At the restaurant, Adrik woke up on the couch and looked around in confusion. He stretched his arms lazily and then leaned over to shake Draxil, who was murmuring something in his sleep.
Adrik (shaking him): Bro? Draxil, wake up.
Draxil (half-asleep, mumbling): Wait teacher... five minutes.
Adrik smirked cheekily, an idea sparking in his head. He leaned close to Draxil's ear and tried to mimic a soft female voice.
Adrik (teasing, in fake voice): Draxil... did you pass the exam?
Draxil (still dreaming): Ughhh... yes teacher... I passed away...
Adrik (laughing quietly): Oh, is that so? But sorry sweetheart... you failed every subject.
Draxil jolted awake with panic and accidentally slapped Adrik across the face, sending him flying straight into the wall with a crash.
Draxil (gasping, panicked): Nooo! It was a dream? Phew... I got scared.
He wiped his forehead, then looked around the room. His eyes landed on Adrik lying upside down on the floor, dazed.
Draxil (tilting his head): ...What are you doing?
Silence. Adrik groaned faintly from the floor.
Meanwhile, at the bakery on the first floor, the old granny was standing at the counter while Clara slept peacefully in her chair. Suddenly, the door burst open and a thug barged in, clutching a knife. He pointed it at the trembling granny.
Thug: Give me all your money or—
Granny (pleading): Please... don't do anything...
Thug (yelling): Then give me the damn money!
The granny froze in fear, her hands shaking as she reached for the register. Just then, a low whistle echoed from the staircase. The thug turned his head slowly and saw Draxil sitting on the stairs, glaring at him with cold eyes. Something in Draxil's stare made the thug's heart skip a beat.
The thug panicked and snatched the money, attempting to flee—only to stop when he noticed Adrik standing firmly at the doorway, arms crossed, his expression sharp.
Thug (raising his knife): Don't come closer!
Adrik (calm but firm): Don't you think that money belongs to someone else?
Thug (stammering): I-I said don't move!
Suddenly, Draxil appeared behind him and struck the thug's head hard. The man collapsed instantly. Draxil picked up the stolen money and placed it back in the granny's trembling hands. Adrik grabbed the thug by his collar and threw him out the door like trash. He dusted his hands and walked over to the counter.
Granny (tearful): Thank you, sweetheart... thank you so much.
Adrik (smiling softly): It's okay. No need to thank us. By the way, where are the others?
Chrono Guardianz
Episode 5: The Lost Girl
In a narrow alley, Lyra and Carla were cornered by a thug. His grin widened as he stepped closer, knife glinting in the dark.
Thug: Ahaha... that's why I like it. Come on, take off your clothes.
Carla (horrified): Lyra, no!
Lyra (whispering): Shh.
She nodded quietly, stepping back until her shoulder brushed against a wooden post. The thug licked his lips, watching as she gripped her shirt as though she were about to remove it. But in one swift motion, Lyra reached behind the post, pulled out a hidden hammer, and smashed it into the thug's skull. His body dropped lifelessly to the ground.
From the rooftop above, another thug spotted everything and shouted. More enemies rushed in.
Lyra (grabbing Carla's arm): Run!
They sprinted through the alley, footsteps echoing. Meanwhile, on the opposite side, Jeff unsheathed his new blade, standing back-to-back with Lior, who summoned his staff. The thug leader charged with a roar—only for Jeff's blade to slice clean through his neck. The leader's body fell, leaving the other nine thugs frozen in shock.
Jeff (yelling): Run, Lior!
Both of them bolted, Lior's shimmering shield blocking bullets as they ran. A thug suddenly blocked their path, twirling his weapon to show off. Neither Jeff nor Lior slowed down.
Lior (gritting teeth): Out of my way.
He froze the thug solid in a heartbeat, shattering his stance, and they kept running.
Elsewhere, Lyra and Carla ducked into a quiet street. Lyra ripped open her bag and pulled out a set of clothes.
Lyra (handing them over): Here. Wear this. Some of them saw our dresses, not our faces.
The two quickly changed and blended in. When thugs marched past, they didn't recognize the pair at all.
Lyra (exhaling): That was close. Let's go home as soon as possible.
Carla (nodding): Yes... enough shopping.
Back to Jeff and Lior—the two stumbled upon a crossroads and split paths by mistake. The pursuing thugs stopped, panting heavily, realizing they'd lost sight of both.
Thug 1: Tsk. We lost them.
Thug 2: Doesn't matter. We'll find them soon.
Jeff leaned against a wall, gasping for breath, sweat dripping down his forehead.
Jeff (panting): That was... close, right? Lior?
He glanced around, then froze. Lior was gone.
Jeff (panic rising): Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!
He turned back immediately, sneaking past patrolling thugs with careful steps.
Jeff (calling out softly): Lior...?
No answer. Footsteps echoed behind him. Jeff spun around, tense—only to see Carla and Lyra. Carla rushed into his arms, hugging him tight.
Carla (relieved): Jeff!!
Lyra (serious): Where is Lior?
Jeff swallowed hard, his throat dry. He lowered his gaze.
Jeff (ashamed): I... I lost him. We were chased, got split up. I don't know where he is. But I swear... I'll find him.
Lyra's eyes shimmered as she covered her mouth, fighting back tears. Carla held her shoulders gently. After a moment, Lyra stood straight.
Lyra (firmly): You two go back to the village. I'll find him.
Jeff (protesting): No! We can't leave yo—
Lyra (cutting him off): Please understand. We're doing this to keep you safe. Go back.
Jeff and Carla exchanged guilty looks before finally nodding and walking away. Lyra turned down another street, determination blazing in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Lior stumbled upon a quiet pond beneath a small bridge. He dropped to his knees, splashing cold water on his face, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. His eyes filled with tears.
Lior (whispering, voice trembling): Big sis... where are you...?
He bit his lip to keep from crying. Suddenly, voices echoed nearby. He panicked and crawled under the bridge, pressing a hand over his mouth to stay silent.
Then he froze. Just beside him lay an unconscious girl, her dress torn, her body covered in wounds, blood dripping from her lips, eyes, chest and core. It was Liza—the girl taken by Rocco and Jett. She was barely alive.
Lior (horrified): What in the world...?
His hands trembled as he placed the glowing diamond of his staff against her chest.
Lior (pleading): Please work... please, please...
Slowly, the wounds began to glow, knitting themselves back together. The bleeding stopped. Lior's eyes widened with hope.
Lior (smiling through tears): Yes... it's working. Yes...
Minutes later, her breathing steadied. Lior sighed in relief, his shoulders slumping.
Lior (softly): I hope you'll wake up soon an—
Before he could finish, a heavy blow struck the back of his head. He collapsed instantly.
When he regained consciousness, he was tied up on the ground. His staff was gone. Across from him, Liza lay still unconscious. Rocco and Jett stood nearby—Jett holding Lior's staff in his hands, examining it curiously.
Jett (noticing Lior awake): Oh... you're awake. Kid, how did you heal her with this staff?
Rocco crouched beside Liza, stroking her cheek with a twisted grin.
Rocco (smirking): She's fresh again... like new. We can have fun again.
Jett (eyes narrowing at Lior): Yeah, but first... we need to know how this works. Tell us, kid.
He pointed the staff at Lior's chest.
Jett (low and threatening): Say it... or you won't breathe again.
TO BE CONTINUED...