Ravissant

Chapter 5

Relictus - Left Behind

After enjoying their tea, Lucas allowed Milos to go through his small machines and devices at the shop. Neonella even tried working on a piece of wood. She was attempting to carve an owl and was doing a great job at it.

“You look like you already have experience in doing this,” Lucas told Neonella.

“She’s a natural artist,” Olethea told him. The two were already holding hands, watching the two enjoy their time at the shed.

Milos didn’t mind them. She was busy looking into the details of the metal machines that Lucas had. She wanted to ask a lot of things about these pieces, how they work, the materials they are made of. But she didn’t want to give away the fact that it was the first time that she ever saw such contraptions. Instead, she chose to focus on remembering each piece in the contraption, thinking she may somehow manage to replicate these devices back in Omnia.

“We will leave you two here, I would love to see more of the city lights by the gazebo.” Olethea excused herself, together with Lucas.

Milos and Neonella looked at her. Olethea knew that concern looked but smiled at them. Lucas noticed.

“We’re just a few steps away. Holler when you need anything.” He told the girls.

Neonella smiled at him, while Milos went back examining the hand tools on the table.

“I do not know if Father can create these things back at home,” Milos told Neonella a few minutes after Olethea and Lucas left for the gazebo. She looked at the window and she could clearly see the two talking and enjoying the view at the edge of the rooftop. Lucas had his hands on Olethea’s back, by the waist. Neonella followed Milos’ gaze.

“He seems to like her a lot,” Neonella told Milos.

“Who doesn’t like her? Everyone loves her.” Milos replied, stating a fact.

“But look at Olethea, she looks like she likes him a lot too,” Neo said.

“Because he is the first boy he met, outside of our world,” Milos told her, not looking. “Besides, we are too young to be serious with such. We just turned 8.” She added, putting down the planner.

The three girls were 8 years old in Omnia. But they would be 80 years old in mundane life. Although young, they looked like they were already in their teen years.

“We’re 80 years old here,” Neonella said.

“I could only imagine how Lucas would feel about Olethea if he knew how old she is.” Milos slightly laughed.

Neonelle laughed too and then focused on working on her wooden owl.

----

“I am getting cold,” Olethea told Lucas.

“Wait, I’ll grab a blanket for you,” Lucas said before leaving Olethea and going to the shed. The two girls who were still busy inside were a bit surprised to see him enter.

“You two are really into these things are you,” Lucas told them, surprised that the two were still focused on what they were doing when they left them hours ago. Neonella’s owl was almost finished. She was just adding a few details to his owl sculpture.

“This is really quite impressive, Neo,” Lucas praised her. “You even work better than I do. Is this really your first time?” He continued while grabbing a blanket from one of the cabinets. Neonella just smiled at him.

“Lia is feeling cold, I grabbed her a blanket,” Lucas told them, closing the cabinet there. “There’s a couple of blankets inside if you feel the need to use them.” He told the two and left.

It was then that Milos noticed how the time passed. She went outside the shed and looked at the sky. It was seven knots away from the constellation Limax. The sun is about to come out in about an hour in the mundane world.

“We have more than an hour before sunrise,” Milos told Neonella. “We can finally go home.”

Neonella looked at Olethea. Lucas covered her back with the blanket. He was standing behind Olethea and embracing her, watching the sky. The boy was definitely smitten with their Elvin friend.

“The problem is how can we get those two separated,” Neonella told Milos. “I am certain that Lucas would want to accompany Olethea home, or at least know where she lives.”

“A complication, just like what I said earlier,” Milos said.

“It’s close to morning. Aren’t your parents looking for you guys?” Lucas asked Olethea.

He was captivated by the strange girl. She was so innocent and naive that he felt that need to be her protector.

And he knew that she liked him too. It might have been so fast but in his young mind and heart, he felt that he was meant for her.

“Milos would have told us already if our parents were looking for us,” Olethea replied. Enjoying Lucas’ warm arms locking her in an embrace. “Are you tired already?”

“No, I can sleep later if I want to.” Lucas corrected her. Tightening his embrace. “I love it here.” He added.

“We might need to leave in a few,” Olethea told him.

“Are you coming back soon?” Lucas said. He felt pained knowing that Lia was about to go.

“Yes, of course.” Olethea’s voice was promising. She’ll find a way to get back even before the solstice begins.

Being here with Lucas felt right. She longs to experience this feeling again, as soon as possible.

“Where will your parents meet you?” Lucas asked. “I can walk you guys there.”

Olethea broke free from his embrace and turned to face him. “You look sleepy already, do not worry, we can manage.” She told him. She knew that her charms were working with him. To what intensity, she was not aware. But she knew, and somehow hoped that whatever Lucas feels for him is close to reality and not just because of her natural powers.

Lucas was easily persuaded. “If you say so, just be safe.” He said. “Do you have a number where I can contact you? Or an address where I can visit?” He added.

“My parents don't allow us to give them away.” She had to lie. She didn’t know what number and address Lucas was talking about. “But I’ll come back, as soon as possible. I promise.” She was telling the truth. She was determined to come back and be with Lucas again.

She went back looking at the sky. Lucas was still behind him and enclosed her in an embrace. The sun was slowly rising from the east.

The day was about to end. Olethea thought. They need to get back to Omnia. She almost forgot about that. She knew her powers may not be enough to get back. She didn’t mention it to Milos and Neonella. If she told them the truth, they might not have entered the Old World again. She might not have met Lucas today.

Her reverie was interrupted when she heard footsteps walking towards them. It was Milos and Neonella.

“We need to head back now,” Milos told them. She looked at Lucas. “And you need to sleep. Thank you for being a generous host for us. We have learned a lot today.” She added.

“You guys are always welcome here. Come back anytime you want.” Lucas said, smiling. He obviously was starting to get somber knowing that Olethea had to go.

Lucas walked them towards the stairs. He looked inside the shed. The table was kept and his tools were neatly tucked away at the side of the table. He saw the finished owl sculpture that Neonella did. It was beautiful.

“You finished the owl that fast?” Lucas told Neo who was starting to descend the stairs. “You are a true artist I guess. It would have taken me days or even a week to finish something as intricate as that.” He was truly amazed at Neonella’s work.

“I guess I just enjoyed myself too much,” Neonella said. But she was looking at Olethea, letting her know that the message was intended for her.

“Do you want to keep it?” Lucas asked her.

“No, consider it as a gift,” Neonella replied back and continued going down the stairs. She was followed by Minos, then by Olethea and Lucas.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Lucas was not letting go of Olethea’s hand yet. Milos and Neonella allowed them to talk for a while, checking if the area was as clear as they hoped it would be. The sidewalks were bare and people were starting to come out of the alley.

They were pushing carts while some carried huge bags behind their back. They went in different directions.

Neonella looked at Olethea. Before she could say anything, Milos spoke. “It’s time Lia.”

Lia looked at Lucas and caressed his cheeks. Her hands sparkled a bit, something Lucas didn’t notice. “Go up and rest. I’ll be back soon, I promise.” She said.

Lucas held her hand on his cheeks and answered. “Ok then.” As much as he would like to refuse, Olethea’s magic forced him to obey.

Olethea kissed his cheeks and then the boy went to the bottom of the stairs. He went up without looking at them, in a trance courtesy of Olethea.

Olethea took a deep breath. “Let’s go home then.”

The three of them walked towards the alley.

Neonella felt relieved when they saw the alley empty. They stood close to where the portal initially appeared and held hands.

Neonella took Milos’ right hand and then Milos took Olethea’s right hand. They focused and chanted to open the portal, this time from the Old World.

The metal grill started to shake heavily as their chant fueled their magical powers. The alley began to turn dark even if the sun was already up when they left Lucas’s place.

Something was wrong. Neonella thought.

She shook off the thought and focused on opening the portal. It was slowly opening and after a few more minutes, the 12 feet portal stood in front of them. It was blended with the background but something was definitely wrong with it.

A huge monstrous hand appeared from the portal. It had long claws with a gooey substance dripping from its tips.

The three Elving daughters froze.

The monster’s boy started to appear inside the Old World.

It was Gilgamesh, one of the great monsters that were supposed to be trapped in Omnia.

“What is it doing here?” Milos finally managed to speak.

“It's Gilgamesh.” Olethea stuttered.

The monster’s massive head turned to them as if he heard his name mentioned. Neonella’s mouth opened, ready to shout but a voice shrieked from behind Gilgamesh which surprised them three.

The monster looked behind instead. His hideous back with rotting flesh that looked like charred wood behind the three Elvin daughters.

Milos finally returned to her senses. She pulled Neonella and Olethea to the portal while the monster’s attention was not on them.

Milos was about to step into the portal when she heard the mundane scream.

Gilgamesh was holding the old man on one of his ankles, upside down. The snakelike tongue of the monster licking the poor man as if he were a meal.

Olathe paused, looking at his friends and then looking at the poor man.

“Come Olethea, we need to go now,” Milos shouted, pulling his two friends. Her right foot was already inside the portal.

Gilgamesh noticed them and grabbed Olethea’s body. If she managed to scream, Milos and Neaonella barely noticed as they were frozen in shock.

Olethea’s hand slipped from Neonella’s grasp. Milos was about to step out of the portal and grabbed Olethea with her other hand when she was pulled inside the portal. Neonella was pulled together inside, sucking them in.

It was Milos’s father, Cassius who pulled Milos, together with Neonella inside the portal. Neonella looked around and saw a few men of the Elvin army pushing the door close while a few elder elves were chanting on the side.

“Wait!” Neonella shouted and attempted to run back to the portal to get Olethea. She was pulled back. It was his brother Fortem who pulled Neo away from the closing door.

As the door closed, they heard Olethea’s scream, calling out for their name.

“Milos, Neo, Help me!”.