"I need you to find him".
*No even a 'how you doing ' to your son who just woke up from a six months coma, what did I even expect from the heartless bastard*.
"Hey dad, nice seeing you, it's been long!". I faked a smile.
( Xander's POV)
"Oh, I almost forgot to ask, how are you doing?".
*Almost?, don't make me laugh, you never intended to*. I sneered.
"I'm alright, the doctors said I'll be free to leave next week".
"That's good!, this was exactly why I warned you not to follow me six months ago".
"Dad!, come on I didn't know Xander was going to play such a stunt..
"Speaking of Xander, I need you to find him".
"Find him?, isn't he dead, I heard you guys even did a funeral for him while I was in the hospital".
"That was all for the public, I don't believe he's dead".
"But after his height returned to normal and the whole research facility exploded, there's no way he would survive ".
*It was that blast that got me into this coma*.
"But I don't believe he's dead, I believe he was able to crawl out of there and maybe fell into a coma as well". He paused before continuing.
"I'll give you a year leave from school and as much money as you need so please bring him ba....
"Why are you so interested in him, I need to know".
"He needs to get engaged to Amavel, we need the money from the alliance, after the explosion, our finances have been dwin...
"Dad stop lying, I know the explosion affected our finances but not that much after all you had so much investors in that research". I interrupted him.
"So you know ". He sighed.
"Of course I do, I'm not some sleeping beauty, I made the most of my time the moment I woke up yesterday ". I continued
"I also know that those friends of yours, Leo, Mark, Debbie, and the others all survived, some without even a scratch...
"I thought after Mai's death, information won't be so widespread in this family but I guess I was mistaken".
"I have my ways, but don't worry I'm not as stupid as Mai, I don't go around spreading secrets".
"Anyway I know that Mr Mendel is actually the one benefitting from the engagement, so please tell me why the engagement is so important to you ".
"I guess I had no choice but to tell you this".
"There's this particular spell I saw in that book and I need them to perform it's ritual".(Note : He doesn't have the whole book, only a fragment).
"A ritual?".
"Yes a ritual to summon a very powerful demon".
"Why them, can't you just use any o..
"No I need two offsprings of mine to complete it". He responded interrupting me.
"But Amavel thought isn't your ch..
"She is, I slept around a bit when I first figured out about the spell after Xander was born".
"Does mom know about this?".
"No!, only if you keep your mouth shut!". I gulped.
"She's against the idea of the spell, she's pretty much against all parts of my researches which won't bring her any profit, which I why I love you!, you share my passion for research and knowing more about the unknown". He smiled.
*Is that supposed to be reassuring?*. I wondered.
"Okay dad I've heard you, not a single soul will get hold of our conversation and I'll make sure to hunt Xander down immediately I get discharged".
"That's good,.. then I'll leave you to rest". He stood up and left.
" Here I was thinking he was worried about Xander, only to figure out he's just a pawn in his little game, I hope I get to find that bastard soon, so that my blood doesn't get to be used as a substitute ". I sighed and tried to shut my eyes.
I needed some time processing the information I just got.
.
.
.
________ ___________ ____________ _______
*Where am I?*. *What time is it*.
*My head's spinning*. *I feel so weak*.
"Why am I sitting next to a dumpster?".
I heaved a sigh and tried to get up.
My back was against a wall and a dumpster by my side.
"I can barely move my body". I spoke dryly as I stood up.
''BAM!''
With a loud thud, I fell on the dumpster, luckily it was closed.
"That hurt!". I winced in pain.
*Just that little hit pained me quite a lot, what happened to me....?, I need to make some kind of recollection*. I staggered up leaning against the dumpster.
"What was that!".
Two masked figures in dark cloaks jumped down from the building I had once sat behind.
*It looks like I'm in some kind of back alley *.
"Oh it's a person, ....
The smaller one with a feminine voice walked closer to me.
"Hey there, ...Woah you look awful, your skin is so pale, you look like a monster ...
"Lin!, that's rude!". The other one with a masculine voice scolded her drawing her close.
"Sorry". She said to me and then she turned to face him.
"Do you think he's an orphan ?". Lin said.
"It's likely, orphans are very common in this part of town". He replied.
"Should we give him some food and leave, after all we need to hurry back before eight". Lin asked.
"Yeah, we should help him, throw in some cash if you can".
*What are they whispering on about?, that word 'monster' just made me recall some fragments of the past, but how did I end up here, wasn't I at the underground layer?, what happened to lin...
"Umm...so we've decided to give you some money, if you walk right out of this alley, you'll see a little restaurant, you can buy something to eat there". She stretched forth her hand with a bundle of cash in it.
*I know this currency, but I just can't remember it*. I noticed.
"Who are you guys". I asked.
"That's none of your business". The guy replied coldly.
"Hey now that's rude!, don't mind him, I'm Everling and this is Varian". She smiled.
"Where am I". I asked another question.
"We're at the sea...., actually we're close to the seaport in Sevan".
*Sevan, that's one of the major cities in Uuviat, what am I doing here?!*.
"What's the time?".
"Hmmn". She paused to check her watch.
"It's seven twenty four in the evening (7:24pm) ". She answered.
*How long did it take me to get here, it's usually up to a week, how did I even get here..?*.
"What's today's date".
"Today is Wednesday, 13th of May, 2025".
"What!". I screamed out loud before quickly putting a hand over my lips.
*It's been a whole year!, I'm so confused I can't remember what happened after that explosion, how did I end up far away with a year gap*.
"You seem really shocked and dazed..... Wait!, were you in a coma?". She asked.
"That would explain why you're acting all weird". She continued.
*Coma..?, did I slip into a coma after getting here but I can't remember anything after that explosion*.
"Something like that". I replied.
"Do you guys know anything about the explosion that happened at my...I mean Cain's family re...
"Yeah that explosion went viral for a long time and I'm a bit of a news collector". She interrupted me.
"That was also where Xander the heir of Zayne Cain died!".
*Huh?!*.
"It was so sad, his fourteen birthday was so glam that people thought he would inherit the family business very soon, but then he died, how utterly tragic!". Lin said.
*I.... died?!, what the..*
"Why don't you come stay with us for a while ".
"Lin!". Varian frowned.
"What?, .. it's good to help, he seems to have been in a coma and needs time recovering, he should stay with us until he has recovered at least, please!". Lin pleaded.
"Arghh, .. fine then, but I'm not carrying him back home, it seems like he can't even walk". Varian started walking forward.
"Thanks!, and don't worry I'll carry him".
Lin carried me up on her back.
"Thank you for helping me and sorry for making you carry me". I apologized, but was still shocked by the fact that I was supposedly died.
" Don't worry I'm really strong!".
She walked up following Varian.
"So, how old are you?". She asked.
"Fou... I mean fifteen". I answered.
"Oh that means I'm older than you, but you're so tall, you should be around 6'2, I'm only 5'9".
"How old are you?". I asked.
"I'm sixteen, a year difference ". She replied.
"So what's your name?". She asked.
"We've already told you ours, so it won't be fair not to know your's ".
"It's xa.... Alouis, my name's Alouis ". I lied.
"Alouis huh.., Okay then, Nice to meet you Alouis!".
*She didn't seem to believe me but didn't ask any questions*.
"Hey Varian, he said his name is Alouis".
"I heard him".
"You did?... Okay wait up for us!".
"No".
"Hey!!, that's not nice!".
I blocked out what they were saying as I remembered when I last heard that name Alouis.
It was the last time I spent with Linda and Max.
*I wonder what happened to them, did they die in the explosion?*.
I bit my lower lip trying to stop myself from crying.
This was the beginning of Alouis, a member of ELX.