Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series Chapter 93: Potential Future Candidates

The feast roared on around them, the clinking of goblets and bursts of laughter filling the air.

The trio were still reeling from Lopt’s surprise entrance when the Professor Mopsus slid into the empty seat beside them.

Or they thought it was Professor Mopsus.

At first glance, he looked like Professor Mopsus- beady-eyed and perpetually unimpressed. But as soon as he opened his mouth, it was obvious sothing was off.

"So," he drawled, resting his chin on his palm. "Was it really you three who turned the school blue?"

Aiden tensed slightly, exchanging glances with Adrian and Sevan.

"What makes you think it was us, Professor?" Adrian asked.

Professor Mopsus sighed dramatically, shaking his head.

"Oh, please, don’t insult my intelligence. That was no amateur prank. That was artistry." He smirked, tilting his head. "And if anyone at this school would have the audacity to pull sothing like that off, well… you lot are at the top of my list."

Sevan narrowed his eyes. "How do we know you’re not actually Professor Mopsus?"

Professor Mopsus grinned and, without any warning, his entire body lted like liquid silver. His beady eyes stretched, his features elongated, and his dull brown hair shimred into tousled golden-brown waves. Within seconds, he was no longer Professor Mopsus but a lean, sharp-featured young man with bright green eyes full of mischief.

"Better?" Lopt asked with a cheeky grin.

Aiden let out a breath. "You could’ve warned us."

Lopt threw an arm over his shoulder like they were old friends. "Where’s the fun in that?" He then turned to Adrian, grinning. "So? Was it really you three?"

Adrian chuckled. "And if it was?"

Lopt clapped his hands together, looking delighted. "Then congratulations! You have my official seal of approval. Truly, a spectacular performance! I haven’t seen a prank that well executed since- well, since ." He placed a hand on his chest, feigning humility.

Sevan crossed his arms. "Why do I feel like you didn’t co over just to praise us?"

Lopt gave an exaggerated gasp, clutching his heart as if Sevan had just wounded him. "You wound , truly! Can’t a man simply appreciate genius when he sees it?"

Sevan just stared at him.

Lopt sighed dramatically. "Alright, alright, you got ." He leaned in, lowering his voice. "I ca with a proposition."

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "What kind of proposition?"

Lopt smirked. "A once-in-a-lifeti offer, my dear friends. To join an exclusive, elite, extrely secret society. Much better than those broody Nocturnal Conclave lot."

Adrian’s eyes glead with interest. "Go on."

Lopt straightened, suddenly looking far too proud of himself. "I am the founder, president, and chief mastermind of the most prestigious underground organisation this school has ever seen."

He placed his hands on Adrian’s shoulders. "And I would like to extend the honour of mbership… to you three."

Lopt leaned in, his sharp green eyes glinting with amusent as he rested his chin on his hand. "You know," he mused, "I was just passing by a few of my dear batchmates, and guess what they were saying?" He grinned. "They thought I turned the school blue."

Aiden, Adrian, and Sevan exchanged looks, but before any of them could say anything, Lopt raised a hand, feigning disappointnt. "I told them- ’Alas, my friends, for once, it was not I who orchestrated such a magnificent display of school-wide disobedience.’"

His lips twitched into a smirk. "But then I got to thinking… If it wasn’t , then perhaps it was a potential future candidate for my exclusive, highly prestigious, entirely elusive secret society."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Secret society?"

Lopt wagged a finger. "Not just any secret society, my dear prankster-in-the-making. This is a society for the greatest minds of mischief, the true architects of havoc. Those who can walk into a room and leave chaos in their wake without ever getting caught." He leaned back dramatically. "A legacy of brilliance, deception, and just the right amount of absurdity."

Sevan crossed his arms. "And you’re the leader of this?"

"Obviously." Lopt gestured to himself. "I’m a legend, after all. A man of many faces, quite literally."

His grin widened. "And let’s just say… I’m always looking for new talent."

Aiden regarded him warily. "And you think we’re... what? Candidates?"

Lopt’s expression turned mischievous. "I know you are." He leaned forward. "Tell , boys- do you believe in destiny?"

Adrian snorted. "Destiny?" He folded his arms, mirroring Sevan. "I believe in making my own."

Lopt let out a bark of laughter. "Spoken like a true nace!" He clapped his hands together. "You’re already halfway there."

Sevan, still skeptical, tilted his head. "So what exactly does this ’exclusive secret society’ do?"

Lopt’s grin widened, and with a snap of his fingers, his entire form shifted. One mont, he was himself, or they thought it was him- sharp green eyes, ssy dark hair, and a confident smirk- the next, he was the spitting image of Adrian, mimicking his posture perfectly.

"We exist in the shadows," he said, in Adrian’s exact voice. "We strike when no one expects."

He waggled his eyebrows before snapping his fingers again, shifting into Aiden. "We bend the rules- without breaking them."

Another snap, and he beca Sevan, but with exaggerated crossed arms and an unimpressed frown. "And so of us ask too many questions."

Adrian laughed at this. "Hilarious."

Lopt chuckled and shifted back into himself, throwing his arms around the three of them in a dramatic flourish. "In simpler terms, we make things fun. We remind people that even in the strictest of places, there is always room for a little anarchy." He sighed wistfully. "So of us simply choose to be the architects of chaos."

Adrian was grinning now, clearly interested. Aiden, however, frowned slightly. "And what happens if we say no?"

Lopt gasped, placing a hand over his heart as if wounded. "Oh, my dear Aiden. Why would you assu such a tragedy?" He shook his head. "You see, there is no saying no. There is only destiny."

Aiden sighed. "So, in other words, we’re already in?"

Lopt bead. "Exactly."

Sevan groaned. "I knew it."

Adrian, anwhile, was already excited. "So what’s the initiation?"

Lopt’s grin turned positively wicked. "Oh, my dear friends. You’ll see."

Lopt leaned in, his voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper.

"Now, listen carefully, my dear initiates." His green eyes glead with mischief. "If you truly wish to beco part of sothing grand, sothing legendary, you’ll et tonight—one hour past midnight."

Aiden crossed his arms. "Where exactly?"

Lopt smirked, shifting his weight as if he were about to perform another absurd trick. "The north wing, third floor, abandoned classroom at the very end of the hall. You’ll know it when you see it." He tapped his nose. "And don’t be late."

Adrian, grinning, nudged Aiden. "Well, this is getting interesting."

Sevan, on the other hand, sighed. "Why do I feel like this is going to get us into trouble?"

Lopt laughed, taking a step back. "Because it will. But isn’t that the beauty of it?" He winked before turning on his heel and strolling off, completely unbothered by the watchful gazes of students still whispering about his grand entrance.

Aiden exhaled, glancing between Sevan and Adrian. "So… are we actually going?"

Adrian shot him an incredulous look. "Obviously."

Sevan groaned. "Of course we are."

With that, he morphed into an entirely different person- a tall, silver-haired student they didn’t recognise- and strolled off into the crowd as if nothing had happened.

Adrian was practically glowing. "I think I’ve just t my new hero."