Chapter 13

Hmm...

Leaping from his large bed, Lior quickly made his way towards the room's exit, smartphone in hand.

"She told me to bring them here, so why is it taking so long? It's been days since she even answered a call."

Descending to the first floor through the stairs of his family's enormous house, where each invisible step materialized immediately with the movement of his feet in the air, he then walked outside towards a secluded spot on the property.

"It's been a few days... even though they're rank S, I don't think anyone would want to go so long without eating, right? I wouldn't..."

Standing before a large boulder, Lior raised one hand and placed it on the rock.

"I hope Alyia comes soon. I still have things to do..." as a glow emanated from his palm, Lior gave a small smile. "Damn, I lost another day... She must be finishing her morning training by now, right...? And besides, I don't want to have to babysit these two."

The glow quickly spread, covering the entire large surface before him. With both hands, Lior took a step forward and opened the grand gray doors that appeared in front of him.

Majestic is the room that took over his entire view. Everything in that place is huge and beautiful. The white columns with a slight bluish tint seem to rise infinitely. Transparent are the grand windows that allow a glimpse of the enchanting view outside.

Stars shine brightly even though the sky is clear, and unbelievably, this same image seems to be reflected on the walls of that gigantic place. For it's not just a beautiful painting, but rather the sky itself, identical to the exterior, is depicted on the walls surrounding Lior, no matter how much he walks or which room he enters.

Opening one of the countless doors, Lior comes upon a room where twins sleep peacefully in separate beds, each on one side of the room.

Raising one hand, Lior sighed. With a snap of his fingers, the twins began to awaken slowly.

The dazzling light capable of blinding their eyes made one of them use a hand to shield his vision.

"Ji Yoo..." said the boy, turning on the bed and rubbing his eyes. ".., darn it, why did you turn on the light...?"

"Me..?" rubbing her eyes, the girl yawned silently and then stretched. "I didn't do anything. I just woke up too."

The stars shining on the wall and that strange room she had never seen before. Confused and in denial, Ji Yoo quickly rubbed her eyes again, hoping that the sight before her would change after doing so... But of course, it didn't.

"Tae Hyun, get up..., now!"

Carefully and with extreme calm, she slowly rose from the bed and took small steps backward.

"You..."

If this was really who she was imagining, resisting is absolutely futile. Ji Yoo knows that. And even though she's taking small steps toward the window, she has no confidence in her chances of escape either.

"What does an irregular want with people like us..? Is it so important that he needs to kidnap us...?"

"An irregular? Seriously? What are you talking about..."

Tae Hyun momentarily froze when his eyes met Lior's. At that moment, a huge smile formed on his face.

"Wow..! Is this real?!"

Jumping out of bed, he immediately ran towards Lior, smiling and with admiration overflowing from his eyes.

"Please, can I have an autograph?!"

Gritting her teeth, Ji Yoo clenched her fists tightly, causing the veins to bulge on her neck and forehead.

"Are you stupid or what?! He kidnapped us, you idiot! Why the hell are you asking for a damn autograph right now?!"

"Kidnapped...?"

Tae Hyun's eyes wandered around, making him realize that he doesn't recognize any part of that large room.

"No, surely not. He just brought us to this strange place without our consent, that's all."

With agile movements and surprising speed, in a single leap, Hyun quickly backed away and stood beside Ji Yoo.

If a fight were to really happen, it's a fact, they wouldn't stand a chance of winning. But despite knowing that, surrendering is not an option either.

Raising one hand, Tae Hyun casually grabbed a longsword that materialized in the air. Assuming a battle stance immediately after.

Their bodies tremble, and thanks to the intense pressure imposed by the situation, even breathing has become a quite arduous task. Even though they're not making any moves, sweat drips from the blue hair of those two as they only stare at Lior.

"You..."

Rubbing the back of his head, Lior sighed.

"What are you planning to do with that toy?"

"No. The real question is, what are you, an irregular, planning to do by kidnapping two kids?"

"The way you speak makes it sound like you're just normal kids."

"Well, compared to you, we definitely are..."

"Fair enough..." smiling, Lior sat mid-air, effortlessly crossing his legs. "But know that the 'mister' hurt quite a bit. Now, sit down. I have a proposal to make to you."

Out of nowhere, a chair appeared under Lior without the need for any action other than sitting down.

"Was that... him?" Ji Yoo wondered, looking at the mysterious chair. "Or was it this strange place..?"

"Wow..!" thought Hyun, impressed.

"But what if we refuse this 'proposal'?"

"I'll send you home, making you forget anything you've seen in this place."

"Then..., what if we accept..?"

With a threatening look, upon hearing those words, Ji Yoo immediately looked at Hyun, causing him to tremble instinctively.

Lior smiled.

"If you accept, I'll guarantee you power. Not like mine, but enough for you to easily top the hunter rankings... But..."

"I accept!" exclaimed Tae Hyun, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"...Excuse me...? Are you serious? You also agree to this?"

Ji Yoo sighed.

She looked at Hyun for a moment. This is absurd. Someone just coming up to you and offering you power? There must obviously be some catch to it. The fine print of the contract. But, watching that smile, she couldn't say otherwise. She couldn't leave her idiot brother alone in this place.

With a hesitant nod followed by a deep sigh, she answered Lior's question.

***************

Hmm...

"This is definitely the last place she was... But what happened..?"

Looking around, Alyia observes the ocean and the islands below her feet and the clouds around her.

"If they were here, it was definitely on a plane. So how did they all disappear? I can't even sense the energy of a possible portal, and the ring doesn't seem to be working either..."

Her hair sways and is carried by the wind, and despite her efforts to find any kind of clue, even the invisible ones, Alyia can't find a single sign, not even a trace of Samantha or anyone else on that plane.

"Where are you, Hye...?"