Chapter 280 Farm House Part 2

“Before we do a full investigation, let’s just check for any enemies.” I decided this would make things not only faster but safer as well.

We checked the whole house from the second floor to the basement. This time there was no apparition or any clues like that left behind that were easy to find. “The house is empty, so let’s split up. If you find anything that looks off, grab it if you can pick it up. Otherwise, call for us to come take a look.”

“On it!” Adel said while saluting me for some strange reason, but she had a big smile on her face. The group ran off, all except for Sophie, who lagged behind. “Sophie?”

“Faith…. Can I ask for you to honestly tell me how you feel for Adel and I?” Sophie walked up to me and took my hands. “We have both decided to dedicate our lives to you and only you.”

This was coming out of left field, so I felt like I had just been truck kun’d once more. But when I looked into Sophie’s upturned eyes that seemed to be full of hope, I could only sigh and pull her into a hug. “I will give it serious thought. But I can not give you a full answer at this time. Can this wait until after I find my father?”

Sophie nodded and hugged me back. “Mmm… Sorry. I know this was not the time for this, but my mind has been a mess since I found out my true feelings for you. I will wait for your answer. But remember, no matter what the answer may be, Adel and I will always be at your side.”

Her words made me smile, and a warm feeling began to fill my heart. I now had to give this more thought and really decide what I should be doing with myself. Even my mother is worried about me. I know this world’s age to become an adult is only one year away for me, but I still have some misgivings. But…. Maybe… Just maybe I can figure out a way to allow everyone I love and care for to live longer lives like my own.

When I went to let Sophie go, she looked up into my eyes. I could tell her feelings for me were genuine as the gaze she was looking at me with was filled with pure love. And without even a warning, she stood on her tiptoes and pushed her lips against mine before running off, leaving me standing there frozen in place. I am starting to think that I am a bit too defenseless when it comes to these two girls! They both stole kisses from me! Adel stole my first kiss, and Sophie stole my second one!

But…. I touched my lips, which were still slightly warm, and couldn’t help but smile. It did not feel bad… To be honest, I am wondering how it would feel to kiss a boy now… Wait! Why am I stuck on kissing now!!? “These girls!” I cried out before slapping my cheeks and going back to investigating.

After getting my mind out of the gutter, I went back to searching the room I was in. Since everyone else ran upstairs, I stayed in the basement and began going through the items here. There was everything from old dolls and old clothes, all very old looking. Dust and cobwebs were covering everything, so I had to use a bit of wind magic to keep myself from gagging.

“Still nothing, but many things do not look like anything that could be found in this world. Earth maybe, but not here….” I sighed as I looked around the room. It was slightly dim in the room, so to make sure I wasn’t missing anything, I waved my hand, sending balls of light to every corner of the room.

As the light filled the room, I spotted something shiny out of the corner of my eyes. My shiny senses instantly activated, and I somehow found myself standing in front of it. I knelt down to find a small rock. I lifted it up and used appraisal on it.

[Norite]

[A stone with no actual use other than its shiny surface that can be used as a stone in jewel crafting. The words: “I am safe.” Is carved on the bottom of the stone.]

My eyes instantly went wide when I saw the last part of the description. I turned it over, and my eyes began to tear up. It was his handwriting. I would know it even if it was only carved into the stone. “Father…” I couldn’t stop my tears as I held the stone to my chest. He was so weird. Why a shiny stone!? I wiped my tears and smiled. He knew my habits well. But why only this?

I was a bit confused as to why he only wrote I am safe. Why not more? Why did he leave this stone in the basement? So many questions and no way to answer them, I do not know what I should do.

“Faith, you okay down here?” Sally’s voice came from the first floor. “Yeah…. Get everyone down here. I found a clue!”

I wanted to make sure I checked every inch of this room with everyone’s help. I couldn’t trust myself not to have skipped anything. So It was best to have all of us check each room together because there might have been something more we might have missed.

“What did you find!?” Adel asked as she walked over to me. I handed out a stone and showed her the back of it. When she saw it, she started laughing. “Hahaha! Definitely your father! Only he would leave a note on a shiny rock!”

“Hey! I am not that bad….” I yelled. But my voice started to grow quieter at the end of my sentence.

“At least we know he has been here, so we are still on the right track,” Grace said as she came to stand at my side. “Now we just need to figure out how to get to the next area.”