GUARDIANS

X. A Glimpse of the Enemy

Dorm Room

Hearing about what had happened to the boys, Ayva and Faith were instructed to stay in their dorm room until Elliott and Wynter returned. The five hours they spent waiting were agonizingly slow, filled with restless pacing and uneasy silence.

Finally, the sound of the door opening shattered the stillness.

"Elliott! Wynter!" Ayva called out, rushing toward them. Her face was a mixture of relief and anger. She raised her hand, clearly intending to slap some sense into them, but Elliott raised his hand, and a subtle gust of wind stopped her mid-swing.

"We don't need you to slap our faces," Elliott said firmly. "We're fully aware of what happened."

"You made us worry!" Ayva scolded, her voice shaking with both frustration and concern.

"But it doesn't matter now," Faith interjected, her calm demeanor attempting to defuse the tension. "You're here. You're safe. That's all that counts."

Wynter sighed heavily as he walked further into the room, placing his umbrella on the table with deliberate slowness. "So that's it then?"

"What do you mean?" Faith asked, her gaze narrowing as she noticed the weight in his tone.

The girls exchanged confused glances as they waited for one of the boys to explain.

Elliott cleared his throat awkwardly. "The professors told us to stay safe while they investigate."

"'Stay safe' how?" Ayva asked, crossing her arms and looking at him expectantly.

Wynter leaned against the wall and rubbed his temple, clearly frustrated. "They want us to—"

"Focus on studying and improving our team strength," Elliott interrupted, cutting Wynter off with a pointed glance. "There's no need to worry. We've got the most experienced and capable Guardians in the school looking into it. No villain can get through them. What happened earlier? It was an anomaly—Wynter and I just happened to be there at the wrong time."

Wynter shot Elliott a sharp look, but he remained silent.

"If that's so..." Ayva's tense expression softened, and she broke into a relieved smile. "You boys should get some rest! Come on, Faith." She grabbed Faith by the wrist, tugging her toward the door.

Faith hesitated, her eyes lingering on the boys as if sensing there was more to the story, but she allowed Ayva to lead her out.

As the door closed behind them, the lighthearted atmosphere Ayva tried to create vanished.

"What a move, leader," Wynter said bitterly, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Elliott sighed, running a hand through his hair. "If we told them everything, it would only complicate things and risk the professors' investigation."

"And you think hiding the truth is better?" Wynter crossed his arms and leaned against the ladder of their bunk bed.

"What are you trying to say?" Elliott asked, his voice tightening.

"You know exactly what I'm saying," Wynter shot back. "That cult has been after the Magnum Clan for years. This wasn't random."

"Ayva has been through enough—"

"Ayva has to stand up and face this."

"She's not ready, Wynter," Elliott snapped, his voice rising. "Not yet. That's why we need to focus on training and getting stronger. Until she's ready, we'll carry the burden."

"And when the enemy strikes before we're 'strong enough'? What then?" Wynter challenged.

"That won't happen," Elliott replied firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.