The Plan

Both Emily, who was still concerned about Alex, and Alex, who was still recovering from the shock, looked at Jiten with a mix of curiosity and worry. Emily gestured with her face, silently urging Jiten to be mindful of Alex's state. Jiten glanced around the classroom, realizing the attention they were drawing, and said.

"The class is almost over," Jiten replied, his voice filled with urgency. "Let's talk at the end."

As the remaining minutes of the class passed, Lucy tried her best to change the mood, sharing interesting facts about teras and their cores. However, the weight of the earlier incident lingered, making it difficult for the students to fully engage in the lesson. Finally, the class came to an end, and Lucy, sensing the somber atmosphere, decided not to assign any homework.

As the students began to leave, Jiten swiftly rose from his seat. Before Emily or Alex could ask about his earlier declaration, Lucy appeared in front of them, wearing a concerned expression. She addressed Alex and Emily directly, apologizing for the distress caused by the sound.

"Alex, Emily, I apologize for what happened," Lucy began, her voice filled with sincerity. "I didn't realize that the sound could trigger memories of that tragic night. Olana informed me about your past, and I want you to know that if you ever need anything or have any questions, I will be more than willing to help. Once again, I'm sorry."

Before Alex or Emily could respond, their attention was redirected to Jiten, who suddenly appeared in the conversation. Lucy, noticing his mischievous smile, playfully scolded him, reminding him of his father's teachings.

"Jiten, your father was my teacher, and I have great respect for him," Lucy said, her tone firm but warm. "While I've known you since you were a little child, I can't treat you differently in the classroom. So next time, please focus on the class and avoid daydreaming about potions. Understand?"

Jiten grinned, rubbing the spot on his head where Lucy had playfully hit him. "Don't worry, wise teacher," he replied, his voice filled with mock obedience. "It will never happen again."

As Lucy left, Jiten's expression turned serious. He looked at Emily and Alex and said, "Guys, let's get out of here. I need to tell you something very serious." Curiosity piqued, both Alex and Emily nodded, and the three of them left the institute and headed to a nearby garden. Once they found a secluded bench, Jiten looked around to ensure no one was nearby, and then he took a deep breath.

"You guys remember when I told you that I thought I heard a cry coming from the church facilities near my house, right?" Jiten asked, his voice filled with urgency. Alex and Emily nodded, their interest growing. Jiten continued, "Guys, that sound we heard in class... it's what I heard!"

Suddenly, a mixture of shock and disbelief washed over Alex and Emily's faces, their minds racing with questions and uncertainties. Their minds raced with questions and uncertainties, struggling to comprehend the implications of what Jiten had just shared.

Emily was the first to break the silence, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and concern. "That's impossible... Why would the church have teras inside the city? It doesn't make any sense. The church is known for hunting and eliminating teras, not keeping them."

Jiten pondered the question for a moment, his brows furrowing in deep thought. After a few seconds, he offered a tentative explanation, "Perhaps there are some corrupt individuals using the church facilities for illegal activities. They might be exploiting the teras for their own gain."

Emily immediately countered, her voice tinged with skepticism, "Even if that were true, wouldn't people have noticed the presence of teras in the city? It seems unlikely that such a significant secret could be hidden without anyone noticing."

Emily's skepticism persisted, her voice laced with doubt, "But even if that were true, wouldn't someone have noticed? It's hard to imagine such a significant secret being concealed without anyone catching on."

Jiten's gaze shifted from Emily to Alex, a grave expression etched upon his face. He voiced their collective concerns, his voice heavy with solemnity, "Let's confront the facts. Is it not peculiar to find a grown tempest-grade tera in the heart of Lotardale, the safest city on the continent, during a significant ceremony? And what happened afterward? The tera died, yet the church has remained silent, deliberately withholding any explanation. It's as if they're hiding something."

Emily and Alex absorbed Jiten's words, each puzzle piece falling into place, painting a clearer picture of the church's potential corruption. Realization and concern mingled in Emily's voice as she spoke once more, "Jiten, are you suggesting that the Church of Elements is not just corrupt, but actively involved in criminal activities? Could they be partaking in dark deeds? But then, why keep teras alive within the city?"

Jiten contemplated the question, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "Perhaps they keep the teras alive to extract their parts and cores for profit. "

Emily shook her head, unconvinced. "That doesn't make sense. If they were after the teras' parts and cores, why wouldn't they eliminate the teras first and then extract what they need?"

Jiten furrowed his brow, realizing the flaw in his theory. "You're right..."

It was at this moment that Alex's demeanor underwent a profound transformation. As he looked up, his usual gentle and composed expression had given way to a chilling resolve. A palpable aura of determination emanated from him, causing the temperature around them to rise. Emily and Jiten exchanged surprised glances, taken aback by this unfamiliar side of Alex. He spoke, his voice laced with an unwavering determination, "There's only one way to unveil the truth within those walls. Tonight, after dinner, we will gather here and proceed to the church facilities. We'll assess the security, identify vulnerabilities, and find a way to infiltrate without detection. And if Jiten's suspicions hold true, the Church of Elements may pray for the return of the old heroes, for I won't rest until every single one of them faces the justice they deserve."

Emily's concern for Alex deepened, her voice laden with worry, "Alex, are you sure about this? It could be dangerous. We don't know what we might uncover."

Alex turned to Emily, his eyes blazing with resolve, "Emily, we can't let this slide. If the church is involved in illegal activities and hiding live teras within the city, then we must unearth the truth. I don't want anyone else to suffer the same fate as my parents."

Impressed by Alex's unyielding conviction, Jiten interjected, "He's right, Emily. Exposing the corruption, if it exists, is paramount. But we have to be cautious and meticulous. We can't afford to be reckless. Our safety and the truth both matter."

Emily sighed, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "Alright, I'm in."