Chapter 2: Random Stranger

Dip to the ground, arms encircled around Athanasia's shoulders, he asked, "You okay there?"

When was the last time Athanasia found a guy to be this eye-catching?

She venerated the sight of his short sinister-black locks fluttering by the nocturnal breeze. Despite being dappled by the Nyx of the night, his ruby stones dazzled profoundly, in contrast to her blue gems.

Her lips parted slightly to utter the word 'Pretty'.

His eyebrow elevated in amusement as he watched Athanasia's mouth gasp open, miming quiet words at him.

"I didn't know you were mute," his voice came out stonier than she alleged as she was coming back to her senses.

Lucas was staggered that the girl was not showing any feeling of intimidation by him.

"W—Who said anything about being mute?"

"You actually can talk? I mean, you are probably the thing the most similar to a decent human being I've come across so far."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

He shrugged her off, "Have you been vaccinated?"

"Pardon?"

"Rabies, to be specific. Stray dogs in this area seem to be off-leash. And I am not talking about that creature," he darted his eyes to the puppy wobbling on the ground, gesturing for Athanasia to trail in that direction.

"RAVEN!" The girl yelled.

Upon detecting the slightest struggle to break free, he promptly let her go. He had no reason to keep her in his embrace as the threat appeared to be passed, for now.

He got back on his own two feet and brushed off the dirt on his knee while Athanasia scrambled toward the puppy.

Walking toward Athanasia, who was holding onto the dog dearly, he asked, "Your dog?"

"Who the hell do you think you are?!"

A concoction of agony and rage resounded behind their backs, cutting Athanasia off from answering.

"Did you hear that? I think I heard a dog barking," Lucas scoffed at her reaction when he saw her gasp, conscious of the situation again.

Nevertheless, the young man Cooly acquainted himself, "By the way. I'm Lucas. The most handsome guy who has ever existed."

"Stop ignoring me, you brat!"

The voice got so nauseatingly gaudier.

"Oh, so that is where that yelping sound was coming from. Are you lost, little guy?" Lucas asked as he spun around with his arms folded, his signature smirk.

But then, Athanasia's hand floated in midair before landing on Lucas' head. He groaned before rubbing lightly the back of his head.

"What are you doing?! Trying to piss them off?" She yelled at his face.

Rather than getting livid, he observed the girl who was close to scraping his head off his shoulders. And not only that, but it amazed him that he had let his guard down while being with her.

"Aren't you an amusing one?" He asked, sincerely, eying her. "It has been a while since a commoner has laid a hand on me. Do you even need saving back there?"

"I am trying to save us BOTH, you idiot!"

"Awww... Are you worried about me? I'm flattered."

"I am worried about myself!"

With his hands in his pocket, Lucas paced to the guy who sped in his direction.

"Just sit there and look pretty. I will take care of these dogs over here."

As a replacement for perturbing about her very own safety, Athanasia constrained her lips together. She could have taken advantage of the situation and run home, but something rooted her feet to the ground.

As the distance was closing in between them, Athanasia shut her eyes when the guy whose size doubled compared to Lucas dashed toward him. She was quite sure that Lucas would come flying toward her.

All she heard was an anguished cry.

"This is for messing with her arm."

With a stern expression, Lucas seized the guy's hand.

"And this, for putting your dirty hand on her face."

Lucas collided his fist with the man's jaw, observing his body limp to the ground.

"What are y'all waiting for!? He is alone!"

Footsteps reverberating from behind made Lucas whip his head around. He clicked his tongue.

"More pests to deal with. How joyful."

Lucas scoffed at their morale-boosting. He frivolously dusted his fist with his palm, all ready to have some fun.

"You know, guys, comforting yourself with lies is not always an option," said Lucas. "How about I comfort you with my hands instead?"

Hand-to-hand combat was a nonentity to him. Being proficient under his master, The Black Tower Magician, was way rougher.

Lucas vividly evoked the first time he had sought to run away from training. Trying to escape through the stairs had been a stupid idea.

At that moment, it sounded logical, but the truth had to be stated, there had been nothing logical about what his adoptive father had planned for him.

This man had always read Lucas like a book. He knew the boy would run to the ground floor, just to greet the door locked from the outside. Lucas cursed under his breath and walked back.

All that for the sake of getting fed. Was it worth it? Yes. Everything his father had taught him was worth it.

"Look out! He got a weapon!"

Athanasia's voice was beckoning to him. Lucas' face was unlit as she went after the guy who was charging at him, twisting him to the ground.

Lucas scrutinized as Athanasia tumbled to the ground, along with the force she made to throw the man down.

"I WILL GET YOU FIRST THEN!" He yelled as his arm reached for the pocketknife in his possession.

A chill ran down her spine when that guy gripped it tightly, directing it perilously close to Athanasia's body. She closed her eyes and arranged to consequence.

However, the pain never inward and the weight was lifted off her body.

Only a suffering scream was perceived.

She held her breath while unveiling her eyes. All she saw was her attacker being restrained to the ground.

His head was trapped under Lucas' foot, still trying to get up.

"What a persistent bastard! Stay the hell down!" Lucas snarled when his leg was grabbed, before landing a kick to the face, knocking the last remaining threat down.

Lucas huffed in aggravation before turning to Athanasia, "Get your dog. We are leaving."

With that being said, Lucas put his hands in his pockets and paced forward.

Athanasia glanced back and forth, at Lucas and at the bodies scattered on the ground. Yet she did as he was told.

"Is it okay to leave them like this?" She asked after catching up with him.

"What? Do you want me to call an ambulance?"

"That is not what I meant. Shouldn't we at least call the police?"

"There is no way I'm gonna waste my time being questioned by those cops."

"Hey. About earlier—"

"And about earlier, I told you to 'Sit Down and look pretty.' SIT DOWN! Did I stutter while saying that!?"

His voice came out harsher than he intended, triggering an alarmed yelp from Athanasia. Realizing what he just did, Lucas softened his expression.

"Are you hurt?" He asked.

"No, I only—"

"Not you. I was asking that to the poor creature you are squishing."

She looked at him, blinking in surprise, "Wow... If it wasn't for you helping me earlier, I would have slapped your head off."

"Hey, you already slapped me in the head. Is that your way of treating your savior?"

"I am so Grateful."

"And I can FEEL the gratitude."

"Precisely."

His attempt to clear his throat still made it sound like he was scoffing.

"Anyway, back to the topic, are you hurt?" Lucas asked.

"Are you asking the dog or me?"

"This time, You."

She scowled at him before raising her foot up enough to see her injury, "Just a knee scrap from earlier."

This made Lucas stop in his tracks, unaware that he was showing concern for someone he just met.

"Can you walk?" He asked.

She shrugged, and he heaved his eyebrow slightly at her reaction but paced forward.

Athanasia matched her steps with his to catch up.

"And I'm sorry for the trouble. Did he get you? He had a knife there."

"You think a bunch of clowns would injure me?"

"Right. So, Mr. Confident. Where are you taking me?"

"I don't know. I was curious to see whether you would follow me. But here you are, like a puppy. You don't even know who I am."

"I don't think you are a threat," Lucas' eyes twitched, rendering her compliment an insult.

She asked further, "You said your name was Lucas, right?"

"You forgot the 'Most handsome guy to have ever existed' part."

"Well, whatever. If you wanted to hurt me, you would have joined those guys. You were more like a knight in shiny armor."

"What are you? A kid?"

Minus that you have a sharp tongue."

"Oh, I see you want to address yourself as a princess?"

"It's a metaphor, you idiot!"

"Oh? You like metaphors, do you?" His laughter slowly died. "Anyway, what exactly are you doing out here this late, anyway?"

Now that he had reminded her, Athanasia halted.

"Ah! I left those ingredients back there!"

She was about to run back, but the collar yanked her.

"HEY!"

"All this trouble for those ingredients? How dumb can you be? Just leave it."

"But!"

"Leave it or I will leave you."

He snickered, and she puffed her cheeks yet she paced alongside him.

Though Lucas didn't know why he did not like how she was sulking with the dog in her arms.

"By the way, what is your name?" Lucas broke the silence.

"Should I be concerned about telling a random stranger my name?"

"Random stranger? Me?"

"Yes. Who else?"

"I should have left you alone with those guys."

"Would you really have done that?" Athanasia furnished Lucas with a puppy eye, intentionally inflicting sarcasm.

Though it was not how Lucas saw her. He was a little taken back but then burst into laughter.

"What?" She asked, eyes filled with inquisitiveness.

"I swear you looked like a Pokémon for a second."

"Shut up! I have a name! It's Athanasia. But you can call me Athy."

This somehow triggered something inside Lucas. He compelled his hand to his face, eyes fastened shut as he muffled a groan.

"I should have read the paperwork..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Let's go, Princess. We probably live in the same neighborhood. I don't mind walking you home."

"Impossible. You sound like a stalker."

"You are the one who follows me."

"I beg your pardon, but this is the same route to my house. And for the record, my name is Athanasia, or Athy if you would. Not Princess."

"Princess."

"Athanasia."

"Pikachu?"

"Athy!"

"Well, it's your choice whether you want to join me. So, See ya' around then, Princess."

"Athanasia."

He shrugged her off without hesitation and walked forward.

"He — Hey, wait up!!"

"Then come on! Your tiny legs had better keep up."

She let out a vivid growl of irritation, yet she was there, walking with her new travel companion.

'Am I actually going home with him? What if he was actually a stalker? A creep?

But somehow... I don't think he will cause me any harm... Will he?

He is just a weirdo. One handsome weirdo if I do say so myself—

ARG!!! WHAT AM I THINKING!!!!'

Her thoughts kept racing on...