Chapter 463: When the Hero Hesitates

Eleanor slipped the note Luke had left with the waiter into her purse. She would find a way to mess with him later. Maybe when she and the others went to his place, she’d casually bring up the story of James, that bastard. The thought made her laugh for a moment.

Better not. That story was far too valuable to waste so easily.

As she turned toward the elevator, she spotted someone who made her stop short. A woman stood there wearing a dress, but at her waist hung a sword in its sheath. Eleanor moved closer at once. The woman was staring at the descending elevator with an uneasy expression.

“Serena? What are you doing here?” Eleanor asked.

It was Serena, the hero. One of America’s stars, one of the very few people in the world who possessed the Hero class. Eleanor had only seen her a handful of times in her life. Serena was always buried in meetings and had close ties to Eleanor’s father. At just twenty-two, she was already considered one of the most promising individuals on the planet.

Serena’s hand was clenched tight.

“E-Eleanor? Sorry, I didn’t see you,” Serena said, rubbing the side of her head.

“You? With a headache?” Eleanor stared at her in disbelief.

“Yeah… something felt off the moment I walked into the restaurant,” Serena replied. Her hand dropped instinctively to the hilt of her sword, pulling it just enough to expose the blade.

A golden glow flared along the steel.

“Is something wrong?” Eleanor asked, her tone sharpening as she noticed Serena’s expression shift.

Serena released the hilt, letting the blade slide fully back into the sheath.

“It’s gone now,” she said quietly. “Strange. My sword only reacts like that when I’m near… a great evil.”

***

Two days after meeting Eleanor, Luke had returned to Maine. Today was his departure. His family was doing their best to cope with the fact that he was heading to the New World, each in their own way. His sister, more than anyone else, was struggling with it.

When Luke stepped into the kitchen, Noah was seated at the table with a laptop open in front of him. He’d barely slept the past few days, obsessively researching everything he could find online. Luke had even given him access to the restricted network available only to system-integrated users, just to ease his mind.

“You’re really going?” Clara asked when she saw him.

“I’ll be gone for a while, Mom. But I promise I’ll come back to visit.”

“There’s nothing I can do to change your mind?” she asked, her voice tight.

“Let him go, dear,” Martin said, appearing behind Luke. “Even though I don’t want this either… the truth is, we can’t stop him. If this is what he needs to find out what happened to his mother, we don’t have the right to stand in his way. I don’t want… to make that mistake again.”

Clara fell silent, her hands twisting together nervously. “B-but maybe…”

“I promise I’ll come back to see you,” Luke said gently. “But I need to do this. It’s not just about the truth about my mother. It’s about helping someone important to me… actually, two people. And it’s about myself, too. About my future.”

Noah placed a hand on Luke’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of them. Do what you have to do. Just remember, we’ll always be here for you.”

***

Luke went upstairs and knocked softly on a bedroom door.

“Lillian, can I come in?”

Silence answered him. He knocked again and called her name.

After waiting a moment, he decided to go in, opening the door slowly. Lillian’s room was pink and white. Her old crib was still there, tucked into a corner, along with her single bed.

Luke closed the door gently and turned on the bedside lamp. Not that he needed the light to see.

He walked over and found his sister lying on the bed. Sitting down beside her, he watched her for a moment.

“I’m going on that trip, Lillian,” he said quietly.

She lay on her side, her back to him.

“I know you’re awake,” he added.

She didn’t respond, eyes still closed.

“Alright. If you fell asleep, then… I guess I’ll just go.”

Luke stood and headed toward the door.

“W-wait…”

Her voice filled the room. He turned back and sat beside her again.

“So you were awake,” he said, poking her lightly.

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“Yeah…” she murmured.

She had been spending a lot of time in her room lately.

“I’m going on the trip, but I’ll bring back some souvenirs,” he told her.

“Why do you have to leave, brother?” she asked.

“You’re smart. You already know why,” he replied.

She sat up and wrapped her arms around him. “But I like it better when you’re here. At home.”

“And I promise I’ll come back to stay home,” he said softly. “Just not yet.”

Her hug tightened.

Luke glanced around the room and noticed several dolls hanging upside down by strings tied around their legs.

“That’s… kind of a weird decoration,” he said. “Didn’t you used to sit them all around your tea table?”

“Franky said it’s cooler this way,” she replied. “He said it makes my lair scarier.”

Luke sighed. What has that snake been telling my sister?

“Franky is a magical beast. He thinks weird things are cool. Don’t listen to him. Besides, he’s basically a kid like you, except he’s never been to school, so he’s kind of dumb,” Luke said.

She squeezed him again. “Luke, I know you’re kinda weak. Stay home. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Luke looked her in the eyes and gently flicked her nose. “This isn’t goodbye. I promise I’ll come back. And I’ll bring some really cool gifts with me.”