An Unwelcome Guest

Lin Ke doesn't know how to comfort her, so he silently watches Lia's face, hoping for some hint as to what to say. Her face is full of determination and resolve. She clenches her pretty slender hands and whispers quietly, "I'll definitely fulfill your wish, grandpa."

As they were talking, they had already walked all the way to the dining room, where the chef from yesterday had already prepared a large banquet for breakfast. Lia pushed the door open and walked in with Lin Ke right behind him. The chef, who was laying out the dishes, straightens and gives her a bow. "Young Miss."

"Uncle Roy, there's no need to be so polite. I always said you could just call me Lia." Lia said. She had hidden all the other troubles she had going through her mind and had put on a bright smile. "Wow!" She said, clapping her hands together, "Breakfast looks amazing as usual!"

"Thank you for your compliment, Young Miss. Now if you'll excuse me, I will go prepare for lunch service. Please enjoy the food." The Chef, Roy, bows toward Lia and extends a slight nod and a smile to acknowledge Lin Ke. With that, he walks away.

Lia gestured for Lin Ke to sit, after they sat down, they began to eat. There were trays and trays of pancakes, of bread, of many assortments of items. It was all piping hot and freshly made. Lin Ke tried to maintain a semblance of refinement and grace in front of Lia, so he ate slowly and in small bites. Lia ate with a sort of elegance and grace you would usually see from higher class people. Her every action was calculated and she had perfect table manners.

"Lin Ke?" Lia asked softly. "Where do you plan on going after Origin City? I know you said you want to travel around the world, but you must have a plan right?"

Lin Ke, who was in the middle of bringing a piece of pancake to his mouth, pauses. He thinks about it. "I really don't have a clue. I don't know where I'll go after Origin City… I guess I'll go wherever the wind takes me." He says. 'Yeah right. More like wherever the system takes me.'

Lia blinks her beautiful large eyes. She seems a little surprised by that answer. After a moment, she giggles. "That just seems to carefree…" She said. However, deep in her eyes, one could see a longing for such a carefree lifestyle. All her life, she had probably been told by her Grandfather that she was their family's last hope, that she had to work hard. She probably had so many burdens on her back. She probably just wanted to let that all go, and do what Lin Ke was going to do. But she couldn't. She had a duty, a responsibility that she couldn't let go of.

Lin Ke, who was admiring Lia's room-brightening smile, suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He felt an unusual sense of foreboding. Suddenly, a large explosion rang out above him. Lin Ke instinctively looked up in surprise. What he saw was a large chunk of the roof falling down onto him. At that moment, Lin Ke froze. He didn't know what he should do, and he didn't think he would be able to get away in time.

'Ah…. Am I dead again? How is getting smashed by a falling object how I die both times. I wonder if God will play another game… What would it be this time? Russian Roulette?' Lin Ke was sure that he was going to get crushed.

"Move!" Suddenly, he felt someone body him. The momentum from that shove threw him out of his chair and a few feet away from the table. In an instant, the piece of the roof had collapsed at the location where he had been only a moment ago. He looked down at himself in shock, to see a young lady covered in debris grabbing his waist tightly. It was Lia, and she had thrown herself at Lin Ke, barely managing to save his life.

Lia, after a second, looked up and accidentally met Lin Ke's eyes. Lin Ke was still slightly stunned by the series of events, but still felt his face get quite hot. Unknown thoughts were flying through his head at breakneck speed, and Lia's thoughts were equally as mysterious. At the same time, both of them looked away in embarrassment. Then, Lia realized she was still grabbing Lin Ke tightly and that they were practically breathing the same air, she quickly let go and stood up.

" I don't think this is the time for a budding romance… Hehe" An ominous voice suddenly said. "How touching. Sadly, both of you… Actually, one of you will be dead in a moment." Both Lin Ke and Lia look around for the source of that voice.

Perched on the open rooftop was a man. He was wearing black robes with a long blade in his hands. His hair was fiery red, and his eyes were miniature suns. There was a large scar over his left eye, and his left hand was wreathed in flames. On his robes was a small insignia of a cross with a fire burning in the center.

He hops down onto the debris, stabbing his sword into the debris, he perches himself on the hilt of the sword. He locks his eyes onto Lia, his eyes seemingly burrowing straight into her soul, and with a cruel twisted smile he says, "I've finally found you. Young Mistress of the Artifex Family."