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

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

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

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

“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