WebNovels

Chapter 13 - Chapter 13

Standing by the fountain, the boy stared at his white hoodie, now drenched from the splashes of water nearby. As he glanced around, he noticed a group of girls watching him intently, their expressions curious.

Lost in his thoughts, he heard a voice calling his name. Turning, he saw Aleyas approaching, her dark violet dress flowing gracefully as she let out a giggle, clearly entertained by something he was not yet aware of.

 

"Can't you see those girls looking at you?" she teased, a bright smile on her face.

 

He turned back to see them walking away, whispering amongst themselves. Puzzled, he shrugged and said, "So?"

 

With a sigh, Aleya realized he did not quite grasp the situation. "They were trying to talk to you! Honestly, it's hard to believe you're so handsome, yet you can't seem to attract anyone. Maybe it's time to fix that attitude of yours!"

Hearing her words, he felt as if he was being stabbed by a sharp-edged knife, but thinking of the opposite, he never thought of himself as a handsome person or attractive in the physical sense.

After waiting a little longer, Aleyas said," Well, let's get inside the mall."

As they stepped into the shop, the energy crackled between Aleyas and Ray. They moved swiftly, gathering all the essentials for their big party—no time to waste. Just as they wrapped up, Ray sensed a storm brewing behind them. Bron erupted in frustration, slamming her fist on the table, her eyes blazing like wildfire.

 

Ray turned, curious, and saw the source of her fury approach. With a swift motion, Bron spun around and, before anyone could react, she lunged, landing a hard punch right in his gut. She dragged the stunned figure into the café where Ray had been waiting. With tension thick in the air, Bron took a seat, her gaze piercing into him. He quaked under her scrutiny, too frightened to utter a word.

 

Sensing the charged atmosphere, Ray excused himself, retreating to the restroom, his mind racing. When he returned, he was taken aback by the scene: Aleyas's anger had manifested physically, leaving angry bruises on the guy's face.

 

They lingered, exchanging banter, but eventually made their way back home to prep for the party. As Ray helped Bron and Aleyas, a thought crossed his mind: maybe living independently wasn't so bad. No adults, just freedom. He finished his tasks and flopped onto his room's floor, contemplating his solitude until memories of his aunt pulled him back to reality.

 

Suddenly, a loud knock shattered his thoughts. Annoyed, he lay still, hoping the visitor would leave. But the door swung open, revealing a striking man with exquisitely tied blue hair and an eccentric outfit, reminiscent of someone Ray had encountered in the castle.

 

"Looks like you could use a little more strength," the man smirked, his grin unsettling.

 

Ray glared, refusing to respond. In an instant, the stranger scooped him up like a sack of flour, leaving Ray bewildered and confused as the man started descending the stairs.

 

"So Rodolf is interested in you," he continued, a teasing tone creeping into his voice. "But frankly, you don't seem that special."

 

He flashed a sinister smile. "I suppose I'll have to draw it out of you."

 

Just as they reached the door, Bron, fueled by rage and determination, launched a kick at the intruder. The man effortlessly blocked the strike, turning to face Bron, who stood defiant, ready to defend his friend.

 

"Let him go!" Bron shouted, the weight of tension crackling in the air.

 

Before Bron could react further, the man casually left the house and the two collided in the street. With a quick flick of his wrist, the stranger raised Ray and swung him like a weapon against Bron. The impact was jarring, leaving both boys momentarily dazed, their worlds spinning as they crumpled to the ground.

 

Aleyas dashed toward them, her heart racing at the sight of Bron sprawled on the floor and Ray's bloodied face. Shock washed over her as she locked eyes with the stranger, who spoke in a calm, almost eerie tone. "Fret not, they shall be quite alright. I am merely escorting this young one to the destination I vowed to take him to. However, rest assured, you are more than welcome to come and inquire about his well-being.

 

She stood frozen, too stunned to respond. With a dismissive wave, the man retreated, holding Ray securely behind his back, leaving the bewildered friends in chaos.

The boy's eyes opened slowly as he tried to process what was happening, unsure of where he was or why he was there. As he stood, a wave of dizziness washed over him, making it difficult to comprehend everything occurring around him. It felt as if he had been struck in the head. He lay back down on some sort of soft, unfamiliar bed and turned to examine it; it was a strange combination of hay and other materials.

 

He looked down to find he was wearing clothes that were similar to those of a person he had met—technically, two people. He couldn't remember how he ended up in these clothes. Inside, he saw nothing but the garments; no pants, no T-shirt, just the tunic he wore. Confused about who changed his clothes and how he ended up in this situation, a thought crossed his mind: despite the pain in his head, once he left this place, he could find answers. Forcing himself to stand up, he walked to the door.

 

The door had no handle, which seemed odd. It reminded him of a car window—one you slid manually. As he pushed it away, he stepped outside and saw the entire floor covered in wood, an unusual sight for a modern place. He noted the many scratches and the poor condition of the area; it was evident that it had seen better days.

 

As he continued walking, he reached a streetlight that cast a soft glow, but there was nothing else around him. He dashed forward, eager to see what lay outside. What he encountered was breathtaking—a field of marbles in various colors, arranged in an almost euphoric display. He couldn't fathom who had created such beauty.

 

To his left, he noticed a man sitting near the marbles, his expression filled with joy. As he leaned back, memories flooded back to him—the man who had taken him out of his room. The man didn't glance at Ray but said, "Aren't they beautiful? I rented them myself. It took a while, but I did what I could."

 

Ray, caught off guard by the softness of the man's deep voice, didn't know how to respond and remained silent. After a moment, he mustered the courage to ask, "Who are you?" His voice was calm, despite the strange circumstances, as he tried not to provoke the man before him.

 

The man began walking toward Ray, stepping onto the same wooden floor that Ray stood on, which was slightly elevated. As he closed the distance and stood in front of Ray, he said, "My name is Lucius, but you shall call me Master." He finished with a smirk, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

 

Ray thought to himself, recognizing the familiarity in the man's smile: "Well, at least he is not the only weirdo that I meet."

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