Chương 17: VISITOR

Weeks went by, then a month, then two. Elias kept pretending to be a normal, smart noble child. Inside, he was still Ethan, his mind always busy. He spent his days acting normal but he was actually learning, reading every book he could find about Flow. He was always looking for a way to break free from this new life, to figure out the trick to his immortality. He even drew secret, complicated pictures in his journals, much too advanced for a child his age.

He was trying to map out Flow and Anti-Flow, looking for that one hidden loophole. One hot summer afternoon, he sat by a tall window in the manor's library. He was reading a book of old poems out of boredom. The air outside was warm and still. Suddenly, he felt a strange shiver. It wasn't a sound or a smell, but a strong burst of Flow energy. It felt like a soft hum, coming from far away outside the manor. Elias quickly looked up. He climbed onto the window seat and looked out over the green gardens.

There, shining near the trees, was a strange, shimmering hole in the air. It was a portal, and its edges slowly spun in a perfect clockwise circle. A faint, almost see-through violet light glowed around it, alternating between hues, showing how powerful the Flow was. From the swirling middle of the portal, two people stepped out. First was a man, who appeared to be as old as his father. He had dirty blonde hair and green eyes. These features looked familiar to Elias.

The only other person he knew with that look in this world was his mother, with blonde hair and green eyes but he didn't think anything of it, his curiosity overshadowing all other thoughts. The man had a clean face and deep, knowing eyes. He was dressed plainly – simple pants and an old leather jacket. He looked out of place in the fancy manor. The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Elias wondered who that man was then, he noticed the second person.

A girl, perhaps seven years old with platinum blonde hair and emerald eyes. She wore a simple, neat maid's outfit." A maid?" Elias wondered. As if she felt him watching, the girl quickly looked up. Her eyes, sharp and cold, met his through the window. Elias felt a sudden, weird chill, even though it was hot outside. Her eyes were cold and distant, too grown-up for a child. He quickly moved back from the window. He thought about what to do. This was probably the teacher his mother had told him about.

He took a deep breath and smoothed his nice tunic. It was time to play the role of the polite, smart child, eager to learn. He would watch them, learn about their powers, and see how these strong Flow users could, without knowing it, help him reach his ultimate goal. With a seemingly, innocent smile on his face, he left the library and headed towards the main entrance. Servants were already gathering, looking surprised and curious. A strange visitor had arrived.