Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series - Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Keep An Eye On Your Dear Classmate Chapter 94: Keep An Eye On Your Dear Classmate The dormitory was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the floorboards as Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan slipped through the corridors.

The moon casted pale light through the windows, illuminating their path as they carefully avoided any noise that might alert the night patrollers.

Adrian, leading the way, glanced back at the two.

“I still don’t see why we need to be this careful,” he whispered.

“It’s just a meeting.” Sevan rolled his eyes.

“Yes, because sneaking out past curfew to meet a shapeshifting prankster in an abandoned classroom is perfectly normal.” Aiden hushed them with a motion of his hand as they entered the common room.

But just as they were about to cross it…

“Where are you three going?” The soft yet firm voice made them all freeze.

By the fire, curled up in one of the armchairs, sat Emmeranne.

The flickering flames cast shadows on her face, making her unreadable as she regarded them with dull, half-lidded eyes.

She was still in her dress from the feast, the deep blue fabric pooled around her as if she hadn’t bothered to change.

Adrian was the first to recover, flashing his usual easy grin.

“Ah, Emmeranne, fancy seeing you here.” Sevan nodded quickly.

“Yeah, what are you doing up this late?” Emmeranne raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

“I asked first.” Aiden crossed his arms.

“We were just… getting some air.” Her eyes flicked between the three of them, clearly unconvinced.

“At this hour?” Adrian shrugged.

“It’s the best time.

Peaceful, no one around to bother us.” A heavy silence hung in the air.

Emmeranne stared at them a moment longer before leaning back into her chair.

“Fine.

But if you get caught, it’s your problem.” Aiden narrowed his eyes.

“And what about you?” She turned her gaze back to the fire, her expression unreadable.

“I’m just enjoying the warmth.” None of them believed her, but neither did they press further.

After a tense pause, Emmeranne spoke again.

“Whatever you’re sneaking off to do, be careful.” Adrian grinned.

“Always.” With that, the three quickly made their way to the exit, feeling Emmeranne’s gaze on their backs the entire time.

The cold night air greeted them as they slipped out of the dormitory.

They had barely made it past the first corridor when Adrian suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Ah- fuck.

Wait.

I forgot the prank book.” Aiden let out an exasperated sigh.

“You’re kidding.” “Nope.” Adrian grinned, unbothered.

“I left it by my bed.

I need it, who knows what Lopt has planned?

What if he gives us an initiation test?

I need inspiration.” Sevan pinched the bridge of his nose.

“You’re impossible.” But despite their complaints, neither objected when Adrian turned back.

Begrudgingly, they followed him, retracing their steps into the dormitory common room.

However, when they stepped inside, something was off.

Emmeranne was gone.

The armchair where she had been sitting was empty, the fire still crackling gently, as if she had only just left.

Adrian frowned.

“That’s weird.

She was right there.” Aiden’s eyes scanned the room.

“Maybe she went to her room?” Sevan shook his head, staring at the abandoned seat.

“She didn’t even make a sound.

We were barely gone for two minutes.” Adrian hummed, then shrugged.

“Well, mystery for another time.

I’ll grab my book, and we’ll head out.” With Adrian’s prank book now secured under his arm, the three of them continued their journey through the dimly lit corridors, their footsteps barely making a sound against the stone floor.

The castle was eerily silent at this hour, save for the occasional creaks and distant echoes of the night.

“We should take the east staircase,” Aiden whispered as they reached a crossway.

“Less chance of running into a patrol.” Sevan nodded, but Adrian grinned.

“Or we could take the secret passage behind the old knight near the library.” Aiden narrowed his eyes.

“Since when do you know about that?” “Since I read the prank book.

It has a small note that says something about the library.

Obviously.” Sevan sighed.

“Fine, let’s go before someone actually catches us.” With careful steps, they slipped behind the knight armour and into a hidden passageway that smelled of dust and old parchment.

After a short walk, they emerged into another corridor much closer to their destination.

The abandoned classroom was at the far end of the hallway, its door slightly ajar, as if expecting them.

Aiden pushed it open cautiously, revealing a room shrouded in darkness.

Broken desks were scattered around, some missing legs, others stacked haphazardly against the walls.

A thick layer of dust covered everything, except for a single wooden table at the centre, completely cleared of debris.

And standing beside it, waiting, was Lopt.

Or at least, they thought it was Lopt.

He had taken on a different appearance- still wearing the same formal attire from the feast, but with a completely new face, one that none of them recognised.

“Ah, my newest candidates,” Lopt greeted cheerfully.

“I was starting to wonder if you’d gotten lost.

Or caught.

Or perhaps, betrayed.” His gaze flickered towards them, sharp and knowing.

Aiden felt a shiver down his spine, but Adrian only grinned.

“You’re really dramatic, you know that?” Lopt laughed.

“It’s part of the charm.” Then, he gestured to the cleared table and leaned forward, eyes glinting with mischief.

“Now then, boys.

Let’s talk business.” Lopt leaned lazily against the old wooden table, arms folded, his ever-present grin plastered across his face.

The candlelight flickered in the abandoned classroom, casting strange shadows on the cracked walls.

It should’ve been unsettling, but the way Lopt stood there, completely at ease, smiling like he was telling a joke, made it even worse.

“You see,” he began, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the wood, “this little meeting of ours isn’t just because I saw potential in you lot.” Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan exchanged glances.

There was something off about the way he said it, like too casual, too delighted.

“I had a friend,” Lopt continued.

“A little subordinate of mine.” He chuckled.

“Oh, what a bright one he was!

Full of tricks, just like me.

But more importantly, he was loyal.

And now?” He clapped his hands together with an eerie finality.

“He’s dead.” Silence.

Sevan’s throat felt dry.

“Are you talking about…” He hesitated, then finally said it.

“…Savion?” Lopt’s grin stretched wider.

His eyes gleamed with something unreadable.

“Ding, ding, ding!

Right on the mark.” Adrian frowned, shifting uncomfortably.

“You knew him?” “Knew him?” Lopt let out a sharp, amused laugh.

“He was one of mine.

One of us.” He tapped his own chest before straightening.

“Savion wasn’t just some prankster.

He was part of my exclusive little circle- the ones who knew exactly how to slip through cracks, how to listen in on the whispers that actually matter, how to make sure no one ever caught them doing it.” Aiden’s stomach twisted.

He had already suspected that Savion was more than he appeared, but hearing it confirmed from Lopt himself made it real.

“And now,” Lopt continued, his voice full of mock cheerfulness, “he’s gone!

Just like that.

Poof!” He spread his fingers, mimicking an explosion.

“Someone took him out.

And whoever did it?” He let out a low chuckle.

His grin remained, but his eyes?

His eyes were sharp and devoid of any light that contradicted with his cheerful personality.

“They’re going to pay.” Aiden felt a cold shiver crawl down his spine.

Lopt’s grin never wavered, but there was something deeply unsettling about the way he spoke, the way he carried himself.

Then, out of nowhere, Lopt tilted his head and asked, “So, about your classmate- Emmeranne.

What was she doing that night?” Aiden stiffened.

Adrian’s expression darkened, and Sevan frowned.

“What?” Adrian asked, his voice cautious.

Lopt leaned in slightly, resting his chin on one hand, eyes twinkling with something unreadable.

“Emmeranne, your dear, quiet classmate.

What was she up to the night Savion was killed?” Aiden exchanged a glance with Sevan, who looked equally thrown off.

“Why are you asking about Emmeranne?” Lopt let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as if they had asked something ridiculous.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.

My dear, dear initiates, you still don’t understand how this works, do you?” He gestured vaguely at the darkened classroom around them.

“Information is power.

And I, my friends, make it my business to know things.” “You know where Emmeranne was that night?” Sevan asked, wary.

Lopt shrugged, then flashed them a wider grin.

“I know a lot of things.

But I also like hearing what other people think they know.

So, I ask again- what was she doing that night?” Aiden narrowed his eyes.

“If you already know so much, why ask us?” Lopt clicked his tongue and wagged a finger at him.

“See, that’s the fun part.

I like to test people.

See what they notice.

What they don’t notice.” Then, leaning back against the table, he stretched his arms above his head before adding, almost lazily, “I’m always everywhere.

I can be anyone, anywhere, anytime.” The words sent an uneasy chill through the room.

Aiden felt his heartbeat quicken.

The implications of that sentence weren’t lost on him.

If Lopt could be anyone, if he could be anywhere…

just how much had he seen?

How much did he already know?

Lopt leaned back on the desk, twirling a quill between his fingers as he watched the three boys with sharp amusement.

“So?

Did you ask her?” he prompted, his voice light, playful, but with an edge of curiosity beneath.

Aiden crossed his arms, glancing at Adrian and Sevan before nodding.

“Yeah, we asked her.” Lopt’s grin widened.

“And?” “She dodged,” Aiden admitted.

Lopt let out a breath of laughter, shaking his head.

“Oh, that’s good.

That’s really good.” He set the quill down and leaned forward.

“You see, a person who dodges a question is far more interesting than one who lies.

A liar wants to deceive, but a dodger?

A dodger knows something.” Adrian raised an eyebrow.

“Or she just doesn’t want to entertain stupid questions.” Lopt flicked his gaze toward him and waggled a finger.

“Ah, but you don’t really believe that, do you?” Adrian shrugged but said nothing.

Sevan, who had been quiet for most of the exchange, finally spoke.

“You think she knows something about Savion’s murder?” Lopt hummed, resting his chin in his palm.

“I think she’s worth watching.

You say she’s always in the forest?” Aiden nodded.

“Yeah, we’ve seen her there more than once.” Lopt chuckled, sitting back again.

“Then let’s keep an eye on our dear classmate, shall we?

After all…” He spread his hands, eyes glittering with something unreadable.

“It would be such a shame if another one of my little friends ended up dead.”