A while ago...
Leandre sat in the chair, one leg crossed over the other as he read the story unfolding on his laptop screen. The article chronicled the loss of a young girl died by an animal attack in a forest. He couldn't shake the burning question at the forefront of his mind. "Why did she go inside the forest."
The reality of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks, causing him to momentarily forget the message he had received from Liam. Leandre quickly regained his composure and read the text that informed him about the car- [Liam: At impounding lot in Avanten street, Sir] Sundays were his only chance for a moment of peace, which the impudent girl ruined. Closing the Macbook shut, Leandre rose from the chair to leave.
He wanted to ask Dustin or Knox, but he didnot want to disrupt their tranquil Sunday. As he stepped out of the Pentagon building, Leandre encountered Knox, climbing one of the magnificent oak trees, their lineage dotted the academy grounds. "I am glad you realized your true place after all." Leandre chuckled, observing Knox's antics as he climbed like a seasoned monkey.
"So, you finally got a front-row seat to admire my buttocks as I climb these majestic trees?" A cheeky grin spread across Knox's face as he caught sight of Leandre's lazy frown. He hopped onto the ground with a soft landing, his sweat adding a glossy glow to his forehead and his breathing coming in short pants. Knox was preparing his body for the upcoming training happening in the intense wood of Elaitas. With the whispers of a dangerous creature lurking in the forest boundaries, yet to find what it was, he wanted to be prepared fully. And if push came to shove, he could use the trees as a refuge and hide there, thanks to his newfound talent for climbing trees like a seasoned monkey.
"Where are you heading?" Knox quipped with a hint of curiosity, noticing Leandre's formal outfit, reflecting an attitude of confidence. "You don't have a car, don't you?"
"Going to the impoundment lot in Dustin's car," Leandre said as he began to walk ahead. "Why don't you accompany me? You can bring Dustin's car on the way back, and I'll retrieve mine."
Knox agreed with a hint of excitement in his voice. "I was starting to feel a little stir-crazy anyway."
At the same time, a sneaky spy was peeping on them from the balcony with his binoculars in one hand and absentmindedly stroking his head full of leafy locks. "This hooligan is up to something again! Wait, and watch how I will expose you today." Pineapple sprinted into his room and yanked open his secret wardrobe, revealing his disguise goodies which consisted of vibrant wigs, goggles, and funky clothes that would make even aliens envious.
Pineapple donned a coconut coir wig that looked like it was stolen from a Bowie concert, and sported his space-styled gear like a rockstar. Then, he ran, catching the tiny electric bike from the parking spot. The academy was so big that only the cleaning staff used the bikes, but Pineapple was always one to bend the rules. Duncan had banned all trainees from using the bikes to build their physical endurance, but Pineapple was like a mischievous monkey, swinging from the rules. "Who dares to catch me!" He cackled, hopping onto the tiny e-bike, revving the engine like a racecar driver. With a wicked grin, he zoomed after Leandre and Knox, maintaining a distance.
Pineapple screeched to a halt on his e-bike and plopped the e-bike into the bike parking slot. The security guard's eyes bulged out like two juicy lemons as Pineapple showed his ID, shocked at the sight of Pineapple's flashy wig and sci-fi sunglasses.
As Pineapple ran out of the entrance following Leandre and Knox, he gaped in amazement as they hopped into a car in the next street, leaving Pineapple behind like a squirrel caught in the headlights. He scratched his head, feeling like a lost sheep without a flock. Pineapple didn't have a car, let alone the skills to drive one. "Hooligans!" He let out a disappointed groan and kicked a pebble with his foot like a frustrated toddler. He turned around, ready to return, and as he walked a few steps, just like a sly little fox, Pineapple spotted an old, sunny yellow scooter with a key dangling temptingly from the ignition, parked in the shady nook of a tree outside the academy. He checked the security guard who was sitting in the security cabin. He was busy watching a mobile. "Now, who will stop me? I will tail them like a duck." With a cheeky grin, Pineapple hopped onto the scooter and revved the scooter, speeding up to catch Leandre's car.
As Leandre and Knox made their way towards the impoundment lot in the car, with GPS leading the way, Knox realized the coffee house they frequent was just on the next street. Knox's eyes lit up with excitement, "Let's go to the Coffee house, Leandre. I want to drink dragon drink." Knox enthused.
"Definitely not." The mere thought of the cafe owner constantly vying for his attention filled him with disgust, but Knox played his trump card, revealing that he was accompanying him on his request. Leandre let out a weary sigh and turned the car towards Coffee House. He will just close his eyes just like he did last time.
Leandre parked the car at the Coffee House, and just as he alighted, his eyes were immediately drawn to a petite figure of a little girl's back, his eyes focused on the blue backpack at the entrance of the coffee house. Yet, upon blinking and readjusting his focus, the girl had vanished into thin air. "Am I losing my grip on reality?" Leandre pondered, his thoughts consumed as he walked, Kahlys haunting his thoughts with every step.
As Leandre made his way into the coffee house, a sudden and intense jolt of electricity surged from his left wrist, causing him to halt in his tracks. Gazing down at his left hand, he was met with the sight of brilliant golden flames that radiated from his birthmark, illuminating the dimly lit room. "Not again," He muttered under his breath, disbelief etched across his face. This was the second time in a day he was experiencing his birthmark glow.
"It can't be..that's glowing? for real?"
Before Knox could fully process the surreal experience, Leandre swiftly hid his hand, concealing the golden firey glow from prying eyes.
Knox was left speechless, witnessing the golden flames, blazing and bright. Knox had heard Leandre speak of the glowing birthmark before, but seeing it for the first time was a truly surreal and breathtaking experience as if a mythical phoenix had come to life in a burst of fiery anger. The sight was both eerie and mesmerizing, leaving Knox in stunned awe.
"Knox," Leandre called his friend in a sense of urgency. "This cannot be just a random occurrence, happening twice in a day." Leandre glanced down at the fading golden glow on his wrist, a flicker of sadness crossing his face for not being any help to it. "It's desperately hinting to me something. It's calling out for the other half. We must help it." His determined eyes swept over the crowd within the coffee house. There were not many girls—hardly four. "We'll scour those four girls, searching for any signs of the matching birthmark," Leandre said, determined to find the other half wing and the missing piece of his fate.
"Alright. Should I check the men too?" Knox immediately clamped his mouth shut as he caught Leandre's blazing gaze.
"Just kidding," Knox grinned, before slinking into the coffee house, feeling delighted for trying to lighten the tense moment with a failed joke. What would Leandre do if the birthmark was on a man's hand? Knox grinned, walking towards the woman sitting with a man, hoping her jealous boyfriend would not start a fight with him for grabbing his girlfriend's wrist.
On the other hand, Pineapple halted his scooter a little away from Leandre's car with the grace of a drunken giraffe, attracting gazes and whispers from everyone, starting from the academy to the coffee house. "Why did he stop here?" Pineapple didnot mind putting a kickstand on the scooter, causing the scooter to stumble over like a cut-down tree. Ignoring the fallen scooter, Pineapple rushed into the coffee shop like a human tornado, only to end up in a bathroom with wet pants and his possessions taken away.
Leandre wandered into the Coffee House with eager eyes, searching for that one to ignite his spark of hope. But all the four women he encountered only snuffed out his flame, leaving him with nothing but ashes of disappointment. His hope dwindled with each passing moment until all that remained was a hollow ache of unfulfilled longing. With dismay, he perched down on the chair at the coffee table.
"Another miss."
"Maybe it's a false sign, Leandre," Knox said, ordering his dragon drink when a waiter came to take the order. He was relieved that the fake boobed woman had not appeared to take the order. Knox's thoughts strayed as he scanned the counter, yet there was no trace of her presence. Contrary, he noticed two women staring at Leandre with intense admiration, having had their wrists claimed by him for examination. "These damsels lack a sense of decorum," Knox mused to himself.
"It's not a false_" Leandre swallowed his words as he spotted a comical sight walking in his direction. A girl with a hairdo resembling a bag of duck pins and her goggles that looked like she was ready to launch into outer space. Who is this girl? Leandre clamped his lips together tighter to stifle his chuckles and swivelled his head away, trying to contain himself. She can definitely give tough competition to Pineapple.
Knox, who was chugging his dragon drink like a thirsty dragon, did a double take when Leandre suddenly went quiet. His eyes were stunned, like a child watching fireworks at sight.
As the girl walked past his table, he turned back and craned his neck like a rubbernecking tourist, completely captivated by her hair and Goggles. "Woah! Did the Coffee House hire a Unicorn to drum up their business?" Knox wondered out loud, taking another chug of his dragon drink. But before he could swallow, Knox saw her taking a step back and began circling his table. In nervousness, he splattered the drink from his mouth on the table like a clumsy flamingo trying to dance.
Meanwhile, Leandre's eyes darted to the girl, who was eyeing him through her spaced goggles as if she was Sherlock Holmes and he was a suspect in a string of horrific crimes. He could feel the weight of people surrounding him and staring at him, like a zoo full of monkeys gawking at a stranger. Why is she targeting me of all the people? Leandre wondered.