Ss blinked at Sensei Josh''s words, his face immediately reflecting surprise.
"Sir Dominic wants to see me in his office?" he blurted out, his voice filled with shock and disbelief.
"Yes, he does," Sensei Josh responded, his toneced with disdain.
Sir Dominic wasn''t the type of man who interacted with students. He rarely left his office, preferring to issue orders that were to be followed immediately. His presence was usually required only for missions that needed someone of his immense power. A man so disconnected from the student body suddenly wanting to see Ss in person?
That could only mean one thing.
''He found out. He knows I killed Caleb, Sammy, and Carlos that night. Damn it.''
That was the only exnation Ss coulde up with. Getting summoned to Sir Dominic''s office meant he had definitely done something wrong, and the only thing that came to mind was the cold-blooded murder of three students.
"Alright," Ss muttered after a few moments of tense silence. He stepped out of the room, pulling the door shut behind him.
"This way," Sensei Josh instructed, turning on his heel to lead the way. The two staff members apanying him moved in to nk Ss, ensuring he wouldn''t try anything reckless.
As they walked down the halls, curious eyes followed Ss. Whispers spread through the student body like wildfire, wondering what trouble he''d gotten himself into this time.
''What did he do now?'' Angelica, who lingered near the corner, thought to herself as she watched Ss being escorted by the staff.
Even though Ss knew he was in serious trouble, his outward expression remained calm andposed. Internally, he was panicking, but none of that turmoil showed on his face. He kept a stoic demeanor as they walked, the quiet tension surrounding him.
After a brief but tense walk, they arrived in front of Sir Dominic''s office. Sensei Josh knocked firmly on the heavy wooden door. A deep male voice invited them inside.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Josh pushed the door open, and they stepped into the vast, intimidating office.
As Ss entered, his eyes immediatelynded on Sir Dominic, who sat behind arge, imposing desk with his arms folded. Sitting across from him was a woman in her early thirties, and behind Sir Dominic stood someone Ss recognized instantly—Kara.
Kara''s expression was one of concern, and Ss quickly realized why. Sir Dominic had already briefed her on what Sensei Josh had reported, and it was clear that Kara was worried.
''If Mary reads my mind, she''ll discover everything. The artifact, the power I''ve gained, the murders—everything.'' Kara had worked hard to keep his secrets hidden, helping him cover his tracks the night of the killings. But it seemed her efforts had been in vain.
"Ss Griswold, correct?" Sir Dominic''s voice broke through the tense silence after Ss entered. "Please, have a seat next to this lovelydy here," he gestured towards the chair beside the woman.
Ss, still ring at Kara, reluctantly shifted his gaze and took a slow, measured seat next to Mary. His heart raced, but outwardly, his expression remained collected.
"Don''t be afraid, Ss. We just want to ask you a few questions," Sir Dominic said with a smile that had a mischievous edge to it.
"I see." Ss nodded, his voice carefully neutral. "Questions about what?"
"Before we proceed," Mary interrupted gently, "please allow me to hold your hands." Her request caused Ss to whip his head towards her in surprise.
"What? Why?" he asked, clearly bewildered.
"Mary here is a Grade 4 mind ability user," Sir Dominic exined, his voice carrying a certain weight that made Ss uneasy. "She has the ability to read minds and detect lies. Additionally, she can delve into memories—recent events, past incidents, and anything that might be of interest. In short, she''s very good at what she does."
The exnation sent chills down Ss''s spine, and Kara''s as well.
''A Grade 4 mind reader? If she gets into my head, she''ll uncover everything. Damn it, I''m screwed,'' Ss thought, swallowing hard. His eyes locked on Mary''s outstretched hands.
"Please," she repeated, her voice calm and a warm smile on her lips. "Give me your hands so we can proceed."
For a few agonizing moments, Ss sat frozen in ce. But finally, he extended his hands toward Mary, who grasped them gently, rubbing his palms in an almostforting gesture.
"Now, Ss," Mary began, her voice soft but firm. "I want you to answer truthfully. If you lie, I''ll know immediately. My ability will inform me." She closed her eyes, preparing to concentrate.
Then she asked, "What really happened in the Grade 5 mutant realm? What became of your teammates? And did you find the artifact that gave you the powers of the Apex Mutant?" Her voice was steady, but each word felt like a dagger pointed straight at Ss.
[Ding!]
[Alert! Someone is attempting to use an ability to extract information from you.]
[Would you like to block this ability?]
[Yes] [No]
A holographic screen shed into existence before Ss''s eyes after Mary asked her questions. He studied it closely, realization dawning on him.
''I can block her from reading my mind? The system must want to keep this secret, too, which is why it''s offering to help.'' Ss grinned inwardly, his attention fixed on the holographic prompt.
Behind Sir Dominic, Kara was sweating profusely. The room felt like it was closing in on her. Mary''s questions had pushed her to the brink of panic.
''This is it. Mary''s going to discover everything. There''s no way to stop it. It''s all over,'' she thought frantically, her heart hammering in her chest. She nced at Ss, who sat there unmoved, exuding a calmness that puzzled her.
''Why is he so calm in such a dire situation?'' Kara wondered.
''I choose to block the ability!'' Ss dered internally.
[Yes]
[Host has sessfully blocked the mind reading ability.]
"""
A/N: Character art is now avable in the character tab. Do well to check it out!
Also, vote with your Golden Tickets and Power stones for a mass release!