When dozen of ice crystals started moving towards Lara, she struggled to escape. But she couldn’t do anything, the last surprising condensed ice attack from Xiumin kept her from moving around. She then held out her hand to cover herself from the attack. That was when Tao froze the time. He also took Luhan, Kris, and Suho to help him analyze the situation.

  When the time froze, Luhan, Kris and Suho paid attention Lara’s condition.          

“Guys, look!” exclaimed Luhan.
  “I think her wings are starting to change shape.” added Suho.        

  “Yeah.” answered Kris while nodding.  

  “This could work.” said Kris again.

  “Tao, unfreeze the time.” asked Kris.

  “I’m sure she can handle it this time.” exclaimed Luhan.

  “Alright.” answered Tao.

  The moment the time unfroze, they could see the dozen of ice crystals were blocked by Lara's wings that had changed shape into solid shield. Xiumin actually could easily control the ice crystals. He was just intimidating Lara so that she felt threaten. 

  “That’s great, Lara!” exclaimed Chanyeol, Xiumin, and Tao almost in unison while the other were mesmerized.

  “Are you okay?” asked Chen, D.O, Kai, and Baekhyun.

  “Did it hurt?” asked Lay, Sehun, and Suho almost in unison.

   Lara turned her body to face them and smiled gently.

  “No, I’m perfectly fine, guys.” she answered.

  Lay then stepped forward and intended to heal Lara’s wound earlier. But strangely, the wound had gone. There was just some blood stain left on her hand, but no wound could be seen. The bruise had also gone.

  “Krusnik has the ability to heal themselves.” exclaimed Luhan afterwards.

  “I guess the same thing apply to you.” said Lay while smiling and felt relieved.

  “Can we take a closer look? I’m curious about this shield of yours.” asked Suho after making sure Lara was okay.

  “Yeah, of course.” answered Lara.

  “This seems made of solid iron. No wonder you didn’t feel any pain.” said Suho again.

  “Lara can you tell us how do you change it?” asked Kris this time.

  “I don’t really know the detail but I could feel it changed the moment I felt I couldn’t protect myself. Even so, I think I know how to do it again now that I’ve experienced it.” explained Lara.

  “That’s great to hear. Well done, Lara! You’ve work hard..” said Kris and the others proud, congratulating Lara.

---

  After that Lara went into her room to take a bath and change her clothes while the others prepare for lunch.

  “Guys, it’s weird that I didn’t see Kate the past few days. Do you know where she is?” asked Lara during Lunch. The boys were startled but then Suho explained to her.

  “Actually Kate has been travelling out of town the past few days.” said Suho.

  “What? Where? Why didn’t she tell me?” asked Lara confused and a little upset.

  “She was worried that it might disturb your training.” exclaimed Luhan.

  “But, she should’ve told me nonetheless.” opposed Lara disappointed.

  “Anyway, where did she go and why?” ask Lara again curious.

  “Well, she didn’t tell us her exact location, but she told us she wanted to investigate Methuselah’s location.” answered Kris.

  Lara went silent and stunned hearing Kris’ answers.

  “Methuselah? For what?” she asked again.

  “To anticipate what wil they do. Listen Lara, this morning Kate told me an information. She told me that she found Methuselah’s possible location and that they've build new civilization after the ‘Red Mars Project’ that time. Besides that, Kate told me that she found the sign of Lady Seth Mary Clearence existnce.” exclaimed Luhan. Lara and the other boys who just heard it the first time were surprised.

  “Really?” responded Lara shortly, didn’t know what to say. The information made Lara happy that maybe she could meet the only family member that still alive. But at the same time, it also made her felt uncomfortable because of the Methuselah’s information.

  “Then, where is she?” asked Lara again.

  “Kate still figure it out, we don’t know for sure. That’s why maybe she will extend her investigation and won’t be home for a while.” said Xiumin.

  “Well, okay. Thanks for telling me.” responded Lara to all the boys.

---

  “Guys, I want to discuss something with you.” said Lara to Suho, Kris, Luhan, and Xiumin.

  “I want to know all the information that you know about Methuselah. You know, their weaknesses and how to kill them.” exclaimed Lara.       
  Suho, Kris, Luhan and Xiumin then looked at each other and putting a peculiar expression towads Lara.

  “What? I want to know..” said Lara again after seeing their expression.

  They then smiled and laughed. They wouldn’t think that Lara would ask them to discuss such things with them.

  The five of them then went into study room after Suho took all his research about Methuselah so that they could discuss it more freely.

  “Well, I think you already know most of it. You know that Kudlak Bacillus infused in the Methuselah’s blood came from our ancestors, right?” asked Suho making sure, Lara then nodded.

  “Maybe I or the other had told you that the Kudlak Bacillus inside the Methuselah’s body made them superior to human being. The Kudlak Bacillus inside their body increase their host’s strength. They can turn their arm into blade or sharp claws.” explained Suho.

  “Some of them also have elemental power even though it’s rare, the one I met can control fire.” added Kris.

  “But of course there is a consequences if they use their power.” exclaimed Suho.

  “They need to consume blood, as the Kudlak Bacillus operate by consuming their host’s red blood cells. Moreover, the mutation that they experienced because earth’s closer location to the sun made them have to consume blood in extra quantities.

  “They also able to regenerate wound or lost body parts. They can keep on living as long as their heart stay intact and not distroyed.” explained Suho again.

  Lara sighed. “Then, how we kill them? What about their weaknesses?” 

  “Of course they have some weaknesses.” said Luhan trying to soothe Lara’s anxiety.

  “Just like you’ve heard before, they can’t be exposed to sunlight. The UV light coming from sunlight can increase Kudlak Bacillus activity inside their cells and if they are exposed too long, it can burn their skin.

  “Silver can stops Kudlak Bacillus’ activity and render them to become more of a normal human, but it doesn’t kill them. Because it disables their Methuselah power, however, it makes them vulnerable to death (such as being stabbed in a fatal organ) and we will be able to kill them.” explained Luhan.

  “Vital areas are the head/neck/brain stem and heart. Destroying any of these (through decapitation, for instance) will kill them.” added Xiumin.

  Lara nodded and felt relieved because there’s a way to kill Methuselah.

  “Besides that, you have something more powerful to take cara of the Methuselah. So I don’t think you should worry.” said Kris while smirking.

  Lara stayed quiet for sec but then understood what Kris’ meant. Kris’ words rang in her head about that time when he told her that she could perhaps get her Krusnik Nanomachine power from the Methuselah’s blood. She could just kill them by their blood out. It might took some effort but it wouldn’t be a problem. A smile rose on Lara’s cheeks.

  Afterwards they discussed other things about Methuselah.

---

  When they finished, Lara got back to her room to dissolve the information she had just received.

  KNOCK KNOCK         

  “Lara, can I come in?” asked Sehun.

  “Yeah, Sehun. Come on in..” answered Lara.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Lara while climbing to her bed and laid down.  

  “Nothing. I just want to spend some time with you.” said Sehun.

  “Oh, okay. Come here.” responded Lara, inviting him to climb on her bed, forgetting Xiumin’s advice not to let anyone sleep with her. (Chen is on different case >.<)

  “You won’t mind, right. I want to lay down for a minute.” said Lara again.

               Sehun stayed quiet without responding to Lara’s words, she followed Lara and looked at her from the bed side.

  “Why are you standing there? Come here.” asked Lara seeing Sehun who just stood still and stared at her from the bed side.

  Sehun then climbed up the bed and sit while crossing both his legs. Then Lara looked at Sehun, it seemed that his face expression wasn’t as cheerful as usual.

  “Sehun..what’s wrong?” asked Lara curious.

  He stayed silent for a moment, kept his mouth shut and smiled briefly.

  “Nothing.” he replied. But Lara knew deep down, there was something going on.

  ‘I wish I can read mind like Luhan at a time like this.’ she mumbled in her mind.

“Come on, what is it? You can tell me.” persuaded Lara softly.

  Sehun hesitated and exhaled before finally talking.

  “Hm.. You know that I’m the youngest of all the guys, right?” Sehun started.

  “Yes.” answered Lara while nodding.

  “I feel like I get different treatment compare to the others.” exclaimed Sehun and slowing his voice down.

  “Why do you feel that way?” asked Lara surprised with Sehun’s words and got up from her sleeping position.

  “Well..uh..um.” responded Sehun hesitate.

  “Yeah, I feel like I don’t get the same treatment as Lay hyung, D.O. hyung, Luhan hyung, Umin hyung and Chen hyung...” explained Sehun.

  Hearing Sehun’s explanation made Lara confused even more.

  'What is he talking about?’ asked Lara in her mind.

  “What kind of treatment do you mean, Sehun?” asked Lara again softly.

  Sehun exhaled yet again, then made a thin smile while scratching his head, looked frustrated.

  “It’s nothing actually, nevermind.” responded Sehun.

  Sehun finally laid down facing the bed and put his head on between his crossed elbow.

  Lara couldn’t just sit still, she tried to guess what was Sehun’s words meant.

  ‘What is it that differentiate the way I treat Lay, Luhan, Xiumin, Chen, and D.O. with Sehun?’ asked Lara again to herself.

  She then looked at Sehun, trying to figure him out. Sehun suddenly raised his head and faced Lara. Seeing Lara’s confused expression, trying to figure out his statement earlier made Sehun smile.

  “Lara, can I ask you a question?” asked Sehun.

  “Yes, of course..” answered Lara.

  “How do you feel when Lay hyung kissed you the first time you activated your Krusnik?” asked Sehun straightforward.

  Lara startled and surprised hearing sudden question like that from Sehun. Furthermore about that topic.

  “Ah..well..uh..” Lara stuttering.

  “Why do you want to know anyway?” said Lara trying to change topic.

  “Just wondering..What if you do it with me?” asked Sehun straightforwardly.

  ‘What?’ responded Lara inside her mind. But then she responded and talked calmly.

  ‘Maybe this is what Sehun meant. That he didn’t get the same treatment as the other boys, did he mean that I didn’t kiss him?’ she thought again in her mind.

  But then she couldn’t help and imagine what Sehun had said.

  ‘What if I kiss him?’ the thought made her cheek blushed.

  Lara could see that Sehun’s expression still looked kinda gloomy. Then she asked unexpected things to him.

  “Do you...want me to kiss you?” she couldn’t help but feeling shy while asking it.

  Sehun, surprised to hear such offering from Lara then startled. His face expression gradually started to change.

  “O-oh? Yes!” he answered without hesitation. Glad that Lara found out about his intentions earlier.

  “Fine, close your eyes.” asked Lara again.

  The very second he closed his eyes and smiled. Feeling happy because Lara was about to kiss him.

  Lara took a step closer and slowly but sure put her lips on his cheeks.

  CUP

  Lara couldn’t stand, not even couldn’t imagine if she really kissed Sehun’s lips.

  Sehun felt disappointed because that wasn’t what he wanted.

  ‘Ah, why did she only kiss my cheeks.’ he said in his mind.

  “I’m sorry...I guess this is the best thing to do for now.” responded Lara, seeing Sehun’s disappointed expression.

  “Why? Because I’m the youngest of them all? You think I’m just a little boy?” shouted Sehun slightly angry. But then he calmed himself down. He started to avoid eye contact with Lara.

  “No, that’s not it.” answered Lara.

  “Then why?” Sehun asked again with distrust.

  “Because..I don’t know. The moment isn’t right, I guess? All the kisses..um..or any other affectionate things that I did were just flowing, you know? I have never planned it at all.” explained Lara.

  “So I’m sorry I can’t kiss you.” said Lara again. ‘Not without any feelings in it.’ she added inside her mind.

  Sehun exhaled, looked even more disappointed after hearing Lara’s explanation.

  “Fine then. I will just..get out. I’m sorry for disturbing you rest time, Princess.” said Sehun and hurriedly stood up from the bed to get out the room.

  ‘What’s wrong with him? Is he upset?’ thought Lara.

  She hesitated for a brief second but then called him and started approaching him.

  “Sehun...! Wait!” asked Lara and finally grabbed a hold of Sehun’s arms.

  “Did you upset because I didn’t kiss you?” asked Lara gently.

  Sehun still avoided to have eye contact with Lara and shook his head slightly. But Lara knew he was lying.

  “Sehun, look at me...” said Lara while touching both Sehun’s cheeks so that he could face her.

  “If that’s what you want, okay I will kiss you.” she said again.

  Sehun’s face expression changed suddenly.

  “Really?” he asked enthusiastically.

  “But not on the cheek, alright?” he made sure.

  “Alright, but you have to close your eyes again. I will feel embarrased if you don’t. Don’t worry, I promise I will do it this time. And be patient okay, this will take time. I don’t want to do it without any feelings in it.” she exclaimed.

  “Okay, I understand!” shouted Sehun happily.

  Sehun then closed his eyes. Lara exhaled and started to take a closer look at his face. Handsome face, no one would doubt that. With sharp jaw line and smooth skin. She then realized that even though he’s the youngest but he’s the most masculine of them all, besides Kris and Chanyeol.

  Slowly but sure she got closer to Sehun. Her placed her arms around Sehun’s neck, then finally placed her lips on Sehun’s.

  Sehun responded to Lara’s kiss. Gentle at first, but then it got intense. He stopped when Lara took a step back, feeling that was enough and ended the kiss.

  ‘Do all the boys good at this?’ asked Lara in her mind.

  “Have you done this before? You seemed pretty good at it.” blurted Lara suddenly.

  “Of course not. So this is what it feels like. I really like it. Thank you, Lara!” exclaimed Sehun cheerfully and kissed Lara’s cheeks. A flash of blue light then could be seen on Sehun’s arms.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Oh, Sehun. Please keep it a secret from the others, okay?” asked Lara.

  ‘I’d be overwhelmed if all the boys wanted the same thing.’ she added in her mind.

  “Yes!” responded Sehun shortly.

  Then they spent the rest of the day together after that.