I created my own system

"This only means one thing," the security officer said grimly as the weight of the situation began to dawn on them. "We need to defeat the creature that created the illusion."

A wave of dread washed over the group, but they quickly composed themselves when they sensed their opponents closing in.

"Sir, what are we going to do?" Rose asked, her eyes wide with fear.

"No choice—we have to fight!" the security officer declared. The three students nodded, preparing the weapons they had on hand. Seeing the caliber of explosives and enchantments they carried made him question their parents' choices in arming their children for danger.

"Are parents like this?" the security question feeling like an entire armory was right inside the trio's space ring.

"You're not getting away this time!" a voice rang out, shattering the tense atmosphere.

The security officer pushed aside his wandering thoughts and refocused on the task at hand. Now was not the time for distractions as the trio of sinister-looking individuals stepped out from the trees, solidifying into physical forms.

The children weren't as shaken as they had been before, their earlier fear was replaced with determination, prompting the enemies to question if they were the same children as before.

The four prepared to confront their opponents, and the man bearing the strongest power among them summoned his energy, ready to unleash their combined strength.

A sudden tension filled the air, neither side was willing to make the first move until a voice broke the silence. "Roots of Restraint!"

Veins burst from the ground, entwining the legs of the figures and throwing them off balance.

"What the!" the three magical beasts exclaimed, realizing it was the same spell but amplified in strength.

"We're not done yet!" the security officer growled, unleashing a concentrated beam of sword slashes. The attack ravaged toward the three figures, striking true and sending them crashing to the ground.

The enemies staggered back in disbelief, unable to comprehend that they were on the verge of defeat. Fear laced their voices as one of them yelled, "We have to pull back!"

"Retreat!" cried the other, and just like that, the three figures vanished, leaving behind the three students and their lone security protector.

"Hoo..." A breath of relief escaped their lips as their bodies fell to the ground, exhausted but triumphant.

"We did it," Monny muttered

"We sure did"

"Sir the illusion is gone, right? We can go back no?"

"Of course Rose, look around isn't it more normal than before?"

Though the four were away from the camp they could finally find their way with the illusion gone.

After some time of resting the security officer finally stood up and said with a smile.

"Students shall we go back?"

In response, the three students happily replied, "Yes sir!"

.

.

.

Back at the camp, Alicia was anxiously asking the professor how three of the students managed to stray so far from the group.

"Calm down, Alicia. Security is with them, and they won't go that far, so it's okay," one of the professors tried to assure her. Reluctantly, she accepted his words.

"Let's go, the others are waiting."

Apollo urged her, weakly Alicia nodded, still looking worried. Sensing her unease, Apollo decided to step up.

"Let's look for them."

"We do?"

"Of course. Where was the last place you sensed them?"

"Well, it was north of the camp, but I've long lost their energy. I don't know where they are now."

"Alright, I got it."

He proceeded toward the last known location of the students.

"Let's head into the forest." Alicia nodded eagerly, and with renewed strength, Apollo followed the shadows that would help track the missing students, deftly jumping to avoid branches and bushes.

"Jeremiah, have you found them?" he asked, confident that the people they were searching for were now out of trouble.

[Target tracking initiated… Approaching coordinates identified.]

According to Jeremiah's map, they should be nearby. Apollo moved forward and soon spotted four figures walking happily.

"Look, Alicia! They seem safe to me," he said, observing them from afar.

"Ah, I was worried for nothing"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Apollo shook his head, finding it amusing how much she panicked. Despite her cold demeanor, she still displayed emotions that amazed him.

"You don't even know these people, yet you're so worried about them," he remarked, his gaze fixed on her expression, curious to see how it would change again.

Oblivious to his gaze, she responded absently, "I knew them before... in a very, very distant past." The last part was barely audible, but Apollo's keen senses picked it up.

"A very distant past?" he wondered what she meant but decided to put his questions on hold. It wasn't the right time, he needed to report to Professor Adolfo about the artifact in his possession first.

"Ali, let's go back. We have something more important to do," he reminded her. She nodded in agreement, her expression shifting as they prepared to return.

.

.

.

Over the growing darkness of the orange and purple hued horizon, the security officer, Darius, Rose and Monny slowly arrive as the setting sun disappears in the sky. The children and their protector became the embodiment of tired yet victorious crew as they emerge from the forest. They laughed on, and their loud laughter was music to the nerves that had been tight earlier in the camp.

"See Lady Alicia I told they won't be in trouble" the professor told her while a smile plaster on his face. The person who received his words on the other hand only nodded happy they are safe.

"Look, they're back!" A student screamed her voice slicing through the murmurs of the gathering crowd. All the anxious students of High class immediately rush to their side wanting to make sure they truly safe. It was a gesture of relief and joy, Apollo turned, his heart felt light although he already knows they were safe, seeing them reuniting with their friends again makes him happy.

A crowd was immediately formed, friends from other classes came wanting to know what transpired when they disappeared.

"What happened? Are you all okay?" Samantha yelled and proceeded towards them.

The security officer nodded, at the same time his shoulders slumped with the fatigue he had accrued. "We had a bit of an encounter, some people we don't know about, but everyone is safe now."

Darius moved forward excitedly, His face glowed with passion. "You won't believe what we faced!" he excitedly started causing all attention to him.

"Three cloaked creatures came at us, stating they sought a boy for some 'wolf.' It was terrifying!"

Monny mentioned further, "And I threw a grenade!" Can you believe it? It actually worked!"