We quietly left the Central Tribunal Annex. The massive doors shut firmly behind us with an automated sense of conclusion and cut off all the information we had just disclosed.
The Special Oversight Division has made a determination to classify every piece of information. Whatever follows this point goes beyond our scope of responsibility according to their statement.
"They didn't give us a proper explanation," I mutter, breaking the silence. "Not about the false intel Julian and Aoki were sent in with. Not about Raffkare. Nothing."
Julian glances at me, his expression unreadable. "They will. Eventually. At least for the intel mix-up. The operation they assigned to you wasn't intended for students in their first year. The encounters you detailed would have been lethal to you. All of you."
He speaks with flatness yet the words conceal an underlying darkness. The knowledge that it was inappropriate had been with him from the very beginning.
Zach stops walking. "How many died?" he asks quietly.
Aoki doesn't flinch. Her voice is low, steady. "Three hundred and twenty-eight first-year students."
Silence falls again.
The current feeling is even stronger than what Raffkare left behind.
I escaped Raffkare, but this is far from victory. Julian was the only reason why everyone survived, especially me. But what about the other three hundred twenty-eight people in my grade who didn't?
I walked in this school knowing that there will be a risk of me dying, either get stronger or die trying. But when reality hits me, hesitation comes back. Am I capable of keeping going?
"Hey, people die all the time in missions and explorations, not just students, people who you've never met before. Every one of them is a hero of humankind, but do not let their sacrifices affect you negatively. They wouldn't want that, they would want you to keep going, and all of this is for the greater good," Julian glances at me again, then look at everyone else.
As Zach inhales deeply he shuts his eyes and releases his breath in a slow motion indicating he's shedding a heavy burden from his heart. Aoki looks down at the ground while her fingers move slightly and she remains silent. Chris just silently nods.
Julian advances three steps before he spins to face our direction. "You're all still here. His voice remains steady yet strong as he states that fact carries meaning. "Your perseverance exceeded what most people in your grades would have tolerated. And you're still standing."
I want to believe him. I really do. Every movement I make feels like I'm carrying the burden of these dead souls behind me. The names I never knew. I will not have the chance to witness those lives anymore. That overwhelming pressure comes so near it feels like it could tear something inside me apart.
Julian seems to sense it. Julian approaches and places his hand on my shoulder for a brief moment which feels neither comforting nor soft but provides grounding support.
"That mission was real. The deaths were real. Raffkare is real. Our lives will lose their meaning if we become consumed by regret," He says.
Zach's eyes snap open. "Then what do we do?"
"We get stronger," Julian answers without hesitation. "And we stay ready."
There's no dramatic silence afterward. The sound of our footsteps returned to fill the long hall which the torches illuminated by the outer tribunal grounds.
Aoki speaks again with a quieter voice than before. "I want answers. I need to know who delivered us that faulty information about that sector. The intelligence we received came from the school and resulted in casualties."
"And we'll find out," Julian replies. "But not as we are now."
I look up at him. "What do you mean?"
Julian meets my gaze. "We haven't reached the required strength level yet to face the upcoming challenge. Raffkare was the beginning. This attack marked their initial strike because Raffkare is connected to anti-human powers that exist beyond the boundary. The school will likely provide us with answers, but probably not the ones that are true."
I shiver. The realization that his statement is correct triggers my shiver rather than fear.
Aoki's jaw sets with quiet resolve. Zach straightens his back, and Chris just listens.
I nod, slowly. I need to prepare myself for whatever happens next. For the people who died. For the ones still alive.
Julian leads us back toward the residential wing while his silhouette stands out against the moonlit sky streaming through the tall windows. His voice echoes softly as we walk:
"Do not complain to anyone about the higher ups, that won't do you any good. Consider this a friendly suggestion."
So it is true, he confirms it. There is danger within.