"Wait." A child barely 12, shouted as he made way for himself by pushing others. He was accompanied by a little girl barely 10.
"What is it kid." Morgan asked impatiently.
"Sire, I wish to follow you. I have seen you battling with my own eyes. I want to be as strong as you. Strong enough to protect those I love and never be helpless ever again."
The kid said as he held the hand of a little girl beside him tighter. There was sadness in his eyes. But that was not all. Morgan also saw the same determination he once had, in the kids eyes.
"Kid, you can find many people who are better and stronger than me. Don't dwell on this thing. Just because you haven't seen others doesn't mean they don't exist. You will find many in the capital. Go back to your parents and they will help you find one. Take care kid." As much as Morgan wanted to help the kid, he didn't have time to babysit.
"They are dead. I have no one I could rely on. I have a sister to protect. Take me in and I promise you won't regret. Please.. "
The kid prostrated himself in front of Morgan, with eyes filled with tears.
Morgan stopped in his tracks once again. Seeing the kid, Morgan sighed. He cleared his mind of all the anxious thoughts. He remembered lord Daren once told him, "A calm mind can win you a losing battle." He then relayed his order to his men.
"Spilt in Two. One of the group escort these people to the nearest town or village. And the other group, bring these 2 kids along. I'll be going on ahead."
"Thank you sire, Thank you!!" The kid got up from the ground and bowed again.
"Don't thank me yet. You are just coming along for now. Weather you can stay or not, Lord will decide when he wakes up."
Morgan replied as he dashed towards their base in full speed.
.
.
.
A lone hill surrounded by vast wasteland can be seen. On the hilltop Arius can be seen resting beside the small pond.
Little Nhi, was quite lively today, and was playing in the pond. Moving in and out of the pool from various directions at breathtaking speed, somersaulting at times, rolling at times...
Kage was standing at the farthest corner from the pond. He wasn't exactly relaxed. But we can all guess why.
A little distance away from the hill. A man was running towards the hill at high pace. Cloud of dust could be seen rising behind him.
Arius opened his eyes. "Morgan is here. But wait... Something isn't right."
Arius stood up and shouted to Kage "Call Boaz. Prepare the bed for Lord Daren."
After conveying the instructions to Kage, Arius jumped from the hill and rushed towards Morgan. His speed was faster than anyone here.
He took Daren from Morgan and placed him on his shoulder. He then rushed towards the hill.
He placed Daren on the bed carefully. Boaz came quickly. He checked the condition of Daren but he didn't know what was making making him stay in this condition.
Morgan finally arrived. And Boaz asked "What happened to him?"
"I don't know clearly. But I'll tell you all that I know." Morgan explained everything related to the raid and the incident thereafter.
"You mean he lost his senses and this could last for weeks." Arius asked with a worried look.
Morgan nodded. As they were discussing, Little Nhi rushed back to Daren. She felt something wrong with Daren. Her eyes flashed with excitement and it dived into Daren's body.
" What is this snake doing here? Someone take her away!! What if it harm the Lord!!" Kage shouted with a voice filled with worry and fear.
Nhi then moved through Daren's blood and she opened her mouth. The suction force appeared once again.
"No wait!! Look, Lord Daren's hand moved slightly.
The suction force that Nhi created, started sucking the poison out of Daren's blood. Daren little by little regained his senses.
" Aarghh" Daren moaned a little in pain.
After few seconds his condition started stabilizing. As the pain was gone, he could now think clearly again. His senses were returning back to him.
He used his mental energy to inspect his body. He was surprised to see Nhi in his body sucking poison.
'This little monster can even suck poison away!! What a miraculous creature.' Daren thought.
After more than half an hour, Nhi came out of Daren's blood. She looked quite happy and was jumping around.
Daren opened his eyes and sat straight. He smile seeing Nhi's adorable actions. He patted her little head. The snake smiled and jumped back in Daren's embrace. She coiled around his wrist and fell asleep.
"Lord how are you feeling?"
"Are you ok?"
"Do you want us to fetch a healer?"
Arius Kage and Boaz bombarded Daren with various questions. He just smiled back and told them he is doing fine.
"I just need a little rest. I am fine. So, I presume all your missions are completed right. How did it go?" Daren asked with curiosity.
"Lord, I have arranged for those captive to reach a nearby place. We also looted the camp and that man named Rudolf, as you ordered. The camp has some valuable herbs but nothing out of the ordinary." Morgan was the first to speak.
"Good. Leave the loot of Rudolf in my room. Give the Herbs and resources to Boaz to handle." Said Daren.
"Lord we verified those were men from the kingdom of Light. But they didn't have much information. We only know that there are many groups like them hiding in the kingdom of Astina. And there is a possibility that, some people of high status in Astina are backing them up. " Kage said next.
" Hmm. The situation is worse than we thought. Guess it's time to visit father. " Daren said as he was immersed in thought.
Then he nodded and said. "Well let's drop this topic for now, ..... Ah wait... Didn't you go to the other camp?"
Daren pointed at Kage and asked. He was confused.
" Long story short Lord, The great killer Kage, was afraid of a little snake so he switched place with Arius. Haha..." said Boaz laughingly.
" Afraid of that cute little thing!! Haha...Don't be like that Kage. " Daren chucked as well.
Kage was feeling very embarrassed. But he knew how dangerous that snake was and he can't help but be afraid of her.
"That snake is something we all should fear. If you can't control it, I would suggest you kill it Lord. " Arius said in a serious tone with a polite bow.
Boaz and Daren stopped laughing. They knew Arius wasn't a man who would fear anyone. For him to say so, he must have reasons. They all have a serious expression now.
" Why would you say so Arius?" Daren asked.
"Lord the mission I was tasked with had failed. It didn't go as we planned."
They were all shocked again. For Arius to fail mission, that had never happened before.