Chapter 56: The Cloaked Person (1/2)

Wait for a second...

Now that I look more closely, the whole school is not on fire.

Actually, our school has separate buildings for different functions and activities, and the only one which is burning right now is the administration block. Other buildings look perfectly okay.

As I move closer, things start to get even clearer to me.

Damn... The damage seems really high...

Its walls are charred black, the windows are broken, and huge, uncontrolled flames are licking the whole building.

As I enter the school premises through the front gate, I spot many firefighters working with the help of fire engines, desperately trying to calm down the raging fire... though without any success yet.

How did this even—

Suddenly, I feel a strong pat on my shoulder.

“Those guys think that someone purposely started the fire...”

And a familiar voice speaks to me.

I look sideways and find Ryan standing next to me with a slightly awed face.

“Someone purposely did it? Really? Did they caught them on camera or something yet?” I ask curiously.

“Nah, there are just speculating. I asked one of the firefighters who was lazing around and he said that there was, at least no chances of a short circuit,” Ryan answers.

“Oh, and was anyone inside when it happened?” I ask importantly.

Things will escalate to another level if someone got injured or worse, died from this.

“Nah, it was empty at that time. It’s just the property loss...” He tells me.

“Hmm... I guess it’s not as bad as it could have been then. Anyway, it’s really rare for you to come to school this early. Don’t tell me you got kicked out of the house...” I say.

“What? Why would I be kicked out of my house?” Ryan asks, confused.

...because it happened to me and you are my buddy?

Sigh

“Never mind, so, how come you are so early?” I ask again.

“What do you mean? I am early for the exact same reason you are. In fact, the reason all of us are...” he answers while gesturing me to turn around.

I look back and to my surprise, see numerous students gathered around the front of the main school building. While most of them are staring at the burning building, some seem like they have lost interest in it and are simply chatting with each other.

“Why are so many people early!?” I ask, shocked.

“Hmm? You seriously don’t know? Obviously because of the core stones...” Ryan answers while tilting his head a little.

“Because of the Core stones?”

“Yeah, everyone thinks that they can select the better-quality core stones if they arrive early,” Ryan says while shrugging.

“Does their quality differs?” I ask, growing a little concerned.

“Who knows? It might. Anyway, it’s not like there is any loss in just coming early for once, is there? And fortunately, they are not even canceling school today because of this fire. Well, only if it gets successfully extinguished, that is...” He answers.

They are not canceling school? Even when a whole freaking building is burning right now?

“Well, let’s hope it does get extinguished... Anyway, where is Leo?” I ask while looking around but failing to spot my other best friend anywhere.

“Oh, I was on the phone with that bastard just now. He told me that he is getting a morning surprise and won’t come till it gets over. And yeah, he said this even after I mentioned the burning school building!” Ryan says angrily.

“Morning... surprise?” I ask, confused.

“Yeah... I didn’t get that either and the ugly bastard also refused to tell me. You are seeing this? He refused. Me. His best freaking friend. Anyway, who even cares what this surprise is? He probably must have found a stack of some lost porn vids and is fapping to them right now...” Ryan says while laughing.

“Yeah... probably,” I say.

Man, I really need to find out what is happening with Leo...

“Let’s forget about that ugly bastard and talk about the beautiful princesses, alright? Did you notice the bust on all three of them? So freaking explosive! Especially the.......STOP!”

Suddenly, Ryan shouts. His gaze is fixed behind me and there is a horrified look on his face.

I too instinctively turn back...

What the...

To my surprise, there is a strange figure of a person, wearing a white-colored long cloak along with a similarly large hood hiding its entire face, slowly walking towards the burning building.

“Fuck!! They told us not to cross the metal cones!” Ryan says loudly while pointing forward.

Now that I look around, there are indeed many small metallic cones placed in a circular manner around the building. There is also a sign at one place reading “do not cross the cones”.

But well, the hooded person is way ahead of these cones. Even some of the firefighters have noticed this strange person now and are leaving their work to run towards the hooded figure.

Though suddenly, for some reason, all of them stop midway and just stand there unmoving as if their batteries died.

“W-What happened to them!?” Ryan asks, shocked.

“I-I don’t understand myself,” I answer, equally shocked.

Is that person trying to commit suicide?

Damn it! I cannot just stand here...

But what can I even do? That person is already too close to the fire...

Suddenly, just a few meters away from the building, the hooded figure stops and leisurely raises its hand as if trying to reach out for something.

What the fuck is it trying to do!?

CRACK