The next day Lara prepared to start the training with Tao again.

   “It seems that you got your reflexes back.” said Tao who was having difficulties to attack Lara.

   “I told you not to worry. Maybe I was just too exhausted with all the training yesterday.” replied Lara, answering to Tao and the other boys.

   But deep down, only Lara and Luhan knew what happened. The Krusnik affected her physical energy, she couldn’t last long in a fight if her Krusnik didn’t fed on properly. Even if she didn’t activate her Krusnik Nanomachine. Now she able to block and counter-attack Tao’s moves using wuhsu stick.

   “That’s great, Lara!” shouted Chen when Lara finally succeded in beating Tao and made him losing grip of the wushu stick.

   “I’m sure I have underestimate you, princess.” responded Tao.

   “That’s why you shouldn’t.” said Lara.  

                  After the training, they ate lunch. That’s when suddenly Luhan sensed someone else’s presence approaching the mansion.

   “Guys! Shhh. Be quiet.” Luhan said.

   “What is it?” asked Xiumin.

   “I think someone’s coming.” and the boys went silent. They stood up and moved around Lara in order to protect her.

   “Who?” asked Kris.

   “Messengers from..Vatican.” replied Luhan shortly after analyzing their minds.

   ‘Are you sure this is the right place?’ said the messenger.

   ‘Yeah, you do all the introduction.’ said the other one.

   “Vatican?” asked Suho making sure.

   “Yes, do you know something about it?” asked Luhan.

  “Vatican is an anti-vampire headquarters organization which established as the epicenter of human civilization after the end of ‘The Dark Ages’, when the Methuselah escaped to earth.” explained Suho.

KNOCK KNOCK

   Kai teleported right away in front of the door while the others followed him from behind.

   Kai exchanged glance with Luhan before opening the door.

   “Hello...My name is Thomas, this is Nishi. We’re from Vatican. Is this Lariena Lara Athha residence?” asked the tall baby-face guy. Meanwhile the other tall skinny guy with pointed nose just stood still, looking cynical. Kai looked at both of them from head to toe with suspicion. They brought a medium-size suitcase in each their hands.

   “What do you want?” asked Kai bluntly.

   “I’m afraid we must discuss it directly with her.” replied Thomas.

   ‘We have to discuss protection strategy for Lariena.’ faintly Luhan could hear the real answers in their minds.

   ‘Kai, I think it’s okay to let them meet princess.’ Luhan said through telepathy and signalling Kai.

   ‘Guys, I’m letting them in. Stay on guard.’ said Luhan to all of the boys from EXO Planet.

   Luhan stepped forward. 

   “Come in.” he said as he invited Thomas and Nishi in.

   Luhan told Lara through telepathy that it’s okay to meet them.

“I hear someone’s looking for me. To what do I owe the honour, gentleman?” asked Lara as she approached Thomas and Nishi.

  “I’m sorry for the sudden visit, Miss Lariena.” said Thomas.

  “Please call me Lara.” asked Lara.

  “Okay, Miss Lara. My name’s Thomas, this is Nishi. We’re here to deliver important mission from Vatican. You see..Vatican is..” said Thomas who was about to explain.

  “an anti-vampire organization established as the epicenter of human civilization after ‘The Dark Ages’.” interrupted Suho.

  “So, you’ve heard about us?” asked Thomas surprised.

  “Just a bit. So, what kind of mission were you talking about?” responded Suho.

  “Let’s cut the chit-chat.” interrupted Nishi who had been quiet since earlier. He stepped forward and started opening the suitcases that they had brought. Upon seeing many kind of weapons inside the suitcases, the twelve boys instinctively covered Lara. Kai teleported right away, threaten and grabbed Nishi’s neck using his arms while Luhan used his telekinesis to take the suitcases away from Nishi and Thomas’ reach.

  “Get off of me or I’ll shoot you.” Nishi said coldly.

   After hearing Nishi’s response, Kai and the others paid attention to Nishi’s hand that holding a pistol aiming at Kai’s stomach.

   ‘What..? But, how?’ asked Kai in his mind, surprised.

   ‘How did he do that?’ added Baekhyun in his mind.

   ‘I didn’t even see him pull out his pistol.’ exclaimed Suho.

   “Are you going to let me explain what those weapons for or keep it until the Methuselah come and kill us?” threaten Nishi again because Kai didn’t release him just yet.

   “Kai.” said Luhan and nodded at Kai, signalling to release Nishi after he himself lowered the suitcases which still in mid-air and put it on the floor.  Kai looked at Nishi cynically before finally released him.

   “We’re just taking precautions.” said Kris.

   “Which is a good thing. Sorry for not explaining it first.” exclaimed Thomas.

   “Are you guys from EXO Planet?” asked Thomas again. Now that he asked, both Thomas and Nishi didn’t seem to be surprised to see Luhan and Kai’s ability earlier. Everyone froze. They never thought anyone else would know about their identity.

   “Your father told us about it.” said Thomas breaking the silence.

   “You knew my father?” asked Lara suddenly getting her hopes up.

   “Yeah, well where should I start.” replied Thomas confused of so many information he wanted to tell them.

   After letting them to sit down, Thomas begin telling them Lara’s father will.

   “So, I guess you’ve heard about us and ‘The Dark Ages’?” asked Thomas again, making sure.

   “Yes.” said almost all the guys in unison and Lara nodded her head.
   “Well, we didn’t really know the details because the one who should deliver your father’s will has passed away but what we can tell you is that during ‘The Dark Ages’ your father fought the Methuselah alongside us, Vatican. We openly received your father’s help because he knew their weaknesses. We highly honor not only his help but also his fighting ability. The Vatican and your father were able to protect humankind from the Methuselah eventhough some of them still out there somewhere. After ‘The Dark Ages’, your father left to do some business.

   “All we know was he found out the source where the Methuselah created and wanted to stop it for once and for all. One day, he visited us. He told us that he had a wife and a daughter. He asked us for protection. Not for himself or his wife but for his daughter.

   “He wasn’t sure if he could defeat them all. We had offered help but your father refused it. We could only gave him specialized weapon that we manufactured ourselves to help him killed the Methuselah. We only received information later that he died in the attempt to stop the source of the Methuselah.

   “He thought that the Methuselah might chase after you so he asked us to give you the specialized weapon that we manufactured to help you in case the Methuselah came after you. We would have come since long time ago but your father told us that you had your own protector from EXO Planet.” explained Thomas.

   “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with us. The one who supposed to tell you your father’s will is my father. He was your father’s comrades.” he added.

   “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Did the Methuselah..?” asked Lara hesitated.

   “No, he died of old age.” explained Thomas again. Lara somewhat relieved that he didn’t die because Methuselah killed him.

   ‘Lu, do they know about King Charles ability?’ asked Suho through telepathy.

   ‘They don’t. They only know that King Charles found out about Methuselah’s weakness, about us and our power.’ replied Luhan.

   ‘Good, so they don’t know about Princess’ power as well?’ asked Suho again.

   ‘No. Don’t worry.’ replid Luhan.

   “I think you guys came at the right moment. We want you to train Lara how to use those weapons.” exclaimed Kris.

   “Wait, I thought I heard wrong. This weapons are for you guys not her.” said Nishi.

   “No, you heard it just fine. I want you to train me how to use those weapon.” exclaimed Lara. Both Thomas and Nishi seemed startled.

   “Are you ing kidding me?! Stop messing with us! I want to get this done quickly and get out of here.” exclaimed Nishi. Suddenly, a breeze of wind blew in a high speed and seconds later a cut could be seen on Nishi’s cheek. He couldn’t block it because the attack was invincible (well it was the wind after all).

   ‘, how did he do it?’ asked Nishi in his mind

   “Stop it, you freak!” shouted Nishi upset.

   ‘If you stop being rude to her you can finish your business here quickly and maybe we might consider to minimize the injury you’ll receive.’ exclaimed a voice in Nishi’s mind.

   Nishi startled, then he looked at the boys from EXO Planet and his surrounding to find the source of the voice. He stopped his gaze at Luhan who looked cynically at him, gesturing that he was the one who spoke to him.

   “Fine! Let’s get this done! Be prepare, because I won’t accept any failure.” Nishi said again.

   “Don’t worry. I’ll always do my best.” replied Lara.  

   “We both will train you to use many types of weapons but i’m sorry that Nishi will be the one who teach how to use most of the weapons.” Thomas said as Lara getting ready.

   “That’s okay. So, what kind of weapon do you usually use?” asked Lara curious.

   “I only use short-range weapon like swords or spears.” replied Thomas.

   “Isn’t that the one that could harm enemy the most severe?” exclaimed Lara.

   “Not neccesarily, if you have our specialized weapon.” responded Thomas.

   “By the way, Miss Lara..” asked Thomas.

   “Please drop the formalities. I’m only 18 years old. Just call me Lara.”

   “Well, but you’re the daughter of the man I respected. Okay then, if you insist.” responded Thomas.

   “What is it that you want to ask me?”

   “Do you happen to posses an emblem with red rose symbol on it?” asked Thomas. Lara reached her neck and pulled out silver strap used as a necklace and showed Thomas the emblem. She always wore it from the day Claude gave it to her.

   “I have it here.” exclaimed Lara.

   “Do you mind to show me your fireplace?” asked Thomas again. Lara agreed and took him to the fireplace. He then took the emblem and put it in the hole that shaped just like the emblem on the right side of the fireplace. The fireplace moved and opened a new corridor with stairs heading down.

   “It was meant for practice room. Your father told me.” said Thomas again.

   ‘Guys, gather around family room now!’ told Luhan to all the boys through telepathy.

   Thomas entered first, and opened the door at the end of the stairs. Lara and the boys followed behind him. They never knew that such room exist in the mansion. The room allowed them to run a fight simulation using any weapon. But it only worked with the specialized weapon from Vatican.

   Not long after that, Nishi began to teach Lara how to fight using various long-range weapons, supervised by some of the boys. While Thomas and Suho discussing about various things related to Vatican.

Note: Thomas is Thomas Broodie Sangster, Nishi is Kanata Hongo~ XD