Chapter - 9 : Muga Part - 2/3

Time slips away, and before I know it, the final bell rings. The sound echoes, signalling the end of the school day. Students rush around me, gathering their belongings and chattering excitedly. I said goodbyes to all of them, leaving me alone.

We are having a little meeting at the principal 's office, to talk about yesterday's events.

After almost all the students left, I hurried toward the principal's office. I spot Jeniff waiting near the water tanker, leaning casually against the wall.

A question lingers in my mind: Did Lia go to school today or not? Since we study at different schools, I have no way of knowing.

"Yo, Max" Jeniff calls out with a small wave as soon as he spots me.

"Sorry, I took a while," I say, catching my breath.

"No worries," he shrugs "Besides, your classroom's pretty far from mine anyway."

He continues, pointing his thumb to the office "And, by the way, Lia's already here."

After that brief exchange, we step inside. As we walk, Jeniff tries to throw his arm around my shoulders, but I push it off with an uncomfortable look.

He grins, unfazed. It's just like Aditya—he does this all the time too, draping his arm over my shoulders like it's nothing. Honestly, it always feels awkward, no matter who does it. I could help but wonder; where's the cool, collected senior Jeniff with the glasses now?

"Now that both of you are here, let's begin the meeting…" said the principal, sitting on her chair with her hands folded together on the table.

Lia was also sitting in a chair on the left side of the table. She's wearing her casual clothes– a plain shirt, and long pants. I guess everything she owned, from her clothes to books, must've been lost in the fire. She probably came straight from the relief camp.

We sat down in the chairs across from the principal, with Jeniff taking the seat to my right.

"So... who's leading this meeting?" I asked.

The principal glanced at Lia. "Lia, you start. Tell me everything you know—from the beginning to the end, without holding back."

I turned my gaze to Lia. From the way she fidgeted in her seat, it was clear she was nervous—probably not used to formal situations like this. I knew that feeling well; I will also feel like I was in the same situation.

If I were to describe Lia, the first thing you'd notice is her height—she's quite tall. When I first met her, I thought she could be a model. And honestly, she's got the looks to back it up. I didn't get a proper look at her face last night, but now that I see her clearly, it's obvious–her beauty is subtle but hard to ignore.

And her figure... I can't help but wonder if she works out. There's something athletic about the way she carries herself.

"Uh, hmm." Lia cleared her throat before speaking. "Yesterday, when I was on my way home, I suddenly heard a voice. If I describe it, it was a woman's voice. She called herself Ahia. I don't remember exactly what she said, but I think it was something like, 'Why are you suffering?'"

A woman's voice? Could it be the same one that spoke to me? I wondered silently.

"I looked around, but no one was there, so I thought it must have been my imagination. I started walking again. After I reached home, I changed my clothes, put my things away like usual, and..." She paused, gathering her thoughts.

"The son of the rich man my parents work for showed up at our house."

The principal cut in, her tone sharp. "Why?"

Lia continued, "He comes by randomly, just to cause trouble for me and my brother. Like always, he demanded I meet him at the usual place. I followed his order, but... when I stepped out of the house, my mind went blank. I think I heard a voice then, but it's all hazy." She hesitated before adding, "When I came to, it was like I was floating in a void—pure darkness. I didn't feel anything, no emotions at all. Even though I could barely control my body..."

"Then who was that? If I remember she was out of control, full of anger." I muttered under my breath. I was quiet, but it seemed they all heard me.

"I don't remember anything I said during that time... That's all I know." she said, looking at me.

"Thanks, Lia," the principal said, closing her eyes briefly as if collecting her thoughts. Then she turned her gaze toward me. "Hmm, Max, have you experienced anything like this?"

I hesitated, my mind racing. Should I tell them or not? I didn't want to drag anything I felt uncomfortable with, but still, what I knew might help them...

After a moment, I made up my mind. "Yeah," I said cautiously. "There are some things I've noticed, things that feel similar to what Lia just described."

I left out the complicated parts—Maya, Max 2.0, and the unsettling encounter with the woman from last night. Some things were better kept to myself... at least for now, but… that is what I thought..

The principal's expression didn't waver, but there was a glimmer of curiosity—maybe concern—behind her eyes.

"Hmm, things still don't feel connected," she said. "If you're telling the truth, there's one question that remains: Why did you run away last night? Tell us the real reason. You wouldn't have just run without a good reason. It had to be something serious."

Her words hit hard, like she knew I hadn't been entirely honest. I could feel the weight of her doubt pressing on me. There was no use holding back any longer.

"Hmph... Alright," I muttered, shifting in my seat. "When I got close to Jeniff and Lia yesterday, I suddenly heard a woman's voice. It's not the first time, either. I've been hearing it over and over—on the first day of school, and just before I met Jeniff for the first time." I paused, glancing at the others. They were listening intently. "She always says things I can't understand, but yesterday... it was different. The voice felt overwhelming. Before I realised it, I was running toward it."

Their expressions changed—shock flickering across Jeniff's face, the principal furrowing her brows. Lia tilted her head slightly, as if piecing together a puzzle.

I took a breath and continued. "The strange thing is, that voice belongs to a figure I already encountered... on the first day of school." I clenched my fists, struggling to put my thoughts into words. "It was because of her that I activated my powers for the first time."

The room fell into silence. Their stunned faces told me one thing—they didn't know about this incident. Max 2.0 has altered reality, wiping the memory from everyone except me so I guess.

"That figure—she's a woman, but the only thing I remember clearly about her are her eyes. They shone bright red, like embers burning in the dark. Everything else... it's hard to recall, like her face is lost in the shadows." I rubbed the back of my neck, my mind swirling with the fragmented memories. "She mentioned something strange too... something about the 'Muga.'"

"Muga?" the principal echoed, narrowing her eyes.

I nodded. "Yeah. She said it was connected to latent abilities... and somehow, I feel like I should know what it means. But the pieces don't fit, not yet."

After everything I said, it was a quite good expression they were giving. But…

"Knock, Knock."

Suddenly, a knock at the door. All of us turned towards the sound.

Three boys were standing there, and I couldn't help but wonder—hadn't the other students already left? What stood out the most was their hair. It wasn't common to see people dye their hair, especially not around here. But these three boys had unusual colours that almost looked natural.

The guy in the middle stepped forward, instantly drawing everyone's attention. He was almost as tall as Jeniff, but just a little shorter. There was something off about him—not just the way he looked, but the feeling he gave. His sharp eyebrows and intense eyes made him seem angry all the time, even though he didn't seem to be in a bad mood.

"Ma'am, can we come in?" he called out, his voice loud yet relaxed.

He had bright orange hair that matched the fiery colour of his eyes. His body looked fit, showing he worked out often—strong but not too bulky. Everything about him seemed confident, maybe even a bit intimidating. To me, he felt like someone you wouldn't want to cross.

"Victor, you don't have to yell," the silver-haired guy said in a calm, uninterested tone, as if the whole situation didn't matter to him.

His silver hair shimmered under the dim office lights, and his green eyes had a distant look, like nothing in the world could bother him. He was about my height, maybe a bit taller, and the way he carried himself made it clear he thought he was better than everyone else. A narcissist? Probably. I decided to give him a nickname—Silvery.

The other guy stood quietly off to the side. His purple hair rested neatly over his forehead, and his sharp red eyes gave nothing away. His face was blank, showing no hint of emotion, making it hard to figure out what he was thinking. Like Victor, the orange-haired guy, he was tall, with a calm yet heavy presence.

As I tried to make sense of what was going on, Silvery's eyes locked onto mine. He studied me closely, tapping his fingers against his chin, as if I were a puzzle he needed to figure out. His gaze moved over me, making me shift uncomfortably in my seat.

Then, without any warning, he took a step forward, closing the distance between us.

"I want him!!" he announced suddenly, pointing directly at me.

The words hit the room like a thunderclap.

"What?!" I blurted internally, my mind spiralling in disbelief.

Everyone's expressions changed—shock showed on Lia's and Jeniff's faces. Even the principal, who had stayed calm until now, looked surprised for a moment.

The only one who didn't react was the purple-haired guy, standing silently with his unreadable gaze.

"What... what do you mean you want him?" Jeniff stammered, rising slightly from his seat, his voice filled with confusion and a touch of irritation.

Silvery tilted his head with a slow, amused grin. "Exactly what it sounds like," he said, as if that explained everything.

Silvery continued, "Ohh, by the way, little prince, my name is James." Who is this 'little prince'? Me? What is going on?!!!

Jeniff stepped in front of us, giving a little punch to Silvery– James's head. "James, you need to stop this, you know?" Jeniff said, while looking annoyed at James.

Did they know each other? Were they classmates? I could not help but wonder.

"Hahaha, sorry, Jeniff, but this guy gives off the vibes I want. Ohh, I mean—" Silvery began, a playful grin on his face.

"Yeah, yeah, I know what you want to say, but don't trouble us during meetings," Jeniff cut in, his voice laced with annoyance.

"Oh, you were having a meeting…" Silvery glanced around the room before his gaze landed on Lia. "And who is this model?" He pointed toward her with a flourish.

Lia's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the sudden attention. "Uh, I'm Lia," she stammered, surprise evident in her voice. "I'm not a model, just a student."

"Just a stu—" Silvery started, but before he could finish, the principal cleared her throat, cutting him off.

"James, may you please stop causing trouble?" she said, her tone firm yet polite. She then turned her gaze to Victor. "What do you need?"

"Hmph, ma'am, those two girls just came to us, saying they have something to discuss with you," Victor replied, his expression serious.

The principal considered this for a moment before responding. "Very well. Just bring them in."

Who are the 'two girls' they're talking about? I wondered, my curiosity piqued.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps pounding from the school gate, the sound growing louder as two figures rushed toward the door. They collided with each other, momentarily stuck in the doorway, before realising they had to enter one by one. The moment they burst into the room, they lunged forward, wrapping their arms around Lia and me in a tight embrace.

What are they doing?, I thought.

"You two, are you the juniors?!" both girls exclaimed in unison, their eyes sparkling with excitement.

Jeniff and the others could only watch, a mix of amusement and disbelief on their faces, unsure of how to react to this sudden whirlwind of energy.

The hug was so tight I couldn't see anything—my whole face was squished against their chest, making it hard to breathe. I squirmed, trying to get some air.

"Hmm…rgh, l-let me go—" I gasped, weakly pushing against their arms.

Noticing my struggle, they quickly let go. "Oh! Sorry, sorry!" they said in unison, stepping back with embarrassed smiles.

I staggered, taking deep breaths as my lungs filled again. For a moment, my vision went blurry from the sudden rush of air, and I rubbed my eyes to see better.

Then I saw them.

"Huh... what—?" My eyes grew wide in surprise. "Ehhh?!"

They looked exactly the same. The only real difference was their hair: one had soft brown hair, while the others had a reddish shine.

Lia, who had also been caught in their excited hug, looked just as confused. She stared at the two girls, clearly trying to figure it out.

"Hehe~" The girls grinned playfully, enjoying our confused reactions.

"Are they twins?" I whispered, mostly to myself.

"Yeah! That's right!" they said together, overhearing me. "We're twins!" They clapped in sync, exchanging playful grins. It was obvious from the way they acted—they were really close, like they had their own secret way of understanding each other.

Both of them stood about 5'3" tall, with long, smooth hair that shimmered under the light. The only difference? The brown-haired twin had her cute, cat-shaped hair clip pinned to the right, while the reddish-haired twin wore hers on the left, making it easy to tell them apart.

As for their faces... To be honest, they were cute. Their bright, happy expressions made them look even more charming.

"Juniors, let's do our greetings!" they chimed, their voices bursting with energy. I couldn't help but wonder at how synchronised they were, down to every little movement.

But one question kept nagging at me–how were they moving so freely in phanek? If you don't know, phanek, the traditional wrap-around of their entire legs, makes movement a bit restricted compared to pants. It's not like I've ever worn one myself or would have a reason to, but from what I know, it's not exactly made for running around like they were.

And they were still in their school wearing their uniforms–pink shirts and yellow phanek that somehow added to their lively aura.

Lost in thought, I barely noticed when the twin with the reddish hair took a step forward, her expression proud and confident. "I'm Lanthoi, the elder one!" She introduced herself. Her sister, with brown hair, followed seamlessly, "And I'm Lanchanbi, the younger one!"

Watching them felt like being in a show, one of those old comedies with twins who acted just as perfectly in sync. I couldn't remember the name, but the resemblance was uncanny.

"Hmm…" The principal's voice sounded from behind us, with a soft sigh. "This certainly saves time on introductions," she said, glancing between Lia and me. "Now, Max and Lia." She gestured for us to stand, and we did, brushing ourselves off. "Allow me to introduce you to your fellow seniors."

She pointed first at the energetic boy, "The one bursting with energy is Victor." Then, nodding at the silver-haired one, she added, "And the narcissist with silver hair is James." She glanced at him, almost like she was rethinking her words. "As for his abilities… Well, we'll leave that for later." James just shrugged, seeming completely used to it.

Finally, she gestured toward the third boy. "And Pakhang—the one with purple hair. He's skilled in thang ta and sarit sarat, traditional Manipuri martial arts. His abilities are a bit hard to define but seem to blend with his fighting style." She paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "Pakhang, could I ask you a favour?"

He nodded quietly, listening carefully.

"Would you mind teaching Max and Lia some martial arts?" she asked, sounding straightforward. Pakhang nodded again, accepting without hesitation. But I felt a weight in my stomach. Martial arts training? I understood her intent, but how was I supposed to keep up? Compared to these guys, I was probably one of the weakest, not just in our class—but maybe the whole school. I didn't need a sparring match to know that.