Lucas jumped down from the tree. The Gilliant map was still open in his hand. He looked at it, mumbled something then the whole town appeared in the map. Many stars and dots filled the map. His star was alone in the woods. As he followed the path that Irina took, he searched some particular star in the map. That star must have been accompanied by a dot or two or another star.
He kept looking in every possible place. Dots were all over the town, most of the stars were in the library, school, or in the Scholar-Dome. Lucas didn’t understand why the map couldn’t plot the area of the new land yet. He was curious whether the star that he looked for over there, but then he spotted unusual group gather together in one house outer the town.
It was the elder’s house thought Lucas. He paced up his step, almost running passing through the bridge while asking to himself why he didn’t know this short way to the woods.
Mrs. Letty almost jumped in her seat when Lucas creaked
“That is the very map I have invented.” Roman leaned on the chair. He was done observing the map. “You invented a map?” Asked Benjamin nonchalantly. “I did.” Roman replied to Benjamin then he added to Lucas. “So, are you declaring where are you coming from? Or should I say when are you coming from?” Lucas glance briefly at Nieal and Benjamin. “They’re fine.” The elder answered Lucas hesitation. Hearing the elder’s guarantee, Lucas looked at Roman in the eyes. “Yes.” “Alright, now tell us who you are!” “I come from six hundred years from now. I am the only son of King Armand, the ruler of Center Isle, there are three kingdoms, our land is covered by snow for more than two years. Our scholars been kidnapped, witches been murdered and once in a while mass murder happen somewhere. We have no idea of what force that we are dealing with. Until one day a strange book lied open on the table in my study, the prophecy book, it led me her
Riding the carriage back to the library, Lucas mind was full. Why the elder lectured him with what happened at the other land and gave him an update. Did the elder knew that he wasn’t pay any attention at the meeting? Lucas shrugged. He didn’t listen to any of the meeting’s discussion. He didn’t feel have to. He was busy observing the map on the table. The carriage entered the back yard of the library. Mrs. Letty had waited, she sat on the bench next to the back door. Her coach came forward when Lucas pulled the carriage to stop. Mrs. Letty gave Lucas a hopeful look. Curiosity had filled her eyes. But Lucas just said thank you and hurried himself to leave. Walking across the back yard alone, Lucas heard the sound of Mrs. Letty carriage’s wheels, it drew closer and closer until it ran passing him, then he stopped. Unrolling the Gilliant map in his hands. Murmuring something, then the map showed one colored bright star alone. He knew very well t
“I said that is not you call. You don’t have to go there.” Nieal helped Irina out from the carriage. “I said, it’s not yours to decide.” Irina retorted. She took Nieal’s hand then let it go harshly when her two feet safely touched the ground. “Let Edvard handle it. Your father gave him a little training. He should already master the spell and the technique.” Nieal tried again. “Nieal, you know it too. We short of people there. Why can’t I help?” “Because you’re new and inexperience.” Irina pouted. She pushed open the door. “How dare you—” Nieal’s brows knitted, he wondered why Irina suddenly stop. He saw the reason why she stops talking. He walked in and stood next to her holding the same puzzle look as her. Roman calmly sat on his seat, he casually stared at his daughter. At the same time, Lucas offered a smile when Irina stepped inside. “Papa, what is he doing here? Why he’s here?” She glared at Lucas blatantly.
A loud wind rumbled in the stomach ripped the carriage tense air. Lucas calmly reached his bag then pulled out a bundle of cloth. Murmuring something inaudibly. He opened the cloth. Irina looked down, hiding her face. The sweet smell of warm bread filled the air. A moment later the bread presented within her eyeshot range. Looking up at once, Irina threw a questioning look at the bread. “Time for early meal, I suppose.” Lucas answered her question to the bread. Then he watched Irina took the bread and started to eat it. Lucas ate his bread too, he leaned on his seat. Taking a look at the window outside, it was dark along the way with a faint light from the lantern in the front used by the coach. He felt the soft material that he leaned and sat on, they rode on a fancy carriage provided by Nieal. Resting his elbow on the windowsill, he put his cheek upon his palm pretended to enjoy the dark view outside. He enjoyed the reflection on the window, to be e
Irina sat next to Lucas in Benjamin’s residence. Sliding smoothly to the end of the couch, she didn’t want to be too close to Lucas. Apart from that, she felt stuffy, Diaz took them strolling around the little town prior to be here. Lucas pretended he didn’t notice anything. He needed to change Irina’s perception about him. That’s why he would do his best to impress her again. Making sure her safety was his first priority. He planned to follow her blindly. Diaz laid a large map on the floor. Its size couldn’t fit the available table. It was a new map, not the map that Lucas saw back on The Elder’s study. The size could tell that it had already combined and connected with the larger town where Nieal and Roman stayed. Bending over forward, Irina observed the map carefully. So, all plans that Papa worked very hard had done and already turned into a map, thought Irina inside. Her eyes glued on the map. She examined the very precise illustrative lines of drawing.
Diaz was the first one to arrive. He was running in fear if something bad happened with Irina, sweat filled his forehead. Seeing Irina and Lucas were fine, he bent with both hand on his knees, trying to catch his breath. “Is something happen?” Diaz asked after he could breathe evenly. “Yes.” Her reply made the air surround them chilly. Few seconds later, Benjamin came then followed by Edvard. Benjamin sensed the chilly surrounding but didn’t stop him uttering his question. “Irina, are you alright? What happen?” He noticed the remaining ash from the dead dark creature. “Did the two of you kill that dark creature?” “I did.” Said Irina, she hardly suppressed her anger. Raising a big question in the others head, except Lucas. “As expected from you.” Said Edvard randomly. He walked toward the ashes, trying to examine it. “I’m returning to Diaz place.” She told them, after her anger had subsided one level lower. “There’s no need to e
Lucas made the neighborhood in total darkness. He felt Irina moving closer to him, making his lip tilted into a smile. He saw all of the creature’s eyes lightened up. The sudden darkness startled them and cause them to stepped back and crashed each other. Lucas took the change to get away from the protection bubble and leave Irina safe inside it. The light was back, it froze them a second. Then he made it pitch black again as it would be easier to kill them. He heard all the flying Manna fell with their last scary melodious voice. Good, thought Lucas. He directed his next aim to the first row in front of him. Then the next row, and next, and next, although some of them were quite powerful, it didn’t stop him. He fought them with sole intention of killing them. He did the last kill in less than twenty minutes. Making sure all the ashes had completely gone, he lifted the darkness and the invisible bubble. Lucas and Irina were separated by ten steps. He
“It’s open.” Said Irina from inside her bedroom. Her eyes shifted from the book in her lap to the opening door. Nieal hardly made the door open. His both hands held a tray with teapot and two cups upon it. “I was hoping you could be more kind to open the door for me, since—” He showed the obvious tray in his hand. Irina smiled. “How should I know that your both hands are busy?” Putting the tray on the only table near the open window where the ray of morning sun warmed the bedroom. He poured the tea in to the cups. Closing his mouth after opening it for a second, Nieal realized that he didn’t tell her what was in his hands. “You’re right.” He sat on the made bed and handed one of the cups in his hand to Irina whom sat on a new arm chair that placed facing her bed. She sat with her back lean on one arm of the chair and both her feet hang on the other arm. Her book laid open on her lap. “How is little Dee?” “Good.” Replied Nieal. “I bring
“Come in.” Said Julian. Irina stepped in to his study inside his castle. He was reading some book, then he stood after put a mark between the pages. “Hey, I hope I don’t disturb you.” “It’s a pleasure to have you here. What can I do for you?” Julian motioned her to take a seat. She pulled a chair behind the clean polished round table, before Julian could do it for her. Julian took a seat across her right after she was settles in her seat. “I want to see how are you doing. You were not there, in the cottage, when we were saying goodbye to Deandra this morning. Lucas taking her back.” That look again, thought Irina. The miserable mixed with sorrowful in blank look. It was just too sad to see. Irina could sense the hurt that he felt in his heart. It seemed he truly love Deandra. “I know.” He said. “I’m so sorry.” Julian wanted to look alright, that’s why he smiled at her as he couldn’t mutter any good respond.
Two days had passed since Lady Cotts’s stiff body dropped dead on to the floor the same time as the last grain of sand in the hourglass. They hadn’t burry her lifeless body yet, she was placed in the glass coffin. Her eyes were cannot be closed, they were wide open and black, with the trace of suppressed fire on them. Roman put his arm around Irina’s shoulder. They both were staring at the glass coffin. “I made her dead.” Said Irina blankly. “She asked for it.” Roman calmed her. He was back as soon as he sensed the energy that he had been avoided for over twenty years had faded and gone. His comeback arrival was welcomed by his daughter enthusiastically. “You did the right thing.” He squeezed her shoulder lightly. “You’re right.” Irina nodded. They heard foot step drew closer, but they didn’t turn to look who it was. “Mr. Roman, may I have a moment?” By then both father and daughter took a look. He was standing next to Roman. “
Irina looked to her side. A strong muscular big black jaguar stood firmly next to her. Little companion? She thought inside, this Iolomb surely had a real bad vision. She gave the Iolomb a sly grin. How to make the Iolomb dead was the only thing on her mind. Ro nudged her as if he could read her mind. He wanted her to go on, leaving the Iolomb with him. Irina shook her head harshly. Ro nudged again. This time, Irina heard disgusting chuckle from the Iolomb. She hated it. She hated being looked down by the creature. So, she turned to face Ro then nodded. That was all she had to do. In the blink of an eye, Ro launched with incredible speed that normal eyes wouldn’t be able to follow. Soon, he was towering in front of the Iolomb. The look of surprise on the creature’s face was only lasted for a moment. Ro made its face down onto the cold floor. What had happened next to the Iolomb, Irina would never know as she took herself upstairs. The map of t
Irina was climbing back through the transparent hole. She put firmly her foot one by one in Deandra’s bedroom. Her face was sour and she was sulking. She was never be in this worse of mood. Deandra stepped back. As the hole diminished, her conscious came. She blinked, then her eyes normal again. “Miss Irina?” Narrowing her eyes for a second at Deandra, making sure that she was free from any form of her mother’s influence. Irina closed her eyes, she forced herself to stay in control. The door swung open. Lucas was still able to see the diminishing of the hole as he came in before Julian and Hilda. “Good. You’re back.” Irina didn’t mean to sound harsh, but she sounded like one and startled Deandra. “Where are you from?” Lucas snapped. His eyes drilled into Irina’s. Hilda and Julian exchanged a look, then threw Lucas a questioning look which ignored by the later. At the same time, Deandra became more and more uneasy. Irina
“Get… Up…” Said Lady Cotts coldly. Shaking her way up, Deandra managed to stand. She stepped back. Didn’t want to be too close. “Speak!” “The king and his group are still alive.” The Iolomb stepped forward. ”I wouldn’t worry about them, Milady. They have been damaged.” “I don’t care about them.” Lady Cotts looked straight into Deandra’s eyes. Blaming her. “I want my daughter to join us.” She tore her haze, shifted to the tall glass window behind her. No one dared to respond. The Iolomb made a side glace at Deandra, while Deandra seemed more interested in her shoes. “Well?” Asked Lady Cotts. Her voice sounded gentle and sweet but somehow send shiver to the Iolomb and Deandra. “I will gather an army, Milady.” The Iolomb bowed and left the room hurriedly. From a far, Deandra saw tiny black dot moving between the treetops through the tall glass
Plakk… Deandra felt burning on her face as the tickle sound and smell of flesh burning filled the air. She fell down the floor, on one side of her body with her hand supporting her weight. Knowing that tear only made the burning felt more painful, she held in as hard as she could. “Now I have to deal with this stupid war.” Lady Cotts looked down at Deandra with loathe in her red eyes. “Milady, I have nothing to do with the war. They hate me. Especially Miss Irina, she AAAAAAAHH…” The palm that marked in her face burnt deeper into her flesh. “Don’t you dare talking about my daughter with your filthy tongue, useless human.” Right, Deandra was an ordinary human before she met the lady whose look bear a resemblance to someone she missed very much, she used to address her dearly with Miss Irina. The one who left right after her wedding. Leaving her father, Master Danieal, and Deandra. It was then in a middl
Deandra walked back and forth in circle in her bedroom. She was locked up in her bedroom, and she didn’t know why. Anxiety crawled into her heart and her head started to tell her things. ‘What did I do?’ Was the first question in her head. ‘Did I do a bad thing?’, ‘What kind of bad thing? Last time I remembered I was being pinned on the floor’, ‘Did they find out who am I?’ ‘Who am I?’ the last question echoed in her head. Her stomach growled as she didn’t touch her food since she had woken up this late afternoon and it was already dark outside. She had no appetite. She was hungry but had no intention to eat. The kind of feeling she acknowledged as a sign. Something had wiring in her vein, running with her blood through her heard then send signal to her brain. She could see but her vision was not hers, she went blank inside. She screamed. Screaming a name that she used to say it dearly. The door opened with a loud bang. “Miss I
Squeaking slowly, an older scholar two seat from Master Tobias pushed his chair back as he stood. Master Z, Lucas said inwardly. Then he turned to Julian who gave him a shrugged as he too didn’t understand. “Antony, don’t give me further reason to regret my decision of letting you pass the final assignment.” Master Z scolded the young scholar. He turned gracefully to face all the royal members in the room. “His highness is not done talking. Please continue, Your Highness. We all are listening.” Lucas nodded. “Thank you, Master Z.” He directed his stare to Antony and all of the younger scholars at the back sit. Antony got up then bowed. “My apology, Your Highness. I was wrong, jump into unreasonable conclusion.” Second later all the younger scholars raised then bowed, murmuring their apology. Taken aback by the sudden bows. What is this? New tradition to become a scholar? Thought Lucas. He swiftly shook the thoughts away. Absurd. Pullin
The sky outside almost dusked. Lucas and Irina hadn’t show themselves at the cottage. Making the atmosphere in the common room tense and anxious. Common room was full, chairs were set pushed against the wall. The large table in the middle of the room was circled by the older scholars, younger scholars were sat on chair by the wall. “Why they aren’t here yet?” Julian heard Hilda whispered softly through his ear. “It’s getting dark soon.” They were standing by the open door of the common room along with Sebastian, Darren and Captain H, waiting for Lucas and Irina. “You’re right.” Julian agreed in low voice. He turned to his best friend. “Sebastian, let’s find them.” Sebastian raised one of his brows, then without any word he followed Julian out. At the front yard, they met with the rest members of Julian’s castle. They saw Julian and Sebastian walked toward them. Julian dismissed their bow instantly as he wanted to asked them questions.