Back at their base, the atmosphere was light, filled with jokes and laughter. For once, none of their own had fallen in battle.
Arthur was welcomed like a hero returning from a victorious war. Lying on a stretcher on his way to the infirmary, he was carried through the base under cheers. Everywhere he passed, people praised him. His actions from the night had already spread throughout headquarters.
— Look at them… cheering him like a hero. It's like stupidity has become a trend in this world, Dante said sarcastically.
— It's the first time I've seen a father this jealous of his own son. My name is Arthur, like the name of a great king. What did you expect? Arthur replied with a playful smile.
— You ungrateful brat! Who are you calling jealous?
— What exactly are you blaming this poor kid for? Détra added, trying not to laugh.
— He's just jealous because I have more broken ribs than he does, Arthur replied mockingly.
— You… what annoys me is seeing them cheering you like that when your decision could have cost you your life. Not to mention that the NEW ORDER will definitely not leave this incident unanswered, Dante replied, visibly irritated.
— Jealous! Arthur repeated provocatively.
— You!
Dante grabbed his ear harshly.
— Ouch! Help! He's trying to kill me!
Alpha watched the scene from a distance with a faint smile, while the rest of the group laughed warmly.
— Détra, he called, gesturing for her to come closer.
— Problem?
— I'm assigning you the rehabilitation of the Neuroflux. I need to deliver my report to Denivela.
— You're not serious, are you? Dante interrupted. I'm a survivor of the NEW ORDER. Who better than me to handle his rehabilitation?
— Yeah, sure, Détra replied, laughing as she walked away.
As usual, Dante loudly complained, but this time neither Arthur nor Détra paid attention. They simply laughed.
One by one, they went their separate ways after accompanying Arthur to the infirmary.
Meanwhile, within the NEW ORDER, alarms were blaring red.
A unit had been sent to the campus to assess the damage. But upon arrival, the patrolmen found nothing but ruins.
No trace of the Remnants.
No trace of the attacker.
Only a partially destroyed floor and a ruined room still releasing thick black smoke.
What was most disturbing was the silence.
Despite gunfire, explosions, and chaos shaking the building, almost no students had left their rooms.
A chilling demonstration of SERENEX's effectiveness.
Faced with this scene, the patrolmen had no choice but to gather the bodies of their fallen comrades and evacuate them while assessing the damage.
At the NEW ORDER headquarters, Megan, the Director's secretary, was about to knock on his office door when a calm voice sounded through the intercom.
— What is the issue, Megan? the Director asked calmly.
— Sir… the rebels. They attacked one of our academies, she replied, a hint of fear in her voice.
— The rebels, you say… he repeated. What's the status?
— Eleven dead, sir.
A brief silence followed.
— What exactly happened? he asked, still perfectly composed.
— One of our students suddenly lost control…
— "Suddenly"? he interrupted sharply.
Megan swallowed.
— Not exactly, sir. The student in question is Aedan Maëllers. Over the past few days, his repeated absences had drawn our attention. Following protocol, a Black Patrol unit was sent to his dormitory. When they arrived, they found he had already exceeded the control limit. They were ordered to eliminate him… but as they moved in, an individual suddenly appeared out of nowhere and slaughtered them all.
— Enough.
Silence fell instantly.
— I have no interest in hearing the story of your incompetence, the Director said coldly. That individual… what do you have on him?
— Nothing, sir. The recordings show he was wearing a mask covering most of his face.
The Director stayed silent for a few seconds.
— So let me get this straight… a single individual neutralized more than eleven of our men, and you can't tell me who he is. You don't even know his identity… nor whether it was a man or a woman?
His voice, once controlled, turned into a roar of anger.
— Who exactly did I end up with, a bunch of useless fools?!
Outside the office, Megan flinched.
— I… I'm sorry, sir…
A heavy sigh echoed through the intercom.
When he spoke again, his calm had returned.
— Tomorrow, first thing in the morning, connect me to the academy's surveillance interface. We cannot afford to underestimate the Remnants. The more they grow, the more dangerous they become.
He cut the communication.
— Yes, sir, Megan replied before walking away in silence.
Back at the base of the Remnants…
— So… he managed to bring back a living Neuroflux all by himself? Denivela asked, clearly surprised.
— Exactly, Alpha replied, standing straight like a disciplined soldier.
— And Elya's journal? Did he retrieve it?
— Mission accomplished. I have it here.
Alpha handed over an old, yellowed notebook. Denivela took it with extreme care, as if it were a priceless treasure. She opened it slowly and let her fingers trace the handwritten lines, almost as if she could read them through touch alone.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
— We finally have it, Alpha… We are getting close to our goal. The one generations fought and died for…
After a moment of silence, her expression turned serious again.
— And Arthur… how is he?
— He's alive. Multiple injuries, taken to the infirmary for a full check-up. But from what we've seen, he'll recover.
A soft, relieved smile appeared on Denivela's face.
— That boy… always doing whatever he wants. But I'm not worried. He's as strong as his father… and as stubborn as his mother used to be.
She carefully closed the notebook.
— And Elya? Where is she now?
— She has recovered from her crisis. Starting tomorrow, Naël will begin her training.
— Good.
The night passed in a strange kind of melancholy. Not sadness, but fatigue, relief, and hope intertwined within the Remnants.
Détra had placed the Neuroflux in a rehabilitation room where he could recover.
At the infirmary, Arthur's diagnosis had been confirmed: several broken ribs and multiple fractures caused by the explosion's impact.
Still unconscious, he lay on his bed while Dante sat beside him in complete silence, watching over him.
Gradually, night gave way to the first light of dawn.
A new day began.
At the academy, the Director's hologram appeared in the center of the main hall. As always, students looked up at the imposing figure, ready to hear another speech… unaware that every word was nothing but carefully crafted poison.
"Good morning.
Before we begin today, I want to remind you of something essential.
The world we live in is not perfect. It is fragile. Every day, individuals choose emotions over reason. They bring chaos, fear, and suffering.
It is precisely to prevent the return of that dark era that the NEW ORDER exists.
Discipline is not punishment. It is protection.
Obedience is not weakness. It is the proof of a strong society.
And emotions… are the first step toward disorder.
Never forget that Neuroflux were not monsters at birth. They were ordinary citizens who let their emotions take control.
Never let that happen to you.
Trust the system. Trust your teachers. Trust the NEW ORDER. Together, we will continue building a world where everyone can live in safety.
Have a good day."
As soon as the speech ended, daily activities resumed as if nothing had happened.
Naël, who had been present on campus, discreetly activated his NODE.
— Naël here. Your suspicions were correct. The Director just launched another propaganda speech. Without naming us, he painted us as a growing threat to society.
— Expected, given the chaos Arthur caused, Alpha replied calmly. Good. Return to base. For now, we'll lie low and observe their next moves.
— Understood.
Naël cut the connection and left the academy discreetly.
Dante crossed his arms beside Alpha.
— What did he say?
— In short… we are now the enemies of the people.
Dante gave a bitter smile.
— And now?
A faint smile appeared on Alpha's face.
— Now… we create a decoy.