Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series - Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Masters of Subterfuge, Chaos, Havoc, Illusions, Espionage, and Fun Chapter 95: Masters of Subterfuge, Chaos, Havoc, Illusions, Espionage, and Fun Lopt clapped his hands together, the sound echoing off the dusty walls of the abandoned classroom.

His ever-present grin stretched wide, eyes gleaming like a fox that had just led three unsuspecting chickens straight into his den.

“Well, gentlemen,” he drawled, pushing off the desk and strolling toward them, “I do believe it’s time for the grandest moment of your lives.” Adrian crossed his arms.

“Oh?

And what moment is that?” Lopt spread his arms dramatically.

“Your official induction into the most elusive, exclusive, and extravagant secret society in all of Genvah.” He paused for effect before declaring, “Welcome… to M.S.C.H.I.E.F.” Sevan blinked.

“That’s… an acronym?” “But of course!” Lopt wagged a finger.

“Everything worth its weight in mischief must have a proper name.

Now, allow me to enlighten you.” He took a step forward, theatrically lifting a hand as if presenting something grand.

“Masters of Subterfuge, Chaos, Havoc, Illusions, Espionage, and Finesse.” Adrian let out a low whistle.

“That’s a mouthful.” “So, what exactly does this-” he gestured vaguely “-M.S.C.H.I.E.F.

do?” Aiden asked.

Lopt’s grin widened.

“Oh, my dear, dear friend.” He slung an arm around Aiden’s shoulders, much to the latter’s displeasure.

“We do what we do best- we disrupt the mundane, unravel the dull, and most importantly…” He leaned in, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

“We uncover secrets no one else dares to.” Sevan narrowed his eyes.

“Like Savion’s murder?” Lopt’s playful air didn’t fade, but there was something sharper in his gaze.

“Perhaps,” he said lightly.

“But you see, my dear recruits, M.S.C.H.I.E.F.

is more than just pranks and games.” He pulled back, spinning on his heel.

“It is about control.

Control of what people know, what they see, and what they believe.” Adrian smirked.

“Sounds like you’re trying to take over the world.” Lopt barked out a laugh.

“Oh, please.

Taking over is far too much work.

Influencing it, however?

Now that is where the fun begins.” Aiden exchanged glances with Adrian and Sevan.

The offer was tempting…

who wouldn’t want access to a network of secrets, tricks, and hidden knowledge?

But they also knew Lopt wasn’t someone to take lightly.

He was unpredictable, dangerous even.

And yet… Aiden exhaled, then nodded once.

“Fine.

We’re in.” Lopt’s grin stretched impossibly wider.

“Marvelous.” Then, with a dramatic bow, he declared, “Welcome to M.S.C.H.I.E.F., my dear apprentices.

I do believe we’re going to have so much fun.” Lopt leaned in closer, his eyes alight with mischief.

His grin stretched wide as he motioned for the three boys to come nearer, like he was about to reveal the world’s greatest secret.

“You know,” he began, his voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper, “that officiator during Savion’s ceremony?” Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan nodded warily, recalling the overly dramatic man who had stood at the podium, constantly dabbing at his nose and delivering a speech that somehow managed to be both grandiose and completely absurd.

Lopt tapped his own chest and smirked.

“That was me.” “What?” Adrian blurted, eyes going wide.

“That was you?” “No way,” Sevan muttered, staring at Lopt like he’d grown a second head.

Aiden closed his eyes for a brief moment, exhaling through his nose.

“Of course it was.” Lopt let out a chuckle.

“Oh, come on!

Who else would’ve given such a heartfelt speech while conveniently having a snot bubble hanging at just the right moment?” Adrian snapped his fingers.

“The snot!

That was you?

You did that on purpose?” “Obviously,” Lopt said smugly.

“I needed to sell the performance!

The audience eats up raw emotion.” Sevan groaned.

“And the water fountain incident?” Lopt clasped his hands together, his expression positively gleeful.

“Oh, my favourite part!

Sevan, my dear, you have no idea how long I had to set that up.

The moment I, ahem- the officiator- called for water and you oh-so-dutifully tried to conjure it…” He sighed dramatically.

“It was perfection.” Aiden frowned.

“You made Sevan mess that up?” Lopt waved his hand dismissively.

“I encouraged it.

A tiny nudge here, a little interference there, and suddenly…” He threw his hands up.

“A grand arc of water, flying from Sevan’s seat all the way to the front, smacking the poor officiator-me-right in the eye and forehead.” Adrian clapped a hand to his mouth, stifling his laughter.

“That… was planned?” Sevan groaned again, rubbing his temples.

“I knew something was off when I tried to control it.” “Mmm, yes, yes.

That was me.

You were a natural though.

Should consider theatre.” Aiden folded his arms.

“So you faked the voice, the tears, the whole thing?” “Every single second of it.” Lopt straightened, placing a hand over his heart in mock sincerity.

“I even wrote my own speech.

Had to make sure it was perfect.” The three boys exchanged glances, realization settling in.

No wonder the entire ceremony had felt slightly… off.

Lopt smirked, eyes gleaming.

“And that, gentlemen, was my greatest tribute to Savion Ilmari.” Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan stared at Lopt, still trying to wrap their heads around what he had just confessed.

“But…” Aiden frowned, crossing his arms.

“The scouts didn’t arrive for a few more days after the ceremony.

How were you even here?” Lopt tilted his head, his smirk never wavering.

“Ah, my dear Aiden, you underestimate my commitment to the craft.” He leaned back against the old wooden desk behind him, hands tucked casually in his pockets.

“I slip in and out of Soleil whenever I please.” Adrian narrowed his eyes.

“So you’re saying you’ve been sneaking back before the official return of the scouts?” “Exactly.” “Why?” Lopt gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his heart.

“What do you mean why?

Savion’s ceremony was the perfect opportunity!

A whole crowd, everyone watching, the somber mood just begging for a little… personal touch.” He waggled his eyebrows.

“Besides, do you think I’d miss an opportunity to say my own goodbye?” Aiden shook his head, still processing.

“And no one noticed?” “Not a single soul,” Lopt said smugly.

“Not the faculty, not the students, not even Headmaster Kairos himself.

Well… probably.

He’s always a tricky one to read.” Adrian whistled low.

“You’re insane.” “I prefer dedicated,” Lopt corrected, flashing them a grin.

“And now, my dear new recruits, you are part of something far greater than yourselves.” He straightened, throwing his arms open.

“Welcome to M.S.C.H.I.E.F.!” Aiden wasn’t sure what was more alarming- the fact that Lopt had managed to infiltrate the school unnoticed days before his official return, or the fact that he was so damn proud of it.

Lopt leaned in, eyes glinting with mischief.

“Oh, and by the way-about that exploding student prank?” Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan froze.

“…What?” Sevan said, eyes narrowing.

Lopt burst out laughing, slapping his knee.

“You lot should’ve seen your faces!

That was me.” Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.

Lopt raised an eyebrow.

“Not even a gasp of shock?

No ‘What?!

That was you?’ Nothing?” Adrian smirked.

“We already knew.” Lopt blinked.

“What.” Sevan shrugged.

“The fourth years told us.

Apparently, this isn’t the first time you’ve pulled an ‘exploding student’ stunt.” Lopt clicked his tongue, feigning disappointment.

“Tsk.

Tsk.

Tsk.

Ruining my dramatic reveal like that… Where’s the fun in that?” “You see, my dear new recruits, Savion and I had a very special book- a little tome filled with all our greatest hits, our magnum opuses of chaos.” He tapped his fingers together, eyes gleaming.

“And I highly recommend you find it.

Why?

Because whoever brings it to me personally wins a one-of-a-kind prize-an autograph from yours truly.” Adrian tilted his head.

“Like… this one?” He reached into his jacket and pulled out the prank book they had swiped from the library.

Lopt’s expression froze for a fraction of a second before it morphed into pure delight.

“Well, well, well!

My protégés are so efficient!

Already proving their worth!” He practically snatched the book from Adrian’s hands, flipping through the pages.

“Where did you find this?

Don’t tell me-you outsmarted a trap, bested a guardian, wrestled it from the hands of a rival prankster?” Adrian smirked.

“Nah, just found it in the library.” The moment those words left his mouth, Lopt’s entire demeanour shifted.

The grin didn’t fade, but his movements slowed.

His fingers traced the edges of the pages, his eyes dark with something unreadable.

“…The library?” he repeated, quieter this time.

Aiden and Sevan exchanged a glance.

“That’s strange,” Lopt murmured.

“It should have been with Savion.” The air grew tense, and for the first time since meeting him, Lopt didn’t look like he was joking.

Lopt’s eerie silence didn’t last long.

Just as the tension threatened to settle in, his grin returned, sharp and knowing.

He shut the prank book with a dramatic snap and tucked it under his arm.

“Well, my dear apprentices, it’s getting quite late, isn’t it?” he said, his usual playfulness slipping back into his voice.

“I’d hate for you to get caught sneaking around so soon after joining my illustrious ranks.

It’d be such a tragedy.”He reached into his coat and pulled out a folded parchment, twirling it between his fingers.

“So!

As a little welcoming gift-” he flicked it open and smoothed it out against the desk, revealing a detailed map of the school “-here’s a little something from yours truly.” Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan leaned in, eyes scanning the intricate lines and symbols drawn all over it.

“These,” Lopt tapped a few marked passages, “are the secret tunnels I’ve discovered over the years.

Some lead to hidden classrooms, some go who knows where- exciting, isn’t it?

But this-” his finger traced a particular route “-is the safest way back to your dorms, patrol-free.

Use it well.” “We are in the presence of greatness!

Thank you, master.” Adriad did a bow.

“Now off you go, before your perfect little reputations are ruined.” With that, the three took the map, exchanged glances, and quietly slipped out through the tunnels, leaving Lopt behind- still grinning, still watching.

After he knew that the three were out of earshot, Lopt hummed to himself and shapeshifted into Professor Ylang-Ylang.

“To what do I owe the pleasure, Emmeranne?”