For hours, the old man and Chris spoke of those gems. He listened carefully like the way he listened to his clients when they provide information.
"And lastly, they are not for the weak, my boy!" the old man warned him.
Not for the weak? He can almost scoff. There is nothing in the world that cannot be learned. It takes time, yes, but it will be worth it.
"I will gather those gems and go home."
The old man raised his bushy white brows, a smirk lurking in the corner of his mouth. When Chris looked at him, the evil smile vanished.
"Well, regards me with the other world when you get back, my boy!"
Chris did not say anything but instead focused his gaze back on the ocean, his mind clouding with thoughts of the gem. These gems were scattered in all the places of this world. A city, a guardian, a gem-- but nobody will tell you they are the guardian. He will have to be so observant of everything around him.
When the old man left Chris, Elonia was quick to stand beside him. She wears a hood, and covered half of her face with a bandana so she won't be recognized but Chris memorized her by her eyes, those sharp hazel eyes.
"You seem to have made friends with an old man." She started the conversation, not looking at him, but at the waters. "What have you two spoken of?"
"None of your business," he coldly answered and heard her release a loud sigh. "How long until we get to land?"
"A day," she replied.
"A day? Why the fuck is it so long? I can't waste that much time in this world and in this--"
"Then jump and swim." Elonia sarcastically told him. Chris' jaw tightened and Elonia knew he was upset but she bravely raised a brow at him. "If you can be much faster, jump and swim, Louie."
"You're suddenly being brave. Do you want me to throw you off or maybe force you to walk a plank?"
"You wouldn't. I'm the only one who knows you at this rate. You don't even know where you are headed."
Chris inhaled sharply. Who does this lady think she is? Yes, he would need her to be his map but he does not need someone to know him. There's no point arguing with this lady because somehow he does need her.
"What do you know about gems?"
"That they're from the ground--earth."
"Haha, funny. You know what I am talking about. This world is full of shit and I want to know about these gems. It can't be just normal gems for me to bargain!" Then he suddenly holds both of her shoulders. "You're a damn princess. I know royalties were taught the world better than us peasants!"
His nose wrinkled in anger but as soon as he saw how the princess was dumbfounded by his sudden outburst, his face softened. He looked away and slowly removed his hold from her. Now, things seem awkward for him. The talk about being a peasant wasn't him. It just naturally came out of his mouth.
"You talk the same way," she softly said. "You still think lowly of yourself, Louie."
"Stop calling me that," he muttered. "Just stop whatever you are resembling me to who. I am not Louie. Speak when I tell you to do so or when you have some information about the gems."
Chris did not want to argue so he left Elonia to stare at the vast ocean alone. He was making his way to their cabin and saw how men sharpening their knives look at him. Perhaps they are wondering why this young man travels at such an age. If the old man says that people from this world age slowly then he is the same age as this person he is trapped in. This person isn't young at all.
In their designated cabin, Chris decides to rest in the hard bed. There was not anything to use for a little comfort and it makes him think the grass was more comfortable than these planks. Everything was perfect for him until he had to shoot a boy. It doesn't make sense to him what the old man said. He wants to know more-- why he woke up in the body of a young man.
"I never thought this was possible," Chris whispered before closing his eyes and dozing off.
Elonia followed Chris to their cabin and she was careful not to disturb his sleep. The last time they spoke was when he told her that he'd look for a way to pay their debts and free his mother. It was over two months ago and now they see each other and he is killing people mercilessly. It isn't just that... he does not seem to know himself.
She stands beside the bed and looked carefully at Louie's face. He has the most attractive face to her and even in his sleep, he looks gorgeous. Those bushy perfect brows, his long lashes, that perfect nose, and his slightly cracked lips that she still finds tempting.
The gems that he speaks of, she knows of them. Each gem is a key to endless power. If she tells him where one is hidden, in the state that he is in, she would not like to see him kill more people than she already saw. Louie could not even kill a rabbit during the hunt so this was all new to her. Seeing him kill those men, something was not right.
"What happened in those two months?" she whispers, extending her hand to touch his hair but she stopped in the middle. He does not recognize her at the moment. She instantly put down her hand and took a step back.
To whoever he had trained his swordsmanship and his battle skills with is a master but Elonia would never acknowledge that master. He had trained Louie to be a killer, someone who would not hesitate to shed blood.
Louie was so kind, so pure and he is everything she ever wanted. His laughs and his stories never bore her, even his arrogant dreams of becoming a king of his own world, she respected. When she laughs he'd laugh and he was always there for her in the times she cried. But what did she do? She just stood there when Louie begged for his mother.
"I'll run away with you a couple of times more," she whispers before sitting on her hard bed. It didn't bother her how uncomfortable it was. What bothers her was Louie wanting those gems. He cannot have them and she will do anything to stop him.
Chris woke up in the middle of the night and looked at the lady on the other bed. He groaned sitting up. He hoped to be back to his world but looking at her, he knows too damn well that he is stuck. He stretches a little and stands up, making his way to the door. The stars were barely visible in the sky. He slept for too long and now the sun should rise soon. They are headed south so he can see his long-time dream. Along the way, he should ask for the gems. If dragons exist there so will some experts in these gems. There will be plenty of people who also voyage to seek those."Hello there, lad!"Chris turns and sees a big man, beard in a braid, a big-rectangular hammer in his hand, and that iron helmet with big horns. He sees big men in his world but not as big as this. "Where ya headin'?"There was a part of him that says he should not engage in this conversation but he would need more information. And someone like this big guy could tell him a lot."Where this ship leads, I'm boun
"You were trying to leave me, huh?" Elonia fumed just as Chris got inside their cabin. "You can't get a hold of those gems, Louie. They're too powerful for you!""Exactly why I need to get my hands on them!" he gritted his teeth. They were glaring at each other, eyes glistening in anger. "Look, once I have those gems, Louie will come back to you! All of this... this is not Louie. So, if you want to help him, help me get those gems!""They are bad for you! Too much power will leave you wanting more! You go mad!""I am not going mad! I need those to go home!" He completely lost it and screamed in her face. Tears had suddenly formed in Elonia's eyes. Seeing those tears stabbed his heart with hundred blades going in at once. Why must this lady do this to him every time? Why does this man love this lady? Chris inhaled deeply while looking away. Seeing her like this hurts him. It softened his gaze and it calms the furry in him."I'm sorry," he uttered. Chris never apologizes to anyone sin
Wearing a traditional fox mask and his black hood, Chris entered his target's room from the window, careful not to create any noise. He took a step closer to the bed where a couple was sleeping peacefully, while doing so, he put on the gun's silencer. Ah, how sweet is the scene in front of him, he sarcastically thought, it won't last. He lift his gun and pointed it at the man who would've been the next president. If he isn't fast the woman will wake up too but he is fast. With an evil grin plastered on his mouth, he pulled the trigger twice, one for the man and one for the woman. In Chris' eyes reflected no mercy, no sense of guilt and once done he bid them goodnight. On his way out of the room calmly, his phone rings and he takes it out. He saw the code name of the man who hired him to kill and he swiped to answer, bringing his phone closer to his ear. "Silenced," he uttered. "Excellent. I will wire the rest of the money right away. Expect no delays." "If there's any delay, you
Chris hears birds chirping, the sound of leaves dancing along with the wind, and the rushing water somewhere. He doesn't remember waking up with these peaceful sounds of nature. Even the air he is breathing is cleansing his lungs. To his curiosity, he slowly opened his eyes and saw trees-- towering ones like he is somewhere in a National Tree park."Am I dreaming?" he asked with a husky voice that had his eyes wide. His voice! It sounded weird like it had been changed into that dork voice in his younger years.When he thought he just misheard himself, he sits up and spoke again. He frowned hearing his voice the same. The moment he ran over a hand across his face, he noticed his smaller hand and he darted his round eyes at it, shaking."What the fuck?" he cursed, immediately standing up, looking around while his breathing heaved. The surrounding is not familiar. He could be in a damn dream or a fucking game some psycho invented or even someone could have thrown him in some forest but t
The moment the princess called him Louie, he immediately snapped out of his sudden rampage and pointed the tip of the machete at the young lady's throat. His killer eyes pierced at her, and the expression on his face hardened. "Why do you call me that name?" he growled, tightening his grip with the handle, crinkling his nose. "I understand that you are not fond of me calling your name but if you choose to kill me right now your situation will worsen. I can tell my father what you've done today and he will reward you and help your family." "Family, you say?" he scoffs. "I live alone!" "Let me live, Louie... please." The princess' eyes suddenly flooded with tears, her eyes begging him to spare her. "This is not you, Louie. You don't kill good people!" Chris' chest just started to ache again making him grunt, his head down. What is this? Did they design this boy's heart to be this soft? Why the fuck is he here? "Tell me, where in the world are we?" The princess had her large eyes
Just as they are in town, the princess was forced to buy themselves new clothes to change into. They also bought bandanas to cover their faces so they can blend in but little did they know a pair of eyes recognizes Chris wherever he goes."Why do we have to go South?" The princess asked again while getting dragged by Chris like their horse. "Louie, I'm asking questions!""I forbid you to speak any more words, young lady.""Stop calling me a young lady when you are only a month older than me! And I have a name, Louie! Elonia!"This girl is annoying, Chris thought clicking his tongue and stopping to look back at the princess, written all over his face is how annoyed he is to be with her."I think you have forgotten that I hold your life now, princess," he reminded her, taking steps closer and now their faces are inches apart. "I am not Louie and I do not like a chatterbox coming along with me!""I didn't come along with you. You dragged me here!" she retorted, staring bravely at his eye