ChAPTER 10: The Manor

The car engine finally stopped after hours of driving. Ahead of them stood an imposing bridge, its arches bathed in soft light. The night seemed darker here, almost oppressive. Shela glanced at Rena through the rearview mirror before declaring firmly:

**"We're here. Hold on tight."**

Rena frowned, her gaze darting around the unfamiliar surroundings. **"Where is here? What the hell is this? A bridge? What does this even—"**

She was abruptly cut off as Shela began reciting something in a strange, ancient language.

**"Noira caelum transitus, revelare viam."**

Before Rena could protest or make sense of what was happening, the car suddenly accelerated at an incredible speed. She was thrown back into her seat, her heart pounding as the bridge seemed to transform beneath them. The arches shimmered, the surroundings blurred, and a flash of light engulfed them.

When the car finally came to a stop, the landscape had completely changed. Before them stood a massive, majestic manor. The ancient stone walls bore the marks of centuries past, yet the building was impeccably maintained. A sprawling courtyard stretched out in front, bordered by neatly trimmed trees and vibrant flowers. At its center stood a large marble fountain, its crystal-clear water flowing in a mesmerizing rhythm.

Rena stared, wide-eyed, at the breathtaking scene.

Lucas turned to her with a mischievous grin. **"Welcome to the Manor."** He paused before adding with a chuckle, **"And me? I'm about to have a rough time with Merick."**

As soon as they stepped out of the car, two men stood waiting at the entrance of the manor. One was older, likely in his forties or fifties, with an elegant and commanding presence. His slightly graying hair only added to his dignified appearance. Beside him stood a younger man in his twenties, equally striking but for entirely different reasons.

The younger man had sharp, captivating features, with thick black hair and piercing eyes. His broad, muscular frame was even more imposing than Lucas's. While Lucas was undeniably handsome, this young man was on another level—practically perfection. Rena felt her cheeks flush as she found herself unable to look away from him.

**"Merick,"** Lucas said, bowing slightly toward the older man in a gesture of respect.

Merick, whose presence exuded natural authority, didn't respond immediately. His piercing gaze settled on Lucas before shifting to Shela, who wasted no time speaking up.

**"Lucas made a huge blunder,"** she said, her tone dripping with irony.

Lucas, caught off guard, stammered incoherently, but Merick remained impassive. His eyes slowly turned a deep shade of red, though his expression stayed neutral.

**"You're not going to say anything?"** Shela asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ignoring her, Merick turned his attention to Rena. **"Welcome, Miss Rena,"** he said in an authoritative tone, his voice resonating like an echo from another era. **"Please, come inside."**

Before she could respond, Rena's gaze drifted back to the young man beside Merick. He wore a simple t-shirt that revealed a tattoo on his forearm: a crescent moon accompanied by five stars. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized it was the same tattoo she had, except with a different number of stars.

**"Eliam,"** Merick said, gesturing to the young man. **"He is the Fifth Guardian."**

Rena nodded, though she couldn't stop herself from staring. **"Nice to meet you,"** she muttered, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Merick gestured for everyone to follow him into the manor. The grand hall was as magnificent as the exterior. Crystal chandeliers illuminated the space, while a sweeping wooden staircase with intricate carvings led to the upper floors. The walls were adorned with ancient paintings, and the air carried a subtle blend of polished wood and fresh flowers.

Feeling overwhelmed, Rena began to fire off questions at a rapid pace: **"What is this place? How is any of this possible? Who are you people, really? Why me? And these tattoos—what do they even mean—"**

**"Miss Rena,"** Merick interrupted firmly yet politely. **"Take some time to rest and dine first. We will discuss everything later."**

He then called over an older woman, likely in her sixties, who approached with a warm smile. **"Lucie, please show Miss Rena to her room."**

Lucie guided Rena through the manor, leading her up the grand staircase and down a long hallway. She stopped in front of the third door on the left, opened it, and said, **"This is your room, Miss."**

The room was simple yet elegant, featuring a large, comfortable bed and a calming neutral color palette. A large window overlooked the garden, and the atmosphere felt soothing. Rena stepped inside and immediately collapsed onto the bed, finding it incredibly soft. After a moment, she decided to take a shower in the attached bathroom.

The bathroom was spacious and luxurious, with gleaming tiles and a rainfall showerhead. The warm water was soothing against her skin, easing the tension in her body. She closed her eyes for a moment, but a faint whisper made her snap them open. A woman's voice seemed to call her name, soft yet insistent. Startled, she quickly finished her shower and returned to the bedroom.

On the bed, she found a set of clothes laid out neatly, along with a note: **"Dinner will be ready in 15 minutes."**

After dressing, Rena sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. Her mind replayed the events of the evening—the revelations about the Guardians, the strange bond they shared, and most unsettlingly, the voice she had heard in the shower. Part of her craved answers, while another part simply felt overwhelmed.

For now, she told herself, she needed to focus on what was next. There would be time for answers, but first, she needed to process everything she had experienced so far.

Fifteen minutes later, Rena came down the grand staircase, wearing simple and comfy clothes. As she walked into the massive living room, she spotted Shela, Lucas, and Eliam chatting away. As expected, Shela was the loudest, teasing both guys mercilessly. Rena paused for a moment, smirking as she caught the faint blush on both Lucas's and Eliam's faces.

**"Finally, Rena!"** Shela called out dramatically, waving her over like she'd been waiting forever. **"We were starting to think you got lost or maybe stumbled into a secret portal or something!"**

**"Ha-ha, very funny, Shela,"** Rena said, rolling her eyes as she walked over. **"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm still here."**

She plopped down onto the couch next to Eliam, who seemed just a little too polite to tell Shela to cool it.

**"Don't mind her,"** Eliam said with an easy smile. **"She's like this with everyone. I'm Eliam, by the way. It's nice to finally meet you. I hope all this… weirdness hasn't been too much to handle."**

**"Too much to handle?"** Rena raised an eyebrow. **"A magical manor, glowing tattoos, people telling me I'm part of some ancient prophecy? Nah, it's totally fine. Super chill."**

Eliam let out a laugh. **"Fair enough. Look, we're all figuring this out together. You're not alone in this."**

Meanwhile, Lucas, who was sitting in an armchair nearby, started to look… off. He'd been fine earlier, but now he was all quiet, staring at the floor like it had personally offended him.

Shela, of course, noticed immediately. She leaned toward Lucas, lowering her voice just enough to seem sneaky but still loud enough for him to hear. **"Aw, what's wrong, Lucas? Jealous? Don't like seeing Rena talking to someone with bigger muscles? Admit it, you'd love to grab her, drag her somewhere private, and—"**

**"Shela!"** Lucas coughed so hard it sounded painful, his face turning bright red. **"Knock it off!"**

Shela burst into laughter, practically falling over on the couch, completely losing it.

Rena and Eliam stopped talking to stare at her.

**"Uh… what's going on over there?"** Rena asked, confused.

**"Oh, nothing!"** Shela said, waving them off as she wiped tears from her eyes. **"Just… keep doing what you're doing. Don't mind me."**

Eliam raised an eyebrow but didn't push it, while Lucas just grumbled something under his breath, refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

Right then, Lucie appeared in the doorway. **"Dinner's ready,"** she said with a warm smile. **"You can head to the dining room now. Merick is waiting for you."**

Rena was more than happy for the interruption and stood up quickly. The others followed, though the tension between Lucas and Shela was almost tangible. Rena decided not to dwell on it, her mind already racing with questions about what dinner with Merick would reveal.

They entered the dining room, a grand space lit by a massive chandelier. Merick was already seated at the head of the table, upright and commanding, his piercing gaze fixed on them. In front of him was a feast: colorful dishes, juicy meats, perfectly cooked vegetables, and desserts that looked like something out of a dream.

**"Sit down,"** Merick said in a calm but firm tone.

Still intimidated by the setting and Merick's presence, Rena sat between Shela and Eliam, while Lucas took a seat at the other end of the table. The tension in the room was palpable, but the delicious smell of the food briefly distracted Rena, easing her nerves.