When Sia woke up the next day, Varian was gone.

She tried calling him, texting him. There was no response.

Filled with worry, she decided to approach the authorities to lodge a missing case. Then, she found a small holographic letter in his room.

{Today is the last day. There is just some work remaining. I'll be back by evening.}

Sia took a deep breath and suppressed her emotions. She was both worried and enraged.

With a cold face, she attended school.

As expected, Varian skipped today's school.

Kacha!

...