128 Family Gathering 1

"We should really increase the security in our house to get rid of trespassers." I turned to my brother.

I ignored the three trespassers near the entrance where the shoes were nicely aligned and organized off to the side. My brother tumbled off his chair as his pupils dilated at the sudden guests. They sophisticatedly put their shoes off before entering as my brother gawked at them. I contemplated on whether I should place a strong defensive barrier spelled to keep outsiders out the next time I visited. I was sure I would be able to build a powerful one since I had lots of mana leftover.

I could layer basic spells on top of one another to create the most advanced fortification that could rival nuclear bombs. I could already imagine my paradise where I was uninterrupted by the constant pests that I ran into with my terrible luck. I softly laughed while immersing myself in my daydreams before slipping onto the sofa in the living room.

Unlike Julius, Alex and I who wore our semi-casual clothes in a guise of a mission, Lucius wore his prestigious Abright uniform. It did make sense since today was a weekday. Normally I would be getting ready for school this early in the morning. Even my brother was in his own middle school uniform with the black blazer on top of a white collared shirt and long pants. It was likely he was eating his breakfast while my parents had already left the house to go to work.

On the dining room table was a half-eaten slice of toast topped with strawberry jam. I wondered if Alex and Jules would get going soon to get ready for school as well. They couldn't be possibly thinking of skipping class like I did. I got up from the couch to spend the rest of the day sleeping inside my bed instead of the sofa.

"I thought you weren't visiting today," Evan finally came to his senses.

"The school is giving us another holiday," I flawlessly lied.

"She ran away," Alex immediately mentioned.

Evan's jaw dropped as he took turns staring at me and the group of trespassers behind us to decide who to believe. My fingers dug into my palms as I reaffirmed to build that barrier as soon as possible. I shot a quick look at Evan, 'Are you going to believe a group of strangers or your sister?'

Evan, who was still surprised from the group of strangers, stood frozen in his spot, unable to answer my question. It wasn't that I couldn't understand his shock from my sudden appearance. I rarely visited my house to the point that it was only our second time meeting each other. I was just as much of a stranger like the group he met for the first time.

"Anyways, don't you have to get ready for school?" I scolded him.

"What about the guests in front of us?" Evan seemed to be apologetic for the lack of hospitality.

"They're not guests of ours. They're called trespassers. Trespassers!" I pointed to their direction.

'Traitor!' I immediately thought.

"I'm going back to school tomorrow," I faced the unwanted guests in front of me.

When I stood up, Alex instantly prevented me from leaving my spot as he grabbed my wrist. Lucius seemed to be filled in on the situation during my indirect pleas for help to Evan as he grimaced while analyzing the whole story. I wondered why Lucius was even in the third district in the first place. It couldn't be a coincidence with how calculative the first district was.

"Don't you guys have to go to school by this time? Or are you planning to skip classes?" I boldly reprimanded them to try to get them to leave.

"We were planning to go back with you," Jules embarrassedly explained under the pressure of Lucius who was starting to give off a scary aura.

Evan carefully tiptoed around the edge of the living room like he didn't exist once he came down the stairs. I dragged Alex together with me as he didn't let go of my wrist and pulled Evan towards them. Evan slightly panicked as he was placed in the middle of the argument. He fidgeted with his hands while frequently looking at the clock to keep track of time.

"So I'll go back tomorrow," I peeked behind Evan while using him as a shield.

"All that Luke knows is how I took you with me to help with my mission," Jules scratched his head.

I didn't feel like going back even more once I knew they were filling Luke in with all the details. Luke didn't have to know everything that happened to me. It wasn't like he was my guardian like my parents. But it did explain why Alex was extremely cooperative when he was suddenly taken to the second district with me.

I should've known something was suspicious since then. And it looked like they would get in trouble if Luke knew I ran away after Alex put off the necklace, which was why they were here.

"How about another trade?" I asked them.