The orphanage house finally ca into view.
Amon and Vixra slowed their steps, their breathing ragged and heavy from the run, yet their eyes were filled with caution.
The night was eerily silent. No footsteps. No voices. Not even the faintest rustle of leaves.
"Too quiet," Vixra muttered under her breath, her hand tightening around her wand.
Amon scanned the surroundings carefully.
The yard was still, the wooden fence untouched, the small lantern by the door flickering faintly as if nothing had happened.
And yet... the silence was suffocating.
"Let’s check inside," Amon said, his tone low.
They pushed open the door. The hinges made a creaking sound, echoing through the silent house.
They walked towards the upstairs. The corridor was silent. The only sound was that of their footsteps.
Their hearts pounded.
Stairs ca into view.
"Upstairs," Vixra said.
The two ascended the staircase, each step heavier than the last.
And then they saw it.
In the room above, every child stood motionless. Small figures lined up as if frozen in ti. Their eyes were wide open, yet hollow. No light, no emotion, only empty stares.
Sister Kreta was also there, but in the sa condition.
Amon’s breath caught in his throat. His eyes widened.
"Kids...?" His voice cracked as he rushed forward.
He grabbed the shoulder of the nearest child and shook him. "Wake up! It’s , Amon! The best big brother!"
The boy swayed from the force, but his expression remained blank, his gaze unfocused.
Vixra knelt beside a little girl nad Lilly, gently patting her face.
"Co on, wake up... it’s alright..."
But nothing happened. Not a blink, not a twitch. They were just still.
It was as if their souls had been drained. They were lost in a dream, leaving behind hollow shells that only resembled children.
Amon clenched his fists, his chest tightening with unease. He rembered the face of the shopkeeper, when he was strolling in town two days ago.
"This... this isn’t normal," he muttered, his voice trembling with frustration.
He tried to wake up Sister Kreta, yet the result was the sa.
Vixra stood slowly, her face pale. "Soone has done this to them. Sothing’s controlling them... or worse."
The silence of the orphanage pressed down harder, broken only by the faint sound of Amon’s shaky breathing.
And in that suffocating stillness, both of them realized—whatever they were facing was far more dangerous.
"Senior Vixra... should we go and check inside the town?... that huge red pillar ca from town after all... we can ask for help from the guards as well." Amon suggested. For so reason, he thought that other people in town might also be in the sa condition.
And if they were not, then it would be a good outco for them.
"Yes... but should we actually go? Leaving them behind here? What if sothing happens while we’re gone?" Vixra shared her thoughts.
Her expression was pale and worried.
Amon knew what she was saying was right. But they had to check in town as well.
"Yes... you are right. But we don’t have much choice. We need to go and check if other people in town are okay... or in the sa condition like these children and Sister Kreta." Amon’s eyes were sharp and serious.
Unusual for soone like him.
"That may be true... the town might be in even more danger. Selena had said that."
With sharpened eyes, she agreed.
"Let’s go, junior. We shouldn’t waste any more ti. Let’s find out what’s happening." She spoke with resolve.
Amon just gave her a small nod.
They started to stride downstairs.
Getting out of the house, they gazed at the town from the small garden. The house was at one end of the town.
The road that led inside the town was silent. No sound. There was no one outside.
The light of flickering mana lamps brightened the darkened street.
Amon and Vixra looked at each other. Then, with a nod to each other, both of them started to walk.
Their steps slowed.
"Let’s check the first house."
Just after walking, Amon moved towards the first house they saw.
It was a small house with a chimney on the rooftop.
Vixra followed behind him.
He stood in front of the door. Raising his hand, he knocked on it.
Knock! Knock!
No answer or movent could be heard.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
This ti he knocked harder and louder.
Yet nothing.
Vixra walked towards the window, trying to check inside.But she can’t see anything at all.
"Senior, should we break the door?" Amon asked casually.
Like it was not a big deal.
Vixra looked at him, shocked.
"Hey! If they are okay... what will you say to them? Why did you break their door at night?"
Vixra tried to explain to Amon, not wanting him to do sothing weird in haste.
Amon gave an enlightened expression.
"Ohh... you are right..."
He turned and kicked the door very hard with mana covering his leg.
Thudd!
The door fell.
"Let’s check it now."
He walked inside while Vixra just watched with her jaw dropped and eyes wide.
She had just explained so nicely to him, yet he broke the door anyway.
"Sigh..."
With a sigh, she also sauntered after him.
Amon was standing at the door of one of the rooms.
The door was open and he was looking inside with a solemn expression.
Vixra’s heartbeat quickened. She ca slowly beside him.
Inside the bedroom, a man and woman around their thirties were standing near the window with the sa expression and silence.
"Well... it seems I was right. All people in the town are in the sa condition."
Amon said while rubbing his temple.
Vixra remained silent for a while.
"Amon... let’s check so other houses. We can’t be sure."
Amon exhaled deeply.
"Yeah... let’s go."
They turned back and left the house.
They continued to check inside so other houses.
Yet they t the sa sight.
Everyone in the houses and buildings was standing without any movent, their expressions dazed.
Cold sweat beaded on Amon’s forehead, and his hands felt clammy.
Vixra was not doing much better.
"Let’s try to find sothing. Investigate more. We might find the cause." Amon said.
Vixra agreed with him as they left the current house they were in.
"Ahhhh!"
A painful human scream broke the silence of the town.
Both of their faces turned in the direction where the scream ca from.
’Why did I co here? Dammit.’
He was cursing himself now, for accepting Arnold’s request.
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