We took an entire day getting my room to a livable condition. Removing cobwebs from the ceiling, replacing the lights, wiping more dust off the glass, oiling the door, oiling the wheels of the window, and airing the place with a fan and humidifier.

Since it was the beginning of winter, the wind coming in was freezing. Even more so when you take into account the fact that my grandparent’s apartment is 12 floors up.

We had a short lunch in between and continued cleaning until it was late evening. Only after that did we go for dinner at a restaurant in the shopping mall. A link bridge connected Oala mall to the condominium where the apartment unit was.

TBH, this is a very convenient place to live. An ELRT station can be found inside the shopping mall, Oala station. It only takes 2 stations, having to change the line once in between to reach Saint High. Else, there’s the option of Prochock Station across the street. I could reach Vinyl Park station within 3 stops without having to change lines.

The restaurant we went to served up something like a mix of Korean and Japanese cuisine. I don’t know what it’s called.

Kimchi and sushi, or kimbap. Not too sure which one is correct in this case.

The pickled cucumbers were surprisingly good. Part of the ingredients included insects. Grasshoppers native to the western region of the world.

Those eye sockets still get to me everytime. Whatever it is, these are good sources of protein, can’t let them go to waste, crunch.

{WARNING: YOU ARE BEING WATCHED}

Again with this.

I ate my meal in silence, carefully observing my surroundings.

The restaurant had a nice ambience to it. Not too crowded with a few people around. A small group of workers were there having a discussion, another guy over at the sofa seat typing away on his OptAR. I looked towards the open kitchen. The chefs were busy preparing the food items with skillful craftsmanship.

Radingo’s warning came to mind.

I looked to the open confines of the shopping complex. The numerous AR displays flying around the place, creating a scene of Christmas chaos.

He said something about a Seraph?

“So are you going to stay back or will you come with us? We’re fine with any choice.”

“Then wouldn’t it be great if you stayed back too, Narie?”

“Yes but..”

“Lia, what’s your decision? We’ll have to buy the airplane tickets tonight.”

I turned back to the conversation on the table.

“If you’re alright with sharing a room with your brother then we welcome you to stay.”

“Spending time with our grandirul would be nice too wouldn’t it? It’s your choice dear.”

“Big bro, should I stay?”

“Are you up to experiencing something new? Actually, it’s new whichever you choose.”

“You’re going to be able to do things without having to worry about mom, father or aei..”

“Oh, so that’s the reason eh?” My mom began to chuckle, not in a good way.

“Uh..”

“In that case..”

“Lia, that means you want to stay here?”

“By all means, I wouldn’t mind taking another one,” grandoa chuckled

If our grandparents weren’t here, I think mom would have exploded. What a life saver.

TBH, is Lia going to stick around? That’s definitely going to change the future events of this world.

“I want to stay.”

Lia finally admitted.

“There we have it.”

“You should’ve said it earlier, now we have to return to bring all your items.”

“I’m sorry..”

“Tomorrow.”

“Then will Avner be staying over for tonight at our place or will he go back home first?”

“Avner?”

“Since all my stuff is here now, I think I can stay? I’m fine with whichever.”

“I think you should sleep here for a night and tell us what you think. It’s still not too late to change your mind.”

I nodded at father’s words.

I doubt I would change.

Lia was staring at me.

“What?”

Xe said nothing and returned to sipping hirs ice tea.

===

We left the restaurant and walked around the shopping mall.

“AHHH!!!”

A shout pierced the air.

It was located on the upper floors. The bouncing of echoes along the walls made the scream distorted. I couldn’t pinpoint the actual location.

{WARNING: YOU ARE BEING WATCHED}

Something is happening.

“Father, I think I need to go to the washroom.”

“Washroom? Anyone else need to go?”

“No, I mean.. you know.”

I clutched my stomach, faking the fact that I needed to take a dump. At that time, chills began to crawl up my skin.

{WARNING: YOU ARE BEING WATCHED}

“Ah, we still need to buy your daily necessities though.”

“Then how about we do it tomorrow when we bring Lia’s stuff over? Can we return first?”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

“Let’s go, let’s go. We don’t know how long this boy’s stomach can hold.”

{WARNING: YOU ARE BEING WATCHED}

“What was that sound anyways?”

“Just be careful.”

“Must be some crazy person.”

We went back where we came, towards the path of return.

“Run! Run!”

My father shielded me from the random elf who called out to me. Xe ran past me, realizing that hirs warning wasn’t having any effect.

All the onlookers looked at hir and us in an odd way.

“Who the hell..”

“Are you alright Avner?”

“I’m alright..”

The chills were getting worse.

Crap.

Is this The Seraph?

Just now that elf tried to warn me.. was hir a demon? I couldn’t see hirs crown at all.

{WARNING: YOU ARE BEING WATCHED}

{WARNING: YOU ARE BEING WATCHED}

I only have my blue pen on me, Blue Kaizer. The yellow ribbon was left at my grandparent’s place.

We proceeded forward. Now my stomach was feeling genuinely uncomfortable.

“Sorry, let’s move a little faster,” seeing how my expression warped, my father suggested.

{WARNING: IT IS LOOKING AT YOU}

Damn. What should I do now?

Do I tell them to turn back?

That I can’t take it and need to use the washroom here as a way to hide?

{YOU HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED}

Fuck.

{WaRniNG: YOu haVE BeEN INCArCeraTED}

I was thrown out of my body.

===

dotturndot: Ah… great. Battle incoming.