Days passed after the strange incidents inside the academy, but instead of getting better, everything only became more unsettling.
Training continued.
Classes continued.
Students laughed and talked normally during the day.
But underneath that normal behavior, fear quietly spread through the academy halls.
Especially after the strange behavior of Dawn Kingdom students.
Some whispered in sleep.
Some stared blankly for minutes.
Some forgot conversations completely.
And the black marks behind their necks remained a mystery.
Because of all this, the teachers finally decided to take strict action.
That evening, every student gathered inside the massive meeting hall. The atmosphere inside felt unusually serious. Teachers stood near the stage while guards were placed near every exit.
Even the kingdom leaders looked tense.
Daniel, Mary, and David quietly stood together near the back while listening carefully.
Then the academy leader stepped forward.
His voice echoed across the silent hall.
"From today onward, no student is allowed outside their rooms after curfew."
The hall immediately became quieter.
"After nine o'clock, every academy gate will be locked."
"If anyone is found roaming outside without permission…"
"…strict punishment will be given."
Some students started whispering nervously.
The leader continued:
"Whatever is happening inside this academy, the teachers and senior teams will handle it."
"Students will remain inside their rooms after curfew hours."
His expression became darker.
"This is for your safety."
The meeting finally ended after several warnings, and slowly the students began leaving the hall.
But Daniel, Mary, and David remained unusually quiet.
Because unlike everyone else—
they had already made their decision earlier.
They were going to investigate on their own.
They no longer trusted that everything was under control.
Too many strange things had already happened:
the marks
the whispers
the corrupted footage
the strange sleepwalking behavior
the hidden memories
Something dangerous was happening inside the academy.
And they needed answers.
Later that night, the academy became unusually silent.
Curfew had already started.
The large academy corridors were dark except for a few dim lights glowing along the walls. Guards patrolled different sections while the cold wind outside made the windows shake softly.
Inside one quiet room, David slowly opened the door carefully.
The hallway outside was empty.
He looked back toward Daniel and Mary.
"Clear."
Mary quietly stepped outside first while Daniel followed behind her.
All three wore dark cloaks to avoid attention.
Mary crossed her arms lightly.
"If teachers catch us, we're dead."
David sighed.
"At this point, I'm more worried about whatever is controlling Dawn Kingdom."
Daniel stayed silent.
His expression had been serious the entire evening.
The nightmare from earlier still disturbed him deeply.
And somehow—
tonight felt wrong.
The three quietly moved through the academy halls while avoiding guards carefully.
Every sound suddenly felt louder at night.
Footsteps echoed longer.
Doors creaked softly.
Even the academy itself felt unfamiliar.
David whispered quietly:
"We split up for now."
Mary immediately frowned.
"That's risky."
David nodded.
"But easier for investigation."
Daniel finally spoke.
"If anyone finds something strange, contact immediately."
The other two nodded.
Then quietly—
they separated into different directions.
None of them realized—
someone already knew they were investigating.
Far away inside the darkness of the academy corridor…
a shadow silently watched them.
Completely motionless.
David carefully moved through the eastern hallway of the academy while checking every corner quietly.
At first, nothing seemed unusual.
Everything looked normal.
Silent.
Empty.
Then suddenly—
he froze.
Far ahead inside the hallway—
someone was walking slowly.
A Dawn Kingdom student.
Barefoot.
His movements looked unnatural.
Slow.
Emotionless.
Almost like he was sleepwalking.
David immediately hid behind one of the stone pillars.
The student continued walking silently without noticing him.
David narrowed his eyes carefully.
Something felt wrong again.
The student's expression was completely blank.
No emotion.
No awareness.
David slowly followed him while keeping distance.
The academy halls became darker the deeper they went.
Soon, the student reached a section of the academy David had never seen before.
The hallway there looked older.
Dust covered the walls.
Broken academy symbols could be seen near the ceiling.
"This place…"
David whispered quietly.
The student stopped before a massive old wall.
Then suddenly—
he placed his hand against it.
RUMBLE.
David's eyes widened immediately.
The wall slowly moved aside.
A hidden gate.
Cold air rushed out from inside the darkness below.
It was some kind of underground basement.
David's heartbeat instantly became faster.
The Dawn Kingdom student slowly walked inside without hesitation.
David carefully stepped closer while staring into the darkness beneath.
Stone stairs stretched deep underground.
And from below—
he felt something disturbing.
A strange pressure.
Almost alive.
Then—
footsteps echoed behind him.
David's eyes widened instantly.
Someone was coming.
Quickly, he hid behind a nearby broken pillar while holding his breath.
Another figure appeared near the hidden gate.
But because of the darkness, David could not see the face clearly.
The figure slowly entered the basement too.
And before the gate completely closed—
David heard something.
A whisper.
"The Master is waiting."
The hidden wall closed shut immediately afterward.
Silence returned.
David remained frozen for several seconds.
His breathing became uneven.
"What the hell…"
He immediately turned and ran carefully through the hallway.
A few minutes later, Daniel and Mary quietly entered one empty academy room after receiving David's emergency signal.
Mary quickly closed the door behind them.
David stood near the window breathing heavily.
Daniel stepped forward immediately.
"What happened?"
David looked genuinely shaken.
"I found something."
Mary crossed her arms nervously.
"What?"
David slowly looked toward both of them.
"There's a hidden basement inside the academy."
Daniel's eyes narrowed instantly.
"A basement?"
David nodded quickly.
"One Dawn Kingdom student led me there."
"He looked like he was sleepwalking."
Mary's expression became serious immediately.
"What was inside?"
David slowly shook his head.
"I couldn't see fully."
"But someone else entered after him."
Daniel stayed silent.
Then David spoke the words that made the entire room colder.
"They said…"
"…the Master is waiting."
Silence filled the room instantly.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Because now—
everything was becoming much more dangerous than they imagined.
And somewhere deep below the academy—
something was waiting.