Chapter 47 - First Day (1)

'Young man?' Aziel amused inwardly while allowing the alluring mature beaut to smother him with all of her unwarranted affection. To be perfectly honest he found himself quite comforted by the soft puffy pillows he was pulled into.

Though he was alone and secluded for thousands upon thousands of years during his self-research and whilst he organized his old cultivation technique around this new source of energy, this [Aether]… He was never meant to be ascetic. He was far from being tormented by the mortal's faulty systems, he had to admit the desires made life joyful.

His wanton, childish bloodlust during the age of those massive reptilian giants back then… then later on his desperation to fit into a group, no matter how primitive it was… It was all to banish the eternal boredom and loneliness that occupied him on his endless journey.

"Alright, my dears…" Eventually, Lydia eased on her hold and allowed Aziel to escape from the hug and take a step back, beside the so far silent spectator duo of Jack and Jay.

Myra however, already standing by her mother, couldn't bear to look at them. She was feeling way too embarrassed and even ashamed to even comment on her mother's actions.

"M-mrs. Martin… I-I… *khm* T-thank you for coming to pick us up." Gathering himself up a bit, Jake finally managed to stutter out a few words, although still rather shocked and even bewildered about the strange and exaggerated exclamation just before.

Lydia clearly noticed the strange gazes they all shared… well, except for this unknown boy, this 'Aziel'. She smiled and waved at the group.

"Come, get in. We can talk more on the way. I'm dying to know what on Earth did you guys were doing anyway!" Looking at Myra who was about to ask, she just simply winked as if saying 'I will explain it later' and walked to the front of the car.

After getting into the vehicle, they were soon off and were headed toward Jake's house in the Greenshade Community.

This was a mid-range residential property in Greytop City. The scenery was beautiful as it was surrounded by trees and was right next to a small artificial lake. It was also not far from the Ivy League High School where Myra and the boys were studying.

At first, the journey was mostly silent, with the air quickly descending into a tense awkwardness. Myra sitting at the front with her mother whilst the three guys were grouped together at the back. Aziel, like on the bus before, took the right wing, and was focused on the many mortals, humans tending to the matters of their average lives.

He couldn't help but be fascinated by them. Even though he should be disgusted, nay worse, annoyed and angered by these filthy creatures, he couldn't help but look at how they lived their lives with great excitement.

The many gadgets, tools of comfort, and ease that they invented just to make the menial chores that much easier and bearable was like an entirely new source of excitement, joy in his endless path.

He had to admit, there were so much more to them than what he remembered from Nova, or what he had even learned so far. They weren't as simple as he thought of, much more diverse than in his memories.

'Is this the effects of [Aether]? Even though they seem to be incapable of using it directly, it still affected their path of evolution to such a degree?' He pondered.

Eventually, after some few minutes that felt like complete eternities for the other two sitting at the back, Lydia broke the silence and asked again, what were they even doing. Since her daughter told them that they would be going to the nearby forest just outside town for their little club, she wanted to know more. Especially since they came back with an extra member, a handsome young lad joining their little trio, even if just temporarily.

When the news hit as well as they felt the terrifying explosion coming from Greytop Mountain, the namesake of their city, she immediately turned frantic. Unable to focus on her work a second longer, she quickly got off and rushed to her friends, Jake and Jay's mothers.

Eventually, she decided to try her luck and got to the central bus station.

...

The boys and Myra hurriedly explained the events that had happened, though made sure to leave out the part with Aziel's monstrous carnage completely and just told them the same story that Aziel had made up. They explained they found them without any rags alone in the forest, looking lost and, -as an attempt to explain his unusual calm despite the tragic situation-, in a state of shock.

By the time they got to the end of their story, even though they tried to be short and fast, they have arrived at their destination, Jake's home, thus they ended up not being able to ask Mrs. Martin about her statement from before.

Yet, Myra just couldn't let the matter go that easily. Before they could get out, she grabbed her mother's shoulder and pulled on her slightly.

"Mom..." She asked in a hushed tone, pointing with her gaze towards the silver-haired boy sitting behind her.

Lydia however, only smiled at her, not saying a word. Still, however, the mysterious smile and that seductive, alluring look on her face felt strange and weird for Myra. She couldn't understand what she was hinting at...

Lydia giggled at the confused look of her daughter as she stepped out from the car and turned towards the entrance. Even without supernatural abilities and senses, it wasn't hard to tell that Jake's mother, Sara was probably sitting at the couch in the living room still nervous, despite knowing everything already.

Aziel was led to a large furnished living room. The family house wasn't anything special, though it was comfortable for a family of four with 3 bedrooms fully occupied and having a guestroom furnished for the occasional guests.

The living room, which was basically an open hall-like area that engulfed the free space that was between the stairs at the left corner of the room, the short entrance hall in the middle, and the kitchen area, which had no walls but only a marble bar.

"Hey, Sara! Look who I found at the station!" Just as they stepped in, Lydia called out. Though there was no need for it, as even before they could all step inside, the distraught-looking woman, looking vastly different than to the demonic figure of Myra's mother, Sara Green was already in front of them.

Without wasting a single breath of word, or even allowing Jake to protest he too, just like Myra and Aziel before was pulled into a bearlike hug.

"Oh thank the god you are okay honey! I was so worried!" She cried, hugging her son as if she was afraid that the illusion would break at the moment she would let go.

It took several long minutes before the situation could somewhat calm down and Jake would be let go. Looking over, Sara was about to thank Lydia for bringing them back safe and sound when she too noticed the unknown, strange kid present.

She found her unique, silver hair and crimson eyes quite a unique sight. Not sure what to think, she instead asked as a polite-looking smile emerged on her face.

"Hello there, dearie. I'm afraid I have not seen you before, are you okay?"

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