“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
The following morning, Irina waved goodbye to her father and Nieal. It was their turn to visit the New Land. Lots of things needed to be shorted right away. Things that Irina too lazy to understand. Usually, if she had nothing to do, she would go to the library and spent almost her tome of the day there reading. Today was different, this was the first time in her life that her father wasn’t around. Her father specifically told her not to step outside the house while he was away. Because of the huge distance, even with his witch’s speed, he wouldn’t be able to reach back in time, if something bad happened with her. Sitting in the kitchen, Irina steered her tea in a glass. Beside the glass was a half empty little wine bottle. She managed to convince Marthe for sneaking a bottle of wine out from Nieal’s cellar. “Is it good, Miss?” Marthe looked at Irina with a curious but scare expression. “Try yourself.” Said Irina nonchalantly. “Ouh, I wouldn’t