Rhea returned to the kitchen to find Lena busy at the sink, the rhythmic clinking of porcelain filling the room.
"Lena, please prepare some apple juice and porridge," Rhea requested.
"Of course, Lady Rhea. Just a moment, please."
Rhea took a seat at the dining table, watching as Lena moved with practiced efficiency. In no time, a tray was set: a steaming bowl of porridge, a glass of fresh apple juice, and a carafe of water.
"Everything is ready, Lady Rhea," Lena said, stepping back.
"Thank you. You can take a break now, Lena."
"Really? Thank you so much, Lady Rhea!"
The maid scurried off with a skip in her step. Rhea picked up the tray and made her way toward Lian's room. She paused at the door and knocked softly.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Yes," came a clipped, short response from within.
"May I come in, Master Lian?"
"Yes," he answered, his voice noticeably softer this time.
Rhea entered the room to find Lian sitting upright on the bed. She picked her way with light, careful steps. "I've brought some food and drinks for you, Master Lian."
Lian nodded.
Rhea offered a small, warm smile. "I'll set them here on the bedside table."
As she moved, she noticed Lian following her every move with his eyes. "Do you need anything else, Master Lian?" she asked.
Lian shook his head, his fingers fumbling with the fabric of his blanket.
"If that is all, I shall take my leave."
As Rhea turned toward the door, Lian's voice stopped her. "I'm sorry... for shouting at you earlier."
Rhea paused, her hand on the doorknob. She turned back and gave him a reassuring smile. "It's quite alright, Master Lian."
With that, she stepped out.
Inside the room, Lian looked down at Outer. "Outer... will I be thrown away again later?"
"Lian... Outer will always be by Lian's side." Outer let out a soft sound, nuzzling against Lian's leg.
***
In another wing of the estate, Nox was mid-workout.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
His fists blurred in a series of sharp shadow-boxing combinations. One-two, hook, cross. His movements were explosive, fueled by a restless energy. Finally, he stopped, shoulders heaving as sweat drenched his shirt. He collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"It all happened so fast," he muttered. "Father, Mother... Vellion City... all gone."
He closed his eyes, the weight of the past few days settling in. "Ron and I chased after Lian, and now here we are. Bodyguards with empty titles."
He bit his lip. I'm pathetic.
Nox stood up and walked to the window. The view was a jarring contrast to the world of Syntax he had known. Towering white skyscrapers reached for the clouds, adorned with sleek solar panels. Gravity-defying vehicles hummed through the air in organized lanes—a civilization built on entirely different principles.
"If Ron and I were still in Syntax, what would have happened?" he mused.
"Would Bhairin have punished us? Or just fired us?"
His thoughts drifted back to the man in the other room. "Ever since I met Lian, I've felt this constant urge to punch him in the face. Back at the hospital, I saw Outer for a split second... why can't I see it now?"
Nox let out a long sigh. "Whatever. I'm not like Ron. If I don't like something, I'll say it right to Lian's face."
With his mind finally clear, he decided to rest.
***
Meanwhile, Rhea sat by her window, trying to find a moment of peace.
"Master Lian... he's still the same as he was back then," she whispered to the empty room.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Yes, wait a moment." She opened the door to find Lena standing there with a mischievous grin.
"Lady Rhea, we have a problem," Lena chirped.
Rhea arched an eyebrow. "What kind of problem?"
"We don't have a single stitch of menswear in this house!"
Rhea froze, then facepalmed. "How did I overlook something so basic?"
Lena giggled. "It's not your fault, My Lady. I've been the only one living here, so it's only natural."
"We need to go shopping. Now," Rhea declared.
"Does 'we' mean everyone? Yay!" Lena's energy was infectious.
"You mean... Master Lian, Sir Ron, and Sir Nox are coming too?"
Lena nodded.
Rhea thought for a moment. "Fine. I will invite Master Lian. You go get Sir Ron and Sir Nox."
"On it!" Lena dashed away.
***
Lena arrived at Nox's door and pounded on it. Thump, thump, thump!
"Yeah?" Nox opened the door, looking annoyed.
"We're going clothes shopping, Sir Nox! Bring Sir Ron and meet us at the bottom of the stairs. Move it!" She didn't wait for an answer before running off.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Nox yelled after her.
"To change my clothes!" she shouted back.
Ron stepped out of his room, looking confused. "Nox, why are you shouting?"
"Lena wants us to go shopping. We're supposed to wait at the stairs."
"For us?" Ron asked.
"Probably."
"Alright. Let's head down then."
***
Back in Lian's room, the porridge was gone, and the juice was half-finished. A knock came at the door.
"Wait." Lian opened it to find Rhea.
"Is something wrong?" he asked in a low voice, his gaze searching her face for any sign of unease.
"Did you enjoy the meal, Master Lian?"
He nodded.
"Would you like to rest more, or..." She hesitated. "I must apologize. I was insensitive to your basic needs."
"What?"
"There are no men's clothes in the Edelweiss Estate. I'd like to take you out to buy some." A soft smile played on her lips "And... it would be a good chance to see the sights of Echo."
Lian glanced at Outer.
Outer remained still.
"I'll go," Lian murmured.
"Thank you. Please, follow me."
As they descended the stairs, Lian stayed a pace behind Rhea. He spotted Ron and Nox waiting at the bottom and stopped in his tracks.
"Would you prefer not to shop with them?" Rhea asked, noticing his hesitation.
Lian turned his head away.
"It's okay. You'll stay with me. They can go with Lena. How does that sound?"
"Lena?"
"Ah, you haven't met my maid yet. I'll introduce you."
When they reached the bottom, Ron and Nox stood at attention. "Rhea's coming too?" Nox muttered.
Ron nudged him. "Watch your manners," he whispered.
Lena burst into the hall. "Sorry to keep you waiting!" she called out.
"Lena Delion, mind your volume," Rhea scolded.
Lena blinked, her gaze shifting until it settled on Lian. Her expression softened. "Ah... my apologies, Lady Rhea. And... I am Lena Delion. It is an honor to meet you, Master Lian."
"Just Lian."
"In that case, Master Lian, feel free to call me Lena!"
"You're loud." Lian looked away.
Lena just beamed. "Sorry for being a nuisance, Master!"
She turned to Rhea.
"Lena, you take Sir Ron and Sir Nox. Master Lian will come with me," Rhea commanded. Then she turned to the two men. "Is that acceptable to you both?"
"No problem," Ron said.
"Fine by me," Nox added.
Rhea handed over a card. "Use this card, Lena."
"Oh my, thank you, Lady Rhea."
As Rhea and Lian walked toward the exit, a bright smile broke across Lena's face as she waved. "Be careful, Master Lian!"
Once they were out of earshot, Nox frowned. "Why is your attitude so different toward Lian?"
"Because," Lena said, her smile fading, "Master Lian reminds me of how I used to be."
The weight in her voice caught Ron and Nox off guard.
"Did you... go through something like him?" Ron asked.
"Maybe. You could say that," Lena chirped, tilting her head as she slid back into her playful persona. She clapped her hands. "Let's move! It'll be dark soon!"
***
As they walked, Lena chose a different route. "So, where are you two from?"
"Vellion City, in Syntax," Nox blurted out.
Ron smacked Nox's back hard. Thwack!
"Ow! Ron, what was that for?"
"Vellion City? Syntax? Where is that?" Lena asked, looking puzzled.
"I'll explain later," Ron cut in smoothly.
"Alright, promise!" Lena led them toward a massive shopping district.
"Why'd you hit me?" Nox hissed.
"Lena doesn't know about our situation yet," Ron whispered back.
Nox's eyes widened. "I forgot," he muttered.
"Oh, by the way," Lena said, turning around. "Can I have your numbers?"
"You mean... for a mobile phone?" Ron asked.
"Why do you look so hesitant, Sir Nox?" Lena teased.
"I'm not hesitant!" Nox snapped.
Ron sighed, looking around the advanced streets. "Echo really isn't that different from Syntax."
Lena's eyes sparked. "So, about those phone numbers?"
Ron and Nox both reached into their pockets. Their faces fell.
"I think mine is gone," Ron said.
"Probably swallowed by the abyss," Nox grumbled.
"Nox!" Ron barked.
"The abyss? Why were you guys at an abyss?" Lena asked, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
"Just ignore him," Ron sighed.
Lena laughed. "It must be nice having a brother."
"What was that, Lena?" Nox asked.
"Nothing! We should buy you phones first anyway."
***
Upon arriving at Bazir Mall, they made their way to the high-end electronics section. There, the walls were lined with the most advanced technology Echo had to offer.
"This looks like my style," Nox said, picking up a sleek black handset. "Man, this is light as a feather." Then he saw the price tag. His jaw dropped at the string of zeros. "Gosh… this is way too expensive for a device!"
Lena giggled. "Don't worry about the price, Sir Nox. If you like it, take it to the counter. I'm paying with the VVIP Platinum card Lady Rhea gave me."
"Are you serious?"
"Hmm," Lena hummed as she looked at Ron. "Did you find one, Sir Ron?"
Ron turned the handset over in his palm, tracing its seamless edges with a finger. How am I supposed to charge the battery without a port?
"I'll take this silver one," Ron replied.
"Great! To the register!"
As they walked, Ron did some quick mental math. That price... it was roughly five years of my salary as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Military Police.
Beep. Beep.
"Cash or card?" the clerk asked.
Lena flicked the platinum card onto the counter. The clerk's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Wow... this card. Are you from Eosvile or Estogazt?"
"Eosvile?" Ron muttered. "What's an Eosvile?" Nox echoed.
Lena clapped her hands once. "Process the payment, please."
"Ah! My apologies! Right away!" The clerk bowed deeply.
"Hey, Lena—"
"I'll explain later, Sir Nox," Lena interrupted with a wink.
Once the transaction was done, they headed out. "Alright, Lena. Explain," Nox demanded.
"Fine, fine. But don't you guys want a drink first?"
"Soda for me," Nox said.
"An iced espresso, if they have it," Ron added.
"To the food court, then!" Lena led the way.
To be continued...