Hadal's response left me utterly baffled.
I wanted to press him—ask more, dig deeper into the implications of what he meant. But something about his expression… it wasn't just serious. It was uncomfortable, like I had brushed against something I wasn't supposed to.
So I dropped it. Changing the subject felt like the smarter move.
"Hey, Hadal… you had some questions, right?" I said with a light chuckle, hoping to shift the mood. "I can answer them—if you're still up for it."
Hadal blinked, his eyes widening as realization hit him. "Ah! Yes—my questions!" He scratched his head, a sheepish look washing over his face. "Wait… what were they again?"
I watched him carefully. Every time he scratched his head like that, it made me uneasy. I just hoped whatever he was about to ask wouldn't be embarrassing.
"Alright—first question," he said, suddenly snapping his fingers with enthusiasm. "What is the Greenland?"
I let out a quiet sigh of relief. Easy question.
"The Greenland is an island… separate from what we call the main world," I began, feeling a bit more comfortable. "We're practically disconnected from everything—especially anything involving flow users."
Hadal stroked his chin, intrigued by my explanation. "So when you say disconnected… you mean you're basically a standalone nation?"
"Ding ding—ten points," I shot back playfully. "Want a cookie?"
He smirked at my banter. "You cheeky prick."
Then his expression shifted slightly, curiosity overwhelming his previous amusement. "But if that's the case… why come here at all? If you knew nothing about the main world?"
That question hit deeper than I expected, sending a jolt through me. I hesitated, weighing my response.
But I'd come this far.
"Something happened on the Greenland," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't remember it clearly… my memory's still hazy."
Even now, the frustration simmered beneath the surface.
"I came here hoping… I could piece things back together."
Hadal's expression softened in understanding. "I hope you find what you're looking for, man," he said, patting my shoulder in a gesture of camaraderie.
Silence followed, heavy and uncomfortable. It wasn't empty; it was loud in its own way, filled with the weight of unspoken thoughts.
And I knew why.
His reaction earlier. To the dual blessings.
"Hadal… if you don't mind me asking—why did you—"
"Why did I freak out?"
He cut me off, staring upward as if he already knew what I was about to ask.
"Yeah."
He exhaled slowly, his demeanor shifting to something more serious. "Sorry about that. It's just… people like that aren't to be messed with. I was trying to warn you."
"Warn me?" I scoffed, disbelief coloring my tone. "You looked like you were about to cry."
He frowned slightly, clearly annoyed by my flippant attitude. "You don't get it," he muttered, his gaze now direct and intense. "The power of a dual-blessing user…"
His voice dropped to a near whisper. "...is said to be enough to destroy an entire city in a single day."
My stomach tightened at the weight of his words.
"They're rare," he continued, his voice steady yet foreboding. "One in ten million."
Each word landed heavier than the last, settling like lead in my gut.
"There are ten in New Africa."
A pause hung between us, thick with tension.
"And two… attend Shalu Academy."
My chest felt tight, the implications of his revelation crashing down on me. People who could flatten cities… could I even call them human? If I wanted to survive here, I needed to know.
"Hadal," I said firmly, my voice steady, "who are they? What blessings do they have?"
Before he could answer, a booming voice echoed through the halls, cutting through the heavy air like a knife.
"ALL RISE! ALL RISE! CAPTAIN KINGA DEMANDS YOUR SALUTE! STEP OUT OF YOUR ROOMS AND SALUTE HIM!"
I winced, irritation flaring instantly. "Who the hell is that?" I muttered. "Does he have no sense of—"
Before I could finish my thought, Hadal grabbed my arm—hard.
"Come on!" he urged, dragging me toward the door.
"You wanted to know who they are, right?" His grip tightened, urgency threading through his words. "Well…"
We stepped outside, the world beyond the door buzzing with energy.
"…today's your lucky day."
He glanced at me, a mixture of excitement and trepidation in his eyes. Or maybe…
Unlucky.
"You're about to see one of them."