Chapter 293
The sound of a tiny creature scurrying across the ground startled the group, its tiny limbs flailing as it scrambled up and over the edge, revealing a small, round face. The little creature lay on its back, its belly exposed, its small limbs twitching like tiny twigs in a breeze, staring up at the sky as if it were a miniature version of a cloud.
Its tiny form looked so fragile, so helpless, the way it lay there—like a little tuft of down floating on a stream. The observer felt a pang of sorrow, as if witnessing something both ordinary and deeply touching, the way its tiny chest heaved with shallow breaths, its little eyes blinking at the sky.
Then, the creature’s expression changed. It wasn’t a creature at all—it was a small, round, glowing orb, pulsing faintly with a soft, warm light. The moment it blinked, the light flickered, and a soft, high-pitched sound escaped its form.
“Two eyes?” the observer asked aloud. “Did you bring me here?”
From beyond the rim of the cliff, a voice echoed back, low and clear:
“First, this isn’t two eyes. It’s the newest product to emerge from the recent surge in magical innovation—a device capable of transmitting images and sound, similar to a magical television.”
The device remained silent, still. But it wasn’t ordinary. The observer could feel its presence, a quiet hum beneath the surface, like the pulse of something alive.
Meanwhile, most of the people gathered nearby had already acquired their own glowing orbs—though not all were fully functional yet. The observer’s own orb, however, remained inert.
The figure in the center turned slightly, its gaze fixed on the glowing object. “I should warn you,” it said, “don’t come back here. It’s not safe.”
“Right,” the observer replied.
The voice from beyond the edge added, “We’re not trying to keep you away. We just… want you to know what you’re looking at. Is this how it feels—like watching a scene from a dream?”
The figure hesitated, then slowly lifted its orb again. The small light pulsed once, and the face of the creature flickered, then vanished.
Outside, silence. But the observer could hear the faint hum of the device—the signal had already left.
The observer stared. Thoughts swirled—too many to grasp, too many to name. A moment of stillness. Then, something stirred in the chest—something like a heartbeat.
The orb in hand began to glow again.
A sudden flicker—just one. Then, a voice:
“Listen… listen…”
A faint sound, like a whisper carried on wind.
The observer turned toward the cliff. The orb pulsed once more.
Then, the voice came again, clearer:
“Watch. The third team has already arrived. They’re going to reach the core zone within seconds—don’t miss it.”
The light flickered. The image shifted.
A group of students appeared in the orb’s glow—three figures in dark robes, their faces hidden. The observer recognized the insignia on their sleeves.
The voice returned:
“Don’t worry. They won’t be like the last group. This time, they’ll be faster—much faster.”
The image changed again.
A moment later, a small, round object—another orb—rolled into view. It was glowing, pulsing with energy.
The observer looked up.
A single, faint sound.
Then silence.
The orb in hand dimmed.
The observer exhaled.
Then, a voice:
“Just… just watch.”
The figure turned away, stepping back into the shadows.
A soft hum filled the air.
Then—nothing.
The observer stood still, the orb in hand now silent, its light extinguished.
But the image lingered.
The third team.
They were already moving.
And the observer knew—this was only the beginning.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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