Down System

Chapter 51

ALEERA VERNIZE

"We are sorry, young boy, but we can't permit her to come out this day."

The smile on Ferno's face swept away the moment he heard those words from my father Perseus. He was about to speak when Mommy Morrigan added something, saying,

"She's still sick. She isn't even allowed yet to go to school. When she's finally okay, you can invite her again. We hope you understand."

"I fully understand, Ma'am and Sir. I'm just a bit sad about it, but yeah, anyway, there was much next time of celebration."

"Indeed."

"If that's so, I'm leaving now." Ferno stood and was about to walk away when Daddy stopped him.

"We suggest you finish up first the food before you leave, so you'll have enough strength with your errand."

"I'm totally fine, Sir. Besides, someone is also waiting for me."

Mommy and Daddy did not talk anymore since Ferno had insisted on it. From the young boy going out of the door, they turned their gaze from me. Nevertheless, their beaming faces turned into worried ones.

When Ferno had finally disappeared from our sights, Mommy stood from her seat, walked towards me, and hugged me tightly.

On the other hand, I could hear the deep sighs coming from my father. I was a bit confused by the sudden change in their moods, and so I asked them what was wrong.

"You never told us he's still your friend, after all," Mommy cried.

With only those words, I finally comprehended what they meant. After Ferno got killed on the campus, I let them know about it as soon as I went home; that was why they were also surprised when they knew he came back out of nowhere— without the awareness of the people, especially the populace of Ragwarths.

"You should stop meeting him again, Aleera," Daddy Perseus said. "You don't know exactly who's that boy and what kind of person he is."

Mommy let go of me and took a seat beside me. "Your dad is right, my sweetheart. I don't trust that boy. I know we owe him once, but please, forget it and think of your own safety this time."

"You've told us he died, right?" Daddy asked. "That you saw his face and his bloody body in the exact place where he was killed? And now, he's here— alive like nothing had happened."

"That's so strange if we're going to think about it clearly," Mommy mouthed. "That boy also looks dangerous based on what he has gone through. Look, sweetheart, I'm not in the place to judge, but what can I do? I just care for you. We don't want to put you in harm. So please, stay away from him."

"I will," I said, affirmed. "Just promise me as well that you'll stop talking to him and letting him enter the house."

They both nodded.

"We just have no choice, so we let him come in," Mommy added. "But don't worry, next time, we will be more careful, my sweetheart."

After closing the deal, Mommy and Daddy already prepared themselves for their work. On the other side, I just stayed in the house since they told Ferno I was sick; if ever I went to school and he saw me there, he would notice my parents lying to him.

Since it was too early, and I knew that the class had not started yet, I called Ferelith, who was fortunately still in her house.

"Are you heading now to Ragwarths?" she immediately asked after we exchanged pleasantries.

"No, I'm not going," I answered, and explained the reason behind this.

"Did he really visit you again?" There was a tone of surprise in Ferelith's voice. "He's been always doing that to you. He can't even ask for your permission!"

"Calm down, alright? I'm now thinking of what to do with him."

"See? Even your parents are mad at him. They don't want him to be your friend," she tsk-tsked.

"Not that mad," I said. "They are just thinking of my safety, and that's why they are pulling me away from him."

"The same thing though."

"How about you?" I questioned. "Are you now going to Ragwarths?"

"I'm not attending class as well," Ferelith answered. "Just having a small problem here in the house. Guess what? Dad just came back! Should I see that as an issue?"

My eyes grew wider. "Really? He is in the house?" I asked. "That's a piece of good news!"

Ferelith wasn't able to continue talking when shouts occurred in her place, which made her put an end to the call.

My face could not be painted when I brought the telephone back to its place. If I wasn't mistaken, the loud voices came from her mom and dad— perhaps arguing with the return of the father.

I went back to my room, still with a folded brow in my face. I wanted to visit my best friend but I also would like to give her space. Besides, it was a family problem she was facing, and I was out of that. I was just hoping that everything would be fine the next time I would see her again.

Still having the sorrow in my heart, the underground crept into my mind, so I abruptly went down there. I took the Namika book that was place on top of the desk as well as the 1578. As of today, these two bounds were the must-have ones because I believed these had a paramount purpose for the future.

It was a long time no seeing the photo album, so I abruptly opened it, but I got shocked with what I had seen in its middle part— a picture of the little Ferno who was stuck on the trunk with lots of dripping blood in his body. Little did I know this book had a documentary of the young boy's death. Below the photo was the date, place, and the reason why he was killed.

The majority of the people thought it was a suicide that brought Ferno into quietus. Some also came to the idea that it was a crime that sent him to death, but little did they know that it was Gandor who killed him.

It was all an intentional killing to show Hadessians that the young boy could rise to death with the help of the red dragon. Gandor and Ferno did it themselves to announce their power to the whole land of Hades. It was just their first step to their many plans of spreading their wickedness, and they were lucky enough it was effective; however, it was a curse indeed to Hades that got fooled by their tricky game.

Ferno's death explained how greedy he was, including his master— that they would be willing to do everything to obtain power and position; the two of them were the perfect meaning of cutthroat persons.

Nonetheless, I would not just let them reign the world with darkness. I would not stop promising myself to do my best, to give my everything, even though sometimes things were getting hard and complicated. I would rather sacrifice than see my world suffer in distress.

I was about to continue flipping the pages when the tiny device in my ear vibrated. So, I had no choice but to put down the bounds I was holding.

"Why didn't you go to school?" the old woman asked right away, not even letting me greet her even in the simplest way.

"I bet you already know it," I said.

"Young girl, I'm telling you, you must be very observant of Ferno. He's been always visiting you in your classroom, and now in your house, and that's without your knowing. You don't know if that's only a sign of friendship if there's anything else more behind that act."

"Don't worry, alright? I'm working on it, Namika. Even when you don't see and feel, I'm working— silently and clearly."

"Okay, but you have to keep me always updated. Just reminding you in case you forgot."

"Of course, that's not slipping in my mind," I told her, touching the photo album again and looking at Ferno's death photo. "By the way, where's the robot?"

"In the mansion," the old woman answered. "I'm fixing it the best that I can, as you said. I don't want to disappoint you this time. But honestly, what you said the last day was still paining me."

Every time Namika would let me go to the house, she would bring back the robot into her house because once my parents saw two Aleeras, they would surely be surprised, or perhaps they would even collapse.

I was happy about it though because I would not be able to see that irritating robot. Aside from that, hiding it from my parents would not be my problem anymore.

I bowed my head a bit after hearing what Namika had told me. "I know," I uttered. "However, you're still talking to me despite what I've mouthed to you, and I appreciate it so much."

"After all, I have no choice but to talk to you." Namika's deep sigh rang in my ears, which made me pout my lip even worse.

"So, you're really mad at me, huh?"

"Really mad."

"Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Maybe you just misunderstood me. But anyway, what else do I have to do for you to forgive me?"

"I won't ask too much from you, young girl," the old woman replied. "I just want you to do your best and to give your all on your mission."

I took a deep breath and clenched my fist. "As you said."

After talking with the old woman, I set my focus on the books again and continued skimming the pages. I went back to the photo of Ferno's death, and examine it thoroughly. If it was recorded there and it did happen, meaning, the following events that were also attached to this album would also be going to happen. Then, that also meant that in the first place, 1578 photo album was my real guide today up to the future? Woah! Why did it take me a hard time to realize this?

A wide smile touched my lip as the thought of less difficulty registered in my mind. Through this photo album, I would have plenty of ideas of what would happen in the following days; however, there were still events that were not attached to this, so I really had to work very hard.

I stood from my chair and wandered all over the library, hoping to find more resources that would give me hints of the important things and happenings. After how many minutes of finding, I had given up since I could not search for the right one because it seemed like all of them were fictional novels. But, I swore to myself that if I have free time, I would probably read them. For now, I had to pay attention to these two bounds on my hands.