The Second Hand of Time

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

PICK A CARD

"Charlie?" Clifford mouthed. "You're—you're alive?"

His brother nodded.

"How—?" Clifford said in disbelief.

"It's a long story." His brother replied.

Suddenly, a fireball shot towards Charlie. He just closed his eyes and raised his arm in front of him.

"How about some truce here, miss?" He told Vanistella.

"Who are you?" She demanded.

"He's—he's my brother." Clifford said.

"What—?" She said in surprise. Then she nodded. "Well, that explains the long hair."

"Okay... Listen." Charlie interrupted. "The Python family isn't the real enemy."

"What—?" Clifford said. "What do you mean?"

"Long story. But when the semester is done, meet me on the spot where I usually hang out." Charlie said. "And help your friends... Mr. Python is a strong guy..."

"I don't get what you're saying!" Clifford shouted. "How are you still alive?"

"I'll tell you that next time." He replied. "Nice sword, by the way. Farewell for now. I'll explain everything when we meet again."

"Wait!" Clifford shouted as Charlie liquidated and entered the nearest sewer.

After a few moments of silence, Athena Vanistella spoke.

"Who is he? I mean—why are you so shocked?" She asked Clifford.

"Well... My brother jumped on a cliff. He—he killed himself... Well, but he was alive. I don't get it."

Then suddenly, the setting changed. They were surrounded by upperclassmen.

"You okay?" One asked.

"Uh, yeah." Clifford replied. "There's the enemy. He's alone now. His teammate abandoned him."

The guy turned towards James' direction. "What do you mean by abandoned? You were inside one of Miss Eupraxia's worlds. How did he escape?"

"I have no idea how he did it, but he turned into a puddle of water and entered the nearest sewer."

"Then he's still here!!" The guy shrieked. "He just blended into the surroundings!"

The upperclassmen looked all around them, searching for a sign of his brother.

Good luck finding him. Clifford thought. That guy is the sneakiest guy I know.

"Now," Clifford told Vanistella. "Let's go to the others."

***

Dan threw a summoning talisman at Victor's direction.

"SUMMON: SHADOW DEMON!" Dan shouted.

The talisman exploded and smoke covered the place. Then, a smoky thing emerged from the smoke.

The shadow demon was one of the monsters in the dungeon. For a few weeks, Dan has been studying all about the shadow demon and its abilities. So far, it was the smartest monster Dan knew.

"ATTACK HIM!" Dan ordered.

The smoky demon exposed its talons. Then it leaped into the air and struck at Victor.