A/N: R&R. Questions? Review and I will answer them. I hope you enjoy the story and thank you for bearing with my horrible way of writing [still a "green" writer here] .
Just a friendly reminder: I will update if I can and due to my studies - it depends on my luck. Apologies in advance for making you (readers) wait.
Chapter cover: A young man facing to the right with a confident smirk.
...
Lania had never seen Luminous this angry in her entire life. Luminous's expression darkened in moments that she had to step back – clasping her hands together, as if praying to the heavens. The aura he emitted right now was dark – as dark as that day. She has no idea what happened – all she remembered Luminous screaming in pain, chains erupted from the ground and waves of red and black mana struck everywhere from Luminous.
She turned the moment she heard the anguished screams from Luminous and was struck down by countless black and red mana with chains. She remembered being thrown backwards, a few of her bones broken – and had found difficult to breathe – and her vision became black.
The next time Lania woke up, she found Luminous crying – and her body was aching in pain and her head bandaged. Those few weeks were just Luminous nursing her back to health and the glances he gave were mostly self-doubt and guilt. It twisted her heart, seeing her father like that.
She missed his bright smile and the soft laughter when she made him laugh. Then, once she was well, he left her alone with the cat without much explanation.
Lania could only accept his decision. The only contact with Luminous was the letters he wrote to her, telling her the adventures he have, and a little bit of his past and his apologies. Sometimes, the letters came together with brochures.
When he came to visit, he wrote in his letter – the date he will come home.
It was a day late – but her father was actually here, mad at someone, it doesn't take a genius to figure out who.
"Papa?" Lania whispered.
She watched as her father sighed. Most of the scary aura was gone, but it was still there – enough to intimidate Lania. He scratched the back of his head; his heterochromia eyes were weary – probably from lack of sleep.
"I'm home." Luminous finally said, looking away from Lania. She smiled and covered the distance between them quickly and pulled him inside their home.
"Welcome home."
…
…
Inside the warm cottage, a young cook felt shivers every time Lania's father gave him a stink eye. Even though it was warm, he still has his winter coat on. His hands twisted his black pants from feeling nervous.
He observed Lania and her father interacted. The father patted Lania's head – it was watching a father dotting his own child.
The father had white-haired with the end, a bit bluish. He wore a brown cloak, a weak protection against the cold. The cook raised an eyebrow at the bluish hair, a voice nagging in his mind and his blood screaming at him: Blessings from the stars!
Then again, it could be just his imagination. After all, the father reeked of…something he could not put his finger to.
They weren't related by blood – but, he could tell they were close. He closed his eyes, lost in his own memories – wondering what and where had gone wrong in his family.
"Earth to Jake!" Lania shouted at the young cook. Jake opened his almond eyes. He stood up and looked at the father.
Wonderful, a mage. But why white? Jake thought when he saw Luminous's clothes. The details on Luminous's clothes were beautiful – to last this long, especially for adventures – the materials used to make the robe was high quality.
The young bishop managed to hide his surprise at the…heterochromia condition. There is something unnatural about Luminous's red eye.
Jake had a bad feeling about it.
"Jake, this is Luminous, my father." Lania introduced. Luminous gave him a nod; his body language gave nothing away much to Jake's annoyance. "Dad, Jake."
Jake stretched his hand towards Luminous with a forced smile. Luminous looked at it suspiciously only to be hit at the waist by Lania. Jake laughed and felt a pang of happiness at Luminous's struggle on a simple decision.
"Nice to meet 'ya". Jake said with a slight sarcasm in his voice. Luminous raised an eyebrow – damn, his sarcasm detector is high. On the other hand, Lania was mouthing at him: Do something!
Like what? Jake thought. Maybe a chicken dance perhaps?
A serious part of Jake was knocking common sense into the joking Jake: Are you insane?! This is her father! One wrong move and you will be dead in an instant!
Fortunately, the father's stomach growled – interrupting the awkward silence. Smoothly, Jake waved his outstretched hand towards the table with food.
"Thanks." Luminous muttered as he walked past the young cook. Behind his back, Lania winked once at Jake.
This is going to be troublesome.
"You're welcome." He grinned, rubbing his hands with glee. Fortunately, the family did not notice it.
At first, Jake planned to be a goody-goody two shoes. That thought lasted until the last second.
Changing the label for soya sauce to oyster sauce (when their backs are turned) and watching Lania passing the soya sauce (read: oyster sauce) to Luminous and then flooding the plate with it. Luminous thanked Jake for the food only to take his words back as he tasted the unholy taste of oyster sauce with his bacon.
Luminous's reaction was priceless. He looked as if he had tasted the greatness of rotten dishes and glared at Jake accusingly, veins throbbing on his forehead. Lania's jaw dropped, her eyes darting from Jake to Luminous then at the oyster sauce label in her hand, and then at the soya sauce label – the gears in her mind moving furiously. A series of expressions went passed Lania – shocked, amazed, worried, then a knowing grin plastered her lips.
"Jake!" Lania exclaimed, slamming her hand on the table, the cutleries shook in their respective places. "I can't believe you did it!"
Jake blinked his obsidian coloured eyes innocently. "Did I?"
Luminous cracked his knuckles.
In Jake's mind, he did a fist-pump into the air. Worth it.
Once Jake left the house – after being kicked out by Luminous, personally – Jake made sure to never cross Luminous path again.
Except the Transcendents have better ideas for his future.