Professor Healer

Episode 6: A Siren's Silent Spell

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San Gabriel was buzzing with excitement. The small town, usually content with its peaceful pace, was now in a frenzy over the sudden announcement: Marina, the rising pop star, was holding a pop-up concert right in their midst. Flyers had gone up overnight, posters plastered on every available surface, and the local radio stations played her hit single on repeat. To many, it felt like the biggest event that had ever happened in their sleepy town.

Even Lucas couldn't avoid the chatter. In the daycare, the kids were talking about nothing but Marina. During art time, instead of drawing their usual stick figures and animals, most of the children had taken to sketching their favorite pop star. It was Tyler who got the ball rolling, with his enthusiasm infecting the rest of the group.

"Are you going to the concert, Mr. Lucas?" Tyler asked, his face practically glowing with excitement.

Lucas smiled, ruffling the boy's hair. "I don't know, Tyler. I think concerts are more for you kids."

"But everyone's going! Even my dad said he wants to see Marina live! She's, like, super famous," Tyler replied, eyes wide.

Lucas, sensing something strange, listened closely as the other children joined in.

"Yeah, my mom said we're going too! I got a Marina shirt yesterday," one of the girls chimed in, proudly showing off her new merchandise.

"My big brother said her voice is magical," added another child, his tone almost dreamy.

Lucas felt a chill crawl up his spine. Magical. That word lingered in the air. Could this be more than just the admiration of a pop star? He couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. The timing was too coincidental, especially after their recent battle with the mysterious plague.

Later that afternoon, when all the children had left, Lucas caught up with Ericka as she was preparing to leave for the day.

"Have you heard about the concert?" Lucas asked, leaning against the doorway of the daycare.

Ericka, who was fixing her hair in a messy bun, turned to face him. "Heard about it? You'd have to be living under a rock not to. It's all anyone talks about. Even my Kuya is going, and he's the type who thinks listening to any music after 2005 is 'too mainstream.'"

Lucas chuckled but then grew serious. "I'm not sure we should dismiss it. I think there's more to this than just a simple concert."

Ericka paused, narrowing her eyes. "You're thinking Marina's tied to... you know, the Bathalumans?"

Lucas nodded. "I can't be sure. But something feels off. The way everyone is suddenly obsessed with her, the timing of her appearance right after we dealt with the children's plague... it's too much of a coincidence."

Ericka sighed, crossing her arms. "Alright, healer boy. What's the plan? We gonna sneak in and do some super-sleuthing at this concert?"

Lucas grinned. "Something like that. We should go and observe. See if we can pick up on anything unusual."

"Fine," Ericka said, her voice laced with reluctance. "But if we don't find anything, I'm officially declaring you paranoid."

The day of the concert arrived, and the excitement in San Gabriel reached a fever pitch. The town square had been transformed into a makeshift concert venue. Bright lights illuminated the stage, and vendors lined the streets, selling all kinds of Marina-themed merchandise—posters, shirts, plush toys, you name it. The air was electric with anticipation, and the crowd that had gathered was larger than anyone had expected for such a small town.