"What're you doing here, young man? Shouldn't most students still be in class?"
A regal voice echoed through the halls behind Temp, almost as if its sound reverberated with importance.
Wait, he can talk?
Temp flicked around, his gaze meeting the sharp eyes of whoever had broken the overwhelming silence.
He tried speaking, the voice finally coming out of his throat.
It felt like the weight of a thousand souls had been lifted by this man's sheer presence.
"Hello, Mr…uh, sorry but, who are you?"
The young man facing him raised his brows, their obsidian colour contrasting the light tones of his skin and his bright yellow hair. His facial features somewhat resembled the statue Temp had just been looking at, although he could not put his finger on it.
The eyes. The hair. Something…anything…Gah! Why's it so damn hard to tell how they look alike? I literally have an ability for observation! Hell, I can see the future!
His muscles shimmered beneath his skin, like a marble statue sculpted to perfection–yet his orange skin clashed strangely with his carved physique.
At least that was different compared to the statue's slender body.
Maybe orange just looks weird on people.
A smile surfaced on his face, its warmth radiating through Temp's very being, chasing away the frigid cold left behind by the fearsome Wraith.
The smile evolved into soft chuckle, then another, eventually erupting into a hearty laugh.
"Bless the Balance!" he laughed, his chuckle piercing through the rest of the lingering cold like how the sun did a thin veil of clouds.
"I thought all the students knew me…It hurts a little, I guess, but wow! I feel like a human again, not some tyrannical dictator!"
What the hell is he talking about? I mean, he does look a little scary at first glance, but not that scary.
He wiped a tear off his face.
"Anyways, you wanted my name, correct? It's Mobius, Mobius Khan, if you will. Vice-Captain of Pangea Security, current Fourth-Step of Virtue, Holy Fighter."
The heavy smell of coffee in his breath diffused into the sterile smell of the halls.
Temp's face dropped.
He glanced once more at the pedestal, ensuring to read it in full this time.
985-1006. Luther Khan. The Light of Pangea. Seventh Step of Nirvana, A Freed Tank.
Another name flashed behind Temp's mind, the only thing he remembered from the opening ceremony.
David Khan. Current headmaster of Pangea Academy. Fifth Step of Sin, Unholy Scout.
Temp bowed at a speed even the Class IV Wraiths would be impressed by, his head now parallel to the ground.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't know you were related to the headmaster!"
Another guffaw echoed throughout the halls, this time throwing the burly man to his knees, his arms grabbing against them for support.
"Don't sweat it kid, head up. This has been the most fun I've gotten from a student in a long time! Most of them are super scared around me."
No shit they're scared! You're a Khan, a Khan for Balance sake! You could expel us with a flick of your finger!
Temp finally put two and two together, piecing the puzzle together. What the statue and the man before him shared in common was not physical features or mental acuity, in fact, those should have been completely different after a thousand or so years of breeding. No, what they shared was something beyond that.
They shared the same warm, but dominating presence.
Warm to allies, ruthless to enemies—that was the vibe they gave off. Like the sun: blessing the world with light one moment, scorching it the next.
Let's just stay on his cool side.
A light smile flashed on Temp's face.
Finishing up with his laugh, Mobius finally restored some semblance of control over himself.
"Oh, I'm sorry, it's just that it's been so long since someone had a real conversation with me other than my dad. Even with him, it's all "We must get stronger, kill all the Wraiths and restore peace" Like, gimme a break, y'know? Parent's and their expectations man."
Temp could relate with that last statement. After all, the only reason he had come to Pangea Academy was to satisfy his traditional parents, saying "Oh, Trailblazers have it so easy! Just kill a couple of low Class Wraiths and you're set for life! Temp, please just become one. Make mom and dad proud!"
Now, he only remembered their voices. Their names were forgotten, their faces still there, but fading. The memories were all but remembered, their warmth now fleeting and ethereal.
That was the last memory of them he had, a lone memory of an uncertain future filled with choices he dared not make, paths he dared not take.
A wave of chilling cold washed over him again–more unsettling than what The Saviour had unleashed–lingering for a moment longer than he wanted to before Mobius's expectant eyes snapped him back.
What? How do I even answer? I mean, I have to, after he just went on a tangent about not having conversations. Someone, please take this man-child away from me!
Someone did indeed come to his rescue.
From behind, a high pitched voice sounded, its voice dreadfully familiar to Temp, having just scolded him no less than thirty minutes ago.
"Temp! What are you doing with Vice-Captain Mobius? He's still on patrol after the breach!"
The orange skinned man finally averted his gaze away from Temp, focusing on the slim figure in a purple dress on the stairs above him.
"Ah! Professor Lumi! Thank the Balance you're not hurt. Do any of your students need medics?"
Professor Lumi seemed flustered by his answer, a light pink blemish appearing on her cheeks, visible to none but Temp.
…
His mouth hung wide open.
"Oh! Um, yes they do. Your nephew, Sid Khan needs medical attention. I gave her a little healing but it's effectively first aid. We have an unconscious student as well, but it seems she fainted out of shock."
This time, it was Mobius who was surprised.
"Shit, this is bad. Uncle David will not like this, especially since it happened the one time he isn't around. Quick, I will call for a stretcher and a Healer, guide me to your classroom, stat. We will prioritize her and the other student first."
He rushed along with Professor Lumi up the stairs, her light footsteps against the carpet like a light drizzle while his sounded like a raging storm. Temp heard a slight mumble under his breath as he left.
"I'm in so much trouble after this."
Just as they almost ran out of view, Mobius turned around and gave Temp one last dialogue.
"Goodbye Temp! Hope to talk to you soon!"
No, thank you.
Another echo, this time a shrill voice, shouted from ahead.
"Temp, classes have been cancelled today! Bring your Path textbook tomorrow, 'kay?"
Temp was alone, the buzzing silence encompassing him once again.
Alone, standing at a fork in the road, both paths open to him, once again.
Wasn't that always the case?