#1: Here and There

 

She pulled the luggage alongside her while scanning the piece of paper she had in her hands to make sure that she has arrived at the correct building. She came to a stop at the end of the junction and looked away from the document momentarily. When she was confident enough that the place is what has been described in the paper, the grip she had on her luggage tightened and she slowly pushed open the metal gates.

761, Carr Street...

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the place. She can’t see anything disturbing at all when other people have been telling her otherwise. It looked just like any other old building being leased so that the landlord can take in a few hundred bucks more each month to better support his family. There aren’t any sorts of peculiar appearances, and there certainly aren’t any ghosts in sight. Well, she had to admit that it seemed a bit too quiet. But that could only be due to the fact that it’s nearing midnight. That should be normal.

She stopped right at the doorstep and fished out the set of keys that were given to her a few weeks back. After unlocking the main door, she made her way into the foyer quietly and she then climbed up the carpeted stairs towards the third floor. She was informed that there aren’t many occupants in this building since its located way too far from the outskirts of town. Though she would still mind the noise she was making because the silence was too great.

After unlocking the door to her new home, she pulled her luggage inside and closed it. She randomly scanned over the fully furnished unit. Once she was satisfied with its conditions, she made her way to the only bedroom and released herself on the comfy mattress. She was dead tired after the long journey. It didn’t take her long before she drifted off to sleep.

***

“This shouldn’t be placed like this. The sun rises from that direction. And my God--”

“Don’t touch that!” Changmin advised before Yunho could pick up the set of blades and fix its positions. “Rika told me to leave it like that. Something is coming.”

Yunho gave his brother an odd look. “And why has no one informed me about this? What is coming?”

The younger walked closer to him and joined him in observing the shiny blades vertically. “She wouldn’t tell. She said it’s something that we must find out for ourselves.”

Yunho chuckled. “It’s been a while since she had premonitions like that. I wonder what it will be this time.”

Both of them started to examine the current positions of the blades. Traditionally, the sharpest blade should point towards the sunrise. It is used as a symbol of boldness and power. The rest of the blades are forbidden to point at each other for fear of inner conflict within the world. However, the sharpest blade is now pointing northwards whereas the rest of the blades formed a hexagon around it, tips meeting bottoms.

“Actually,” Changmin spoke in hushed tones, “this wasn’t our doings.”

Yunho looked up into his brother’s eyes in question.

“We didn’t move the blades to make it shape like that. The blades moved themselves,” Changmin revealed. “And I think I’ve seen this symbol before.” He pointed towards the faint shape of a crescent moon just under the sharpest blade. There were random markings around it, ancient letters that couldn’t be read by either of them. “Moon is a symbol of New Birth, as well as The Last Hope. I wonder which it resembles most. If only I can make sense of these scribbles around it. It’s trying to tell us something.”

“Have you informed My Lord regarding this?” Yunho asked worriedly. The more Changmin analysed the situation in front of him, the more anxious he felt that something really bad is about to happen.

“Rika has spoken to him.”

“And?”

Changmin looked at Yunho and hunched his shoulders before releasing it, telling Yunho that he doesn’t know any further. “But I’m going to do my own research on this.”

“Yah, can you stop poking into these matters? This is not our task to perform. Until My Lord commands for it, I suggest that you just keep your nosy face to yourself.”

“You know me well that I can’t do that, brother,” he smirked and walked away.

A flash of light appeared and Changmin vanished from sight. He left Yunho with tight fists and quite a rage. If only they weren’t blood related, he would’ve murdered Changmin for his stubbornness. He just hoped that Changmin wouldn’t get hurt by the end of the day.

After letting out a very long and heavy sigh, Yunho too vanished himself into thin air. He has other routines to perform before the end of the day.

***

Warm light tickled her skin and she struggled not to wake up. It was a really good dream and she didn’t want it to end just yet. Her body rolled on the mattress and she laid flat on her stomach. A grunt left her when she felt the warmness was starting to burn her back.

Knock. Knock.

Her eyes reluctantly opened into tiny slits. Who could it be, knocking on her door so early in the morning? Aren’t outsider not allowed access inside the building? It must be a neighbour, she thought.

She pushed herself out of bed and squint her eyes a few times to get rid of the drowsiness. She looked around blankly and waited for the knock to repeat. Who knows, maybe the visitor had realised that they had knocked on the wrong door. But then, the knock came again. She raised her left arm and looked at her watch. 10am...

“Yes, may I help you?” she spoke tiredly after the door opened slightly. Her eyes were greeted by the view of a smiling old lady with a box in her hands. She figured it could be a cake container.

“Hi, dear,” the old lady started warmly. “I’m Mrs Lee from downstairs. I heard you came in yesterday but it was late, so I didn’t greet you then. I baked a cake for you. I hope you like chocolate.”

Her smile was so warm that it annoyed the girl. But at seeing the old woman’s effort, she didn’t have the heart to reject her good intentions. She opened the door a little wider just to make way for the old woman to pass her the box. “Thank you,” she replied simply. She was about to close the door again when the old woman asked, “Are you a student?”

She gave the old lady an odd look.

“Oh, pardon me. I shouldn’t have asked that. It’s just that we rarely see young people living in this area. Pardon me.”

“It’s okay, Mrs. Lee. And yes, I’m a student.”

She was about to close her door again when the old lady said, “Be careful, my dear. People like you aren’t supposed to be here. If... If you need anything, I’ll be right downstairs. Anything.”

“Arasseo. It’s nice meeting you too,” she muttered annoyingly and straight on closed the door. She lazily made her way towards the kitchen and placed the box on the kitchen counter.

Aren’t supposed to be here? People like her? What was that supposed to mean?

She sat on the wooden stool and rested her head on the counter. She closed her eyes and suddenly the image from last night’s dreams appeared before her. She opened her eyes and closed them again. It was as if the dream was continuing on even when she wasn’t sleeping. Or maybe she was being delusional after seeing those two gorgeous males blowing kisses towards her in her dreams.

“Ahhhh!” she shook her head frustratingly and finally decided to shower. Maybe the coolness of the water can help rejuvenate her, and return her back to her senses.

***

Changmin rummaged through the shelves to find a certain book. He was sure he had placed it somewhere in this room the last time he came across it. The room was almost a mess and he still couldn’t find it. He then stopped for a moment and stood straight. He brought his right hand near his chest and did a symbol with his fingers while his mind concentrated on his life force. A glow appeared from the diamond shape on his forehead and he started to mumble incoherent words. He needed to find the book and he didn’t care if he was punished along the way.

Within mere seconds, there was a flash of light and Yunho appeared before him with anger in his eyes.

“How dare you use your Mana for this?!” a slap landed on Changmin’s face and the glow from the shape on his forehead instantly died. “Our Mana is sacred and is to be used only for protection, not to search for some old book!”

“She hid the book,” Changmin muttered without acknowledging what his brother had said and done. “Rika took the book and hid it on purpose. Damn it, why would she?” Without waiting for any reply, Changmin pushed his way through and vanished within a bright flash of light. Yunho was again left alone with rage and gritting teeth.

On the other hand, Changmin has made his way to meet the one who hid the book that he is desperately wanting. He wishes to know the meaning behind the symbols and the premonition, and he intended to do it fast, especially since Rika seemed to be hiding more things than he had thought she would.

“Where is it?” he asked straightforwardly when he arrived at Rika’s public chamber. “Where is the book?” He maintained his gaze at the middle-aged woman who had her back facing him.

“Why would you want it, noble man?” she spoke in whispers, but loud enough for him to hear.

“I want to understand the meaning behind the symbols,” he answered truthfully. “If something bad is about to happen, I want to prevent it.”

“Ah, such a pure heart...” she paused for a moment. “Would you like to know something? It was written before me that a young man would have to venture to another world in order to fulfil a destiny. It will be a very difficult journey and it might last for eternity. But it says that the answers to the symbols are within that young man, and not in any of the books in this world. However the book does give him a helpful guide along the way. Tell me, noble man. What would you say if your actual existence is not of the mere being that you are today?”

Changmin stared at her questioningly. “What nonsense are you talking about, lady?”

Rika turned to face him and smiled. “I’ve always been curious if it will either be you or Yunho. It seems like the answer has finally appeared before me. Congratulations.”

“What do you mean?”

Her face suddenly turned serious and she stood before him within a blink of an eye. “You are the answers to the symbols, young man. Find her, and you can fulfil your destiny.”