After the school day ended, Louis told Charlotte that he wanted to stop by the cottage to pick up something he had forgotten. So the two of them went together.
Once they arrived, Louis retrieved the map Alex and Daph had given him earlier. He kept it carefully, just like the necklace he never took off—always hanging around his neck without exception.
On their way back, Charlotte couldn't hold back his curiosity.
"What is that thing you're carrying?" he asked.
"It's a map," Louis replied calmly.
Charlotte blinked in confusion, then laughed. "A map?! What, is it a treasure map or something?"
Louis only smiled faintly and told him everything.
As he listened, Charlotte's expression slowly changed. The playful mood faded, replaced by concern as he looked at Louis.
Louis noticed it immediately.
"That's the past," he said quietly. "I need to focus on the future… and achieve my friends' dreams."
Charlotte nodded. "Yeah… of course."
They continued walking for a while in silence.
Then Louis spoke again, glancing at the necklace around his neck.
"Ever since the day my parents died… a strange man came to our house. He gave me this necklace and told me to wear it and never take it off. No matter what."
Charlotte frowned slightly. "What if that necklace is dangerous… or cursed?"
Louis shook his head. "When I went to my aunt, she was wearing one too, and so were her sons. That's how I knew it wasn't dangerous."
"Then why did he give it to you?" Charlotte asked.
"I don't know," Louis admitted. "But the only thing I know is that this necklace is very important… and it protects me from something dangerous."
They kept walking until they reached the end of the street.
Suddenly, a girl came running toward them at full speed and crashed into Louis.
"Please—help me!" she said breathlessly. "There's a man chasing me!"
Before Louis could respond, both he and Charlotte looked up and saw a man running straight toward them.
"Give me the girl," the man said coldly. "And I won't hurt you."
"Not a chance," Louis replied firmly.
The man's expression darkened and he suddenly lunged at Louis.
Louis dodged the attack just in time and shouted, "Charlotte! Take her and move back!"
Charlotte quickly pulled the girl a few steps away.
The man clicked his tongue in anger, grabbed Louis by the shirt, and pulled out a knife.
In a split second, he struck—
The blade sliced through Louis's shirt.
But Louis wasn't injured.
His gaze sharpened, a quiet strength showing from his intense training.
Even the girl froze in shock at his presence.
Louis immediately counterattacked, landing a powerful punch straight to the man's face.
The man collapsed unconscious.
Without hesitation, Louis used his torn shirt to tie him up tightly.
Then he turned to the girl.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
She blushed slightly. "I-I'm fine…"
Louis looked down at his ruined shirt and sighed. "Ah… sorry about that…"
"It's okay," she said quickly. "My name is Astra."
Louis nodded gently. "Then I apologize, Astra."
She looked away shyly, trying to hide her embarrassment.
Louis then asked, "Where is your home? I can take you there."
"It's on the same road you were already heading," she replied softly.
So they left the man tied up after taking his knife and reporting him to the guards.
As they walked, Louis said, "Take care of yourself, Astra. Don't go down that street again… it's dangerous and full of criminals."
Astra nodded quietly. "Okay…"
Suddenly, a guard came running toward them.
Louis and Charlotte immediately tensed, ready to fight if needed.
But Astra quickly said, "He's my guard."
The guard arrived, scolding her sternly. "You're running away from home again at a time like this?"
He grabbed her hand and began walking with her.
Astra's face turned bright red from embarrassment as she was scolded in front of Louis.
Louis and Charlotte just smiled slightly at her reaction.
After they returned home, they couldn't help but laugh about Astra's embarrassed expression.
Charlotte glanced at Louis in confusion, then shrugged.
They ate dinner… and went to sleep.