While trying to complete a novel that I had started a month ago, I felt strangely lost, as if the words I once held so easily were now slipping away from my grasp.
I'm confused, I thought. My mind is getting emptier day by day. I can't complete this novel. No matter how hard I try, the words refuse to come.
Lucien was standing in the kitchen, carefully making coffee for both of us. The gentle sound of the kettle and the quiet clinking of cups filled the room. After a brief pause, he spoke.
"Serene…"
"Yes?" I replied absentmindedly, my eyes still fixed on the half blank page of my manuscript book.
"What about going on a trip?" Lucien asked, as if the idea had been waiting patiently in his mind for a while.
"A trip?" I repeated, finally looking up at him. "When? Where? And why?"
"Because," he said calmly, handing me a cup of coffee, "you should discover the world with me."
I stared at the steam rising from the cup, thinking. The idea sounded tempting almost comforting but reality quickly crept in.
"Okay… let's go then. But what about the expenses? I can't handle expenses for more than two days."
"Don't worry about that," Lucien replied confidently. "I'll handle it."
I frowned slightly. "How will you handle it, Lucien? You don't even have a job yet."
He looked at me and smiled faintly, the kind of smile that always made me uneasy and reassured at the same time.
"You trust me, Serene, right?"
"Yes," I said without hesitation. "I do."
"That's it," he said softly. "Don't question it."
"Ughhh…" I groaned. "Okay, then. Let's make it up to you."
"Hm… but first of all, we have to cultivate the fruits," he added thoughtfully. "Otherwise, all your hard work of an entire year will be spoiled."
"Fine," I replied. "
Continue your work. Otherwise, this novel will still remain incomplete."he commanded.
I sighed loudly and slapped my head in frustration.
"Ughhh… why can't I?"
Lucien turned toward me. "What happened, Serene?"
"Why can't I finish this… stupid novel?"
I snapped, anger and helplessness mixing together.
Lucien smirked.
"What?" I said sharply. "Here I am struggling so hard to finish it, and you're laughing?"
Before he could reply, I grabbed a fork from the table and rushed toward him, trying to annoy him for fun.
"What are you doing?" he asked, clearly amused.
"Going to stab you."
"Oh, you dare?" he challenged.
"Yes, I do. If I'm not able to finish my work, you should motivate me. Instead, you're laughing here like it's entertaining."
"Sit down, Serene," Lucien said gently. "I'll tell you something."
I hesitated, then sat beside him. "Alright. Go ahead."
"Do you know why you're not able to complete your work?" he asked.
"Why?" I replied impatiently.
"Because I'm here with you."
I blinked. "Oh, my dear Lucien… does that even make any sense?"
"Yes," he said calmly. "It does."
"Then tell me how."
He took a deep breath and began slowly, as if choosing each word carefully for me to understand.
"A person tends to write when they are living in solitude when there is no one they can share their pain with, when there is no one who truly understands them. Writing becomes a way to survive loneliness. Their emotions may remain unseen by their physical presence, but their pain is understood through the pages they write."
He paused before continuing.
"But when there is someone who understands you better than you understand yourself, writing becomes merely a passion. It is no longer a necessity. It is no longer survival."
I stayed silent for a moment, absorbing his words.
"Well," I said finally, "that means Serene doesn't need to write herself onto paper as long as Lucien exists."
"You're good at catching facts " Lucien said while giggling.
After a few days, we eventually prepared ourselves for the trip to Ackerman Town, a place known for its breathtaking autumn beauty. Since it was on the other side of the world, it sounded incredibly fascinating, almost unreal.
A few days later, we gathered our belongings and left.
It took us about seven hours by flight to reach Ackerman. By the time we arrived, it was already midnight. We entered a nearby restaurant to have a dinner and thenLucien had arranged a room for us, but there was only one available. Instead of ruining our already tired bodies by sleeping on the cold benches of Ackerman's streets, we decided to manage for the night in a single room.
"Lucien," I said hesitantly, "this room has only one bed. Where will you sleep?"
"On the floor, of course," he replied. "Where else?"
"But don't you think it's already cold everywhere? Sleeping on a marble floor will make you sick."
"So what are you planning?" he asked.
"I have an idea," I said excitedly.
"What idea, Serene?"
I opened Lucien's luggage, spread all his clothes neatly on the floor in a rectangular shape, and covered them with a sheet.
"There," I said proudly. "Your bed for tonight."
"You messed up all my clothes, Serene."
"Hehe," I laughed. "You'll have to compromise if you want to survive till dawn. Now sleep. Good night, dude."
I pushed him gently toward his makeshift bed .
The next morning, when I opened my eyes, I checked my phone. It was already 8:30. Lucien had packed his clothes back into his luggage and had already ordered breakfast for both of us.
After freshening up, we started having breakfast.
Today's plan was to visit the main church of Ackerman Town, well known for its unique architectural style. We booked a cab for the whole day.
The moment I saw the church, it felt like a dream. I had always been fond of historical architecture.
As we entered, it felt as if time itself had carried us back to the 17th century. Every detail whispered stories of the past, and I finally understood why it had such a deep impact on history.
I was lost in the art of the church when Lucien suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Don't get too lost in your dreams," he said. "You were about to get pushed."
"Well… thanks," I replied.
"It's already been three hours, miss. Should we get going now?"
"Yes, yes," I said. "We still have so many places to discover in Ackerman."
The moment we exited the main doorway of the church, a group of robbers tried to steal my handbag. Lucien grabbed the other side from behind, making one of them fall. Another robber suddenly appeared from the side and stabbed Lucien near the center of his chest.
Everything blurred.I froze. Tears rolled endlessly down my face. For me, it felt as if the world had ended. Blood spread across the road. My hands trembled, my soul terrified. If something happened to Lucien, I would be completely shattered.
As he collapsed, I caught him in my arms, pressed my hand against his wound, and tied my scarf tightly around it. He soon lost consciousness.
I rushed him into a cab and ordered the driver to take us to the hospital. I was crying uncontrollably, Lucien resting helplessly in my arms.
"It's the first time you're crying in front of me."
I froze.
Lucien was no longer bleeding. He was awake. There was no sign of injury.
The driver fainted.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Lucien asked.
"How can you heal so fast?" I whispered. "You were stabbed just minutes ago. It's impossible. Am I hallucinating again?"
"Why aren't you happy to see me alive?" he teased.
I cried harder. "How could you say that? I almost lost myself too."
"Oh, my Serene," he said softly. "Don't forget I'm fiction."
"But you're living like a human now," I replied. "Fiction or not, you can still be hurt."
"Let it be," he said. "We're not supposed to argue in the cab."
Later, the driver regained consciousness. We made him promise to keep the secret. He was a humble, wise man and promised to protect it until his last breath.
That dusk, while walking through the clear streets of Ackerman, Lucien asked,
"What if the driver exposes my secret?"
"Who would believe him?" I replied. "Everyone would think he's out of his mind."
Later, he showed me a key-like object.
"What if we sell my only belonging and make some money?"
"It's just a key," I said. "Who would buy this?"
"It's ancient. Its worth is beyond imagination."
"But it's your only belonging," I replied. "I won't sell your identity just to save money."
"Well, don't regret later" Lucien replied.
That night, I stayed awake researching, while Lucien played games like a child.
Even though he was created as one of the greatest men in fiction, I often saw a child within him one who longed to be loved, cared for, and protected. From Lucien's perspective, he was created to give me the love of that fictional world I had always longed for. Yet sometimes I realize that perhaps Lucien was sent to me so that I could know him, love him, and make him feel truly special.Who knows where destiny will take us, but I will try to make him feel special, although he already is. And yet, it will never be enough until he truly knows it.
I stared at him, filled with fear and happiness.
"My research says," I said slowly, "that a soul with the power to regenerate beyond death longs for eternity."
"It concludes… that you are an immortal soul".
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