Chapter 36.
It was the final weekend day of the week. Riley, Merlin, Sreya, and Lisa were gathered in the same restaurant that Aria and Lugh had lunch in a day before.
"Where is Lugh?" Merlin curiously asked Riley.
"He'll join us later," answered Riley as he slid into his chair.
"What now? Is he with Aria or something?" asked Merlin.
"Aria? You mean Aria DragonHart!" asked Sreya as she stood up, slamming her hands on the table.
"Woah there!? Calm down," said Merlin, confused.
"Do you know something about her?" asked Lisa, curious.
"Well… she's a professor at the Sanctuary—a skilled one at that. What's more shocking is that she's just 18 years old right now—but became a professor at 16. Aria DragonHart is also the first princess of the current king of Archania, which is now led by her brother—Larksen DragonHart."
"She was a princess?!" said Lisa in disbelief.
"Now that you mention it, there are many rumors about her flying around. For example, one rumor says that she's been in the Sanctuary since she was 10," said Merlin.
"As someone who knows her past, I can guarantee that the rumor is indeed true," said Riley, backing up the rumour.
"What does Lugh have to do with her? How does he know her?" asked Lisa, curious.
"DragonHarts of Archania and Redharts of Silla have been acquainted for a while—but you will have to ask him yourself if you wanna know about their past," said Riley, firm and serious.
The group stopped talking as they heard the commotion outside of the restaurant. Waiters and customers who came to eat at the restaurant ran outside.
Riley stood up and stopped a waiter to ask,
"Excuse me, what's going on?" asked Riley.
"Apparently someone outside is causing a ruckus," answered the waiter as he too ran outside.
Riley looked at the others, confused. They decided to go outside to check.
As they got out, a crowd was gathered. After making their way through the crowd, they finally could see what was happening.
Merlin and Lisa were shocked at the sight.
Lugh had Oliver raised off the ground by the throat, fingers tightening with unshaken calm. His eyes were colder than steel—emotionless, terrifying.
"Lugh!!!! What are you doing!!? Let him go!?" screamed Merlin, trying to save Oliver.
Both Lisa and Merlin rushed over, followed by Sreya and Riley.
"Lugh!? Stop it! He'll die!" said Lisa as she grabbed Lugh's arm.
He let go of Oliver, who fell and started adjusting his breath. Lugh turned to Lisa curiously.
"The way you two react… do you know him?" asked Lugh, looking down at Merlin who was crouching down to check on Oliver.
Merlin gritted her teeth. Her eyes swimming in anger. She stood up grabbing his collar.
"What's the meaning of this, Lugh!"
Sreya and Riley were shocked at the sight. Lisa crouched to heal Oliver. He, whose collar was grabbed, looked in Merlin's eyes with cold calm and asked,
"Is he your lover or something?"
Merlin's angered expression flushed from her face as she let go of his collar.
"We were in a party together on our way to Roinvalla," said Merlin, slightly looking down.
The crowd murmured annoying the guy. As
Lugh gave a sharp glare to the crowd they vanished.
"Do you perhaps have any free tables on the 1st floor? We'll need privacy. I'm willing to pay extra," said Lugh to the waiters who were standing near them.
"Of course, sir. Just let me check with our manager," said the waiter as he ran inside.
Blue Salt Restaurant Chain is a very popular chain operating in every kingdom and their cities. Their Roinvalla branch has two floors: the ground floor consisting of a normal restaurant (but still very expensive), and the luxury 1st floor working on reservations and very expensive. Their food gives quality and quantity equal to the price.
"Where do you think you are going?" said Lugh, turning coldly towards Oliver who was crawling away.
He stopped, shaking, and turned around.
"What do you want from me, you monster!!!" screamed Oliver.
"Riley… my best friend. Could you have me indebted to you by holding that bastard off?" said Lugh with an unusual smile, sending goosebumps through the girls.
"What!? Lugh!!!" exclaimed Sreya, flabbergasted by his smile.
"My friend, Lugh… of course I can grant you this favor," said Riley with a very polite smile complimenting his handsome face.
"BROTHER!?" exclaimed Sreya, creeped out by his smile.
Riley, smiling:
"Can I chop his limbs?"
Lugh, smiling:
"Why not?"
Riley, smiling:
"Can I chop his neck?"
Lugh, smiling:
"Make sure to not kill him."
The girls stood there, scared of these two psychotic humans… humans???
"Oh my, I'm sorry for being late, Sir Lugh Redhart," said the manager who came running out.
"Oh no sir, it is my fault for not informing beforehand," said Lugh as he went towards the manager.
"Manager, is it possible for me to book a table now?" said Lugh politely.
"Of course, Sir Redhart. We can definitely do that. This way please," said the agreeing manager, showing them inside.
Sreya, concerned, tugged on Lugh's shirt.
"Hmm… Lugh, is he okay?" she said, looking towards Riley who had beaten Oliver to the extent his handsome face was no more.
Lugh smiled.
"That's just a jealous man," said Lugh as he called for Riley.
Sreya didn't understand Lugh.
Meanwhile Lisa and Merlin thought in unison:
"I felt as significant as air."
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….
In the empty 1st floor with no immediate reservations, Lugh sat on a chair. Merlin and Lisa stood in front of him with their arms crossed. Oliver, with swollen face, sat in seiza on the floor. Riley with fries and Sreya with a drink sat near them.
Merlin, serious:
"Where are your manners?"
Lugh, confused:
"Huh?"
Lisa, serious:
"Don't you know not to attack any stranger?"
Lugh, extremely confused:
"Huh!!?"
"Bad boy..." Merlin and Lisa said in unison as they bent and pointed towards Lugh.
"Huh!! The hell you two blabbering on about?" said Lugh, annoyed.
"And you two—it's not an entertainment show going on here!!" exclaimed Lugh towards the Kerma siblings.
Lugh sighed, taking a deep breath, his eyes stating seriousness.
"I owe you answers. Especially Lisa," said Lugh.
Confused, Lisa asked,
"What do you mean?"
Lugh started talking, his eyes down.
"First of all… this man is not a human."
"That's bullshit," said Merlin.
"He belongs to a race that no longer thrives. He is from a place that can no longer bear life. He is a white elf from the Red Continent."
In the world of Aeloria, there exist various continents: there's the Black Continent, which is by far the largest continent; after that comes the White Continent, where the economy lies; after that comes the Red Continent, which is home to the isolated species of white elves. It is called the Red Continent because it is filled with red blood–like forests.
The group was flabbergasted at the revelation. Merlin's eyes were in shock. Lisa gulped. Riley stopped chewing his potato fries.
"But didn't that continent and the white elves get destroyed 5 years ago?" exclaimed Sreya, shocked.
"Yess!! That's right," Oliver spoke through his swollen face.
"It was him. This monster destroyed my home and brought my race to extinction."
The four of them turned to Lugh with speechless faces. He sat there in unshakeable calm.
His ice–cold red eyes were visible from beneath his bangs.
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