Chapter 10 For Our Future"WHAT!? For real!?"
Lu's extremely surprised when I told her the truth.
Anyone would be surprised when they know that the mysterious person they're trying to find out who is actually their son/daughter.
"Really... That's great..."
Lu's blushing for some reason.
I wonder why is she acting like that.
"What happened, Lu? Your face's red."
"... I'm really going to get married with you and have a beautiful daughter like her... I'm very happy..." She covers her face in embarrassment.
However Lu, the way you say it made me embarrassed too!
Hiding my embarrassment, I look at other place.
But of course, I didn't tell Lu about the matter that we're going to be seperated during our 3rd year. Even I still trying to find out what and why we're going to be seperated.
Is it because of an accident? Or because of an urgent situation?
But we still have time before the 3rd year, and we will still be married for sure.
So I don't think it's a huge deal... I hope.
"Hey, Els!"
I heard Raven's calling my name, I wonder what is it?
For some reason, Ciel also there, behind Raven.
I look at their face, but their face didn't show any happiness, but worry, instead.
I started to get a bad feeling.
"What is it Raven?"
I look at him.
He sighed and looked at me with a weird look.
"It's a noble, Lu's father's coming."
My heart skipped a beat.
"What!? A Noble!?"
The entire class shook.
"Noble? You're a noble, Lu?"
Rena who's dumbfounded asked Lu.
"Really!? Ciel? Why you didn't tell me this?"
Aisha who just found out the truth also surprised.
"I-I..."
Lu who can't answer them awkwardly reply them.
Ciel didn't say anything, he just look away with a sad look.
Just what the hell's going on!?
And then, a very handsome gentleman entered our class.
We kept silent the moment he showed himself.
"Greetings, students. My name's Alexander, Lu's Father."
He politely bowed in front of us.
For some reason I can tell that he left no openings for questions.
But Lu still asked him.
"What are you doing here, dad?"
She looked at his father with a troubled look.
"... Lu, we're going back to Ranox. I've cancelled the engagement with Elscud, so you don't need to stay here anymore, let's go back."
The class shook again at the word "Engagement".
My heart felt like it just stopped.
What?
They... Cancelled the engagement?
Did the future changed?
"W-What do you mean, dad?"
"... Let's not talk about this here, we're going back. I've get all your belongings, we can fly back to Ranox in 1 hour."
"I DON'T WANT TO!"
This is the first time I saw Lu being so angry.
"JUST WHAT'S DAD THINKING?! AFTER MAKING ME STAY FOR 1 YEAR AND YOU JUST CANCELLED IT!? FOR WHAT REASON!?"
"LU!"
A thunderous voice made her silent.
He's really not a normal noble.
"We're going back, Ciel."
"... I understand."
Ciel walked to Lu's seat.
I caught his hand so that he can't move forward anymore.
"Ciel, what's going on?"
"... I'm sorry, Elsword."
He gave me a hard blow at my abdomen.
"Ughh..!"
"Els!"
Lu screamed my name.
That hit just now...
"Please, I don't want to hear anything... Anymore..."
I can tell from his voice, Ciel's really sad, but he can't do anything.
I lost my consciousness.
...
"Els, wake up!"
"Wake up, Els!"
I slowly opened my eyes.
My abdomen hurt so much.
But I still tried to stand.
"Thank goodness you're okay!"
Raven said.
"We thought you won't wake up anymore..."
Rena shed a tear.
"What... Happened...?"
I can see Aisha's crying.
What happened...?
"... Lu's taken 4 hours ago, they're already going back to Ranox."
Raven said, sadly.
"... What...?"
"Lu's being taken, when you lost your consciousness..."
Rena explained the situation, the way Lu cried and called my name until the moment she's gone from this school. Lu kept on struggling, trying to get to my side, but Ciel's too strong.
"... Lu..."
I felt like I just lost my soul.
I felt no more spirit.
Just like an empty barrel.
I feel so empty.
Due to my situation, the school let me get back home to rest.
My room's still the same as usual, only Lu's belongings that are gone.
"... So empty."
Even though I still get everything I needed, a PC, a comfortable bed, a massive amount of books, but to me, this is just an empty room.
*Ring*
My dad called me.
"... Hello."
"Elsword."
"... What do you want."
"By this time, Lu must've been going back to Ranox, so I need to tell you this, we cancelled your engagement."
"... AND WHY DID YOU CANCEL IT?!"
I can't hold back my anger.
"... That I can't tell you why, but this is for the best, after all forcing both of you who doesn't love each other to marry is just too much."
"HOW CAN YOU DECIDE THIS ON YOUR OWN! WHAT KIND OF FATHER ARE YOU!?"
I ended the call and I throw the phone to the floor.
I'm very angry.
Just what are those people thinking!?
Just when we finally...
We finally able to accept each other and love each other...
They just tear us apart like this!
Did they even know what have we go through all this time!?
They're just too selfish!
I buried my face on the bed.
I don't wish to hear anything anymore.
"Lu..."
I can feel my tears are flowing.
The girl that I loved...
Until the last moment, I can't even do anything.
I'm so weak!
I throw the pillow on the floor to relief my desperation.
But... Then I saw a piece of paper. What is that?
I took the paper.
To: ElswordFor me? What did it mean?
I flipped the backside of the paper.
There's a note written there.
I widened my eyes at that note.
Without waiting for any second, I changed into my casual clothes and I ran out of the house.
I don't know what does that mean, but if my feeling's true...
If you really wish to change your future, come to the rooftop.
From: Elsword.It's HIM!
I rushed to the rooftop, I don't care even if I'm tired or not.
My legs felt weak from running, but I need to come.
For Lu's sake!
I opened the door.
There stood, a red haired man.
He's facing the other side so I can't see his face.
But I'm sure...
From his long red hair, it's me.
From the future.
"... It seemed you came."
He turn around.
The me in the future.
He should be over 30 years old, but he still looked so young.
I looked at my face from the future.
"You called for me, didn't you?"
He shook his head.
"I simply gave you a chance, but you're the one who came by your own will."
"... Why are you calling me?"
He smiled.
It's just like he's saying; You asked something that's already so obvious.
"Don't you want to get Lu back?"
"-! Yes! I do! But... If you're from the future, tell me, why did they cancel the engagement?"
"... I can't tell you that because you will know it eventually."
He opened a portal which looked like a gateway to the other world.
"I will tell you only this, me."
He closed his eyes.
"If you really want to get her back, show her father your will and your soul."
"I WILL!"
And then I rushed to the portal.
But I halted my step before entering.
"... Hey, the older me."
"What?"
"... Is your life... Fun?"
He smiled and he patted my head.
"That's a matter of course, now go."
I nodded and rushed inside the portal.
Everything became dark, but I kept on running forward to the light.
"I'm coming! Lu!"
I got out of the portal and fell on a porcelain floor.
Looks like this is her family's home.
Everything looked so luxurious.
I ran around the house.
Some of the guards noticed me.
"Hey, intruder! Wait right there!"
"Tsk-!"
I'm found!
*Ring*
The alarm that notifies that there's an intruder rang.
Damn it!
"Wait right there or I will shoot!"
One of the guard pointed his gun at me. But, I don't care about it and turns into a corner.
They chased me, but because I'm hiding behind a pot that's quite big, they just ran past me.
My heart's beating very fast when I imagined they found me here.
Good thing they don't know, so I run again to the other place.
"Just where's Lu?!"
This house's really big, not to mention it's just like a maze.
I thought I've already ran past this path before, but I still kept on running until I'm out of breath.
"*Pant* *Pant*"
I'm about to fall on the floor, but suddenly the wall beside me opened and a pair of hand came out from the wall and it pulled me into the wall.
"Woah!?"
"Shhh...!"
I can tell that I'm not in a danger so I kept quiet.
The surrounding's dark, but... I knew this scent...
"Lu...?"
"Els... How did you came here?"
It's Lu, it's really her!
I hugged her tightly.
"Lu... Lu!"
"E-Els... I can't breathe..."
And then I broke the hug.
"Lu... Did your father said anything?"
"Umm... No, I've asked him many times... But he just ignored me..."
I see, so they will not spill the beans unless we beat the hell out of them, huh?
"Lu, take me to your father."
"-!? Why!? You will only get kicked out if you do that!"
"-That's why I'm here. I need to convey my feelings to him, if it's absolutely necessary. I will beat the hell out of him."
"You can't! My dad's very strong!"
I expected that, but I still need to give him a piece of my mind.
"Take me there, Lu."
"... Els..."
She realized that I'm serious.
So she nodded and she opened the door.
The guards saw us, but Lu signaled them to back off.
"This is my guest, you can rest now, guards."
"""Understood."""
They all back off obediently.
And so we went to her father's room.
"It's here."
She opened the door.
Even though I said a room, it's more like a great hall.
Her father's sitting at the middle from the furthest part of the hall like a king.
"... You-"
"Greetings, sir Alexander. I'm Elsword. Elscud's son."
I remembered his name when he introduced himself in the class.
"-I really want to ask how did you get here, but forget it."
He stood up like how a king should be.
"I thought I've told you that the engagement was cancelled did I?"
"Sir Alexander, it's true that the engagement was cancelled. However..."
I mustered all of my courage and yell at him.
"I LOVE LU! I CAN'T JUST SIT AND ACCEPT THAT THE ENGAGEMENT BEING CANCELLED LIKE THAT! I MUST DO SOMETHING, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE!"
Her father glared at me.
"You're failed as a Noble. But that spirit of yours is very nice."
He nodded.
"As you wish, if you want me to re-engage both of you, you need to show me what you can."
He went to the closet and took out two bamboo swords.
"Prove yourself to me, that you can protect Lu, my dearest daughter."
He threw a sword at me.
I've expected this outcome.
So I caught the sword.
"Don't do it, Els! My father's a very skilled swordsman!"
I patted her head.
"I know that, but I still need to do it, Lu."
"You will never win!"
"Can we start, boy?"
He get into his position, I also get in my stance.
"Anytime, sir Alexander."
We fight without protector, getting hit would be really painful.
"Wait! Dad! I will fight too!"
"Lu..."
"Lu, if you join this, I can't make sure you will get out without injury even though you're my daughter."
"I will still do it! So that it can be a fair fight!"
"Very well."
He took out another sword and threw it to Lu.
I'm really worried, what if Lu get injured?
After we get into our stances, Lu's father, Alexander charged like wind.
"Hah!"
He gave me a slash at the body, I managed to block it, using this momentum, Lu swung her sword at her father.
"Heeyah!"
Her father moved back very fast to avoid it.
As expected of a master.
We don't have a chance to win, even in a million tries.
It's an absolute zero chance of winning.
But we still need to do it!
After several exchange of attacks, Lu's father's getting serious.
"Enough playing, I will finish you two."
He charged and pushed me backward with an unbelievable force, I lost my balance.
"Ah-!"
"You're done!"
*Swing*
*Hit*
Blood's splattering in the air.
However...
It's Lu's blood.
She charged in to protect me.
"Lu-!"
Her father's swing hit her head perfectly.
No matter how strong is she, it must be pretty painful.
"Lu-!"
I threw away my sword and hugged her.
She looked like she's about to lost her consciousness.
"... Idiot..."
She looked at something behind me and lost consciousness.
I look behind, there's Lu's father, aiming for my head.
"Never show your back toward an enemy, boy."
He swing the sword with all of his might.
I blocked it, with my hand.
*Crack*
"AAAARRRGHHH!"
I can feel my bone's cracking.
It hurts!
"How admirable."
Before he pull back his bamboo sword, I caught his sword with my other hand.
"Hm?"
"L-Like hell I would let you... Get off!"
I charged him and he lost his grip of his sword.
We fell on the ground and rolled on it.
Since I can't use one of my hand it's a matter of course I can't do much.
He's about to punch me, I know that this attack will sent me unconscious.
"Why would you go that far for my daughter, boy?"
"... Because... Because I love her! I can't let anyone have her!"
"Hmph, what a ridiculous and weak answer."
And then I lost my consciousness.
...
I slowly opened my eyes.
I'm on a bed, Lu's beside me.
Where's this place...?
"It seems like you're awake, boy."
Lu's father entered the room.
My hand still hurts, my bone's damaged after all.
"You really didn't hesitate in hurting others I see..."
I mocked him, he just laughed.
"If I ever hesitated, I can't protect what's important to me."
"You're insane, you even hurt your daughter, are all nobles are insane?"
He caressed his daughter's head.
"Who knows?"
A moment later, a beautiful woman entered the room.
"Oh dear... You hurt them?"
"I'm sorry, Rina, but I need to show these kids how cruel is the world."
Show us how cruel is the world? More like to show us how insane you are.
I cursed in my mind.
"You must be Elsword, I'm Rina, Lu's mother."
She smiled gently to me.
"*Sigh* Alexander, you really shouldn't just cancel an engagement like that, you know? I've seen everything, they really love each other!"
"I can't help it! It's because Elscud's making fun of me!"
Wait, did I heard it wrong?
"Huh?"
"Elsword, you need to know this, Alexander cancelled this engagement because your father make fun of him when he found out Alexander's sleeping while meow-ing like a cat."
"RINA! DON'T TELL HIM!"
"THAT WAS VERY RIDICULOUS SIR ALEXANDER!"
Lu's mother giggles.
"But I never thought you will take Lu back to Ranox just because of that, you need to care for our daughter's feelings too, you know?! She cried all the time when she's back here!"
Lu's mother's scolding sir Alexander.
"I-I'm just too taken away by my anger!"
"WHAT A LAME EXCUSE!"
Lu's teachings already taken an effect on me.
How ridiculous, hahaha.
"But... Lu's already being registered as a third year student in Ranox's school."
Lu's mother explained to me.
"I didn't even know when Alexander did it, he's really misusing his noble title. *Sigh*"
"So... She need to continue her third year, here?"
Her mother nodded.
"However, for this second year you can have your time with Lu, we're going to send you back to Ruben, your city."
For some reason sir Alexander can't say anything.
Is he weak against miss Rina?
"Uhh..."
"Oh, you're awake, Lu?"
I asked her.
"Where's this... Oh, dad! Mom!"
"Good thing you're okay, dear."
Her mother hugged her.
But her father just sitting there facing the other side.
He's too embarrassed to talk.
"You will be sent back to Ruben for the rest of this year, dear."
"Really?! But why only this year?"
"Because you need to study here for the third year, your father already done something that can't be taken back, so we have no choice."
"DAD YOU DUMMY!"
Nice words, Lu.
"By the way, Lu."
"Yes, mom?"
"Your engagement with Elsword, will still keep going, don't mind what your father said."
"Really mom!?"
Her mother smiled gently.
"Yes, dear. But you need to endure not seeing each other for 1 year, are you fine with it, Elsword?" Her mother look at me.
"I'm fine with it, miss Rina. If it's for Lu, I will endure it."
I smiled.
Lu faced toward me and hugged me.
"H-Hey!?"
"Els-! I love you!"
"My, my, how happy it is to be young."
Her mother giggles at us.
"Then, shall we go? Ciel's waiting."
Her mother stood.
So Ciel will be there too? Thank goodness.
So Aisha doesn't have to be alone.
"But, Lu's belongings?"
"Don't worry, everything's already prepared beforehand."
This is what a true noble should act.
If only Lu can be more lady-like and respectable like her mom.
But, I love Lu the way she is.
I whispered to Lu's ear.
"I love you."
She blushed really bad, so cute.
I recalled what Lisa said back then; "during your third year... If I'm not mistaken dad will have to be seperated from mom."
It's just like what she said, and it seemed like the future will not changed.
...
"Elsword! Lu!"
The next day, Raven and Rena are very surprised to see us.
"What happened?! You're back!?"
Rena asked Lu.
"Yes but only for the rest of this year."
Lu smiled.
After explaining the situation, Rena shed tears.
"Thank goodness... I'm really happy... We will meet again, right?"
"Of course, Rena."
Lu caressed Rena's cheek as she smiled.
"There's still 11 months to go, so make sure to have as much fun as you can, Lu!"
Raven said.
"Yes!"
She smiled at Raven too, I'm happy that she's cheerful.
Behind us, I can see Aisha's hugging Ciel's arm.
"Oh hey, Aisha... You don't have to be so clingy to Ciel in the morning..."
"Because he didn't tell me everything! I'm angry! So I will made him as embarrassed as I can!"
But it clearly is just an excuse to relief your happiness to be able to re-unite with him even just for 1 year, right?
"So, shall we go, guys?"
I asked as I held Lu's hand.
"Let's go."
Raven said.
And we all go to the school together.
I can do all of this is because I'm trying to protect the beautiful future with Lu.
The future where we'll always be together.
I'm looking forward to meet you again, Lisa.
For some reasons, I'm really interested how will Lu look like in the future.
And for some other reasons, someone's being forgotten here.
Chapter 10 For Our Future
We're getting close to the ending.
Feel free to review and give comments.