"...Where am I?" she murmured, blinking her eyes in confusion.

Being devoured by the black hole-like entity, she found herself in a split second within a vast room, the abrupt transition leaving her disoriented.

She turned back in haste, her eyes widening slightly as she found a normal door in place of the ominous black hole. Frowning slightly, she surveyed her surroundings, searching for any clues as to what just happened.

In the grandeur of the room's architectural design, a peculiar contrast emerged. While the intricate details and soaring ceilings spoke of opulence, its surface bore a cryptic semblance to a mere storeroom.

The sheer magnitude of it all dwarfed her presence, every nook and cranny crammed with a seemingly infinite assortment of items.

She treaded cautiously, her footsteps echoing in the voluminous silence, until her gaze was drawn to an opaque colossal arched window that seemed to frame the world beyond.

A small indigo bird perched on the windowsill as it tended to its wings.

The bird tilted its head curiously as she approached but remained in place, showing no signs of taking flight.

After a brief pause, she hesitated before unlocking and pushing open the massive window.

In an instant, a brilliant burst of light cascaded into the room, like liquid gold pouring through the colossal arched window.

The explosion of sunlight compelled her to raise her hand as a shield and close her eyes for a moment.

Slowly opening her eyes, her breath hung suspended for a heartbeat.

Before her, the once hidden vista unfolded, revealing a breathtaking panorama that left her momentarily breathless.

Before her eyes stood a monument of opulence and grandeur, a colossal edifice that defied the imagination.

This circular marvel, with most of the walls composed entirely of one-way glass, presented an illusion of transparency while guarding the secrets within. It was not merely a building; it was an extravagant palace, a marvel that seemed to have sprung from the pages of a fairy tale.

"What...what is this place?"

Within the architectural wonder encompassing her, only a handful of locations boasted enormous arched windows reminiscent of the one in the storeroom. However, at this particular moment, every window remained shut, each serving as a guardian to the enigma concealed behind it.

The sheer luxury and beauty of this place were beyond comprehension. She was awed, never having seen something so grand and majestic, a testament to a level of craftsmanship and vision that must have surely spanned decades in the making.

She looked down at what what appeared to be an inner sanctum, a vast compound within the embrace of the building.

The architecture of this place was a mesmerizing blend of timeless elegance from vintage aristocratic design and cutting-edge innovation from modern structural aesthetics. It felt as though history and the future had harmoniously converged, giving birth to a living testament of architectural splendor that transcended the boundaries of time.

Despite the grandeur that suddenly surrounded her, the truth remained unchanged: she found herself in an unfamiliar place.

Reality struck her once more, and a hint of annoyance flickered across her features as her gaze fixated on a distant point, lost in contemplation.

Then all of a sudden something happened that startled her.

With a profound clarity, she could discern the minutest details and every soul within a room, as if the very fabric of reality had unveiled its secrets to her.

Her vacant gaze fixated on a specific spot had suddenly granted her an extraordinary insight into the room, which then abruptly was cut short due to her surprise.

Startled, her eyes widened as the world once again retreated into the familiar realm of ambiguity and uncertainty.

'What just happened?'

The brief sudden glimpse of the inside was enough for her keen eyes to discern the environment inside the room in vivid detail.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

A gathering of youthful figures within the room, each adorned in the resplendent attire of a uniform that spoke of unity and purpose.

Towards the front, an adult figure stood, animatedly scribbling on a pristine whiteboard, while an open book lay upon the desk.

Without having to think any longer, she was sure what this place was.

"...a school."

***

"Wasn't that.....That presence..."

By the curtained window, a man with red hair stood, his countenance suddenly animated with a quirked eyebrow and an expression of surprise etched across his face.

"That was..." The black-haired man's voice tapered off as he leaned against the opposite wall.

Both of them turned their attention towards another figure—a golden-haired man seated upon a regal sofa. His legs crossed with an air of casual elegance, he leaned to one side, his head gently propped upon his hand, his features concealed by the shadows.

In an extravagant room engulfed in dim light, a thin streak of sunlight seeped into the room through the slender opening of the tightly drawn curtain where the three men remained silent in thought.

They were in the midst of their unofficial meeting when they were abruptly jolted by an overwhelming, palpable wave of a powerful presence. It crashed upon them like a tidal force, demanding their immediate attention.

That presence shouldn't have existed.

That presence couldn't have existed.

How was it possible?

The power blast went completely unnoticed by the oblivious humans who populated the world. Yet, the seven individuals who shared that same potent presence bore witness to this phenomenon.

And now, the three out of the seven, who were in the same place were caught by the unwanted surprise.

The golden-haired man remained silent but his face still concealed in shadow, betrayed a faint furrow in his brow, while the other two in the room waited patiently for him to say something.

This situation was, afterall, a huge concern for him out of everyone.

"It can't be..." The man murmured lowly as he opened his eyes as a realization struck him.

His bright blood-red eyes gleamed with an uncanny intensity in the dimness of the room. With a sense of purpose, he rose from his seat and strode decisively toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

The red-haired man's amber eyes expressed bewilderment as they followed the golden-haired figure's departure, a silent question etched into his gaze.

Meanwhile, the other man's violet eyes narrowed as he regarded this turn of events with a discerning scrutiny.

"I'll inform you both later today."

With that cryptic declaration, the golden-haired man exited the room, leaving the other two individuals in a state of perplexity, their minds clouded with unanswered questions.

***

"What was..? Hey Helios?"

"I don't know the hell that was."

The dark red-haired boy, lost in contemplation, fell into a thoughtful silence, the gears of his mind turning with intensity.

Beside him, the boy with pale golden hair leaned back in his chair, his fingers idly twirling a pen in thought.

"That power blast happened nearby," Ignatius spoke with a glance out the glass wall.

"Yeah. Inside the school campus," Helios replied nonchalantly.

"Should we not go check it?"

"We're inside the class. Good students shouldn't bunk classes." Helios quipped with a playful tone, a thread of humor weaving through his words. Ignatius, in response, shot him a dull glance.

Right now, both the young boys were among many other youngsters, attending their lecture in their classroom.

The classroom was an architect's masterpiece, designed with a unique flair. The grand, U-shaped arrangement of polished oak desks descended in a graceful curve, each one slightly lower than the last, creating an amphitheater effect. The room's color scheme was a harmonious blend of cool white and warm golden tones.

The glass walls at one side of the room, flooded the space with natural light during the day, and a sophisticated lighting system provided ample illumination for evening classes.

Helios and Ignatius, seated at the last and the top most desk, most closest to the glass wall were bored out of their wits when the power blast caught them off-guard.

Classes were the last thing they ever cared about. Their infrequent attendance were just for formality sake and the school didn't teach anything they didn't already know about.

No one would or could say anything to them even if they never attended the school even once.

Afterall, they had already learned and mastered everything this prestigious school taught a very long ago.

Both Ignatius and Helios weren't sure if they should be responsible of their position and take care of the strange thing that happened or leave it to them.

They had afterall never thought of or heard of such thing happening.

"They are already aware of it," Ignatius muttered as his prussian blue eyes looked upfront at the professor explaining the intricate magic circle he drew in the air.

Helios, his fingers deftly sweeping his pale locks back, cast his gaze beyond the glass wall.

That presence was new yet old. Unfamiliar yet familiar. Afterall, he too was very intricately entwined within that very power.

'But how?'

How could this same power emerge seemingly out of nowhere

Helios' peridot green eyes narrowed as he leaned forward with both hands on his desk.

He concentrated at the faded remnant of the power as he tried to pinpoint the location of the presence.

'There.'

He concentrated his eyesight at one particular place as he completely hid his own strong overwhelming presence.

As his gaze pierced through the one-way glass, he could see a figure standing inside.

"It's the room right across—!"

The pen slipped through his long fingers, a soundless descent to the floor. Simultaneously, his concentration shattered like fragile glass, ending his vision of the inside of the storeroom.

Ignatius glanced at the pen and then at Helios.

"What?"

An amused smile slowly adorned Helios' face and he parted his lips

"That person felt my gaze."

The first time someone other then them could completely see through his stealth technique despite his utmost proficiency in it.

Turning his attention forward, he settled back into his chair once more, his posture relaxed and his lips tipping up.

Those unique two mixed shades of blues that gazed back straight into his eyes.

"The storeroom huh?"