Iron descended from the sky as though the heavens were giving birth to a star at midday. His feet touched the ground quietly beneath the widened, astonished eyes of Eugene, Rin, and Reem, and Farid's gaze, which had frozen as if he had seen a ghost.
The scene around him was a painting of pure chaos: blood watering the thirsty soil, scattered rocks like the teeth of a broken age, charred wood whose smoke still whispered the tale of fire. Only the wind moved freely through the ruins.
Farid slowly raised his hand, closing his fist into his palm in a gesture of due respect. "Welcome, Sir Iron."
When Rin and Reem heard Farid's words, they suddenly realized that the man standing before them was one of the Four Guardians—those who preserved the balance of this world. Their hands moved instinctively to offer the same salute. Eugene, however, remained standing like a statue, his mind spinning in confusion. Why are they doing this?
Iron lifted his palm in a light gesture, as though wiping the salute from the air. "No need."
His voice was heavy, as if rising from a deep well, yet it carried a hint of surprise laced with a faint smile, like someone witnessing the unexpected. "Are you all right?"
Reem looked at him, her features trembling between tension and awe. "Y-yes, we're fine."
Iron smiled calmly, like a white cloud in a clear sky. "Would you like to tell me what happened here?"
Farid's gaze flickered briefly toward Eugene, followed by Reem's and Rin's. A secret hung in the air—something they did not wish to reveal.
Iron turned his gaze to Eugene, and their eyes met in a moment of silence. Eugene was a portrait of contradiction: glossy black hair like the night, wheat-colored skin that told the tale of a distant sun, a mole beneath his mouth like a black dot upon a white smile, thick brows like a small forest, and green eyes like olive leaves in spring. He wore a blue shirt traced with flowing golden lines, matching trousers, and a long red cloak fluttering behind him in the wind, like a banner announcing his arrival.
Eugene suddenly became aware of the eyes directed at him, of the heavy silence. He quickly understood.
Wait… no. They're all looking at me because of what that old man said. I need a convincing lie. I can't tell them the truth about the bag and what's inside it.
His inner tension crackled like electricity, his mind racing.
He stroked his chin in an exaggerated thinking gesture, a foolish smile spreading across his lips. "We were heading to the cinema when we suddenly ran into that old man who wanted to kill us, because Alex's students were investigating him."
Reem raised an eyebrow and looked at Farid, whose face showed clear surprise. That was not what the old man had said earlier.
Rin interjected nervously, scratching his head. "Heh, yes. Alex warned us not to go out alone, but we thought he was joking."
Reem opened her mouth briefly, then closed it. "When did Alex say that?"
Farid looked at them in greater confusion. Why are they lying?
Iron spoke calmly. "Oh, I see… Very well." He looked at the unconscious old man. "No wonder you're his students. You managed to make a third-rank elder faint."
Reem smiled awkwardly, tension and embarrassment mixing in her expression. "No, he's just an old man. He underestimated us a little. Otherwise, we'd be dead."
Iron walked toward the old man with steady steps like the rhythm of slow drums. When he reached him, he lifted him with one hand as though he weighed nothing, then turned his head toward them. "Do not belittle what you've done. Even if he was old and arrogant, he was still third rank."
He rose slightly off the ground, his red cloak fluttering like the wings of a guardian angel. "Now go treat your wounds. You'll find a hospital at the end of the main road, near the station."
They all responded with differing expressions: Rin, tense and sweating. Eugene, with his wide grin. Reem, tense with her awkward smile. Farid, his face filled with happiness and respect. "Yes, sir."
Iron flew into the sky, leaving silence behind. They stood for several moments as though time itself had stopped.
They had left Adel District, still wrapped in silence as if invisible knots bound their tongues. Farid carried Eugene over his shoulder. Rin walked beside him, and Reem stood to his left after using her ability to make Eugene light as a feather in the wind.
Farid and Reem exchanged a glance, a silent conversation.
Reem spoke, her brows knitted upward, head tilted slightly as if asking a question she already knew the answer to. "Wouldn't you like to tell us why you lied to one of the Four Guardians?"
Eugene glanced sideways, tying the rope of the bag containing the eggs atop his head. "So he wouldn't know what's in the bag."
Farid raised an eyebrow. "And what is in the bag?"
"When we reach the academy, I'll tell you."
Rin glanced nervously toward Farid and Reem, his heart pounding like war drums. He noticed Reem's eyes glowing with anger like embers beneath ash.
Fearful, he quickly turned his head away, but Reem pressed on. "And you? Do you know what's inside?"
Rin answered in a tired, quiet voice. "No… I don't."
"Then why did you lie?" Farid asked.
Rin turned toward them. "Because Eugene lied."
Reem's mouth opened slightly, brow raised. "So Eugene lies, and you lie with him?"
Rin felt their eyes on him and finally looked toward the moon as if seeking refuge. "In the end, he's my brother. I know him. There must be a reason he lied."
Eugene lifted his head. "When are we getting there? I'm tired."
Smack.
Reem slapped him on the head. "Because of you, we almost died, and now you say you're tired? Endure it, Iron Man!" Her tone blended sarcasm and anger like a sweet-and-sour drink.
Eugene raised an eyebrow. "Do you think I can see the future? How was I supposed to know we'd be attacked? And no one forced you to come. You could've gone back to the academy."
Their words clashed like arrows. Rin wanted to calm them, but Farid stopped him. "Let them vent."
The morning sun rose with warm breezes, as though wiping away the wounds of the night. They reached the hospital and entered through the transparent glass doors that invited light inside as if calling it to heal alongside the doctors. The building had five floors, painted white and brown, its yellow lights lining the way like extended candles. It stood at the end of the main road leading to the Seventh Station, near the grand market.
The moment they entered, they each received a strike on the head.
Eugene grabbed his head. "Which son of—"
Alex stood before them, his eyes blazing like a volcano on the verge of eruption, veins bulging like the roots of an angry tree. He wore a white shirt and black trousers, his long hair tied back.
They looked like a group of small cats before a breathing volcano.
A doctor with black hair and blue eyes approached, like a message of calm amid a storm. "Calm down, Mr. Alex. They're injured. You can't punish them in this condition."
Eugene raised his head. "Yes, he's right."
Alex shot him a look that made Eugene immediately lower his head and pretend to faint.
The doctor added with a sly smile, "Punish them after they recover."
Eugene screamed internally. Wait, we didn't agree on that! I thought you were on our side!
Alex gave him the same look, and Eugene resumed his fainting act.
Rin nearly burst out laughing but concealed it beneath a mask of fear and tension.
They sat on beds in one of the rooms. Eugene lay back while the doctor placed his hands on his chest. A green beam flowed from his palms into Eugene's body. Energy moved through his bones and wounds, accelerating healing, joining broken fragments like pieces of a shattered puzzle. The doctor wrapped medical cloth around Farid's head and Rin's foot, and gave drops to soothe Reem's reddened eyes from Eugene's dust.
After several minutes of silence heavy with pain and questions, Alex sat in a chair, fingers interlocked, staring at them like a judge awaiting confessions.
Rin, Farid, and Reem exchanged glances, then looked at Alex, who raised one eyebrow in silent inquiry. "Will you remain statues?" His tone carried suppressed anger like fire beneath ash.
Silence lingered, heavy as lead.
Reem asked softly, seeking to break the ice. "How did you know we'd be at the hospital?"
Alex sighed deeply. "I intended for you to ask me. The important thing is, tell me why you're injured, and why you went to that district… and by the way, you met Iron. Do you really think he would just take the criminal and leave?"
Eugene answered from the bed. "Uh… yes."
"Of course not. One of the Four Guardians saw you. You made a third-rank cultivator faint and left an entire district in ruins. Naturally, he informed me. Now tell me what happened—in exhausting detail."
Farid recounted everything since they left Melissa's birthday, except for the matter of the bag and the old man's words. Though I'm lying to my teacher… I hope it's worth it. His eyes drifted toward the bag resting on the edge of Eugene's bed.
Alex sighed, lowered his head, then lifted it again. "You know you'll be punished, right?"
Rin sighed. "Yes… we know."
Alex took out a cigarette, lit it, inhaled deeply. "But on the positive side…"
Farid, Reem, and Rin lifted their eyes toward him. Eugene remained lying down.
"You defeated a third-rank cultivator—even if he was old and arrogant. That shows your dedication to training and learning. And it's a practical lesson." He pointed at Reem, Rin, and Eugene. "So you understand how dangerous this world truly is."
Alex stood, cigarette still between his lips. "Rest now. There are…" he glanced at his watch, "six or seven hours until class."
Eugene groaned. "Ah… piano class? There's sick leave for injured students!" He hated lessons.
Alex looked at him mockingly. "For you, there will be two lessons instead of one."
Eugene jumped up, forgetting his pain. "No, no, I'm joking! I'm at peak energy… Aaah!" Pain shot through his chest, but he screamed only inside his mind, maintaining his wide foolish grin.
Alex laughed. "Don't worry. The doctor is skilled. In a few hours, you'll be somewhat recovered."
He left the room, their whispers trailing behind him. He stood by the wall, smoking in silence. After a while, a hand appeared seemingly from nowhere and pulled the cigarette from his mouth.
"Huh?" Alex looked toward the person.
A girl stood there, her hair blond like wheat, eyes red like rubies. She wore a long black robe and a hairpin shaped like scales. It was Sherlock.
She spoke warmly, calmly. "I told you, smoking is harmful. I can see black clouds in your chest. That means you didn't listen to me last time."
Alex looked at her while taking out another cigarette. "You're annoying."
"Ah… you're very stubborn. One day you'll realize I was right." She placed the back of her hand on her forehead and imitated his heavy voice. "Oh, Sherlock, you were right. Smoking is very harmful."
Alex laughed despite himself. "I don't talk like that."
She stepped closer, took the cigarette he was about to smoke and the entire pack, then continued walking. "In the end, it's still harmful. If I see you smoking again, it won't end well for you."
Alex shot her a sharp look, then smiled warmly despite himself. He watched her disappear into the distance and thought, She's an annoying and complicated woman—strict and kind at the same time. No wonder. She's from the Sherlock Moriarty family.
End of Chapter.