"Aka...gi...Schec...zalir… Akagi Scheczalier. Milady, do you like this novelist?" asked Lict as he opened a book and read the author's name.
"Huh? How did you know?"
It's a bright summer morning. Lict decided to clean my library/reading room. This is where I spend most of my time reading. This room was my mother's favorite room. However, as it was not taken proper care of, its current condition was not very good. It just looked like the rest of the mansion, completely abandoned.
However, I asked Lict to only dust the books and not touch anything else as it was naturally decorated by nature so I wanted to preserve it in its pristine form.
"How did you know? I love Mr.Scheczalier" I answered.
"I figured. Almost all your books are from this author, he's amazing! I've never read the works of such young novelists." said Lict.
"You should totally read them. Don't go on his age, he's able to notice even the smallest things which normal people can't notice and presents them in the most beautiful. I really love him. If possible... I...want to meet him someday." I said with a smile. Talking about Mr. Scheczalier and reading his works always made me happy.
"Right? You really seem like a huge fan; although on the other side, there are books on nature by other authors." Lict asked curiously.
"Ah! Those are my mother's books! She used to read them for me all the time."
"Oh, now that you mention milady, where are your parents, I don't see them anywhere."
I felt a sharp pain in my chest as he mentioned my parents.
"They...died in an accident when I was young." I said.
"Ah! S-Sorry"
"Mmmm... don't sweat it, it was a long time ago, I'm at ease now." That was...maybe the first time, I ever lied to Lict, I'm sorry. I just don't want to reveal a self of mine which you've never even imagined.
"Hey Lict, what do we have in lunch today?"
"Today? cookies and milk!" He said with a smile.
"I'm… going outside for a while for a walk."
"Ah...want me to come?"
"No...It's alright. I want some time alone."
"...Understood, then I'll just start with the lunch preparation."
"Yes"
I went out to refresh myself. It was around noon. It was a July noon. Usually the weather in Moscow is pretty good, because it's so far from an ocean, it can get chilly sometimes in the summer, or it can be hot and sticky? You never know. But that noon was particularly...warm. I sat under a tree watching ants. This was the first time I was spending time by doing something other than reading. Ahh... It's so refreshing, it's just impossible to describe. If it were Mr.Scheczalier, how would he describe this feeling? I inhaled deep in thought, and then while exhaling, I remembered a line from his book 'The Soul Of Summer'.
Let's see, It was something like "You cannot read about it although you can feel it through your skin, the warmth of summer is just like your mother embracing you and pouring out her love... unconditionally."
"This is summer, which can only be felt in your heart, when you're truly in love with someone, unconsciously." We both said together...
WAIT! WE BOTH? I turned back to find the same boy standing there who fought with us the other day. The one who dragged me and Lict into that blank space and then when the other two weirdos came, he just vanished with that girl...Melissa maybe. But, this was not the issue, the issue was...Why was he here again? He wants to fight again?
Huh?
Wait...
What????
"Are you a Akagi Scheczalier fan too?"
"Huh?" said the boy with a puzzled look. He really had a deep voice and he was calm and collected, someone who I tried to become. Only tried. He was still in a suit. Maybe...school uniform, he looked like a high schooler, but were school uniforms like this? As if I'd know! Then, moving back to the topic, I said-
"I mean, the lines which you just spoke, they are from-"
"The Soul Of Summer' I know, I have-"
"I knew it! His fans are everywhere! You somehow look about my age!"
"Huh?"
"Listen, I don't want to fight someone of my own kind, so...can we become friends?"
"No, that's not-"
"Please, I really wanna become friends with you!"
"Actually, you're not getting what I'm saying. I'm not here to fight but to talk."
"Huh?"
"Yes, that's it. Please stop fangirling over every-"
"Have you read Mr.Scheczalier's 'Prisma' and 'Girl In Chains', that's the best book I've ever read! And 'Those Who Walked Away' and 'No Destiny'? 'Russian Cinderella'?"
"...You're annoying. It's better to fight. If I sat with you for talking, I'll definitely go mad."
"No...sorry"
"Sigh! I'm here to help"
We started walking while he was explaining what he meant by the thing he said earlier, about him helping me.
"That girl...she won't listen to me, she said that she doesn't want to fight your star spirit"
"That girl...Melissa?"
"Huh? You know my star spirit's name? You seem to be quite conscious of your surroundings, your one's name is...was it Lict?
"Lict! It's just Lict! Don't spoil the name I gave him!"
"Yes, right, Lict."
He pulled a small packet from his pocket and then pulled out a cigarette from it. He lighted it and blew a cloud of smoke from his mouth.
"What are you doing?!"
"What? I'm just smoking. Is it a no smoking zone?"
"No- That's not it! Do you know how bad smoking is for health? It will kill you!! You'll die the worst death!" I grabbed his collar as I shouted at the top of my lungs.
"No...you're just exaggerating it. Plus you're too close." Hesaid.
"Are you a lowbrow? – everyone knows that smoking has all sorts of negative impacts on health. It can cause cancer in esophagus, cancer in mouth, cancer in bladder, stomach and pancreas. In fact, smoking considerably increases the risk of heart attack and stroke! It even causes cancer in the uterus!"
I babbled all this in one breath, so of course I was out of breath, but at the same time I was happy I shared my knowledge with a lowbrow.
"But... I don't have a uterus."
"THAT'S THE PART YOU FOCUS UPON?!!!"
. . .
He looked at me as if I was some insect who had just landed on his food when he was in a good mood. Now, that mood was spoiled. So, he threw away the cigarette, pulled out the packet again, lighted another one, and started spreading pollution again.
"You know...don't you think you're underage?"
"No, I'm 20"
"20? Really? Wait? ...REALLY? You look like a high school student!"
"Tsk, well, excuse me, but I AM 20. And after a few days, I'll be 21".
"No, I don't believe you! Prove it!"
"Huh? How the hell am I supposed to prove it?"
"Remove your pants! Let's check your d@#*, it's size is gonna tell us your age!" a shrill voice came from behind me, I turned back in surprise to find Melissa standing there.
"What?" Our first impression was not very good, but I think the second was worse. "Do you have any idea of what you're saying?" I said."Why don't you say something mister?" I said to the guy.
He took a deep sigh exhaling a huge amount of smoke from his mouth. Then he said "I really don't have anything left to say, I'm actually quite used to it."
How could someone ever get used to something like THAT? Then Melissa approached him but as she touched his belt he punched her real hard on her head.
"Owwww..."
"Serves you right!" he said putting the cigarette back into his mouth.
"Hey...Melissa, why don't you want to fight Lict?" I asked her.
She stood still. There was an awkward silence. Maybe I asked the wrong question.
"Because..." she finally replied. "We're friends. Lict was... my first friend. I am the star of lust so I was hated by all the other stars. Lict was always an elite as he is the star of music. When someone like him approached me, I was...really honored. He is my oldest friend."
"Then, why did you fight him?"
"To check his condition" she replied instantly "You know...he's gone through a lot. He was not always like this. Things happened..."
At first, she seemed like a pervert to me, but, I think, even she has this side of hers. She really is a friend. But, what happened to Lict in the past? He didn't tell me anything.
"He's the best! Being with Lict, really makes me happy, I hope that you'll take proper care of him. He is...really special to me" Melissa said.
"Uh? Ah...yeah, I will"
"Then, let's go!!"
"Where?"
"What 'where'? To your house. I can't wait to see him again."
"Then...let's go"
While I was walking with them to my house, I talked about a lot of stuff with Melissa like, how was she able to pick up such a huge axe while she appeared so meek, she told that gifts are easy to handle for star spirits. Then, she asked me why I gifted Lict shoes instead of a proper weapon-
"Huh? But, I didn't think of gifting him shoes"
"Well, do you know that star spirits get their gifts from the imagination of a Demigod? So, you imagined shoes, that's the reason why he got shoes."
"Can't we...change it?"
"No, never, but you do can upgrade it."
"Really? How?"
"You form a stronger bond with him or something like that. There's so proper instructions on how you do it."
"Have your weapons ever been upgraded?"
"No, never felt the need of it, besides, we're doing just fine without it, so I'm okay."
By that time we reached the mansion
"Wow! Is this your house! It's huge! But, why does it look so...withered? It's as if no one's lived here for years!" said Melissa.
"Are you...royalty?" asked the boy.
"I am an earl" I answered.
"Really? Wow!!" Melissa said.
"Can we go in?" asked the boy.
"But of course, let's go!"
We moved into the mansion and reached the hallways.
"Lict! We have guests, where are you?"
I looked here and there for finding him.
"Lict?"
"Just a moment Milady" He said from the kitchen.
As he came into the hallway, he was surprised to see Melissa. He quickly came and stood in front of me and Melissa. He looked at her with anger.
"Milady, why did you bring her?" He asked. His eyes looked angry.
"Lict, ...It's been a while-" Melissa said "Shut up! Get out!" Lict shouted.
"Lict, calm down" I said."Aren't you friends?"
"Hump! Me...friend with this thing, never in a lifetime! Get out! You're disgusting!"
What? How could he?
-To be continued