite scouting team… That meant he wasn’t just some mischievous student- he was someone with real experience, someone who had seen what lay beyond Soleil’s borders.

And if he was back, it meant the scouts had learned something.

Something big.

The girl adjusted her glasses again before offering a small smile.

“Oh, I should probably introduce myself.

I’m Collei Dracaena.” Aiden took in the name.

Dracaena… it sounded familiar, though he couldn’t quite place where he’d heard it before.

“I’m Aiden,” he replied, nodding in greeting.

“These two are Adrian and Sevan.” Collei’s grin widened.

“I know.

Everyone knows you guys.” Adrian raised a brow.

“That so?” She shrugged.

“Well, it’s hard not to when you’ve been at the centre of every weird thing that’s happened this term.

Especially of you being a Chase and all.” Sevan groaned.

“That’s not our fault.” Collei simply laughed before continuing, “Anyway, about Lopt, my cousin told me that whenever he returns, he and the scouts usually bring back some kind of big news.

The professors won’t say anything outright, but you can tell when something’s changed.

And with how serious everyone’s been lately, I’d bet anything that Nillufer’s movements have them worried.” “And if Lopt’s back,” Adrian mused, “that means the feast tonight might be more than just a celebration.” Collei nodded.

“It might also be a briefing for the upper years.

Especially the fourth and fifth years- since they’re the ones most likely to be called if things escalate.” That left the conversation in a heavy silence.

The implications of what she was saying were clear.

If Nillufer was truly moving north, Soleil’s defenses would have to tighten.

And if war was imminent… many students here wouldn’t be students much longer.