Whims of a Quiet Dreamer

Chapter 39: Retaliation

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the town. Inside the café, Sithu and Jaren sat in silence, their minds racing with thoughts of what the festival had uncovered. The Krevathians were not backing down; if anything, they were growing more brazen.

"We need to act fast," Jaren said, breaking the silence. He slid a report across the table, his face lined with concern. "I've been tracking some unusual activity in local businesses. It's subtle, but they're influencing decisions from the inside—spreading their influence quietly."

Sithu nodded, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the pendant around her neck. She could feel a faint pulse from it, a warning. "They're not retreating. They're gathering strength for something bigger. I can feel it."

"They know we're onto them," Jaren added, lowering his voice. "This time, they're going to strike at us where it hurts. They'll go after the people we care about, places we feel safe."

As if on cue, Sithu's phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw a message from one of her colleagues at school. Strange things happening today. The kids are acting different. Be careful.

"I need to check on the school," she said, standing quickly. "If they're targeting the students—"

"We'll go together," Jaren interrupted. "They're trying to corner you. I won't let you face them alone."

As they left the café, Sithu's nerves tightened like a coiled spring. The town, which had felt so familiar and comforting, now seemed shrouded in tension. Every shadow, every distant sound, could be a Krevathian waiting to strike.

At the school, the atmosphere was unsettling. The usually vibrant halls were quiet, too quiet. Sithu felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as she made her way to her classroom, her senses alert for any sign of danger.

Suddenly, a blur of movement in the corner of her eye made her spin around. A Krevathian, disguised as one of the staff members, lunged at her, eyes gleaming with malevolent intent.

Sithu dodged just in time, her heart pounding in her chest. "Jaren!" she shouted, as she used her powers of justice to dispel the illusion surrounding the Krevathian. The figure twisted and contorted, revealing its true monstrous form.

Jaren appeared moments later, eyes wide as he saw the confrontation. "Time to go!" he yelled, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the exit. But just as they reached the door, everything around them slowed. The Krevathian had used a new tactic—manipulating time itself.

Sithu's heart raced as she struggled to move, her body feeling like it was trapped in molasses. The Krevathian grinned, advancing slowly, savoring its advantage. "You can't outrun time, little Nymbrelan," it hissed, the words echoing in the distorted air.

But Sithu's sense of justice burned brighter than ever. With a surge of willpower, she broke through the time manipulation, shattering the illusion and catching the Krevathian off guard. She seized the moment, using her power to push it back, weakening it.

Jaren, free from the time grip, lunged forward, throwing a nearby object to distract the creature. Together, they forced the Krevathian into retreat, but not before it left them with a chilling message: "You won't be so lucky next time. Our leader is coming for you."

The weight of the words hung heavy in the air as the Krevathian disappeared into the shadows. Sithu's breath came in ragged gasps, her body trembling from the encounter.

"Time manipulation," Jaren muttered, running a hand through his hair. "They're getting more dangerous by the day."

Sithu nodded, her thoughts racing. "And now we know their leader is close. This was just the beginning."

Jaren looked at her with determination in his eyes. "We'll be ready. Whatever they throw at us next, we'll face it head-on."

But as they left the school, a sense of unease lingered. Sithu knew that the next battle would be unlike anything they'd faced before. The Krevathians were escalating, and the leader's arrival would bring a storm that could tear their world apart.