Chapter 5: The Last chance

I looked down at the wooden floor.

A mess.

The entire floor sparkled with mirror fragments, yet each piece seemed to have lost its ability to reflect.

It was a strange phenomenon that was unfolding right in front of my eyes, but I didn't care; letting the house stay like this would be better.

Imagine thieves or people enter my house for whatever purpose, and get fucked up by these, but wait...

"Wouldn't their bodies be stronger, no...why am I wasting time on these useless thoughts? I don't think I have the luxury to do it?"

Words escaped from my mouth, in an instant, I turned around and walked towards the door leading to the chilling night outside.

The door was locked, and so were my nonexistent memories of this house. 

I sighed.

In my heart, there was a hint of sadness and pain; perhaps, I could have stopped myself from feeling these emotions, but I didn't.

When I had regressed, it was only my mind and my memories that came back with me, but...the heart didn't. What I was feeling was the emotions of this Lucas whose body I was in.

The two of us were the same, and at the same time, we weren't.

My steps led me towards the driver's seat of my car. Opening the door, I sat inside it. This was the golden hour that would shape the beginning point of my unknown adventure.

And one of the factors that influenced it very much was him, Ark.

"Damn bastard, where the hell did he vanish?" I said it aloud, annoyance lacing my words, as I glared at the front mirror.

However, there was no reflection of mine to glare back at me.

"I am right here." A cold voice entered my ears, and when I snapped my head towards the back seat...

There was no one there.

"Has anger taken over your mind? Because I cannot exist in this realm." The voice spoke in my ears again, this time it was soothing.

My gaze returned to the front mirror; my hand moved towards it, and then it shifted its direction of reflection, pointing straight at the backseat.

Draped in an exquisite black hanfu crafted from the smoothest, most lustrous silk I had ever encountered, a majestic silver dragon soared across its fabric, evoking a sense of unparalleled grandeur.

A striking young man with alabaster skin occupied my reflection. His face resembled mine, though imbued with a vigour I longed for.

Silvery locks cascaded gracefully over his broad shoulders, and his gemstone-like eyes locked onto mine.

In front of me... no... in the mirror, seated in the backseat, was Ark.

"Am I that handsome for you to stare at me with such intensity, ah...you are making me shy." He said while covering his mouth with the drape of his long sleeves.

However, it didn't bring out any reaction on my face.

Ark's expression also reverted to serious, and then he said with a cold and chilling voice:

"Start the engine."

And with that, I took off for the Alps.

...

"What do you think a home is?" I asked while looking at the front mirror. 

Sitting in the backseat, Ark raised his brows, indicating an expression of surprise and interest.

"This is quite unexpected from you. Well, before answering your question, I want you to tell me what you think a home is?" He counterbacked with a question.

My left eye twitched slightly.

Wasn't I asking him the same thing?

But...in a way, this question was right; it wasn't something I should have asked others, not even the other me, because it depended on my perspective.

"A home...it is a house, a residence, made up of bricks. But that doesn't make it home, a home is something built with people, with trust and a bond between each other. That's what I think a home is." 

My voice was solemn, and there was even a tinge of sadness in it. 

Ark looked at me, a slight smile etched on his face.

"Indeed, your way of describing a home isn't wrong, but it is not entirely right. A home is not something that is built with people, but with your heart. No one in this universe is homeless.

"We are all like islands, walking the path of our destiny. When our paths match with the paths of others, it creates bonds and...trust sometimes, and naturally, it is called a home. 

"Like islands, we drift together in the flow of the river current of fate; however, that doesn't mean it is the same for everybody. Sometimes the flow completely drifts them apart from us...

"And sometimes it becomes their end." Throughout these sentences, he spoke; his voice didn't waver, there was no emotion in it, only experience.

I listened to his words, silently, while continuing to drive towards the Alps.

Ark accepted my silence as an answer and continued:

"Although what I am going to say next is a little unrelated to your question, it would be of great help." He paused and then said with a wistful tone...

"Lucas, listen carefully and etch it in your mind. The path you are going to walk will only bring harm and chaos, not just to you but to everyone around you. There are a few people who are going to walk a path similar to yours, but the intensity is just too different.

"Nothing is forever, except for yourself. So try not to ruin your mind and body, just for the sake of saving a bond or a trust, an island, when getting hit by a wave leaves its fragments behind without any remorse.

"So, don't do anything foolish under the influence of emotions. I am not saying not to harbour them, just don't let it take decisions in place of your rationality."

It wasn't something I didn't know or understand about; I was a master at controlling my emotions, but seeing it coming from my other future self...

I could conclude that something had happened in the other future, so drastic that the subtle change in Ark's voice, that regretful look, had forced him to say this.

Before I knew, I had arrived at my destination.

The Alps.

***

"I will follow your advice." Lucas replied to me before stopping the engine of his car and walking out of the driver's seat.

My eyes followed his movements.

I could see the change in him.

It was a good thing.

I had to do my best in sharpening him for the variable future that was coming for him.

Letting out a sigh, I rested my head on the backseat.

My mind drifted away from Lucas to deeper, into my memories. I remembered things I wanted to, and things that were harrowing enough to drive anyone mad.

But my main focus, perhaps the only cherished memories I have now, after losing most when I had first regressed to this world.

It was "them", my comrades.

Thinking about "them", with a bright smile on my face, I blurred away.