The Lucky One

Chapter Five: The Invisibility Pebble

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room

Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home

Remember the footsteps, remember the words said

And all your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone.

     ~ Taylor Swift, Never Grow Up

Chapter Five:

The Invisibility Pebble

Mark was soaked, and felt both chills and goose bumps prickling his skin. The car window was left open (Flynt might have probably forgotten to close it when he had opened it for ventilation), which eventually had unselfishly welcomed the raindrops to stream inside as they were hitting the road at excellent speed.

Mark decided it was pointless dawdling the coldness and chills damping his body carried through the breeze of unseasonal wind. He flicked his eyes and for a moment had protruded faint coughs. The downpour of rain that crossed inside appeared vivid as he gave a flash look.

“Dad, why have you left it open?” Mark asked imperturbably as he wiped his face. “I could’ve had cold and cough –”

The rest of his statement was drowned on his voice box. There was already no room for complaints. What met his inquisitive mind was his father.

Flynt was sitting calmly beside Mark dressed in silver armors. The distinction Flynt had made through not wearing his helmet had given Mark a huge cue that it was him, his father, and not just an ordinary, frightening knight. What was more: They were easing on the short space inside a wooden chariot, whose ceiling was just an inch or so away from their hair tips.

“Dad,” Mark croaked in an apparently worried tone. “Seriously, what are these stuffs going around?”

Flynt turned his head towards him gently and said, “Oh, you’re wet.”

“And you’re not worried?” Mark said.

“No, I’m not worried at all. In fact, I’m grateful you are soaked especially with rainwater. Our world has welcomed you warmly.”

“You’re joking, right?” Mark said.

“You see, Mark, it has been a tradition of Switzarnel Empire to gift people who truly belong here with the blessing of rain shower. And so by getting wet or soaked thus constitutes the Scent upon you – which, of course, will further be an important bearing for your legality being an official member of this empire. The Crescent Academy, for instance, does not accept to educate the nonmembers.”

“In short?” Mark asked, awed and totally lost in thought.

Flynt let out a hilarious sigh before continuing with the words, “I understand that it’s really hard to believe on your part everything that is around us – and there are more than you can imagine that are yet to be told. For now, let your nerves relax with your soul. Let your eyes wander the new atmosphere. Gradually, you will be accustomed with the lifestyle in this empire. I do not also suggest you to bear so many burdens worrying about new things such as I have told you. Do not disturb yourself seeking for answers that will assuage the need of those significant details you have kept in mind because nature will fall due course into them.”

As Flynt talked, Mark could not believe the stitches of words were coming from his father. He had not heard of him talk in such way, as though Flynt was one of those terrifying guidance councilors. For the first time, he felt a gap and boundary between him and his father. Suddenly he thought it could just be a dream, but his senses were absorbing more facts rather than fantasies. Now he could not find any open angle of his bitter realistic side to connect with what was really happening.