Prior To The Event (Prologue - Part 4)

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Learning that she was sent back into a timeline much older than hers...

Pietro, pitying the lost girl, told her that Lucy could stay with him while she searches for her way back home.

Lucy wanders the town of Nesseley, figuring out and hunting for some clues on how to get back into her own time.

But menacing eyes carefully watch her from a distance.

As Pietro watches Lucy's hope slowly diminishing, Pietro finally, without any more hesitation, told Lucy that he'd help her.

And then a friendship was born.

Pietro doesn't know why he was too kind to this strange girl whom he'd just met a few nights ago. But our young lad was now feeling comfortable, and peaceful, and finally, after a while, he was somewhat happy.

---

In Pietro's pocket, the bell glows secretly steady.

So as weeks pass by, Lucy finally learns to adapt to the old life, but she and Pietro never gave up searching for clues.

Unfortunately, there was still no new information that can help them.

Mysterious creatures grumble from a distance. Planning for something.

Months continued to move forward. Friendship became more in-depth, and this closeness became something not so surprising.

Lucy and Pietro are falling in love with each other.

Pietro, using his music crafting skills, secretly composed a song to Lucy called Roads and Hearts but was hesitant to let Lucy hear the song; instead, Pietro hid it thinking that what was happening isn't right.

His heart still clings to Erica's memories, and only she can have his love.

Little did Pietro know that Lucy has already mostly heard the song while he was still composing it. But of course, Lucy didn't realize that it was for her.

...Fangs sharpening, carefully, spying

---

One evening, while Lucy prepares for dinner. A group of Worgs suddenly raided Pietro's house, and within seconds they were gone along with Lucy.

Lucy was kidnapped.

A few minutes after, Pietro arrived at the scene and was surprised by what he saw. His house was a mess, and Lucy isn't anywhere to be found except for the foot tracks that the Worgs accidentally left behind.

It was like a complete re-enactment of what happened to Erica, but this time Pietro, now determined, to never let that memory occur again. Pietro readied himself for combat, got his bow, arrow, and marble, then followed the Worg tracks into the deep forest.

Pietro arrived in a mid-sized cave guarded by sleeping Worgs in the middle of the forest. When suddenly, a long cold scream burst out from the cave.

It was Lucy in pain, confirming that she was in there.

Worgs began to wake up, and without further adieu, the battle commences.

Pietro to the rescue revealed his excellent archery skills and made his way to the heart of the cave.

There was just too much enemy for our young hero; his arrow supply was depleting along with his deteriorating bow.

Pietro was getting exhausted as he gets overwhelmed by the Worgs but finally reached the center of the cave.

Pietro spotted an unconscious Lucy and almost eliminated the whole Worgs.

Just when Pietro thought that it was already over...

The Chief Worg, a 7 ft humanoid wolf, emerges from the dark side of the cave and tries to bargain with Pietro.

"The Bell! For The Girl!" growled the Chief Worg

Even knowing that the Worgs aren't the most trustful creatures that you'll meet in Nesseley, and will probably double-cross him, Pietro tossed the bell to the Chief Worg.

Chief Worg smiled grimly and said, "Fool!" as it was about to kill Lucy.

When suddenly, the blue orb, hiding in Pietro's hand, glows immensely and in a split second. The orb transforms into the unstable ethereal energy of the bow and arrow.

A soft voice similar to Erica's whispers to Pietro telling him to... "shoot."

And in a glimpse, there it was, the Chief Worg now lying on the floor.

The energy of the bow and arrow slowly fades as it goes back to its orb state.

As Pietro rushed onto Lucy's side, untying her...

The Chief Worg, now onto its last breath, spouted some words that might change Pietro's fate forever.

"This is ...only the...... beginning. He sent me...to destroy you... and all SEVEN of you... we're coming..."

Still puzzled by Chief Worg's last words, Pietro got up and carried Lucy out of the cave.

It was an odd night. Because when Pietro looked back the cave was now nowhere to be found as if it never existed.

Lucy wakes up, and Pietro told everything that happened last night. Lucy was shocked but is also thankful that both of them weren't hurt that badly.

---

As the days of searching for clues continue...

One evening after a long day of searching, Pietro sat on a bench near his house where Lucy also sitting, entering a moment.

A short awkward moment fills the scene but was canceled when Pietro surprisingly holds Lucy's hands.

And there it was...

A mutual connection was finally established between the two excited hearts.

They don't care anymore.

Lucy attempted to kiss Pietro. A few more millimeters away from success when Pietro said, "sorry," and then runs away, leaving Lucy alone on the bench. Torpe.

Pietro ran and ran and ran. Our young lad was so confused.

It was no doubt that Pietro is finally falling in love with Lucy, but the memories of Erica still bothers him.

As if his feet were intentionally leading him somewhere, Pietro arrived at the park. He then sat there, confused, and full of questions.

---

The orb started to glow again and so as the fountain, and a ghostly reflection suddenly shows up in front of Pietro.

It's Erica.

Erica smiled at Pietro as she tries to hold Pietro's hand.

Pietro, almost in tears, tries to hold Erica's hand back until it finally hit him.

Pietro has to let Erica go...

Erica told Pietro that it is time to move on and get his life back. She added that she's happy that he met Lucy because... Lucy got back Pietro's smile.

Pietro asked Erica a lot of questions until Pietro was finally enlightened and as the parting almost reaches its end. Pietro tried to hug Erica one last time and was miraculously able to show Erica his love one last time.

Erica hugs back as she slowly fades in the air. Leaving Pietro with these words...

"I will always be here, in your heart..."

.........

Pietro finally goes back home, with great news to tell Lucy.

As he arrives home, Pietro found Lucy smiling and in tears,

Lucy had finally found out how to go back to her time.

Pietro was surprised, sad, and at the same time, happy.

All illustrations are done by Des Lombos.

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