Chapter 2

Chapter 2

 

 

“Lyrene?” Luke asked, sounding surprised by my sudden appearance. I was soaked wet, standing in front of his house. “Come in, hurry,” he said and ushered me to come inside. I nodded and went inside his house. I took off my coat and hung it on the hanger near the front door.

 

“Are your parents here?” I asked him.

 

“Nope. They’re in Misha’s house,” Luke replied. Misha was Luke’s three-year-old cousin. She was a very sweet and adorable little girl. Luke’s parents – Marina and Douglas – were very kind to me as well. They’re the only adults in this village that would listen to me. My father would listen to me as well, but with Rachelyn and my mother around, it was pretty hard to expect him to believe me.

 

Luke motioned me to sit down on the sofa. I thanked him and sat down.

 

“What’s wrong?” he asked with a concerned tone. I bit my bottom lip. I needed to tell him, but why was I hesitating so much?

 

“I spotted a stranger just now. I’m sure he’s not from this village, Luke. He was eyeing my house,” I said.

Luke’s expression changed into a furious expression. “What?! You leave your house alone, with a stranger lurking around your house? Don’t you understand that it’s dangerous? You should’ve given me a call!”

 

“Well, I saw him from my bedroom’s window. I got scared and closed the curtain. When I opened my curtain again, he’s gone already,” I said.

 

“Why don’t you tell your father? It’s dangerous!” he said sternly. His usual cheerful and playful self was gone in an instant. I must’ve worried him so much. I felt so guilty suddenly.

 

“Sorry. You know my parents. They won’t believe me,” I said.

 

“Your father believes you,” he said.

 

“Not with Rachelyn around,” I murmured.

“But you could at least try! You’re putting yourself in danger by coming here alone!” he snapped at me.

“Look, I’m not a little kid anymore. I can protect myself just fine! I got here to inform you about it and this is your reaction? Fine, Luke, I’ll go back home and tell my father. That’s what you want right? And to think that I trusted you,” I said angrily. He had no right to be angry at me at all.

 

“Wait! I’m sorry, Lyrene. Don’t go, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to be angry at you. I’m just worried,” he said and gave me a pleading look.

 

I was too irritated to forgive him right away, but nevertheless I did. I sighed. “I’m not going anywhere,” I said.

 

He smiled. “That’s better. Sorry. So, back to our previous topic. Are you sure he’s not from our village? Maybe it’s just your imagination,” he said.

 

“I am very sure. In case you forget, I have photographic memory, Luke, and I’ve never seen him before,” I said.

 

“I’ll check out the area,” Luke said.

 

“Don’t, it’s too risky. What if he’s from one of the kingdoms? What if our whereabouts is found out already?” I asked.

 

“There could be a possibility of that. If that’s the case, then we’re in a big trouble,” he said. He sounded worried as well. If it’s someone from the kingdom, then me, Luke, and Rachelyn would be taken away.

 

“If only we can hide our Archeic,” I murmured to myself.

 

“It’s impossible. We, Archeics, have this sixth sense of sensing people with Archeic as well. If that stranger is indeed from one of the kingdoms, we need not worry, I sense no trace of any other Archeics around here,” Luke said confidently.

 

“We’re inexperienced, Luke. What if there’s some way to hide the aura?” I muttered.

 

“Lyrene,” he sighed exasperatedly, “You’re much smarter than I am, and you’ve read all of the books inside my house. It’s stated there that there’s no way to hide our Archeic.”

 

“I know, but there’s a distinct possibility that the book is wrong. Luke, we haven’t been in contact with the outside world for more than a hundred year. Maybe they’ve invented some way to hide it. I just have a bad feeling about this,” I said.

 

“We’re not discussing this anymore. You’re just being too paranoid. Come on, I’ll take you back home,” he said as he stood up and took his own coat.

 

I grunted and followed him out of the house. The rain had stopped by now. I just had this bad feeling about what might happen. That stranger . . .

 

“Good evening,” a velvety voice said from behind us. I was startled. I hadn’t noticed that there was a person behind us.

 

Me and Luke turned around to see the owner of the voice – a tall and handsome man. He had this messy jet black hair and his eyes were a pool of deep crimson color. The man wore long sleeved button-up shirt and jeans with a brown belt around it. He had a beautiful pale skin and muscular abs. He was truly the definition of the word ‘gorgeous’. I had no idea that such creature existed in this world. His appearance was beyond perfection.

 

“Who are you?” Luke asked and narrowed his eyes. I studied the stranger’s appearance once more and that was when it hit me: he’s the stranger that had been eyeing my house!

 

“You . . . You’re the one eyeing my house,” I said. Luke became more defensive after I said that.

 

“I am pleased to finally be able to meet the two of you, Lyrene Crystallind and Luke Reinbore. I’ve met your sister, Rachelyn Crystallind as well,” the stranger said calmly. How did he know our name? And he had met Rachel as well?

 

Luke stood in front of me. “What do you want and who are you?” he gritted his teeth.

 

“Ah, forgive me, I forgot about my manners. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Edmund Archroze. I am here because I’m recruiting Archeics, such as the two of you. It’s amazing that this village managed to exist for a hundred year without being known by the outside world,” Edmund said.

 

“State your business,” Luke said impatiently.

 

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m here to recruit you to the military of course. If you would, Lyrene, perhaps we could talk in your house. Your parents are already informed of the situation as well.”

 

Edmund Archroze. He was not an ordinary person, was he?

Author's Note

I don't like this and the first chapter at all. I promise the next one will be much better (I hope)