"Yes, yes. I promise I will not act so harshly anymore," Felix muttered in between chuckles, brushing the back of his neck to ease the pain and added. "But at least, now, I can attend my classes peacefully without having to worry consistently about Tommy bothering my one and only elder sister. He deserved to be punched. If he can't promise himself to be a good and respectful boyfriend, then he is already asking for trouble. Please tell me you are not going out with him anymore, Leticia."

"No, of course not," Leticia raised his hands up, waving them in the air as if to dismiss those foul issues and rolled her eyes, shrugging at the thought. "I can handle any boys I want, Fel, but if anyone is to harm my brother, I will send them off to the deep dungeons without thinking twice. You don't have to worry about meeting Tommy anymore. He's never stepping into this house ever again. Not after he decided to bash your head with a baseball bat thinking he owns you."

Felix chuckled at her words. His fingers wrapped onto the handle of the mug gently, pulling it close to his nose and sucked in the calming scent of chamomile tea. The heat from the mug sets his senses alive as he shut his eyes tight to relax his raging mind. He could not figure out what was missing. It felt as if he a part of his life now has been left out like a pen whose ink supply had been cut off simultaneously. He sipped the tea, opening his eyes slowly to study the cosy environment. Though he felt himself being dependent on a certain item, Felix cannot put his finger on it. He then settled the mug down, humming in satisfaction when Leticia served those large chocolate chip cookies in front of him.

"Are you sure everything is alright, Felix? You look distant. Is there something I can help you with? Do you want me to get you to a doctor for a checkup?" Leticia questioned, picking up a chocolate chip cookie and bit into it. "Oh, yes. Something dropped out of your pocket. It looks expensive, so I decided to carry the unknown item home majestically as it deserved."

"Majestically?" He questioned curiously, cocking his head to the side to see Leticia endless rummaging through the shelves. "I don't recall any royal items in my backpack to school. I am there to gain knowledge not to get robbed. Also, I am fine, sister. You do not have to worry about me. It might take some time for me to heal, but I will be fine."

"Then, tell me about this," Leticia said, nodding and arching her eyebrows the minute she lifted a golden scroll, placing it onto the table for Felix. "I have never seen anything like this from you before, Felix, but I am certain it is yours since I watch it rolled out of your pocket."

Brushing the tip of his nose gently, Felix flipped his hair backwards gracefully. He reached out to the scroll, feeling slight tingles dancing across his fingertips. The rare energy surged through his system as if activating an invisible lock. His dark brown eyes widened the second those mythical floral patterns shone across the scroll alongside the purple ring that clung tightly to his middle finger. Felix rolled the scroll opened. Leticia was not exaggerating the idea of the scroll being sumptuous. It looked elegant as if it was one belonged to a royal family. Rolling it open, Felix noticed two sentences carved onto it with an unknown force.

"Is that black magic, Felix?" Leticia gasped, pressing her palms close to her mouth, pointing to the neat, cursive writing. "Tell me you did not invite the demons into our house baby brother because I will not hesitate to throw you out of this house with nothing but a sleeping bag and your demonic relic."

Felix giggled. He pressed his fingers close to the writings, studying them closely. It felt strange to be staring at those alphabets yet not knowing the meaning behind them. The large black hole weighing down his chest pushed the buttons of his feelings as he squinted his eyes at those words. Somehow he could not find a path to the loop in his mind. Rolling the scroll back neatly, he shifted his attention to the cooling mug of tea and watched Leticia's intense gaze.

"So, what is it?" she asked curiously, setting her phone gently on the table. "Is it anything dangerous?"

"I don't think it is dangerous," he muttered softly, twirling the light scroll in his palms. "I will figure it out slowly. The memory of the scroll is very vague to me. I do not remember having possession on relics like this."

"Well, I believe that you will figure it out one day, baby brother," Leticia nodded, dismissing the topic and added. "Is that ring from Adriel? Is there something about the both of you that I do not know?"

Felix knew what his sister meant instantly. He turned his fingers around, searching around his brain storage for the memory with Adriel yet everything seemed too unpleasant but vague. All he could remember was both of them spending some time by the bridge and the boy disappeared from school, the similar time when Tommy started picking at him. Felix breathed in heavily. His chest rose as if to assure himself that everything will be alright. He pressed his lips together, facing Leticia. Expressions roared ferociously in his mind, but no words could be regurgitated to explain his true feelings for Leticia's caring presence, including the bitterness Adriel inflicted on his soul.

Before he could say a word, he felt Leticia's warm palms against his. Her fingers brushed swiftly across his knuckles, meeting those brown orbs that mirrored hers. Sentences can be structured easily to explain her care as an elder sister to him, but at that moment, Felix swore she went speechless. There had been no words that Felix can explain the love he has for his sister. He did not want anyone to hurt her, let alone put her through torments he cannot imagine. Tommy was a parasite, making Felix relieved to know that the boy will no longer be by her side. He wrapped his arms tightly around Leticia, burying his face at the crook of her neck.

"It's alright, Felix. Look, I do not know what happened between you and Adriel, but relationships are not always sunny and flowers. There will be ups and downs just like how we are as siblings," explained Leticia, brushing the soft strands of his hair. "Adriel must have his reasons for not being able to be with you when you are in trouble, Felix. Talk to him. I can see how much he cares for you and the flames burning between both of you. However, these flames will disappear if one gives it up. Mom and dad might not know about it yet, but I want you to know that as your sibling, I will always be by your side. As long as my heart is still beating, I will do anything in the world for you."

"I know, sister. I know. Like what you told me before, if things are meant to be, they will burn brighter than the flames of the angels," said Felix, lifting his head to face his elder sister and smiled. "I will talk to him when I see him. Thank you for burning so brightly alongside me and walk my path with me. I know you will watch over me no matter what happened and I am forever grateful for that. Our support for each other is eternal."

He shared a silent moment with his sister as they joked about the possible fate in the future without knowing that the scroll contained a million hints. Felix finished up the tea, bidding his sister goodnight and headed back up to his room with the scroll. Bright moonlight basked through the windows, reminding him of Adriel's newly dyed silver hair. He repeated Adriel's name on his lips multiple times. The name landed perfectly in his accent and his tongue, making him crave for the person's presence that instant. Setting the scroll on the table, Felix threw himself onto the bed, shutting his eyes and forced his mind into a land of emptiness.

While Felix was fast asleep, the scroll rolled itself out as if to stretch its sore muscles. Sounds of scratching pencils filled the room while the mortal tossed in his bed, once in a while giggling or laughing due to the dreams his mind had created. Soft sentimental music coursed through the empty room, inviting the uninvited. The golden scroll emitted a slight amount of light, waking the purple ring. Felix tossed in his sleep again, cracking his eyes open the second he felt tingles across his palms. It felt as if tiny ants were awoken from their sleep to torment his palms. 

Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes only to squint them the second he noticed the glowing scroll. Pushing the covers aside, he bit his inner lips, pondering on his own about his sister's claim regarding the scroll being a demonic possession. However, such beauty could not be something diabolical. Felix stood up from his bed, the moonlight shone brightly against his bare chest as if being mesmerised by his well-built body. His chest heaved, signalling to the moon that he is currently still alive. Running his fingers across his soft locks, Felix stopped his tracks by the table to study the newly crafted word on the scroll. 

"Felix..." an imperative voice called out while the glow disappeared instantly. "The scroll is your leader.  Protect it at all cost. Do not lose it." 

Felix hummed. Sticking his fingers out, he let them run across those rough cursive writings. It set a fire within his soul, triggering unknown memories. Memories of floating starlight covered his brain. He saw a pair of huge blue angel wings soared into the skies before it exploded into millions of tiny feathers. A large stream of burning flowers sunk into the oversized ground. The dark liquid consumed its energy, dragging millions of innocent lives together with it. A bizarre figure flashed before his sight, startling him from the desk. Felix jumped, hands waving in the air, trying to dismiss the imaginative figure. He calmed himself down upon realizing that it was his mind that tricked him. 

Breathing out the air that clumped tight in his lungs, Felix arranged his steps to the bathroom. The running water gave him full assurance that everything was just a dream. Staring into his brown eyes, Felix studied the purple star by his forehead. It penetrated into his brain proudly, serving it as a loyal maid. Leaning down,  he splashed a large amount of water onto his face. He felt himself standing at the edge of reality and surreality. It felt as if this world is not his, but he needed it. He wiped the excess water off his cheeks, heading back to bed. Mentally telling his mind to sleep, Felix drew the covers over his body, shielding it from the moon's gaze. He shut his eyes tightly alongside the haunting voice echoing in his room. 

Just trust the process and hold onto the hands that are willing to guide you, not ruin them.

"Right," Felix mumbled, burying his nose in between the covers of his pillow. "Whatever does that mean. Stop talking, will you? I need my sleep." 

Felix sniffed. 

Surprisingly, the voice stopped.

Track 03: 2005 words

Cumulative Count: 6673 words