It was like having just been reborn, the most refreshing sensation even more than freshness after swimming and bathing. Daniel's weak and slightly sleepy eyes suddenly became very alert and awake. Daniel seemed to have the power to become anything other than humans.
But it was only a healing fluid, it still wouldn't be able to awaken the universal core in Daniel's body.
"Who are you?" Daniel asked again after the refreshing sensation began to subside and spread throughout his body. His chest, which had fully healed, was now lighter and healthier.
The boy with transparent eyes did not answer. He just stared at Daniel's chest for a moment, waited for a moment's reaction and then he froze. Now his gaze turned to Daniel's hardcover book, which he strangely found in the library.
In the dimness of the room, Daniel pulled the thick book that was on his desk. "I found it in the library. However, the contents are empty." Daniel frowned. It seemed he was expecting a lot from the blank book because from the outside it looked quite special.
When Daniel finished combing the blank book he looked back to the front, trying to dig up information from the boy with transparent eyes. He didn't know what information he wanted. Maybe things revolve around monsters, and maybe mysterious fighters whose whereabouts were not detected. If he was right it looked like the fighters lived behind a portal that led to another world. But if that was the case, why should they bother protecting humans on earth? There might have been an agreement between humans and them in the past.
Daniel found that the boy with transparent eyes had disappeared from his sight. Instead, he was standing with a figure like a puff of smoke in the corner of the room. He jumped nimbly and lightly, without the force of gravity to hold him back. Now he was in the middle of the open window.
"Are you leaving already? Can you please stay a little longer? I want to ask you a few things." Daniel continued with his lower voice so that Uncle Ted would not wake up and then went up to Daniel's room to check on the situation. Daniel still had to stay up late tonight to finish rewriting his journal before he didn't have time because he was busy with all kinds of homework that Uncle Ted gave him.
But the transparent-eyed kid still came out and jumped out of the window. His body dropped lightly as if he didn't have any significant body weight. The landing never caused a fuss. Shortly before he completely disappeared, he said to Daniel, "When the core of the universe becomes active, then the book will show the secret of things that are not seen will begin to appear."
Daniel hurriedly took note of the boy's warning, maybe it would come in handy someday.
…
School holidays because Musi Lake which was just hit by the fake tsunami was still ongoing. The Danau Musi team estimated that the school must close students for at least one week. And now that time had passed, but Daniel's school decided to give extra time a few days for families who had to move from out of town because of paranoia.
Daniel's family did not need to move from out of town, but he still got the extra time. So all day long he would be busy with household activities such as going to the fields for farming, cleaning the house, and also arranging the firewood that Uncle Ted had sought and cut. These works looked light but still felt heavy, just as tough when they had to get a day off after exams and instead got an assignment.
Daniel had just finished showering when he came down from the room to find Uncle Ted looking surly. At first, he didn't want to ask why, but when he saw Uncle Ted had started slamming things, Daniel knew it was a serious problem. So he asked, "Why? Are you mad because I woke up late? I will feed the chickens in the coop later and also pour the manure into the back garden."
Although Uncle Ted insisted that he did not want to own a farm because of his busy life, he didn't buy much livestock but care for several pairs of chickens in the coop. He had two pairs of chickens, and the females were laying eggs.
Meanwhile, in the backyard, they had some tended vegetables. A small garden that would have been helpful if they had no food supply at all. Daniel and Wendy were not picky children, they ate whatever was provided including vegetables and salads. So the garden was very useful.
But looking at the look on Uncle Ted's face it didn't seem like the late waking up was the thing. Daniel didn't want to ask many questions so he chose to wait. Finally, he got an answer.
"Wendy sneaked this morning to go out with her friends. I got up and checked her room because she didn't come out until the sun was up. I thought she was angry, but the door was unlocked. When I entered I got a letter on the bed. She went to have camp with her friends." Uncle Ted explained at length, in a depressed voice and utter disgust. At this point, Daniel was able to see that it seemed that Uncle Ted couldn't take care of them anymore. He seemed to want to start a new life with a woman, have a cute child, just like the other men.
Daniel didn't want to make the situation worse. "If you want to stop her then you can contact Serry or her parents. If there's no answer I can accompany you to Serry's house. I know the direction." Daniel was not trying to be a snitch. But if that's what's best for this house and it's quiet then Daniel would do anything including betraying Wendy who was now crazy about her teenage years.
Uncle Ted snorted, looking dissatisfied with his nephew's answer. "I've called Serry, and also her parents. They are still in another city and are just going home this afternoon. You don't have a contact number for her friend Wendy's birthday?"
Daniel shook his head. "Do not have. I'll just ask Serry. She must know." Daniel almost left after finishing his breakfast, intending to go up to the room and take the cellphone. But Uncle Ted's answer stopped him.
"Serry has given me the contact number he has. I have a list and none of them want to pick it up. Maybe Wendy has asked them to shut up." Uncle Ted now had his back to Daniel. He's fixing something on the stove. Lately, the stove often turns off.
"Where's the list? I'll try to call them, Maybe they want to answer. "
Uncle Ted seemed to be grateful for Daniel's suggestion. The relief on his face was even deeper than when Daniel had done his homework so well. Seeing that, Daniel intended not to disappoint Uncle Ted. After all, Uncle Ted had a hard time taking care of them and putting aside his needs as a normal man. So Daniel called all the contacts Uncle Ted gave him, calling them one by one over and over again. But the result was the same, no one wanted to pick up Daniel's phone.
Daniel came down with a weak back, especially when he saw Uncle Ted's bright, hopeful face. It was hard, to tell the truth, but he had to. "It's the same, Uncle."
Sorrow suddenly enveloped Uncle Ted's stern face. He, who was usually tough and stiff, now looked like a father who had lost his child. But suddenly the sadness turned to anger. "I don't want to take care of Wendy anymore. Whatever happens to her I won't care. "
"It's just a tent, Uncle. She should have come home tomorrow. "
However, it turned out that for more than three days Wendy did not show the bridge of her nose. She disappeared.
***