The walls were charred sporadically, and the edges of the building had crumbled down. Many of the windows were shattered, and those intact were hazed in black soot. And even though it wasn't there, Len could almost see the smoke puffing out the holes of the building, like a firebeast panting its final breaths after sustaining a fatal wound.

"What happened here?" Len asked, "Burned down?"

"Probably," Oliver answered.

"Couldn't everyone fight it with magic?"

"Not if the fire was also magic," Oliver said, and scanned the building again. He tapped his feet on the ground and bit the edge of his lip, "I think we know who did this."

"Hn—Is also a fire user?"

Oliver shook his head. "No, he's wood, but he's good enough to do this."

Unsatisfied, Len watched the building again, and then he noticed: one window, in the midst, intact and clear. In the back of his mind a suspicion nagged at him, and after counting the number of floors, he became sure.

"Should we check our room?" Len asked.

Oliver made out a noise but hesitated to answer. "It might be dangerous."

"What else can we do?"

Oliver kept silent, and fiddled with his fingers. Then, after a while, he let out a sigh. "Fine, but we'll have to be careful. Any sign of danger and we leave, understood?"

Len nodded, "Nhn."

They walked in.

The lobby was empty. All the lights were out. And the floor was shattered. As though there had been an explosion. Len took a deep breath and listened, listened closely——nothing but silence. Then he glanced at Oliver. "Go?"

Oliver didn't reply. He took a step forward, and Len followed beside. They tip-ran their way up the stairs to their room's floor, but when they entered the hallway, something felt off.

Len didn't know what it was, but a quiet murmuring sound did come from somewhere.

Oliver held his arm out to his side and walked forward. Len tiptoed behind him. And as they neared the door to their room, the sound became clearer. The sound of two people speaking, discussing... about something.

Len sidled up to the wall, and stuck his ear barely away. Their voices became discernible. Something about him. Something about him and Oliver.

Oliver stopped, glanced back, and cocked his head. Len walked to him, and tilted his head a little.

"what's it about?"

"us... something about us..."

Oliver nodded. "is it good?"

"i don't know. do we get closer?"

Oliver bit his lip, and looked down. Then he nodded.

Len pulled his foot up on the ground and pushed it forward, positioning it back-sole first, then slowly lowering it, careful not to make any noise. He took another step. And another. Then as he reached just beside the door, he stuck his ear by the gap.

"...kids. It's not safe."

"..."

"I'm telling you they would have died if—"

"And they didn't."

"Yeah, because I was there."

"..."

"Agh—you know he—"

...

Their voices stopped. Then step, steps, louder, and when Len realised what was going on the door swung open. Len jumped back, and looked at them. Ryuto, and the blue-haired-guy from yesterday—Kaito.

"You two," Kaito said.

Oliver stepped forward. "What happened here?"

"Someone set off a bomb. We don't know who did it though."

Oliver watched him. "Why are you two in our room?"

Kaito sighed. And Ryuto walked forward. "Here," he said, handing two badges, with a distinct number written on each of them. "With these you'll be able to access public, and some private services for free, and more easily."

Kaito said, "You say that but we are going to have to pay for them."

"Don't mind him."

Kaito sighed, and Ryuto stepped forward, placing the badges on Len's hand.

"You two might want to leave this place soon," he said, waving his hand before disappearing.

"What does he mean, by that?" Len asked.

"Nothing. Just, he wants you two to move out somewhere on your own," he said, walking away.

Len entered the room. The walls were brown-black, and the floor covered in black and white debris. Their beds were charcoal, and the table that separated them had turned to ash. Len's suitcase, standing in the middle of the mess, was charred and had a large hole on the edge. Through it, the contents, his clothes and books, were all burned down.

Oliver's wasn't any better. He had only brought his school backpack, which was now just a pile of dust and dull metal things. He didn't seem too sad about it though, so Len focused on his own.

"Len."

Len nodded.

"Let's go."

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※ Eh. I would've liked to edit this more but ig time's up.
As always, please tell me what you think about it ^^