"Begin the meeting," she said in a firm and slow voice. After a short pause in the air, she continued, "The scouting team, please give me the details of your short trip outside." She turned to Chi. "Chi, give me the report."
Chi nodded. "As you already know, we found many wounded in Central Plaza. There was a big massacre there. According to what the survivors told us, they also saw people disappearing into thin air."
"I expected that," thought Akai. "Am I a genius or something?"
"But," he continued, "there was something else."
"What is it?" she asked.
"Before they disappeared, the people saw something unbelievable."
"What is it?"
"Magic diagrams," he said, raising his chin and looking into her eyes. Akai raised her left brow in disbelief. "It sounded unbelievable, but they provided proof. Here." He showed her pictures of the magic circle on a phone. The pictures lasted for a minute. It was ginormous, covering the whole town. The pictures weren't complete but were small parts collected together.
"These aren't edited; they were taken by everyone who took pictures," said an unknown face in the group. "We collected them all and concluded that it was a large 'magic diagram.' I mean, what else could it be?"
"I see," Akai agreed. "So… Who are you?"
"Ah, I am Layman from grade eleven."
"I see, an upperclassman," she thought and continued, "There are lots of people I did not assign to the scouting group, and I see that all the security members are here as well. I will address that after the discussion is over. Please continue."
"Here is a video one of them recorded," Layman said, showing the recorded video to her. The video was shaky, but she managed to understand it. The magic diagram was already in the sky, and seconds later, people around started to vanish in light. The person recording was shaky and was running from the plaza. People were screaming all around, horrified.
The phone volume was turned up, and everyone in the room could hear. They were sweating and reminded of their loved ones who disappeared as well. Akai clenched the phone in anger, and all she wanted to do was throw it away.
"Rose, sit down," Akai said to Rose, who was standing beside her.
"I am fine here."
"Sit." She gave her a side-eye, which made Rose sit next to Lily.
"There is also another matter," said Semai. "Mr. Caligo went to check the outskirts of the town after leaving us here. He told us that the magic circle left marks and completely covers the town. According to him, it was left on purpose, and the person who did it was obviously countless times stronger than he was."
Akai leaned back on the sofa to think. This was becoming a big mystery. Why would anyone do that? What did they gain? Suddenly, an important question popped up, and she lit up.
"Did Mr. Caligo tell you what the spell was?" Akai asked. "I'm guessing, but I need to confirm."
They all looked at each other and nodded. This made her tense up. What if it was bad? Knowing what spell it was could bring both good and bad news.
"The spell was—"
"The spell was 'teleportation!'" Chi tried to say but was cut off by Kiara. "It was teleportation, Kai! So we don't have to worry that much about the ones who disappeared now."
A flood of relief washed over her. Finally, good news. Teleportation—people had been shifted from one place to another. Akai bit her bottom lip from excitement. They had a chance to save and bring them back.
It was two in the afternoon when everyone finally gathered for lunch in the dining room. They ate and drank to their hearts' content, enjoying the best food they could have in this situation. Akai watched from the narrow opening of the door.
"The soup is ready," said Isabella. "And also, the cooks and some helpers wanted to help you, and they are mostly girls."
Akai turned her head towards her. "Good," she smiled. "Come with me, guys."
She led them to the infirmary where the injured people were kept. They came in with a large pot of hot soup to feed them. The girls and a few boys took a bowl of soup to each patient and fed them. Akai also went to help one. The patient she approached had both legs injured, but fortunately, it wasn't serious. It was a big claw mark on each. "Cool man," she thought.
"Won't you feed me?" the man asked, trying to get up.
"Ah, sorry, let me help," she said, helping him sit up. "Sorry, I was thinking about how you got hurt." She smiled. The man stared at her for a few seconds and then smirked. Akai was confused but didn't pry.
"Here," she lifted the spoon to his lips. "It's warm and tastes good and won't burn your tongue."
He reached out and took a sip, nodding. "It's good, light, and perfect for someone who is sick. And it's good for digestion. You children did well in covering the wounds."
"Well, there are science students among us, so they did it," she paused. "Excuse me, but are you a doctor?"
"I am. Why do you ask?"
"I was thinking if you could—"
"-treat the patients here, especially the ones with serious wounds," he cut her off. Akai blinked. "I won't. I am not like you—a kind person."
"Then let me change what I was saying," she smirked. "If you don't help, I might as well break your hands because I don't like lazy assholes like yourself, doctor." She was serious. "You have to earn your food. Even the kids work for something here."
"How old are you?" asked the doctor.
"How old are you?" she asked back.
"26," said the doctor, surprised at her.
"I am 15."
He raised his brows in response, and she smirked back. How could a child like her do such a thing? He thought. How did these children survive? The entire town was swarmed with beasts, no place to hide, and now there was this place? These students fought like they were experienced in this matter.
"The soup's getting cold," he said.
"Will you do it?" Akai asked excitedly.
"Let me think about it," he replied, sipping the soup from the spoon. "And I can use my hands, so no need for you to help."
"Okay," she replied happily. Akai got up and went to Isabella. "I will be here in a minute." Isabella agreed and let her go. After a few minutes, she came back with Lake and a wheelchair. "Lake, that's the guy," she pointed at the doctor. "Whatever happens, make him sit in the wheelchair." Her devilish smile was seen by the doctor.
"What is she planning?" he thought.
Lake went to the doctor and asked him to sit in the wheelchair, but he refused. Lake had no choice but to use force and got him to sit in it.
"What are you doing, kid?" the doctor asked Akai angrily. "Don't you know how to treat a patient?"
"Not really," she said, going behind the chair and holding the handles. "I am not a doctor or a nurse, you know, Mr. Doctor." She pushed the wheelchair. "I don't like it when someone refuses my kind words." She spoke close to his ear. "Being older than me doesn't matter right now. You see, there are many who need to be taken care of by a doctor here, and I only managed to find you." She whispered in his ear. "I will force you to help them."
She brought him to the edge of the stairs. "My goodness, there isn't any slope to take the wheelchair down. What should we do?"
"What do you think you are doing?" asked the doctor, cold sweat running down his neck. "Hold on tight, doctor," she said, smirking. "Here we go."
Akai pushed the wheelchair down the stairs. "You psycho…" said the doctor as he fell down the stairs. Akai was falling with him. She had lost her mind, and the feeling excited her.
They were coming close to the end, and there was no way to slow down. Akai was enjoying the situation while the doctor was scared out of his mind. How would it end? What was she thinking? And now he screamed. Akai screamed even louder.
When they reached the bottom, Lake grabbed Akai by the waist with his full arm, and Chi caught the wheelchair. No one cared about the doctor; he fell onto a large cushion provided for his fall.
"Wow," said Akai, still in Lake's arms. "Thank you, Lake."
"Anytime," he replied. "You aren't hurt anywhere, are you?" he asked her out of concern. But she was totally fine.
"I am good," she replied. She walked to the doctor, who was in total shock. "How about you, doc?" she smirked.
"You are crazy," said the doctor, huffing. "What's next, huh?"
"Something that will make you cure the injured in front of us," she said with a smile and moved away to show him the living room full of injured people. She took a deep breath. "Everyone, look! We got a doctor." They all looked at her, very happy to hear about it. The doctor could see the relief in their eyes. They smiled and clapped their hands softly.
"Can you help my big brother?" asked a little girl.
"Please, doctor, help us" said another
"We need your help, doctor"
All the injured pleaded the doctor for his help. He hesitated to answer and sighed "if you insist", then he looked at Akai "this is what you wanted, so be happy"
"Please help them, doctor," Akai said softly, looking into his eyes. "I know you are angry at me, but we need you."
The doctor sighed, defeated. "Alright, I'll help. But you have to promise me something."
"What is it?" Akai asked, hopeful.
"If I need anything—supplies, assistance, whatever—you make sure I get it immediately. Understood?"
"Why not" she said "get to work now" and by the way I am Akai Razaar, may I know what is yours?"
"Ebi'iro Raiko" he answered.
"Pleasure to meet you, Dr. Raiko" she shook his hand "please take care of the patients here and do tell me of any assistance you need while do so"
The doctor managed to stand up, dusted himself off, and started to move towards the nearest injured person. "Alright, let's see what we have here…"
Akai watched him for a moment before turning to Yue. "We need to organize a proper infirmary and gather more medical supplies. Can you take care of that?"
Yue nodded. "I'll get right on it."
As the doctor began tending to the patients, Akai felt a wave of exhaustion hit her. She had been running on adrenaline for too long. She found a quiet corner and sat down, trying to collect her thoughts.
Lily approached her with a worried look. "Are you okay?"
Akai nodded. "Just tired. There's so much to do."
"You're doing great," Lily reassured her. "We all believe in you."
"Thanks, Lily," Akai said, managing a small smile. "I just hope we can keep everyone safe."
Dr. Raiko started giving surgeries to the most critical ones immediately. Even though he couldn't walk at the moment, he was able to do surgery at professional level. According to one of Razia's Classmates, Dr. Raiko was one of the youngest surgeons in the world. He was here to check out his sister's grave. The doctor stayed in the infirmary the entire night, until all the injured are treated carefully.
He was furious at how the students couldn't even hold a light properly. He was an expert at his field. The science department's students such as Razia, and the others had a great opportunity to learn from him. Nevertheless, half the time he only scolded them.
The scouting team, with the help of Caligo, went to hospital to bring all the supplies and equipment needed for the operations. They had to go in the middle of the night at that. Multiple ICU units were set up in the empty rooms of the mansion.
The scouts have found few survivors near the hospitals. They were immediately provided with food and clothing. Rosy and Semai went around and recorded the names of additional survivors they got.
Everyone was busy at what they were doing, Akai kept an eye around, so that nothing was lacking in the process. Tonight no one got a wink of sleep.
It was six in the morning, when Ebi'iro Raiko had finally finished with the last patient.
"Operation successful" said Dr. Raiko "everybody leave. Take patient to the ICU unit"
The senior students in the living room took care of the last minor injured patient. Akai was sitting on floor near the stair's bottom rail and watching the whole process from above.
"What were you doing all this time?" asked Dr. Raiko approaching her from behind "clearly you did something didn't you?" Akai stared at him in silence and responded "I did like taking care of others needs instead of mine" she glanced at the carpeted floor "my job was done an hour before yours, doctor"
"But I did more work than you" said the doctor coming beside her with his wheel chair.
"True but you wouldn't have done it if hadn't forced you to it" said Akai
"True" sighed the doctor
"Are you tired?" akai asked him
"I did surgeries for three continues days before, so no I am not tired" said the doctor
"Here have some bananas" she handed him banana "Lake said they are good for brain. You need some after working hard"
"What about you?" asked the doctor "won't you get rewarded? And why are you wearing a blanket like that?"
"I am feeling cold", she said while crawling more inside, "and hiding more rewards than you", she opened the blanket revealing many sweat treats underneath it.
The Dr. Raiko felt to laugh at her childishness.
"You should get some rest while you can, doc, there will more soon", she said smiling weakly at him.
"You need more medication", said the doctor.
"For what?" she asked.
"Come with me", said the doctor turning his wheel chair "I will get you patched up"
Dr. Raiko had noticed many untreated cuts and bruises on her. She probably didn't know how to treat them or she was just too careless about herself.
"But I am good", Akai started sulking in the floor, "I am fine. I am good as new"
"Stop whining and push the wheel chair for me" said the Dr. Raiko annoyed with her behavior "what in the world is with you?"
"But my chocolates", said Akai, "the kids will steal them"
"Carry them with you", said Dr. Raiko, "make a bundle out of your blanket", he tried giving her an idea of keeping her sweat treats and to stop her from delaying more time.
Akai was delighted that he had given such an incredible idea. She quickly put to work.
At the infirmary, while patching up her small cuts and bruises. Dr. Raiko gave out frivolous rebukes about getting hurt next time. For someone who had refused to help them at the beginning, is very concerned for her health now. Not only her but all the others present in the infirmary. They were very grateful to him; give him so many wishful complements.
"Look at him looking like a weepy sore ball. Why in the world is he so talented with that personality?" Akai scanned him from head to toe, "it's as if he was taking care of his worst enemy. His looks are on a different level though"
Ebi'iro Raiko was young as twenty six years old, and a very young surgeon in his career path. He was tall and handsome, with medium long black hair and reddish brown eyes. His skin was pale white like the snow. He was Japanese and from the winter lands of Hokkaido.
"Basically you are a real life snow white but an 'opposite sex' from the original one", Akai said nodding at him, "must be hard hearing that you are soft man"
This enraged the young doctor making him intentionally press Akai's bruised hand, further worsening it and causing her to scream in pain. Her so called joke was not funny at all, although, she laughed afterwards.
***