Chapter 1: The Walls That Hold Us

  Kylie blinked, her vision swimming as the blinding white light faded. The classroom came into focus—slowly, like a photograph developing in reverse. The air smelled of burnt plastic and ozone, a sharp contrast to the usual scent of crayons and disinfectant.

  The children were sprawled on the floor, stirring groggily. The lights were dead, the smartboards dark, and the hum of the air conditioner was conspicuously absent. Only the faint glow of battery-powered devices—a tablet here, a toy there—lit the room.

  "Kids? Are you okay?" Kylie’s voice was steady, but her hands trembled as she moved from child to child, checking for injuries.

  "Teacher Kylie… what happened?" Mei-Li asked, her pigtails askew as she rubbed her eyes.

  "Yeah, why’s it so dark?" Eli added, his voice tinged with both curiosity and fear.

  Kylie forced a smile. "I’m not sure, but we’ll figure it out together, okay? Everyone, stay close to me."

  The children huddled around her, their small faces pale and wide-eyed. Before she could say more, a sound cut through the silence—a shriek, high-pitched and guttural, like nothing she’d ever heard.

  Heads whipped toward the window.

  Outside, the sky was a canvas of chaos. Massive, pterodactyl-like creatures soared above, their leathery wings blotting out the sun. Their cries echoed through the air, sending shivers down Kylie’s spine.

  "Dinosaurs!" Zayne exclaimed, pointing with a mix of awe and terror.

  Kylie’s stomach churned. She stepped closer to the window, her breath fogging the glass. The streets below were a nightmare—cars overturned, roads cracked, and buildings leaning precariously. Smoke rose in the distance, and the once-bustling city of Singapore was eerily silent, save for the occasional distant roar.

  Is this just here? Or is it everywhere?

  The thought was interrupted by a knock at the door. Kylie turned to see Vice Principal Lim stepping inside, his face pale and frazzled but his voice steady.

  "Teacher Kylie," he said, his tone urgent. "We’re gathering all the students and staff in the auditorium. Please bring your class there immediately."

  Kylie nodded, relief and anxiety warring within her. At least there was a plan. "Understood. We’ll head there now."

  The vice principal gave her a reassuring nod. "Stay calm, and keep the children close. We’ll explain everything once everyone is assembled."

  As he left to inform the other classrooms, Kylie turned to her students. "Alright, everyone. We’re going to the auditorium. But first, let’s grab your belongings. Quickly and quietly, okay?"

  The children nodded, their trust in her unwavering despite the fear in their eyes.

  "Serena," Kylie called out, her voice firm. "Can you help the kids pack their things? We need to move fast."

  Serena, who had been quietly comforting a group of students, nodded and sprang into action. "Kids, follow me. Grab your bags, but only take what you need. No toys, no extra stuff. We have to move quickly."

  As the children hurried to their cubbies, Kylie quickly grabbed her own bag from the teacher’s desk. Inside were her phone, a first-aid kit, and a few snacks she kept for emergencies. She also unplugged the classroom tablet, tucking it into her bag. This might come in handy, she thought.

  Serena approached Kylie, her expression serious. "Kylie, we should grab anything that could be useful—scissors, rulers, anything that could work as a weapon or tool. Just in case."

  Kylie hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "You’re right. Better to be prepared."

  She quickly rummaged through the classroom supplies, grabbing a pair of heavy-duty scissors, a first-aid kit, some sanitising supplies and a few sturdy rulers. Serena did the same, stuffing a small toolkit and a roll of duct tape into her bag.

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  "Alright, everyone," Kylie said, her voice calm but firm. "Stay close, and hold onto each other. We’re going to the auditorium now."

  The group moved into the hallway, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. The preschool unit was eerily intact—no overturned furniture, no bloodstains—but the air was thick with tension.

  As they reached the preschool unit, Kylie’s heart sank. The room was already filled with the preschool’s staff: the cook, Mrs. Tan, the cleaner, Mr. Lee, and the administrative support staff, Ms. Lim. The children and teachers huddled together, their faces pale and wide-eyed.

  Vice Principal Lim stood on the stage, his voice steady as he addressed the crowd.

  "Everyone, please remain calm. We’re working on a plan to ensure your safety. Teachers, please take a headcount of your students and report any missing or injured."

  Kylie quickly did as instructed, relieved to find all ten of her children accounted for and unharmed.

  As the vice principal spoke, Mr. Tan, the head of security for the building, stepped forward with a few brave individuals. "We’re going to check the hallways and secure the building. Stay here and stay safe."

  The group nodded, their faces grim but determined. They moved toward the doors, their footsteps echoing in the silence.

  Minutes passed, and the tension in the room grew. Then, the doors burst open, and Mr. Tan stumbled in, his face pale and his breathing ragged.

  "Goblins!" he shouted, his voice filled with fear and horror. "They’re everywhere! Tiny, vicious creatures—they’re attacking people! Some are already injured!"

  The room erupted into chaos. Teachers and staff shouted questions, while the children clung to each other, their faces filled with terror.

  Kylie’s heart raced as she processed the information. Goblins? Attacking people?

  Before she could say more, a holographic screen flickered to life above the stage, accompanied by a clicking timer sound. The room fell silent as everyone stared at the glowing text:

  [Group Quest: Survive the Goblin Raid]

  Objective: Defend the building from the goblin invasion.

  Time Limit: 2 hours

  Reward: +500 EXP, Unlock Building Safezone (Temporary).

  Failure: Building overrun, penalties applied.

  Kylie’s heart raced as another notification appeared in her vision:

  [Individual Quest: Protect the Innocents]

  Objective: Safeguard your students and return them to their parents.

  Minimum Success: 5/10 children returned safely.

  - Success Reward: ???

  - Failure (Below 5/10): Penalty: -50 EXP, Skill Lock for 24 hours.

  Before Kylie could process the quests, a shrill shriek echoed through the building. The sound was followed by screams—human screams—coming from the hallway.

  "Stay here!" Vice Principal Lim barked, rushing toward the door with a few brave staff members.

  The room fell silent as everyone stared at the goblins, their fear momentarily replaced by awe.

  "What… what is that?" Serena whispered, her voice filled with disbelief.

  Kylie’s stomach churned as she heard the unmistakable sound of scuffling and growling. Goblins. They were inside the building.

  At first, the children seemed more curious than afraid.

  "Look! They’re so tiny!" Eli whispered, peeking out from behind Kylie’s leg.

  "And their ears are funny!" Zayne added, pointing at the goblins’ large, droopy ears, which twitched and flopped as the creatures moved.

  The goblins were small, no taller than a child’s waist, with hunched postures and gangly limbs. Their skin was a mottled, dirty green, like moss-covered stones left in a damp forest, and it seemed to glisten faintly in the dim light. Their most striking feature was their enormous, bulbous eyes—glowing a sickly yellow-green with vertical slit pupils that locked onto the humans with predatory intensity.

  But to the children, they almost looked… cute.

  "Teacher Kylie, are they… monsters?" Mei-Li asked, her voice trembling but her eyes wide with curiosity.

  Before Kylie could answer, one of the goblins tilted its head, its oversized eyes blinking slowly. Its small, rounded nose twitched, and its droopy ears flopped comically as it scratched its head with a clawed hand. For a moment, it looked almost harmless—like a strange, grubby little creature from a storybook.

  The children giggled nervously, their fear momentarily eased by the goblin’s almost-endearing appearance.

  But then the goblin grinned.

  Its mouth stretched wide, revealing rows of jagged, razor-sharp teeth—uneven and jagged like shards of broken glass. The contrast between its almost-cute features and those terrifying teeth sent a chill down Kylie’s spine.

  But as the goblins reached the preschool unit doors, they were stopped by an invisible barrier. The creatures lunged at it, their tiny bodies slamming against the unseen wall with furious snarls, only to bounce back as if hitting solid stone. Their claws scraped wildly at the air, desperate to tear through the barrier, while their glowing eyes burned with malice and frustration. They chittered and hissed, their beady eyes gleaming with a mix of rage and hunger, their high-pitched voices grating against the tense silence of the room.

  The children screamed, their giggles turning to cries of terror as they scrambled back, clinging to Kylie and Serena.

  "Stay back! Stay back!" Kylie shouted, her voice firm but shaking as she stepped between the children and the goblins.

  The other goblins joined in, chittering and growling as they threw themselves at the barrier. Their high-pitched voices grated on the ears, and their earthy, pungent smell—a mix of damp soil, rotting vegetation, and something faintly metallic—filled the air.

  One of the goblins, smaller than the rest, crouched low to the ground, its oversized eyes darting around the room. It tilted its head, almost curiously, as it spotted a shiny object on the floor—a child’s toy car that had been dropped in the chaos. The creature reached out with a clawed hand, only to recoil when its fingers met the invisible barrier. It let out a frustrated growl, baring its jagged teeth, before scampering back to join the others.

  The children huddled closer together, their earlier curiosity replaced by sheer terror.

  "Teacher Kylie, I’m scared!" Eli whimpered, burying his face in her side.

  "It’s okay, Eli," Kylie said, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her chest. "They can’t get in. We’re safe here."

  Kylie’s mind raced as she processed the situation. The preschool unit is a safe zone. The goblins can’t get in.

  But inside, she wasn’t so sure. The goblins’ aggression was escalating, their tiny bodies throwing themselves against the barrier with increasing ferocity. How long would the safe zone hold?

  But before she could say more, another shriek echoed through the room—this time from Mei-Li herself. The girl’s eyes glowed faintly as a burst of energy shot from her hands, shattering a nearby chair.

  The room fell silent.

  Kylie stared at Mei-Li, her mind racing. A notification popped up in her vision:

  [Status Insight Available]

  Would you like to assess Mei-Li’s status?

  [Yes/No]

  Kylie hesitated, then mentally selected Yes.

  [Mei-Li Tan]

  Age: 4

  Class: Awakened (Potential: Elemental Affinity)

  Status: Terrified, Unstable

  Oh no.

  Kylie reached out, her voice soft but firm. "Mei-Li, it’s okay. Take a deep breath. I’m here."

  But inside, she was torn. Her family was out there, possibly in danger. Yet her students were here, relying on her.

  What do I do?