Dion's house was just a living room, bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom.
He held his breath and tried not to make loud noises with his footsteps. The worst situation would be if he didn't see the 'thing' that brought his jotter to the living room. He wouldn't be able to sleep in peace with the thought of something having access to his room.
Walking vigilantly, Dion scrutinized his living room with his eyes.
Dion was about to walk to his room when the light abruptly came on. He flinched in shock. When he sharply turned to the source of the light, he saw a woman sitting on a chair beside his table lamp. She was dressed in a dull, all-black attire that clasped her frame tightly and meld with the darkness. A black fox mask covered her face, and her legs crossed.
Dion took a deep breath and settled his pounding heart.
"Who are you and why are you in my house?" He asked with narrow eyes.
"Me? Hmmm… let's just call me the Guardian," she said while tilting her head.
Then she asked casually, "You are Dion Kruz?"
"You haven't answered my last question. What are you doing in my house? Don't make me repeat myself," Dion spoke through gritted teeth. Knowing that someone went through his stuff irked him to no end.
The woman shook her head in disappointment. "A newborn calf indeed."
Dion lunged at her, attempting to grab her neck, only to find himself grasping at an empty chair. She literally disappeared from his vision. He twisted his head around to find her but a dagger placed on his neck from behind made him pause.
"If you move, you're dead," the woman whispered into his ears, giving Dion chills. "I just came to give you a clear and concise warning before you make that mistake. The warning is simple — the relationship with your teacher is a dangerous one and it will soon cross the boundaries."
Dion's brow furrowed in confusion. "Cross the boundaries? I don't remember having any forbidden relationship with her. She's just… my talking mate."
The woman blurted in shock, "Talking mate with that relationship? When I read your file, you have known her for five years! Five years and still talking mates?!" But she quickly regained her cool. "Well, that's not my business. My business is that your relationship is about to cross the forbidden boundaries."
"Stop talking in circles. What f*****g boundaries?!" Dion clenched teeth.
She explained calmly, "Feisty I see. When I talk about boundaries, I mean, your relationship with your teacher will expose your status as a realm wanderer. A hexz. A being meant to be hunted."
The woman's tone sharpened, her words cutting through the air. "Training with her? What could she possibly teach you? Soon enough, you'll experience a sudden and noticeable improvement in your physical fitness. That alone will raise her suspicions and lead her to dig into your life. One slip-up and your secret will be exposed. And once you're exposed, the Shifters and Martial Knights will come knocking on your door. When that happens, your only option will be to run! If you truly desire to learn how to fight, seek instruction from the other side!" Her words were accompanied by a menacing growl that sent a shiver down his spine.
Dion's eyes focused on the window, seeing blurry and dim reflection of the woman behind him.
She spoke in a soft, yet chilling whisper, "Do you understand the consequences if she were to discover your secret as a realm wanderer? You would be forced to clean up your mess, erasing every trace of your existence as a realm wanderer; you would kill her. And if you are unable to carry out such a task, I would have no choice but to kill both you and her, disguising it as a tragic accident befitting star-crossed lovers. You see, the reason behind this drastic measure is to prevent you from falling into the clutches of the shifters and martial knights. Their methods of torture are unimaginable, and I doubt you possess the strength to resist divulging the identities of your partners, if you have any. Preventing betrayals is one of my duties."
The woman fell silent for a moment, gathering her thoughts before speaking again in a composed tone. "Lastly, allow me to share with you a common mistake made by many realm wanderers. It is crucial to avoid revealing drastic shifts in mentality, personality, and abilities, as doing so may attract the attention of those realm protectors or whatever they call themselves. Too often, realm wanderers become overconfident and start flaunting their newfound powers, striving to be the best in everything. Suddenly excelling in every sport within a week, despite having been a weakling before. However, the key lies in a gradual transition and discreetly demonstrating your hard work."
"Remember… I'm watching you."
Dion felt the knife leave his neck and when he turned, he only saw his curtain dancing to the rhythm of the cold wind of the night. The woman has gone through the window.
'This is the fourth floor.' thought Dion as he ran to the window to see how she would survive. But he merely saw a black, blurry figure, camouflaging and disappearing under the cover of the darkness.
As the woman disappeared into the night, Dion's heart raced with a mix of fear and curiosity. Tilting his head from the floor, Dion saw the dark canvas of the sky.
He gazed at the dark sky that was painted with colorful stars. A lone moon stood among them.
'When was the last time I saw this view?' Dion thought with unfocused eyes.
Now, he can resist the pull to sleep for three nights. But Dion still has to void shuttle to keep his secret as he doesn't have a private space on the other side.
–––
Dion's eyes opened on the other side. The old ceiling greeted his vision. He stood up and walked outside. He happened to bump into Rowan.
"Good morning. We will go hunting in the afternoon. I'm going to see my friends now," Rowan's voice echoed as he rushed past Dion.
Dion just nodded and sat on the trunk behind the house. This serene moment gave him mental peace.
Arwen's house was a big bungalow with many rooms and a large compound. Flowers and grasses covered some regions of the compound. About four, gigantic trees stood around the compound like the pillars of a tower.
"Are you not bored just staring into space like that?" A voice jolted him.
Dion flinched and held his chest as he recovered from the shock.
When he turned, Dion saw Arwen in a long, blue gown. Her long, black hair was smooth and shiny under the sunlight. She was watering the flowers. Arwen looked twenty-five and was surrounded by a graceful air. But her green eyes stared at Dion mischievously with a smile glossing her lips.
'Can she stop sneaking up on people like that?' Dion thought but refrained from saying it aloud.
He answered her, "Not really. I value my mental peace and I became a fan of quietness a long time ago."
"You are a kid, so you should interact with your peers. Being alone will just make you depressed and fantasize about the worst things in life. The village is good, so getting to know this place is cool. There is also a girl called Zeni not far from here. You guys can get to know each other. She is funny and good to bring your mood up." Arwen winked at him.
"I don't want to talk to that…" Dion quieted as he thought of a name to give the girl who just met him and called him mute. "... Clown,".
"Hmmm. Let me see." Arwen placed her finger on her lips, deep in thought. "How about you read some historical books? I heard shut-in people love books."
"I'm not a nerd." Dion instantly denied it. "Hunting would be better."
"Previously, what did you do when you're alone? How do you live?" Arwen couldn't help but ask Dion as she sat beside him.
"I sleep, blank out, and sleep again," Dion said as he remembered his lifestyle… If not for Ivy's intervention.
Arwen's eyes widened. "That's not living a life; that is waiting for death! Have suicidal thoughts not crept into your head?"
Dion became silent as he didn't want to talk deeply about his private life with a stranger.
Arwen's voice softened, filled with genuine concern, "You truly need help to come out of the darkness you hide yourself in. Just because your past has shaped and carved your present self does not mean you are destined to remain trapped in it." She paused for a moment, lost in her thoughts. "I wonder what your past was like. What made you too detached from humans."
Dion's expression shifted, his eyes clouded with a mix of sadness and longing as memories from the past surged forward. He couldn't bear to remember his childhood, the pain and turmoil that haunted him. The mere thought of it sent shivers down his spine, and he desperately wished to bury those memories forever.