54 Reluctant Friends

Chrion saw the girl making quick gestures with her hand, and suddenly his mind was blasted with visions.

The Stedores are in their car and talking to a young girl about Stormfall…

The girl was happy, learning new things about her knew world…

She walks up to a door, opened it and saw another girl in agony…

"What did you do?!", the voice of Rhael Stedore blasted in Chrion's head.

"Noooooo! Stop, please!", the girl screamed, blood coming out of her mouth and nose…

"I'm going to get you out of here…", a young man smiled at the girl, when suddenly a bolt pierces him in his heart.

A wild, cackling laughter came from a man in black clothes, one ear missing, as he forced himself upon the girl.

A white, fluffy pet-cat, meowed softly as it glowed and disappeared in a flash of light.

The girl chanted some ancient words, as the light of six candles illuminate the Construct. Chrion heard the girl refer to it as a 'valiant soldier'.

A blurry duel took place between the man in black and the Construct.

The girl stares at her own bloody hand… and then-

*Booom!*

"Gaah!", Chrion groaned as if coming from a nightmare. He frantically grasped at his surroundings and gradually calmed a bit, knowing he's now back in the real world. His eyes regained focus and once again, the girl and the Construct materialized in front of him.

"What was that…", it was all the words he could say at the moment.

"It was what we experienced under the Stedores. Now, you understand why we do not want to meet paths with them again."

Chrion noticed the use of the word "we" but shrugged it off as a simple error. He cleared his throat as his mind began to return to its normal state. "Uhm, Sera, is it?" He was observant enough through all the pain that he caught the name of this girl.

The girl only smiled a bit, and answered weirdly, "Yeah. I guess you can call me that for now."

"Ohhkay.", Chrion accepted. He understood that this girl had gone through hell while she was under the Stedores. During the visions, however, everytime there was an experiment; he could feel a strong pulse of power. 'Wait a second…' he thought to himself. 'Could it be that the disturbances in the magic leylines oldman Thoran was talking about was caused by this girl? If so, then she really must be brought to the Arcane Watch.'

The girl was about to go back to sleep, while this so-called valiant soldier stood watch, when Chrion snapped out of his thoughts.

"I have a proposal to make."

"About what?", the girl was clearly becoming irritated. "I've told you already. We are not going to the Arc Tower with you."

"Yes yes, I understand that. But not all of the magicians in the Arc Tower are as bad as the Stedores. Some members of the Arcane Watch can still be trusted. And I know a handful. Now, from what I have seen, you made a pretty dramatic departure from the Stedore Estate. I'm sure that they'll be looking for you in no time. You need to go somewhere difficult to find."

The girl rolled her eyes. "Thanks, captain obvious. How come I've never thought of that." She was very sarcastic on her tone.

"Please hear me out.", Chrion stood his ground. The fate of world could very well be held by this girl, if his theory was correct. Not long ago, he came up with the prediction of the 'Rapture Event.' When this girl showed him the visions, he couldn't get it off in his mind that it was all connected. He had to make sure.

"Sera, I am also a fugitive like you are now. I was once a member of the Arcane Watch, but I tapped into a knowledge that was beyond me. I had exiled myself in fear that the information I hold may be used wrongly. Not to brag, but so far, no one has ever found my finding place yet, save for those I trust. It is the safest place I know, and now, I am offering it to you, too, as your hideout."

The girl only shrugged her shoulders and lay back down. "For a guy, you talk too much."

Chrion had gotten his hopes up but it seems his words would not be enough to convince this girl. He was exhausted, however, and wanted to rest. Maybe tomorrow he can come up with a better way to ask this girl to come with him.

Least expectedly, the girl suddenly followed up, making Chrion's face light up. "I'll think about it, Chrion."