The apartment was empty as it was the middle of the day and the men were out on the fields. But the moment she stepped out of the silence of the apartment, she was able to notice that something was indeed going on outside just like the dragon said.
Not wasting any more time in descending the stairs all the way to the ground floor, she teleported to the lobby of the building before finally stepping out, and that was when she noticed the crowd gathered there while gazing up at the sky.
As her gaze followed the direction of their sight, she found herself looking at what almost could pass as a type of fireworks... just a different kind.
"What’s going on with the barrier?" She asked 2025 when the creature didn’t took the initiative to update her on the situation on its own.
There was a silence for merely a second or two before it finally responded. [A severe hailstorm is currently ongoing, but the barrier is doing its job and stopping the ice balls from entering Greenstone, creating the view you are seeing at the moment.]
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Grace observed the scene before her. The sky above Greenstone shimmered as massive ice shards shattered upon the invisible barrier, scattering into harmless, glowing fragments before vanishing.
The people gathered in the streets murmured in awe and confusion with their gazes fixed on the breathtaking sight.
To them, it must have seemed like a miracle... or an omen.
"Looks like we have given them quite the show," she muttered under her breath.
[You should be prepared for questions,] 2025 warned.
Grace sighed, rubbing her temple. The last thing she needed was for the people of Greenstone to start questioning why their city remained untouched while the world outside descended into chaos. But she couldn’t exactly step forward and announce, Oh, by the way, I placed an advanced energy barrier over the entire city. You are welcome.
Of course, the barrier wasn’t going to be a secret for too long, but she still felt that this wasn’t the right time to let the residents know about it. She didn’t want them to start feeling like they had become completely unshakable while they were still learning to live in this new world.
Before she could think of a way to calm the crowd, a sharp whistle cut through the murmurs.
"Alright, everyone, get back to work!" a familiar voice boomed.
She turned to see Davian, his green eyes scanning the gathered civilians with authority. "The sky might be pretty to look at, but we still have things to do. Don’t let a little weather distract you!"
There were a few reluctant groans, but the people obeyed, dispersing immediately.
As the crowd thinned, Rune appeared beside her, arms crossed. "This isn’t a normal storm," he muttered.
"Why do you think so?" She asked, surprised by the determination in his tone.
He turned his head slightly toward her. There was an unreadable expression crossing his face. "I just can’t shake the feeling that I’ve sensed this kind of energy before."
Davian’s attention snapped to him. "What do you mean?"
Rune frowned, his icy-blue eyes dark with thought. "It’s familiar. I can’t place it yet, but I know I’ve felt something like this before."
A cold weight settled in Grace’s chest. "You think something is causing this?"
Rune didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he tilted his head as if listening to something only he could hear. "Or maybe someone." Once again he sounded so sure. "And if they are," he murmured, "then they are not just summoning a storm."
* * *
Within next ten minutes, she and the men were back in their apartment to delve deeper into the matter.
The atmosphere was tense as Davian got Dr. Kian and 2025 also appeared to join the meeting. Once the doc was filled on with what was going on, all eyes settled on 2025.
"The storm isn’t just random," 2025 said. "It’s expanding outward in a circular pattern, almost like…" it hesitated before finishing, "...a signal."
Grace’s brow furrowed. "A signal?"
2025 nodded. "It’s too rhythmic to be natural. The way the energy is dispersing - it’s almost like someone is sending out a call."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Davian leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. "If someone is trying to call something… who - or what - are they calling?"
"That’s what we need to find out," Grace said.
Rune, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "It might not be an ’it.’"
All eyes turned to him.
"What do you mean?" Dr. Kian asked.
Rune’s expression was unreadable. "What if it’s not an object or a creature? What if someone is trying to call someone else?"
A deep frown creased Grace’s forehead. "Calling someone?"
Rune nodded, his posture tense. "The energy in the storm… it’s not just chaotic. There’s something structured about it, like a pulse, a rhythm. It’s as if someone is sending a message."
Dr. Kian tapped his fingers against the table, his sharp gaze focused on Rune. "And you said it feels familiar?"
Rune hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes. I don’t know from where or when, but I know I’ve felt this energy before."
A strange unease settled over the room. If Rune was so sure about recognizing this force, then it wasn’t something random.
"So, we are dealing with an unknown sender and possibly an unknown receiver. Great." Davian stated in a dry tone, but his eyes were serious. "Any guesses on where this signal might be reaching?"
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2025’s voice cut in. "That’s what I am currently analyzing. However, based on the pattern, I suspect the energy is being dispersed in multiple directions - potentially searching for something or someone rather than simply broadcasting."
Grace exhaled slowly. "So, not just a signal. More like… a beacon?"
2025 hummed in agreement. "Yes. And given its power, whoever - or whatever - is meant to receive it is likely just as dangerous as the sender."
Silence filled the room once more before Dr. Kian broke it. "You all are missing the biggest factor here - someone out there can bring hailstorm and use it for their personal matter."