Gosh…I'm so sorry that I took so long! I was doing tons of school work while I was gone. I hope this will make up for my prolonged absence. Enjoy!

*-Some Day In Seran-*

Chapter 3

by: Tormented Soul

It was dark at first. Everything was black until gray distorted figures started appearing in a swirl one by one. Then, they started to hear a voice. They blinked once, twice, and then they saw lights over their heads and a girl with a worried face.

"Hey! Hey there are you guys okay? What happened?! How'd you guys end up lying on the pavement?"

Orin and Adrian groaned in pain as their backs started to ache and respond to the fall. Orin rubbed the back of his head where he felt a large bump. He winced at the very touch of his fingers. Adrian luckily landed on their bags that contained their clothes but got his chrome rimmed glasses broken in the process.

"Do you guys need a hand?" the voice said. Orin looked up to see a girl with brown shoulder-length hair and green eyes with her hand outstretched to help him up. He reluctantly held her hand and pulled himself up. "Thanks for helping me up." Orin said, pulling Adrian to his feet. "No problem!" the girl said in return with a smile. "So where are you guys headed?" she asked the two strangers. "Who? Us? We're trying to find this place called Scarlet Apartment on Corinthian Street. Do you know where we can find it?" Orin asked her while rubbing his bump painfully. "I didn't know being inside human bodies would be this painful…" he thought to himself. "Well you don't need to look any further! You're already here!"

They both looked up at a sign over a deep green door that said: Scarlet Apartment. "Oh! So this is the place…" Adrian exclaimed in surprise. "I forgot that Nero said he'd teleport−oof!" Orin had shoved his elbow into Adrian's stomach almost making him keel over. "What was that?" the girl asked. "Oh nothing! My friend here was just going to babble about some nonsense. Isn't that right, Adrian?" the brunette asked his companion giving him a look that said: "you almost blew our cover!"

"Oh I see…why don't we go inside? You two look like you need to take a rest." The brown haired girl said in a half giggle. "Wait…does that mean you live here?" Adrian asked her while he tried to ease the pain in his gut. "Yeah! I live here with my aunt and uncle who own this apartment. Come on in!" She led them into the red brick building and to the counter. She went behind the counter and into an open door calling: "Aunt Sheri, Uncle Rob! There are some guys I want you to meet!"

A few minutes later, a couple in their 40's came. The woman had chocolate brown hair tied up in a bun and the man had black hair with streaks of gray here and there. "Well now! What fine looking young men! Where did you two come from?" the woman asked as she wiped her hands clean with her apron. "Um…we came from a place that's −" but before either of them could answer, a familiar voice spoke to them. "Psst! Don't tell them where you really come from! They might feel suspicious about you two. Make something up and don't let any important information just leak out! Levian might be close by. Don't let anyone sense that both of you are Syndrake Guardians. Don't let anyone find out what you really are…" and with that, the voice disappeared. Orin and Adrian looked at each other while Adrian used his mind powers to talk to Orin. "That was Nero! He's right. We'd better be careful…"

"Um…is something wrong?" the girl asked. "Huh? Oh! Sorry…we're just a bit tired from the trip here. As we were saying, we came from the far north of this city to study." Orin said. "Oh dear you must be very tired then. But I'm afraid all the rooms are being renovated and we can't possibly let young men like you to sleep in a room filled with dust and plywood." The man said. "They can sleep in my room. I'd be happy to share my room with them…that is if it's all right with you two." She said looking at Orin and Adrian. "Really? You'd let us stay?" Orin asked her. "Of course!" she exclaimed happily. "Thank you so much ma'am, sir! We don't know how we could thank you enough." The blonde figure said. "Oh please call us auntie and uncle! You don't need to be so polite." Auntie Sheri said in a kind and chirpy voice. "Well, you'd better show them where your room is. They need their rest."

They walked up the wooden staircase to the top floor. On their way up, they saw some bedroom doors open and some planks of wood and dust on the floor. "I'm so sorry that the place looks so messy." The girl said. "We don't mind it at all!" Orin said politely. "Oh you're too kind. By the way, I didn't get your name yet." She said as they reached the top floor. "My name's Orin. And of course you already know Adrian." He said pointing over to his friend. "So what's your name?" the brunette asked. "My name's Fern Gates. But you can just call me Fern!" she said as she opened the door leaving the two dumbfounded. "Sh-she's the girl we've sworn to protect!? Do you think this was foretold? I mean, do the Iranite Guardians have something to do with the renovating of this building?" Adrian voiced in his companions head. "Hmm…it's most likely that this is the work of the Iranite Guardians, Adrian. But either way it makes no difference. As long as we are able to carry out our duty, that's what matters." He replied. "What are you two standing there for? Are you afraid to go inside a girl's room?" a voice called from inside. "Uh−sorry! We're coming!"

They entered a simple turquoise room with a bed adorned with white bed sheets beside the window. There were white curtains and a moss green throw rug where not too far from it was a dark forest green bed-couch. "I hope this room is alright." Fern said as she came out from the bathroom dressed in her blue pajamas. "Oh it's fine! Thanks again for letting us stay here." Orin said scratching the back of his head. "Oh no trouble at all. By the way, you mentioned that you were here to study. So which school are you two entering?" Fern asked extending the couches seats turning it into a bed. Just before Orin had enough time to answer, Nero spoke again. "Hey! Just so you'd know, we've already enrolled you two to a certain school called Salem High. It's the same school where the girl studies." Just when his voice vanished, Fern was already done setting up the bed with Adrian's help. "Uh…we'll be studying in Salem High." The russet haired figure answered. "Salem High? That's where I study! I guess you're lucky to have met me. I can show you around campus! I hope we'll have a great −" suddenly before she could finish, she fell to her side landing into Orin's arms. "What happened to her!?" he exclaimed in surprise, looking up at Adrian. "I had to put her to sleep, Orin. We have to contact Nero and the other Iranite Guardians to find out more about our mission. Don't worry. She'll be alright." He said taking out his broken glasses putting a hand over it. There was a white light in his palm for a second or two. When he removed it, his glasses were good as new. The flaxen haired youth walked into the bathroom and started looking for a mirror. "Hey! I found a mirror! I'll start contacting the Iranite Guardians." He called out.

In the other room, Orin carried Fern to her bed and put the blankets over her. He sat by her side and brushed away the stray strands of hair from her face. "I swear that I will protect her from Levian. I will stop him from bringing havoc to this world."

Ack! I'm so sorry if this chapter is short! I've been having writer's block lately…my bad. (^ ^;)