Chapter 158 - Makator

After the promise of marriage, Luke and Ayumi talked some more, as gradually, the sun began to rise at the cardinal point opposite the moon. He revealed to her the weird sensations he felt during the fight against Serena and the battle against Nebezial.

Ayumi lifted her head from the pillow, worried, because the fainting of the half-wolf after the first phase had already scared her enough. "And how were those sensations?"

Placing his right hand on his forehead, Luke tried to recall how it really felt. "I don't know... it's hard to describe. The first time I passed out, it was like an ordinary dream. I saw an open field, no flowers, no trees, nothing, just the green grass and the very blue sky."

"A green field? Hmm... have you ever visited a place like that?"

"I believe not. Why?"

"I don't know. The universe is mysterious and maybe if you had ever gone somewhere like that, that could be a message."

"Maybe, but that doesn't seem to be the case, because the second dream ended with the beautiful field, and it's hard to remember, but I think I saw something inside a fog."

"Darling, I unfortunately don't know what to say. Maybe it's stress, or maybe it's something else... Sorry, I can't help you. Maybe Manilyn can inform you better than I can." Ayumi spoke with a despondent voice.

Luke smiled at seeing that she cared so much. "All right, I'll visit him later... Let's change the subject for now."

The Matriarch took the opportunity to let them know that the last remaining things at Vasconcelos Manor were due to arrive that very day, which made Luke anxious to see how the Black Egg was looking. That thing was what got him in trouble with the Dungeon Demon, and the possibility of it being a Summoning Egg still made the half-wolf hopeful, but now not for financial reasons but because he wanted a Summoning after facing the Golem God.

'If that thing hasn't hatched yet, I think I can take it to Manilyn to take a look at it too. That old man seems to know about everything...' Luke cogitated, and then he suddenly remembered something. "By the way, have you had any news about Alexis and Matthew after the alert they gave you guys?"

"No, no news... I was hoping to get a message after the end of the Tournament, but I didn't get anything."

"A message?"

The Elf stood up without saying anything and reached out to take from her small pouch on the nightstand. Then she removed an iron object from her purse. This item was immediately recognized by Luke, who remembered seeing it on Ayumi's desk when he broke into her office.

He remained silent, waiting for the woman to explain what it was.

"Darling, this is a Makator. That is the most advanced way on the market to exchange messages over long distances."

"And how does that work?"

"I'm glad you asked." Ayumi spoke and smiled. 

Then, she pressed a button on one side of the oval object that looked like a cobblestone; it hummed low and split in half. One part levitated upwards naturally, and a blue glow appeared between the two parts of the item. In a sudden flash, Luke saw the face of the half-dragon appear in that simple-looking item.

"Hello, Hi!" Alexis' voice could be heard through the Makator. "Is that thing really working? I've never messed with something like this..." She spoke and tapped the item twice.

"What are you doing? Use it right away before someone gets close..." Matthew whispered, annoyed.

"Okay, okay, irritated... Well, if you're listening to this, Ayumi, know that we've learned that the Chaos Followers are outnumbered here in the suburbs. We will investigate."

"No, we don't. We have to focus on our main objective..."

"Sigh... All right... We'll focus on looking for clues about Luke's friends, and you guys investigate these occultists. We haven't found anything yet, but we'll do our best to get it... That's it, bye!" The half-dragon spoke, waving her right hand and with a smile on her face. "How do I turn off that thing? Here? Here? No, it's he—" 

After that, the hologram turned off, and the top of the Makator came together with the bottom.

"Was she with another one of those?" Luke asked, pointing to the item in Ayumi's palm as he noticed Alexis' difficulty.

"Yes... The analysts at the Central Palace said it's what they call a twin device."

"Twin device?"

"The group of Adventurers who found this Makator, also found another one in the same chest. Some testing was done, and they can only exchange messages with each other."

"Got it... And is there any way you can send a message to Alexis? To try to talk to her."

"I recorded a message to her during one of the breaks in the Tournament, but she hasn't answered me yet."

"If she does send a message, let me know. For now, we have to wait. Only if she doesn't give any sign of life by tomorrow morning, I'll go to Lower City personally." He spoke with a focused, stern look. 

The half-wolf's current concern was exactly the same as Matthew's in keeping a low profile in the back alleys of Oukiwa, because they both knew well how things work in the criminal underworld. Trying to forget all this and get some rest, Luke finally managed to catch up on sleep next to Ayumi.

When he woke up, the right side of the big bed was already empty, and on his arm the Matriarch was no longer there. He got up, put on his pants, and picked up his jacket that was on the floor. As he left the room, he wondered:

'I wonder if Nathalia and Martha were angry about Ayumi and I disappearing after we arrived. I hope not...' He thought, and to his surprise, he found Nathalia as he was leaving Ayumi's room.

He widened his eyes; after all, Ayumi had not made any announcement yet. However, Nathalia surprised him when she narrowed her eyes at him, put her left hand on her chin and smiled mischievously. 

"Look at that Champion~. He's staying with my mother, and he didn't even bother to warn me~." She joked, putting him off.

"You already knew?" Luke questioned, a little embarrassed, as he looked away.

"I saw you two kissing right here yesterday. I believe you were no longer wanting to hide."

"I—We were planning to tell to you and the others soon."

She smiled briefly and couldn't hold back her laughter. "Luke, relax~ I'm not mad about it; after all, we are friends, aren't we?"

I just want you and my mom's well-being, so if you're having fun together, what's wrong with that?"

Flabbergasted, the half-wolf simply ran out of answers at the young Elf's mature understanding.

"Now come, it is past lunchtime and I heard through the window that the last of the luggage left over from the Vasconcelos residence has arrived.." Nathalia said and pulled him by the arm.