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nAfter a while, Kyle found himself being taken to what seemed like a factory.

nBlack smoke was coming out of its six chimneys and he could hear the sound of steel being hammered even from the outside.

nThe smoke also started getting thick as he nears the factory. He could barely see the blue sky and he couldn’t help but remember his days in the streets of Melthorn City.

nHe somehow missed that city… Although he only fused with the memories of the previous Kyle, he still felt like it was his own memories.

nHe shook his head to clear his mind as he looked around his surroundings.

nAside from the factory they were heading to, he was able to see the middle-size airship where he came from. It was docked at a near dockyard together with three more airships of the same size that are being painted and repaired…

nHe can see the logo of the Vermont Academy on this airship so he can’t be mistaken.

nAnyway, he can tell that it was a middle-size airship since Kyle had already seen a large one passing above Melthorn City before. Its size was comparable to a castle.

nIf he compared it to the one he’s seeing now, he can tell that it was not even half of the large airship…

nKyle then shifted his gaze to the other side and confirmed that there was a huge fortress or perhaps, a castle that should be the Academy itself.

n‘Now… What’s going to happen to me?’ Kyle asked himself. He’s heading towards the factory outside the castle.

nPerhaps because of the smoke being produced, the factory was built quite far away from the academy where students should be studying. Not too far from this factory, was a row of residential buildings that also seemed abandoned because it was so big but he can’t even see any children playing outside or pedestrians walking in the streets. It feels desolate.

nOf course, he might be mistaken because of the angle he’s viewing the area and because of the noise coming from the factory that’s messing with his mind.

nKyle considered jumping out of the cart but the road ahead feels ominous. He hadn’t seen any people aside from the laborers in the dockyard…

nThe only sound he was hearing was the hammering of steel and the smoke belching out of the chimney of the factory.

nCreak. Creak. Creak.

nSuddenly, the three carts separated. One of them was headed to a small gate going to the eastern side of the academy castle and the other one was going to the residential area.

nAs for his cart, it was still headed to the factory…

n‘Oh no…’

nKyle suddenly heard someone’s footsteps and he couldn’t help but hold his breath. He wasn’t sure whether he was in trouble right now so he has no idea how to handle this situation.

nHe glanced ahead of them and realized that a bulky middle-aged man together with a teenager who seemed to be laborers at the factory was looking at the cart he was in.

nThey didn’t stare too much perhaps because they were also uncomfortable in front of the zombie who was pulling the cart.

nSince Kyle was unmoving, they didn’t notice that he is actually alive…

nKyle then heard the teenager speak in a soft voice as they passed by.

n“Are they students of the Academy who died outside? They all look younger than me…”

nHearing this, the middle-aged man shook his head and answered.

n“It’s another batch who failed the assessment of the Academy. Do you remember that black potion you saw before?”

n“Yes… You told me not to even touch it.”

n“Mhmm… It’s the Darkness Possession Potion. You’ll end up like this if your curiosity got the best of you…” said the middle-aged man who then urged the teenager to continue walking ahead.

nThey only have half an hour to take a break and they can’t waste their time here.

nKyle somehow felt that it was his chance to get away. Those two guys are definitely ‘normal’ people. Perhaps, they could help him in his situation and leave this place.

nHe looked at the zombie, or whatever abomination it was, and prepared to jump out… He moved the hands and feet that were covering him to adjust his position. 𝙡𝓪.𝒄𝙢

nHowever, at this time, he heard a voice close to him.

n“One of them is alive? Did Lesley make a mistake? Is it a delayed reaction? This is interesting…”

nHe didn’t know when but a man wearing a faded brown coat and tight trousers is already watching him and talking to himself. He seemed so mysterious since Kyle didn’t sense his presence until he had spoken.

n‘No…’

nAt this moment, Kyle’s vision was locked onto a pair of eyes that were crystal clear like sapphire. It feels like his mind is being muddled. He has to think of something…

nThe zombie has already stopped pulling the cart as soon as this unknown person arrived and Kyle has no idea what was going to happen to him.

nNervously, he said, “Hello there…”

n“Mhmm… I can feel that the Darkness Possession was completed in your body. You have a weak life force with you but you can definitely be accepted even with your current state…” said the mysterious person.

nHe then touched his beard for a moment as if he was considering what to do.

nIn the end, Kyle wasn’t even able to introduce himself and the man didn’t even ask any questions to him.

nHe just ordered the zombie laborers.

n“It’ll be a problem for Lesley if he joins the ceremony… Just bring him to Mr. Heinz. He’ll know what to do.”

nKyle was confused about what was going on and wanted to say something in reply. However, he was stunned by a sudden magical scene happening in front of his eyes.

nThe mysterious man, who was previously scratching his beard, suddenly showed summoned a cane and tapped the ground.

nWith a thud, a strand of Kyle’s shadow suddenly extended and went to the tip of the cane before returning to normal.

nIt didn’t hurt him but he felt quite uncomfortable seeing a part of his shadow had gone to the cane.

n“It’s a normal procedure…”

nThe man said as he revealed a smile showing his perfect white teeth before disappearing into nothingness.

n𝑖𝘦.𝑐𝘰𝘮

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