CHAPTER 2
Years later, Nemisis, now a teen, stood before a tree, his red hair drenched by heavy rain, his eyes appearing dull. Lightning flashed as thunder roared. He was about to turn away, but suddenly halted when he saw a young girl before him, her ghostly appearance startling him.
"Aren't you going to look for your brother?" she said calmly
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I'm here to show you the way."
"The way?" he looked, confused.
"Yes, the way, I'm here to bring you back home; you look old enough."
"Back home? What do you mean by " back home"?
"Follow me"
Before he could react, the little girl grabbed his hands and began to move at supersonic speed.
"Hey, slow down," he shouted.
The diamond in his chest began to glow, speed blurred the world into a smear of colors, but then the smear folded inward. Reality creased.
They weren't just moving; they were bypassing space itself. In the blink of an eye, the blurring light-storm died, leaving them standing in an impossible silence.
He found himself in a forest, and before him was a light that seemed like reality was torn.
"This is the eye of the forest", he said to himself. "But why here.... unless."
"That's where you actually belong. Look how it glows."
She points to the diamond.
"Both are happy to see each other, but the question now is, are you ready to venture into this world?"
He looks at the diamond and at the light, and he takes out the chain his mother gave him, which also begins to glow.
"How will I know my brother is there?"
Giggles, "What you hold will guide you."
She disappeared before he could say a word. The chain raises, then dashes into the light, Nemisis now stunned, hesitates for a moment, then runs into the light. He comes out at the other end in a forest, and a guard in steel armor spots him.
"HEY!", the guard shouted.
He walks towards Nemisis with his hands in his weapon.
"Who are you? And what are you here?"
Nemisis gets on his feet; he looks at the guard, confused.
"Where am I?"
"A place where no human is supposed to be".
An arrow heads toward Nemisis from behind the guard; he looks at the arrow, which seems to be moving slowly.
It's happening again, everything seems to be slow for no reason, he thought.
A female guard runs towards the other guard.
"Ale, are you ok?"
"Yeah, Zofia, why did you shoot?"
"I saw your hands on your weapon; besides, that was not a lethal shot since he is human."
They turn their gaze at Nemisis who is holding the arrow in his hands.
"He might seem human, but something about him doesn't seem right. Go get the acting captain", draws out his sword. "I will deal with him".
The female guard hesitates, then runs back.
"Hey, let's take it easy now," Nemisis said as he raised his hands.
"Tell me what you are doing here then."
"I was following a ghost-like girl to this light, my chain dashes into the light, and I followed to reclaim it."
"Uh-huh, and what about the trick you just pulled?"
"Oh, that happens from time to time ever since I got this diamond stuck to my chest."
A diamond? This level of threat is beyond me, Ale thought.
Nemesis senses something; he jumps from where he was, and a ball of fire crashes down on the spot. He lands on a branch, watching his surroundings.
Another flame attack heads towards him, and he dodges it. The attacks keep coming, and he dodges all of them. He appears behind Ale and grabs both hands, making him drop his weapon.
"Who was that?"
He even sensed it and managed to dodge all the attacks without a scratch. Who is he? the guard wondered.
"Why should I tell you?"
"Ok, whoever you are, I'm not here to cause trouble, just looking for my chain and brother."
Everyone stood still for a moment. Nemisis suddenly pushed the guard forward and turned his back quickly.
He caught the incoming hand mid-strike.
The attacker stepped into view - a girl about his age, her face half-hidden beneath a dark hood and a mask. Strands of white hair slipped free around her shoulders, flaming pale, unblinking eyes above light brown skin.
They both stare at each other.
She frees herself and takes a few steps back.
"Who are you? "Which kingdom do you belong to?" she asked with authority.
"He is Nemisis," an old voice replied from the darkness.
An old man stepped forward calmly, gray hair falling past his shoulders, his eyes closed as if the world itself guided him. One by one, everyone dropped to a knee - everyone except Nemisis who remained standing, watching him carefully.
"Put your weapons back, young ones, even your enemy has no weapon drawn."
"How do you know my name?" asked Nemisis, his eyes narrowed as if to evaluate the answer.
"You are the son of Apenxy, aren't you?" the old man asked calmly.
All eyes shifted to Nemisis, the atmosphere suddenly tense, a chill wind blew through the forest, stirring the leaves in uneasy silence.
"Come with me, you, too, Aenzil. The reason I assigned you here has been completed. I've sent for another captain and more guards."
The Old man walks away, followed by Aenzil and Nemisis.
At the Xynoria Cattle, in the Hyperion Sanctum, the old man and Nemisis sit facing each other with a table between them. Aenzil stood beside the old man.
"Erm, can someone explain to me what is going on here?" Nemisis asked, breaking the silence.
"Welcome home", the old man said calmly. "This Kingdom you are in is Phantasm polis, or you can call it Fantasy City."
"Thank you, but why am I here?"
"Your mother was from here. Now, if I may ask, where is she?" he smiled.
He spoke in a broken whisper, "She died a long time ago; how do you know her?"
"Oh, I see," he sighs. "Well, she was my daughter-in-law."
"Wait, that confirms that..." Aenzil stared at him.
"Yes, it's my grandson."
Nemisis tilted his head. "You...…. said 'it'?"
"Yes," Kuto answered, confused.
Nemisis exhales slowly. "You can't just call people 'it'...."
"Hmmm, how did it - I mean, you manage to get here, my grandson?"
(Sighs)"A ghost-like spirit brought me here. She said I would find my brother.... and my mother's chain also ."
"A chain? Your brother?"
Sighs
Nemisis leaned closer, eyes wide. "What, what?"
"He has returned," added the old man dully.
"Who?"
Aenzil's expression stiffened. "You don't mean...…."
"He's back, now Nemisis, do you know how to use the power you possess?" asked Kuto.
"Power, I possess? I don't know if you are talking about the diamond in my chest, but a lot of things happened after my mom's death."
Aenzil's eyes widened. "You possess a diamond?"
"It's the red one if you are wondering," Kuto said calmly.
He then added, "What about your weapon?"
Nemisis blinked. "Weapon? What weapon?"
A faint smile crossed Kuto's face. "Just as I expected. Aenzil, I leave him in your care."
"Wait -" Aenzil began.
Kuto raised a hand, stopping her. "Don't worry. Tomorrow, I will meet both of you and inform Tezuka as well."
He shut his eyes. "You are dismissed."
She gave a slight bow and walked out with Nemisis.
Aenzil, along with Nemesis, heads towards the barracks. Upon their arrival, they meet a blue-haired guy who seems to be full of energy.
"What's up, Aenzil? Who is the new guy?" he focused his gaze on Nemisis
"Oh, hey, Tezuka, he's the old man's grandson", she replied
"His grandson?" his eyes widen, he looks at Nemisis the back at her.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I am, the master himself confirmed it".
"Hold on, so if he is the master's grandson, then whose child is he?"
"Apenxy and Xenon"
The place became silent after she spoke, the leaves rattled as the wind blew, and an owl's cry could be heard in the distance.
"Apenxy and Xenon? That's scary."
"How is that scary, and who is this Xenon guy?" Nemisis eyes narrow in confusion.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, he also has a brother."
In a dull tone, "There are two of them, huh?"
"Why are you talking like I'm not even here?"
"Huh"
"Huh"
"...…"
"Anyway, the master said we should meet him tomorrow at the usual place," added Aenzil
"Well..... I will be going then," he said, rubbing his palms together. "See you tomorrow," his voice came out thinner than usual, as the words had pushed past something in his throat.
Tezuka shoved his hands in his pocket and walked off, shoulders tense and steps quicker than usual, his mind echoing with what he just heard - Apenxy and Xenon.
Nemisis watched him leave, brows knitting together. "Why did he act like that?"
Aenzil scratched the back of her head, eyes following Tezuka's retreating figure.
"You can't really blame him."
He tilted his head slightly. "Blame him for what?"
She smiled faintly. "He just learned who you are, that's all. Follow me; I will show you your room."
She walks down the corridor, followed by Nemisis, who is still trying to understand what just happened.