Episodes 140. Two Ways

The ruins that were once abandoned are now full of bodies, the area once filled with chaos is now calm without any fighting, and the desolate land has turned fertile due to the many fallen bodies. This school ruin has truly transformed 180° in just six hours.

The group that still survived took shelter behind a ruined building that miraculously remained intact after the fierce battle. With the fire created by Tesi,, they all sat in a circle, gazing at the two women who sat hugging their knees.

"So that's how it is turn, huh?" Haran listened to the explanation given by Tasya.

The effect of the personality change disappeared in an instant, and now she could speak in her old behavior.

She wasn't as shocked by what Tasya explained now. Perhaps she had already realized that this would happen.

However, unlike Haran, Sophia, who was affected by the same effect, remained silent while enduring the cold weather. She seemed to be in shock again upon learning that such a thing had happened to her.

"I'm sorry, Tasya…" Haran suddenly bowed her head in deep regret.

"Why?"

"Because I failed to prevent this from happening."

"Relax, it's not your fault… This-"

As she was about to say that, the short woman suddenly remembered that she shouldn't mention whose fault it was that this event occurred.

Even so, Tasya didn't want to see Haran feel guilty about what had happened. The fact that she was being controlled at that time was the main reason why she shouldn't feel that way. In fact, even Haran tried to resist that effect but failed.

"You don't dare to say it?" Haran's red eyes reflected the small face of the short teacher. "It's okay, I don't mind if you're too scared to say it."

"Ms. Haran…" In a weak voice, Sophia called out to the teacher without turning to her. "Why can you still smile?"

"Huh?"

That question was simple, yet difficult to answer.

"We have caused many others to suffer… But why-"

"Smile, even if it's forced. There's nothing we can do now except accept this fuck up shit."

Haran cut off the girl's sentence with a concise and irrefutable statement.

"Hmm (nodding slowly while feeling sad)…"

"Sophia, relax… I will be by your side." Smiling, Moka, who was sitting nearby, crawled towards the girl to wipe the tears that had stained her cheeks.

Hearing that, "I-I'm with you too, Sophia!" Hakam encouraged her, even if it was just following what others were doing.

"No, we are the ones who are with you, Sophia."

Unlike his servant, Stevent's way of speaking sounded more meaningful and helpful to the girl's mental state.

"By the way, can we change the subject?" Gita scratched his cheek while wearing a silly smile.

When given a nod by Widodo and Tasya as a 'yes' answer, Gita's face suddenly turned serious.

"There are many corpses here, what should we do with all of them? Especially with Dahlia and those teachers?"

Like shooting straight into their souls, Gita made the atmosphere that had just lightened become heavy again.

"We'll take those we think it's important." Haran didn't want to dwell in misery for too long, she immediately stood up and took command of the group that had been silent like statues. "If any of you recognize a face among the bodies that aren't from the school, bring them along if needed."

With her command, the silent group immediately stood up and moved as she wished. The leadership spirit within her was like a natural talent she possessed.

"Wait a minute, what are we going to do about Mr. Rasyid?" Stevent clutched his shirt collar tightly to show how worried he was about the teacher.

"Leave him! This is beyond from what we can overcome!"

"But-"

"Do you want to end up like all of them?!" Haran pointed to the scattered corpses with a disgusted expression. "Do you think we can fight him?"

"We teachers already fought him together, but this is the result. And also, SANGKUNI's troops seem to have suffered the same fate." Adding to Haran's strong argument, Widodo makes it stronger, making it even more irrefutable.

Stevent could only bite his lip; he was too weak for now. He thought defeating the teacher in training would show who was stronger, but the harsh reality proved otherwise.

He realized he had only advanced one centimeter out of a thousand kilometers from the teacher.

"If anyone wants to meet him, then follow me…!"

Suddenly, a mysterious voice was heard from the doorless entrance. A woman with braided hair hanging over her right shoulder stood with her hand on her chest with full confidence.

"…Because I want to meet him!"

"Erika, you show up and immediately suggest something crazy!" (Haran)

"It's better than retreating empty-handed! Besides, not everyone in the group you lead is sane, right?"

Erika's statement sounded painful but relieved those who heard it.

In response to that statement, Stevent approached Erika and then faced the group Haran led. "From the start, I had no purpose, so I'll consider myself insane. So, I will follow what Ms. Erika does." Smiling like a foolish villain, Stevent showed his determination to meet his teacher.

*Tap *Tap *Tap

The slow steps of a girl walked towards Erika. Her body, which was cold despite being an ice element user, walked like a limping person. She clutched her shirt collar, which she used as a blanket, shivering.

"Sophia?!" (Moka)

"I have to meet him… The pain he suffers is the same as mine, maybe even more, someone has to calm him down, even if it means risking their life."

"You can't, you might end up like Dahlia!" Widodo raised his hand to chest level to try to stop the reckless action.

"Why do you think that way? Didn't you just say that Dahlia…" As she said that, everyone except Erika became suspicious. "…Hmm (small smile), just forget it." Without any intention of continuing her sentence, Sophia kept walking towards Erika.

"Tch, if that's what you want, then so be it." Unable to do much, Haran could only scratch her head in frustration.

She actually understood how Sophia felt. She even knew the man's past, although not completely.

But... Haran was still a person who held on to pride. If she let empathy consume her, she would easily fall into the traps that Nova might have set for her anytime.

Moreover, the current issue was directly related to two important people of Nova, getting involved would only bring bigger disaster. The incident at the school this morning might have been a small catastrophe prepared by Nova as a warning not to interfere.

"If Sophia is going, then…" Moka was about to walk, but a pair of hands held her arm.

"Moka, don't…" Hakam held the girl's hand while restraining his blushing face. He glanced left and right to find a suitable reason. "If you go, then all of us students will go too, and then… Who will take care of these bodies? There are no vehicles here, and we can't just leave this place like this. The police will come soon."

Hearing that explanation, Moka canceled her intention and felt disappointed and sad with the facts. She wanted to vent all her frustration towards Hakam, but that wouldn't end well for everyone. All she could do was hold it all in until this was over.

Haran understands how Hakam feels. Moka is the leader of the class. If she tries to follow Sophia, then as a subordinate, the other student will follow her. Then, it has to do. Haran makes a goddamn fast decision. "In that case, it's settled… the group will be divided into two. Erika, Sophia, and Stevent will meet Rasyid, while the rest will help prepare for our return!" 

"Yes!" (Everyone)

Immediately they all moved out of the door and left the ruined building.

Their paths had split, and now they would meet their respective fates. No one knew where fate would take them. Whether it ended badly or not depended on their next actions.

.......

"Hah... Hah... Finally made it" Xander ran breathlessly, sweat soaking his entire body.

When he saw the scene, he saw several people trying to leave the place while carrying some bags containing human-sized objects.

"Hey, where are you going?!" (Xander)

"Preparations to back home." (Tesi)

"What about-"

Samuel that just silent comes with some human-size bags, and puts them on an abandoned pick-up. He looks tired from what happening. "It's done! Just get ready to back home! You better help too, Xander!" (Samuel)

Xander was silent and speechless. He helped with their departure without asking further.

Damn me, yesterday got into trouble like this, now caught up in same trouble. (Xander)