Echoes of a Lost World

chapter 10

Liam's POV

I can't even count how many times I've heard my team laughing, cheering, and joking around during these past three days of staying in this villa. After our attempt to approach that mysterious person everyone's been talking about, we didn't even get a single word out of him. It's like he's in his own bubble, completely cut off from the world.

We found the villa where he supposedly lives, and honestly, it's like stepping into another reality. The fact that he has electricity alone was mind-blowing. We later discovered that all the villas in this area are powered by solar energy, which only made the place feel even more surreal.

We chose the villa closest to his, thinking we might have a better chance of catching sight of him, but three days have passed and I haven't even seen his shadow, let alone his face. From what I can tell, no one else lives in these villas, just him. It's like he's a ghost, or maybe he just wants to be.

We don't know if it's his power or if this place itself is just so mysterious, but the trees grow their fruits at an astronomical rate. Every time we harvest one, another sprouts and ripens almost instantly. It's unnatural, almost magical. At this rate, we could easily survive just by eating the fruits from these trees alone. This abundance made all of us even more eager to stay here, to bring our families, and settle in this strange, yet beautiful, place.

As I was taking a tour around the villas, something caught my eye. Or rather, someone. Squatting ahead, partially hidden by the trees, was a figure. Judging by the clothes and build, I was sure it was the mysterious person we'd been trying to meet. It looked like he was planting a tree. And as soon as he finished patting down the soil, a small tree started to grow instantly. So he really was the one planting all these trees.

As soon as he noticed me, he hurried to leave, his movements frantic.

"Please, wait!" I shouted, and I instantly regretted it. He seemed more terrified, his hands trembling. Was he scared of me? But why? Was it because we were strangers? From what James had told us, he's supposed to be strong, with an expert's skill at archery. So why was he acting like this? My mind started racing with all kinds of theories, none of them good. Every scenario I imagined raised red flags.

I raised my hands slowly, trying to show I meant no harm, and spoke as softly and warmly as I could. From his height, I guessed he was around fourteen, maybe younger—probably around my sister's age. I tried to smile reassuringly.

"I just want to talk," I said again, my voice gentle.

He still ignored me at first, continuing to walk away. But after a few steps, he stopped suddenly, then turned around to face me. I took that as a sign—his way of accepting my attempt at conversation.

"Should we talk here?" I asked gently, pointing to the spot where he stood. "Or would you prefer to go and sit down over there?" I gestured toward what used to be a public park, where I was sure there were benches and a more open space for us to talk freely.

As we headed to the park, he kept a cautious distance between us—not too far, but just enough for him to run if he felt the need. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself; it was almost like dealing with a skittish cat.

When we got to the park and found a decent set of benches, I sat down first, keeping my expression as warm and inviting as I could. He followed shortly after, still maintaining his distance, but at least he sat down. His eyes caught my attention immediately—beautiful, even though he still wore a mask that concealed most of his face.

I decided to break the silence. "My name is Liam. I used to be a general before the world... changed. What's your name?" I asked, my voice gentle.

He didn't respond right away, and I didn't push him. He sat there in silence for more than two minutes, still keeping his distance, but I respected that. I needed to give him time, to wait until he felt comfortable enough to talk. Just as I was about to fill the silence with more conversation, he spoke.

"Adam," he said.

His voice was... mesmerizing. It took me by surprise, so much so that I froze for a moment. I'd read in books about voices that could captivate you, but I never really understood what that meant until now. His voice was smooth, almost melodic, and it caught me completely off guard. I felt my heart skip a beat, as if for that one moment, everything else just faded into the background.

"Oh, nice to meet you, Adam," I said, trying to keep the conversation flowing. I asked if he lived here alone, but he didn't respond.

So, I changed the question. "Do you mind if we lived here with you?"

He looked surprised for a second, but then shook his head.

"So it's okay if we bring our families here?" I asked again, trying to confirm. He nodded. Just as I was about to say more, he spoke.

"I don't mind," he said quietly. Then he added, "But stay away from my home."

I could understand that. He had his space, his solitude, and I respected that.

"Don't worry, we'll only be bringing our families here," I reassured him. "My group consists of good people. They won't harm you or disturb your life." I could tell he was still a bit on edge, so I continued cautiously. "But living like this could attract trouble later on. Can I take care of the security here?"

When we bring our families, I know we won't be safe for long. Too many eyes will start noticing our presence, and once word gets out about this place—its abundance, its mystery—it could turn dangerous quickly. I needed to protect this place, and Adam too, even if he didn't realize it yet.

"If anyone can get here, it will be dangerous later on," I said, thinking ahead to the inevitable problems that could arise.

"You came here easily," Adam replied, his tone calm but sharp.

Damn, he had a point. "That's true, but from now on, can we stop others from coming here? Only those who are safe?" I knew it was selfish of me, but ever since I found this paradise, I couldn't bear the thought of anyone disturbing our life—or worse, threatening the one who made it possible.

"Okay," he said, still keeping his responses short.

"Can you not allow others to come to the villas' area?" I asked, hopeful he'd understand the gravity of the situation.

He paused for a moment, thinking. Then he answered, "Yes."

"Perfect!" I chimed in. "So, I want you to do something that will only allow specific people to get here. We can't control the rest of the city; people are just trying to survive out there, and it's too big to manage. But here, this place... it's going to get dangerous. Can you make sure only certain people can enter?"

I watched him carefully, hoping he'd accept my request. A few seconds later, the trees he had planted—the strange ones with their unnatural growth—began to move. It was mesmerizing. They shifted and intertwined, forming a magnificent wall around the villa area. This time, the trees grew so close to each other that it would be impossible for anyone to pass through. A few of them even shaped themselves into what looked like a gate—an entrance, though I was sure it had some special mechanism to prevent anyone from crossing without Adam's approval.

I had to ask to be sure. "Now no one can pass?"

"No, only those who I accept," he said, standing up. Before I could respond, he added, "I don't want humanity to suffer, but I think of myself more. I did my part, so don't let them bother me."

And with that, he turned and left without waiting for my reply.

"Okay," I said softly, even though he was already gone. I sat there for a moment, staring at the wall of trees. Adam had done something extraordinary, something beyond what any of us could imagine. But now, it was up to me to keep my word—to make sure no one bothered him, and to protect this paradise.

Hello, Survivors! I want to express my gratitude to everyone supporting this humble work of mine. Even though it may not be popular right now, my precious audience makes me incredibly proud. Thank you, Maya, and thank you, King, for your unwavering support!