Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series - Chapter 92

Chapter 92: The One Who They Call Lopt Chapter 92: The One Who They Call Lopt In the middle of his stride, Headmaster Kairos suddenly twisted his body, pushing off the ground with unnatural ease.

And not just a simple flip.

A full, soaring somersault through the air, arms outstretched like a performer in a grand spectacle.

Gasps erupted from the first years as the figure twisted midair, landing in a perfectly executed roll before springing back up into a cartwheel, then another, moving effortlessly across the hall like a trained acrobat.

The figure vaulted onto a table, balancing on one hand, and then, just for the sheer ridiculousness of it, launched into a backward aerial spin before finally landing in an exaggerated bow.

Silence.

Utter, stunned silence from the first years.

Aiden, Sevan, and Adrian were frozen in place, trying to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

“Did the Headmaster just-?” Aiden started, his voice weak with disbelief.

Sevan’s mouth was slightly open, his brow furrowed as if trying to process reality itself.

Adrian, for once, was speechless.

Then, as if nothing was out of the ordinary, a deep, amused voice called from the front of the hall: “Ah, Lopt.

As dramatic as always.” The real Headmaster Kairos stood there, his usual composed and mysterious self, completely unbothered by the spectacle.

Wait.

The real Headmaster Kairos?

Aiden turned sharply, looking between the man standing at the front and the acrobat still balanced on the table.

The first years exchanged frantic glances.

If Headmaster Kairos was over there… then who was this?

Just then, Sevan noticed a familiar face nearby- Anatole, the fourth year who had helped them during their first day.

Without hesitation, he grabbed the older student’s sleeve.

“Anatole, what is happening right now?” Sevan asked, his voice almost desperate for some form of logic.

Anatole, looking completely unbothered, merely sighed.

“Oh, right.

You lot wouldn’t know yet.” The first years leaned in.

Anatole tilted his head toward the figure on the table.

“That’s Lopt.” “We know that’s Lopt,” Aiden said, exasperated.

“Who is Lopt?” Anatole smirked, crossing his arms.

“Lopt’s the leader of the elite scouting team who went in Nilufer.

He’s a fourth year, but he’s been in the program longer than most.

And he’s got a rather unique talent- shapeshifting.” Sevan inhaled sharply.

“Shapeshifting?” Anatole nodded.

“Yeah.

So every time the scouts return, he pulls off this exact prank, shifting into the Headmaster and putting on some kind of ridiculous performance.

First years always lose their minds over it, but the rest of us are used to it.” Adrian looked delighted.

“I think I’m in love with this guy’s work.” The other first years, however, were still reeling.

Lopt, still balanced on the table, finally leapt down with a flourish, shifting mid-air as he landed, his form seamlessly morphing from the Headmaster’s tall, imposing figure to that of a lithe young man with sharp, fox-like features, dark curls, and an impish grin.

He stretched dramatically before giving the first years an exaggerated wink.

“Welcome to Genvah Academy,” he said cheerfully.

“You’ll never be bored with me around.” The Great Hall was still buzzing with disbelief.

Lopt’s grand entrance had left the first years speechless, while the older students were merely exasperated, their reactions more along the lines of not this again.

And at the front of the hall, standing right behind the podium, was the real Headmaster Kairos, utterly unfazed.

Rather than anger, his expression was one of amusement, his golden eyes gleaming with something that made it hard to tell if he was pleased or merely indulging a long-standing joke.

Lopt, still wearing his impish grin, straightened from his exaggerated bow and tilted his head at the Headmaster.

“Ah, you saw through me so quickly this time, Headmaster.” Kairos exhaled, though it sounded more like the sigh of a teacher dealing with a particularly gifted but exhausting student.

“I wonder why, Lopt.” Lopt gestured at himself.

“Perhaps because I make such a convincing you?” Kairos gave him an unimpressed look.

“Or perhaps because I was already standing here when you walked in.” The fourth and fifth years groaned again, and the younger students finally began to grasp that this was normal- Lopt arriving in the most ridiculous way possible, pretending to be the Headmaster, and Kairos barely reacting beyond a sigh.

Rupert whispered to Jarek, “Does he do this every year?” Jarek, still bewildered, turned to Anatole.

“Yes,” Anatole said flatly.

“Every single year.” Lopt placed a hand over his heart as if wounded.

“Oh, come now, don’t make it sound so predictable.

I keep things entertaining.” Kairos simply shook his head.

“You have been back for five minutes, and I am already reconsidering my decision to allow you back into the school.” Lopt smirked.

“Oh, please.

You love me.” Kairos gave him a long look before turning back to the students.

“For those who are unfamiliar, this-” he gestured toward Lopt, “- is Lopt Aouie, the leader of the elite scouting team.

And unfortunately, he is indeed ours.” Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan exchanged glances.

So this was Lopt.

The same Lopt who had orchestrated the exploding student illusion that morning, making the first years think a transfer student had died right in front of them.

The same Lopt who, despite supposedly returning from dangerous scouting missions outside of Soleil, had somehow found the time to decorate the hall with ridiculous banners and streamers announcing his own arrival.

The same Lopt who could apparently shapeshift with such skill that he had walked in as the Headmaster himself- and for a brief moment, had actually convinced people.

Or the first-years.

Aiden wasn’t sure whether he was impressed or deeply concerned.

Headmaster Kairos, however, had moved on.

“Classes were canceled today in honor of the scouts’ return,” he announced.

“And tonight, we celebrate.” At his words, the long banquet tables shimmered and filled with steaming dishes- roasted meats, golden-baked pastries, colorful fruit, and decadent desserts appearing in an instant.

Lopt clapped his hands together.

“Ah, yes.

Now I feel truly welcomed.” Kairos, still entirely unfazed but looked like he aged a few years, merely gestured for the students to eat.

Even the faculty looked tired.

Professor Ylang-Ylang, who had barely reacted when an “exploding student” had disrupted her class that morning, simply rubbed her temples.

Professor Flinders muttered something under his breath while absently opening and closing a small chrono pocket in his hand, as if debating whether to go back in time just to avoid this.

Mr.

Carp, the ever-stern physical education teacher, crossed his arms and exhaled sharply through his nose.

The only person who looked even remotely entertained- aside from Lopt himself- was Headmaster Kairos.

Not that he looked pleased, exactly.

But he was definitely amused.

Lopt leaned forward and spread his arms dramatically.

“Ah, dear faculty, I see you’ve missed me.

Your warm, enthusiastic welcome brings a tear to my eye.” Professor Ylang-Ylang, still rubbing her temples, merely sighed.

“Lopt, sit down before I turn you into a tree.” He gasped.

“A tree?

My dear professor, how cruel-” “One with no leaves,” she added, still not looking up.

Lopt immediately took a seat.

The students around them erupted into laughter, and Adrian leaned toward Aiden and Sevan, his eyes gleaming.

“I like him.” Of course, Adrian liked him.

Aiden was hardly surprised.

Rupert, on the other hand, still looked utterly lost.

“So… what is he?

A professor?

A student?

Chaos?” “Yes,” Jarek answered grimly.

Anatole, who was still nearby, sighed and muttered, “More like a force of nature.” Headmaster Kairos tapped the podium, bringing attention back to himself.

“Now that Lopt has completed his annual display of questionable talent, we may proceed with the evening.” Lopt gave an exaggerated bow.

“It is always an honor, Headmaster.” Kairos simply nodded, as if this was all routine, before addressing the students again.

“As I said earlier, tonight, we celebrate our scouts’ safe return.

Eat, drink, and enjoy.

But,” he added, his gaze sweeping across the room, “our intel revealed that Nillufer is moving close to our northern border.

And that means we must be prepared.” The hall fell into a heavy silence at that.

Even the laughter from Lopt’s antics faded.

The war.

It was easy to forget, sometimes, within the protected walls of Soleil.

But outside… the world was shifting.

Kairos allowed the silence to linger before his expression softened slightly.

“For now, however, let us welcome back our scouts.

They have worked hard.

They deserve this night.” Lopt, completely unaffected by the previous tension, clapped his hands.

“Ah, finally.” And just like that, the night began.