Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series - Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Finding Lopt Chapter 98: Finding Lopt The next morning, Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan sat huddled together at their usual spot in the dining hall, their breakfast untouched.

Aiden leaned in, lowering his voice.

“We have to tell Lopt.” Sevan poked at his food with his fork.

“Right, because he’s such a reliable adult figure,” he muttered.

Adrian ignored him.

“We don’t have any solid proof, but if anyone can figure out what Emmeranne’s up to, it’s him.” Aiden nodded.

“And if he thinks she’s actually involved, he could tell the professors.” Sevan snorted.

“Oh yeah, I’m sure the guy who spent an entire night recruiting us into his exclusive society of mischief-makers will definitely run to the authorities.” Adrian scowled.

“What else are we supposed to do?

We need to know what’s going on.” Aiden sighed, resting his chin on his palm.

“Fine.

Let’s just find Lopt and-” He stopped mid-sentence, blinking.

Sevan frowned.

“What?” Adrian slowly lifted his head.

“Uh.

What does he look like?” Aiden and Sevan both froze.

Silence.

Sevan’s eyes widened in horror.

“Oh no.” Aiden stared blankly at the table.

“Oh no.” Adrian ran a hand down his face.

“Oh.

No.” For the first time since meeting Lopt, it hit them; they had no idea what he actually looked like.

Aiden exhaled sharply.

“Alright, let’s not panic.” Adrian pointed his fork at him.

“Not panic?

How are we supposed to find someone who can be anyone?” Adrian leaned back, looking thoroughly unpleased.

“So, let’s review.

We’re looking for a shapeshifter.

A professional shapeshifter.

Who has probably never shown his real face.

Who could be sitting right here in this dining hall under a completely different identity.” He clapped his hands together.

“Brilliant.

This will be so easy.” Sevan groaned.

“This is a disaster.” “Alright, let’s think,” Aiden rubbed his temples.

” We met him as Professor Mopsus, but obviously, that wasn’t his real form.

Then he was disguised as the officiator during Savion’s ceremony.

And, he was Headmaster Kairos for a few minutes.” Sevan let out a dry chuckle.

“So, unless we want to walk up to every professor and demand to know if they’re secretly Lopt, we’re out of luck.” “There has to be a way to find him.” Aiden thought for a moment.

“We know he has scouts, right?

His batchmates recognized his pranks.

Maybe we can ask them where to find him.” Sevan gave him a deadpan look.

“Yes.

Let’s go up to a bunch of highly-trained scouts- the same people who go on missions outside of Soleil- and ask them where their resident chaos gremlin is.

I’m sure that’ll go over so well.” Aiden sighed.

“Do you have a better idea?” Adrian opened his mouth, then closed it.

Sevan buried his face in his hands.

“This is impossible.” Aiden couldn’t help but agree.

They had spent the entire night becoming members of Lopt’s secret society, but now that they actually needed him… He was nowhere to be found.

Adrian tapped his fingers against the table, his expression thoughtful.

“Wait a second.

What about the guy in the abandoned classroom last night?

The one we were actually talking to?” Sevan blinked.

“You mean… that was his real form?” “Was it?” The three of them exchanged glances, trying to recall every detail of Lopt’s appearance from the night before.

Adrian huffed.

“I mean, he didn’t shift into anyone else while we were there.

He stayed the same.

Maybe that’s actually what he looks like.” “Oh, sure,” Sevan scoffed.

“Or maybe he was just keeping up another disguise.

Maybe we were talking to ‘Generic Mischief Maker #12’ and didn’t even know it.” Aiden drummed his fingers against the table, deep in thought.

“But think about it.

If he really wanted to mess with us, wouldn’t he have shifted at least once just to keep us on edge?” Adrian smirked.

“Oh, definitely.

If I had shapeshifting powers, I’d have made myself a different person every five minutes just to freak you both out.” Sevan shot him a flat look.

“And this is why you don’t have shapeshifting powers.

Besides, he shifted into us remember?” Aiden ignored them, his brow furrowing.

“What did he look like?” Silence.

Sevan and Adrian both hesitated before Sevan muttered, “Uh… brown hair?” Adrian nodded.

“Yeah.

And kind of messy.” “What else?” Another silence.

Sevan squinted.

“I think he had freckles?” “His eyes were sharp.

And he was grinning the whole time.

But, like… in a way that made you think he knew something you didn’t.” Aiden pursed his lips.

“That… doesn’t narrow it down.” Sevan groaned, leaning back.

“Great.

So we’re still at square one.” Adrian clicked his tongue.

“Unless we can find someone who actually knows what Lopt really looks like, we’re going to be running in circles.” “Then we ask the fourth years.

They groaned about his decorations.

That means they know him.” As the three wandered through the halls in search of a fourth-year, their focus was abruptly interrupted by a firm voice.

“Chase.

Caleena.

Wasterfall.” They all halted in their tracks, turning to see Professor Anwar standing behind them with his arms crossed.

His eyes flickered between them, unreadable as always.

Aiden instinctively straightened, forcing a neutral expression.

“Professor?” Anwar tilted his head slightly.

“Your answer?” Adrian blinked.

“Our what?” “The offer I made.” Aiden and Adrian exchanged a glance, neither of them recalling any recent ‘offer’ from the professor.

But then Sevan made a strangled noise in the back of his throat.

“Oh,” he muttered.

“Ohhh.” Adrian raised a brow.

“What?” Sevan gave them both an incredulous look.

“The detention thing.

You know, the totally normal and not at all suspicious secret training that he mentioned?” Realization dawned on Aiden and Adrian at the same time.

“Oh.” Anwar remained silent, watching their reaction.

Adrian cleared his throat.

“Right.

That.” He shot Sevan a side glance.

“Uh, did we actually… decide?” “Not really.” Aiden looked back at Anwar.

“What exactly would this training entail?” A small smirk tugged at the professor’s lips, though it was barely noticeable.

“If you accept, you’ll find out soon enough.” “You have until tonight.

Decide wisely.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked off, his presence fading into the sea of students passing by.

The three of them stood in silence for a moment, watching as Professor Anwar disappeared into the crowd.

“Well,” Adrian said, crossing his arms.

“That was unexpected.” Sevan exhaled through his nose.

“We forgot all about it.” Aiden nodded.

“Yeah.” He glanced between them.

“Should we say yes?” Adrian shrugged.

“I want to, but I also don’t want to agree without knowing what we’re getting into.” “Same,” Sevan hummed in agreement.

” It’s obviously some kind of advanced training, and I do want to get stronger, but I’d rather not walk into something blind.” Aiden tilted his head, considering.

“Maybe we can ask someone who’s done it before?” “Assuming anyone is even allowed to talk about it,” Adrian pointed out.

They mulled it over for a moment before Sevan sighed.

“I mean… we could just ask him directly.” Adrian snorted.

“Oh, yeah, that’ll go well.

‘Professor Anwar, can you please tell us every detail of your super-secret training before we agree?'” Aiden gave him a flat look.

“We can phrase it better than that.” Adrian smirked.

“I could.” Sevan rolled his eyes.

“I think we just need a little more information before we decide.

It’s not like we’re against it.” Aiden nodded.

“Yeah.

We just need to know what we’re saying yes to.” Adrian stretched his arms behind his head.

“Guess we’ll figure it out soon.

We only have until tonight, after all.” Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan had barely turned the corner when they found themselves face-to-face with Shiloh, Ambrose, and Lochan.

The moment their eyes met, Shiloh’s expression twisted with something between triumph and disgust.

“Well, well,” Shiloh drawled, crossing his arms.

“If it isn’t the school’s biggest troublemakers.

Out scheming again?” Ambrose and Lochan flanked him, their stances rigid.

Adrian scoffed.

“Move.

We don’t have time for whatever bullshit you’re about to say.” “You don’t have time?” Shiloh stepped forward, blocking their way.

“Then I’ll make this quick.

I know what you three have been up to.

Sneaking around at night, whispering about things you don’t want people to hear.” His gaze darkened.

“You think no one noticed?

You think no one saw?” Aiden narrowed his eyes.

“Saw what?” Shiloh let out a humorless laugh.

“You were always up to no good.

But now, it’s not just pranks and mischief, is it?

You were out the night Savion was murdered.” A cold weight settled over the three boys.

“You’re crazy,” Sevan said, voice steady but wary.

“Am I?” Shiloh tilted his head, his smirk sharpening.

“I know you’re hiding something.

And I will find out what it is.” His voice dropped lower.

“And when I do, I’ll make sure everyone knows exactly what kind of people you are.” Lochan crossed his arms.

“The teachers will listen if we tell them.” Aiden clenched his jaw.

They had nothing to do with Savion’s death, but the way Shiloh spoke, the way he twisted everything, made it clear he wouldn’t let this go.

“And,” Shiloh continued, “I’ll personally make sure to crush you during the Solstice Trials.

So whatever you’re plotting?

It won’t matter in the end.” Adrian’s usual smirk was gone, his fists clenched at his sides.

Aiden could see the way Sevan’s shoulders tensed beside him.

“Enjoy the rest of the day, boys,” Shiloh said, stepping back with a mock bow.

“You might not have many left.” With that, he turned, leading Ambrose and Lochan away, leaving Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan standing there, their tension simmering beneath the surface.