Chapter 21: Chapter ²¹ Midnight Meetings and Ominous Ultimatums
Chapter 21: Midnight Meetings and Ominous Ultimatums
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Narration Mode Activated
"So here I am, stuck in the middle of an existential crisis, trying to balance high school, world-ending powers, and a blob with the worst sense of timing ever. Life's a comedy, they said. Too bad I'm the punchline."
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After school, I decide to take the long way home. Mostly to clear my head, but partly because I'm pretty sure Kira's going to ambush me again. Spoiler alert: I'm right.
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The sun dips below the horizon as I cut through a quiet park. The fading light casts long shadows across the path, and the air is thick with that eerie stillness that makes you second-guess your life choices.
Blobby, of course, has no sense of self-preservation.
"Boss, do you think she'll attack again?" it whispers, hovering beside me.
"Blobby," I sigh, "I don't think Kira's the 'let's talk over tea and cookies' type."
Blobby pauses, then brightens. "Ooh, what if you bake her cookies? Everyone loves cookies!"
"Yeah, because that's totally going to stop someone who thinks I'm a ticking time bomb," I mutter.
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A sudden rustle in the bushes makes me freeze.
"Alright," I call out, scanning the area, "if this is another stalker party, I didn't bring snacks."
Kira steps out from the shadows, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable.
"You're late," she says.
"Didn't know I had an appointment," I reply, crossing my arms. "What do you want this time? Another cryptic warning? Maybe some vague threats?"
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She doesn't take the bait. Instead, she gestures for me to follow her.
"We need to talk," she says simply.
"Do we, though?" I ask, staying put. "Because last time, you pointed a glowing sword at me."
Kira narrows her eyes. "It's important. Trust me, you'll want to hear this."
Blobby flutters around my head. "Boss, what if it's a trap?"
I shrug. "What's life without a little risk?"
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She leads me deeper into the park, where the trees grow thicker and the air feels heavier. Finally, we stop in a small clearing, the moonlight filtering through the branches.
"This better not be about selling me a timeshare," I joke, trying to lighten the mood.
Kira doesn't smile. Instead, she pulls a small, glowing crystal from her pocket.
"Do you know what this is?" she asks.
"Uh, a fancy paperweight?"
"It's a Soul Beacon," she explains. "It reacts to dormant magical power. And it's been glowing ever since I started watching you."
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Narration Mode Activated
"Oh, great. I'm basically a walking neon sign for anyone hunting ancient dragon gods. This just keeps getting better."
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"Okay," I say slowly, "and what exactly do you want me to do about it?"
"I want you to take this seriously," she snaps. "Your power isn't just dangerous—it's unstable. If it wakes up without you being prepared, it could destroy everything."
I raise an eyebrow. "And by 'everything,' you mean…?"
"Your friends. Your family. Your entire city," she says bluntly.
Blobby gasps. "Boss, that sounds bad!"
"Gee, thanks, Blobby," I mutter.
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Kira steps closer, her piercing blue eyes locked on mine.
"You're running out of time," she says. "The shadow council isn't the only group watching you. Others will come. Stronger ones. And they won't hesitate to kill you the moment they sense your power awakening."
I laugh, though it sounds hollow even to me. "Cool. So, what's your plan? Train me? Babysit me?"
Kira hesitates, then nods. "Yes."
I blink. "Wait, what?"
"I'm going to train you," she says, her voice firm. "Whether you like it or not."
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Narration Mode Activated
"So let me get this straight: the girl who tried to kill me last night now wants to be my mentor? Is this some kind of weird tsundere thing? Because I'm not sure I'm emotionally equipped to handle that."
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"Look," I say, holding up my hands, "I appreciate the offer—really, I do—but I don't exactly trust you. You've got a bit of a 'stab first, ask questions later' vibe."
Kira sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I don't trust you either, but we don't have a choice. If you don't learn to control your power, it'll control you."
Blobby flutters between us, clearly thrilled. "Oh, oh! Can I train too? Maybe I'll become a super blob!"
"No one's training you," I say firmly.
"Aww," Blobby pouts.
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Kira pulls out a second crystal, this one dull and cracked.
"This was my brother's," she says quietly. "He had a power like yours. He didn't listen. He thought he could handle it on his own."
"What happened?" I ask, though I'm not sure I want to know.
Kira's grip tightens on the crystal. "He lost control. And now he's gone."
The weight of her words settles over us like a heavy blanket.
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Narration Mode Activated
"Okay, so maybe she's not just a stalker with trust issues. Maybe there's more to her than I thought. Still, does that mean I should trust her? Probably not. But do I really have a choice?"
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"Fine," I say reluctantly. "I'll let you train me. But if this turns into some kind of weird boot camp, I'm out."
Kira smirks. "You won't survive a day if you're not serious."
"Challenge accepted," I say, grinning.
Blobby cheers. "Yay! Team Akira-Kira!"
"Never call it that again," I groan.
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As we leave the clearing, I can't shake the feeling that this is just the beginning of something much bigger.
Meanwhile, in the shadow council's lair, the leader watches through a glowing orb.
"He's making alliances," one member says.
"Good," the leader replies, a sinister smile spreading across their face. "Let him grow stronger. It will make his fall all the more satisfying."
The orb flickers, revealing a massive, fiery dragon roaring in the distance.
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End of Chapter 21