CHAPTER SIX : LAST DAY BEFORE THE APEX

26th January, 2173

6.2 million lightyears from earth

ID : Inner ring planet, Monique region; Lancelot Prime

(Gianna Leohnmolt)

I was so tired I could have slept for another night and still feel unable to move or do any viable work out here.

I had gone on the walk with Damian late at night, followed by the scene on the boat and then we got back home to sleep.

Except I did not sleep. Instead I spent about half an hour looking thoughtlessly at the sky, before I decided I needed to practice a few sword stances.

I was now awake after sleeping for only two hours, and I sat on the top of the balcony.

I fished a cigarette out of my pocket and lit it. I smoked as I watched the usual morning; my dad polishing each of his two hundred and fifty swords, my mom doing some laundry while singing, and my little sisters playing tag in the garden.

I still felt a shadow of sadness over me, it was expected after the loss of my twin brother after all.

But you know what they say, mission and duty first…blah, blah blah and all that soldier bullshit we were taught at a young age.

I heard a knock at the door and I said come in as a young lady came in dressed in a back dress and her hair in a neat bun.

"Good morning milady, how was your night?"

"It was very shitty, though that is the usual now, isn't it Elissa ?"

"Yes milady, what can I do for you this morning ?"

"Oh lemme see", i said this as i smoked a big puff of the cigarette, sending the smoke all around me, "can you send a message for me to Damián."

"Well…we might have a problem with that, milady"

"Why?"

"Master Damian left a few minutes ago"

"ohhh…shit"

(Damian Hollowstone)

"Oh…shit", I shouted as I left the back of the taxi that I had come with.

I had left the Leohnmolt estate, first thing in the morning, and got on a taxi to the other side of New paris, where Lazarus lived.

I felt I had to see him before I was gone for maybe even the next two years on this mission far,far away.

I walked slowly to the curb of the road and noticed a large number of people walking the streets of this side of town.

I saw a few good looking girls here and there, as well as a number of people walking around holding fliers and sticking them around.

I turned around to continue walking, when I bumped into a girl holding some of the fliers and she fell backwards, along with me and the fliers.

"Oh…i'm so sorry, i didn't see you, i was just so occupied with what was going on there and i got distracted, then i just bumped into you, and are you okay, i'm so sorry im…"

Damian stopped talking as he saw the girl break out in laughter, she smiled at him and her golden eyes glittered in the sun.

"Don't worry, im okay, thank you for being so concerned"

The girl then stood up and Damian had an opportunity to see gher fully. She was a tall girl 5"9 maybe, she had long black hair, fair skin and a pair of golden eyes tha were magnificently bright.

Damian became suddenly aware that he was just staring at the girl and she stared back at him.

"My name is D-Damien", he said as he shook her outstretched arm.

"My name is Olivia, Olivia Mascudi,'' she replied with a smile. "I dont assume you're from these parts , are you?"

"No, i'm from new Tokyo actually, i was visiting for a friends funeral, he recently passed away"

"Oh…i'm sorry Damián, my condolences"

"Yeah…anyway, i got to go now, i'm here to visit an old friend"

"Need a hand?"

"No, please don't worry, i'm sure you're busy"

She looked at the watch on her wrist and replied with a smile, "looks like my shift was over a minute ago"

"Then shall we embark milady?", he inquired jokingly.

"Yes we may, Damián", she said with a sweet little laugh as they walked down the street together now.

We walked on in silence for about an hour, before Olivia decided to break the silence.

"So, Damián…what do you do for work?"

"I am a soldier in the army, last year recruit, and i'm on my way for a mission"

"Cool, my dad is a soldier too, though he is a bit crazy"

"Hopefully your job is not as dangerous is it?"

"I'm a journalist, a chef, an artist and many other things a pretty boy like you wouldnt understand", she said jokingly.

His cheeks flushed red when she said that. He had never been called a pretty boy before, or even attractive, by a girl.

"Anyway, im looking for Lazarus Armindle's house"

"Ooh, so you're coming to my house already, you're smooth"

"I don't understand"

"Lazarus Armindle is my dad silly, can't you see the resemblance?"

Of Course i couldn't see the resemblance, the girl was dazzling and beautiful and smelled like flowers while Lazarus was old and scary, and smelled like gunpowder and rocket fuel.

"Wait, so you are Damian, as in Damian Hollowstone ?"

"Yeah…how did you know that?"

"Well my dad never shuts up about how you are his favorite student, and that your powers are so cool, and that you're really smart"

"Is that so?", I replied with a smirk on my face.

I would have never guessed that the Lazarus that would call me a pussy in training sessions, was actually going around and kissing my ass, making me known as the great soldier I am.

As we walked, she suddenly stopped by a large red brick wall. She stood there and waited as if she was awaiting the arrival of someone.

"Uh…Olivia, this is a wall"

"I know"

"Then what are we doing here instead of…"

I stopped talking immediately as the wall separated into two parts and opened as a staircase descended downwards from the opening.

"That is awesome", I said in awe.

"I know", Olivia replied in monotone glee.

The doors closed behind us as we walked into the stairway that showed no visible light.

Olivia then pulled out a large metallic lighter from her bag and lit a torch that was placed on a wall on the left.

"It's not like I'm scared, but…where does this go?"

Olivia gave me that warm smile of hers again, "let's find out"

The stairway looked like the most unwelcome thing in all of oblivion. It had obsidian steps and the walls were lined with a lot of paintings.

After a few minutes I could see the light of the sun at the bottom of the staircase. I ran ahead of Olivia and went to the end of it, and I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Welcome to the house of Armindle and Mascudi."

"More like the world of Armindle and Mascudi", I replied in awe.

The place was a beautiful garden that stretched miles, and miles away. There were tall trees, beautiful flowers and at the center of it all, there was a large house.

I was taking a few steps around when suddenly I felt something poking me in the butt. I was surprised that Olivia was that kind of girl. As I turned around I expected to see a beautiful Olivia smiling at me and laughing, but of course I couldn't be that lucky.

What was behind me was not Olivia, it was not Lazarus heck, I wish it was a back from the dead Sebastian, but instead it was a lion.

"Damian, whatever you do…do not run", Olivia warned me as the lion moved closer to me. It had long white teeth and had pink fur all around it.

And ofcourse i ran, because why not? Which living, breathing and reasoning human being would not have run away?

I ran as fast as I could of course, which was not very fast. I looked behind me and I saw no lion. I was confused ofcourse, but then I heard a roar to my left followed by a pink ball of fur coming towards me.

"Asano, sit", a voice commanded, and the lion sat down.

The voice was not the voice of a valiant hero who had come to save me, but it was just Lazarus.

"I taught you better than to be afraid of animals Damian, you are most definitely the most disappointing of my students"

"I missed you too, Lazarus"

"Sarcasm ?"

"My specialty"

"Let's go in and have a cup of tea, shall we"

"Yes we shall"

The inside of the house was surprisingly well ordered and had plenty of art and sculptures around the house.

But at the top of the roof there was a tapestry of Lazarus painted on the roof, it depicted him in many of his irrelevant battles and feats that he would rumble constantly about.

"Beautiful isn't it?", he asked.

"Weird, isn't it?", I replied.

We took a seat in Lazarus' living room, and a cup of tea was served for both me and Lazarus, as well as Olivia who was gone for some time.

"So, Damián…what has caused you to pay me a visit, certainly you do not wish to ask for my daughter's hand in marriage."

"You humor me Lazarus, but I've come here to say goodbye before…the mission"

"How long will this one take?"

"I'm not really sure, but it's rumored to be for even up to two years"

"You are my student Damian, I'm absolutely sure that this mission will be like cheese on a grill for you"

"I'm scared, Lazarus, what if I die?"

"You will not die, you're trained and skilled and amazing"

"Aww…you do like me, don't you?"

"Don't push it Damian"

"Well old man, try not to die while i'm away, i know i keep your heart alive and racing, so when i'm gone it would probably miss me"

Lazarus stood up to give me a large bear hug as I walked out of the living room leaving him there.

"Damian…wait up"

I looked behind to see Olivia running towards me at full speed.

"What's up Olivia?"

"M-my dad…said that-t you can go with the jet instead", she said as she tried to catch her breath.

"Don't mind if I do", i replied.

We walked to the hanger together, which was at the east wing of the mansion. I looked back at Olivia and said to her;

"I'll be back for you beautiful, wait for me, okay?"

"You'll have to fight for me, silly"

I smiled as the jet started up and soared out of the hanger as I went higher until I reached the sky. I looked outside and saw the beautiful countryside of New Paris in its full glory.

"Here we go again."