บท 1: So The Journey Begins

[Just a quick spoiler - Archer is nerfed power-wise due to reasons that a certain goddess explains further in]

[London, England, United Kingdom]

A seventeen-year-old boy walked along the sidewalk on a cold Friday evening toward a nearby restaurant. His name was Archer, but he preferred to be called Arch. Despite the cold weather, he was thrilled to be out and about because his childhood friend Alexa had agreed to date him.

Excitedly, he had forgotten about his earlier training session that day. His instructor had been teaching him how to wield a Greek kopis to build strength and prepare for upcoming demonstrations they were scheduled to participate in.

The streets were bustling with people heading to various parties, adding to the lively atmosphere of the night. Archer heard his phone ring, so he pulled it out of his pocket and answered it. "Hello?"

Alexa's cheerful voice echoed through the speaker. ''Arch, where are you? I'm already here.''

''I'm on my way, but I couldn't find a bus or cab, so I had to walk,'' he replied.

''Oh, okay then. No rush; I'm already here. See you soon,'' Alexa said before hanging up.

Archer slipped his phone back into his pocket and continued walking. Suddenly, a notification beeped, and he took out his phone to check it. It was a message from his mother, Micha. [Be careful when you're out]

He chuckled at his mother's anxious nature and replied. [Okay, Mum, I'll be fine. I'll talk to you soon]

He put the phone back into his jacket pocket, but he wasn't paying attention and bumped into someone. A sudden shriek pierced through the air, ''Oh my god, watch where you're walking, idiot!'' Archer's heart raced as he turned to face the source of the voice.

''Sorry I didn't see you there,'' he stammered, trying to move past the girl. But a burly man, who looked like a gorilla, stepped before him. Archer looked up and rolled his eyes. ''What do you want? I already apologized to her,'' he said.

The man didn't budge but spoke in a cocky voice. ''You walked into my girl, mate. You better keep your eyes open when walking down the road on a Friday night.''

Archer couldn't believe what he was hearing. ''It was an accident. Why are you complaining?'' he retorted, hoping to reason with the man.

The man scowled at Archer's words and became hostile. ''Hey, kid, be careful who you talk to with that mouth of yours. It could get you into trouble one day,'' the man warned.

He nodded, not wanting to waste any more time arguing with the man, ''Sure thing,'' he said, trying to walk away and go around the gorilla man and his lady gorilla, but the man moved in his way.

However, Archer quickly sidestepped the man and continued walking, ''Boy, I'm talking to you! Where do you think you're going?!'' the gorilla shouted, clearly angry.

Archer turned around as he heard the shouting and flipped the gorilla man the bird. ''Yeah, well, fuck you!'' he retorted before finally walking away.

After a ten-minute walk, he finally arrived at the restaurant where he was supposed to meet Alexa. He stepped inside and scanned the room. It didn't take long to spot her sitting at a back corner table, patiently waiting for him.

As he approached, he couldn't help but admire her beauty. Her hair was a stunning shade of navy blue, cut short as she always had it. But it was her eyes that caught his attention. They were a striking shade of green that changed color whenever the light hit them.

Alexa was still stunningly gorgeous. He had adored her since the day they first met years ago. Archer approached the table. She greeted him with a smile and waved him over, ''Get over here, Arch! I'm starving and ready to order.''

He took a seat and looked at the menu while they chatted. After a while, the waiter arrived to take their orders, and their meals soon arrived. As they ate, they continued their conversation.

''How's your history class going?'' she inquired.

''It's going pretty well. We're learning about the basics of the Kopis short sword to understand the Greeks better and do well in our recreations. I think my teacher enjoys role-playing too much, though,'' Archer laughed.

Alexa giggled in response. ''Only you would end up stuck in a class like that!''

He grinned and shook his head, replying, ''I'm not stuck. I enjoy learning about history. And the best part is, I've also learned how to wield a short sword.''

They both chuckled as they finished their meal and paid for it before they got ready to leave. Archer noticed the restaurant was surprisingly quiet for a Friday night when it is usually bustling with drunk patrons and couples.

As they left, they thanked the waiter and other staff. When they got outside, Alexa took his hand as they started walking down the street, unaware of a young man following them. They strolled alongside the river, admiring the boats sailing down it as the lights from the nearby building reflected in the water.

Archer saw many couples holding hands as they walked along the waterfront, and that's when he heard her speak, ''So, Arch, did you mean what you said earlier? That you like me and want to explore a relationship with me?''

He felt his nerves kick in at her question, but he answered honestly nonetheless. ''I like you a lot, Alexa.''

Archer smiled before continuing. ''I'm so happy you agreed to come out with me.''

Hearing his words, a radiant smile lit up her face, and she responded warmly, ''I feel the same way. Let's not rush anything and discover where our journey takes us.''

He nodded eagerly, ''No rush!''

Suddenly, Alexa leaned in and kissed his cheek, leaving him stunned. He started blushing. ''What was that for?'' he asked, still touching his cheek.

She giggled mischievously. ''I just wanted you to stop talking so fast.''

Once Archer realized how he was acting, he burst out laughing. ''Okay, fair enough. I was just excited.''

They both laughed as they continued walking along the river. The temperature dropped, and Archer decided to take Alexa home. Little did they know, they were still being followed by someone they did not want to see or hear from.

They had grown up together and had always been close, but this winter night would change everything. That someone despised their budding love and was determined to destroy it. As they walked hand in hand, the man watching them got closer.

Suddenly, Archer had a premonition and quickly turned around to see a young man pulling out a knife and getting ready to stab Alexa with a look of madness on his face. Without hesitation, he pushed her out of harm's way as the man rushed forward and lunged at her, taking the knife deep into his chest.

''Arghh,'' he felt a searing pain ripple throughout his chest.

The night reverberated with the chilling sound of the blade tearing into his flesh, eliciting a cry of agony from Archer. His gaze lifted to identify the assailant responsible for the stabbing.

''Noah,'' he gasped, bending forward as the boy jumped onto him, relentlessly driving the blade deeper.

Alexa shrieked with horror as she witnessed Noah stabbing him wildly with an evil grin on his face while chanting, ''Only mine, only mine, only mine.''

He struggled to fight against the attack, but Alexa sprang into action. She refused to stand by and watch as her new boyfriend was being stabbed by her obsessed stalker. She launched at Noah and began kicking him in the face, trying to interrupt his attack.

In her relentless effort to shield Archer, she heard Noah's unsettling murmurs, ''Only mine, only mine, only mine.''

Summoning all her strength, she successfully wrestled Noah away, but the toll on Archer became increasingly apparent. His gaze dimmed, and his body weakened, the loss of blood taking a severe toll.

Alexa knew that time was running out, and she desperately hoped help would arrive soon. ''Stay with me, Arch! I'm calling an ambulance!'' she exclaimed, her hands trembling as she pulled out her phone and dialed 999.

Within a minute, sirens could be heard as police cars screeched to a halt on the small street. Two police officers jumped out of the vehicle, one heading towards Noah to detain him while the other began administering first aid to try and save him.

''Troy, get on the radio and tell the ambulance to hurry! We're losing him!'' he shouted in desperation.

As the police worked to stop the bleeding, Alexa was pushed aside until an ambulance arrived. Two paramedics jumped out and quickly put him on a stretcher, rushing him into the ambulance.

The officer took Alexa to the hospital, where they asked for his relative's details. She provided his mother's number, and they called her to inform her of what had happened. The air was filled with the piercing, anguished screams of a woman facing the imminent loss of her child.

Archer's father took the phone and said they would rush to the hospital without delay. The car departed, chasing after the ambulance as other officers secured Noah. Sirens wailed as they sped down the road, the police car closely following the ambulance as it raced toward the hospital.