Chirp
Chirp
Chirp
Birds singing to welcome the morning are heard in the entire forest. The sun was coming out and bathed the forest in orange light. The morning was starting, the beast that repose during the night began to emerge.
In a particular canyon, a group of people that didn't sleep all night was walking. They searched all night in the nearby surroundings of the canyon but didn't find anything. At the top of a tall boulder, a man was sitting on it. The mas was no other than the leader of bandits.
The man was already getting fretful. They searched all night on most of the precipice where the carriage had fallen. The only place they hadn't scoured was the forest where the mountains were.
Suddenly another man approached him. The man was of average appearance, but his stature was tall. He came to report to the leader.
"Boss..."
"Did you find him?..." Asked the leader.
The average-looking guy was already sweating, bowing his head a little. The man knew how the leader was when furious. "...No!" He said.
"..." The leader.
Not hearing his boss saying a word, he raised his head. When lifting his head, he caught a glimpse of the leader's face. The leader was furious. Sweating all over, the average-looking guy rushes to soothe his boss's anger.
"We couldn't find him, but we find some traces of where he could have gone!!!" He said, sweating all over.
"...Where?" asked the leader.
"To the mountains!!" The average-looking guy immediately said.
When the leader heard that the 3rd young master of the Winter family fled to the mountains, he laughed. He couldn't believe it a young master like him couldn't have escaped to the mountains.
Because from what he has heard, the 3rd son of duke Winter was a complete coward even though he was haughty. The mountains are where most of the beast dwells. If some of those beasts are to be disturbed, then for sure, he couldn't make it alive.
Furthermore, the Artos mountains are where the most dangerous beast dwells. If that young master had gotten in, then he really is mad (crazy). And if it's true then, he could praise that young master for his courage but laugh because of his stupidity.
But thinking about it, now it seems that some of the rumors were true. It is said the 3rd son of duke Winter was crazy. If the 3rd young master really did run to the mountains, in that case, he can only resign. Besides, this precipice was the entry to the Arto mountains.
He gnashes his teeth in anger. It was the first time he had to withdraw. He turns to look at the mountains, then turns around and order to retreat.
...
On the other hand, in the mountains.
Sephia already woke up. He was holding a little cutie in hir arms. The little cutie blinked at him innocently with his big cerulean-like cat eyes. And though his pupils were like the cats' the cutie was actually a little tiger. No, to be precise, was a white tiger's cub.
Flashback.
<-<-<-
Large eyelashes fluttered like a fan, a steady breath, and long hair scattered over his body. Sephia felt something soft rub on his cheek. Slowly opening his eyes, the radiating sunlight fell on his long white eyelashes that for a moment blinded his eyes.
He got up to see what was that soft thing touching and rubbed his cheek. When his sight returned, what greeted his eyes, was a pair of Cerulean-like cat eyes. His movements froze because those eyes looked so pure and clear like the clear sky when there are no clouds on the morning after dawn has passed.
It took just seconds for Sephia to react when he reacted, he stood up abruptly, and the little thing fell on the ground. After standing up, he could see what creature was that awoke him.
He was stunned the instant he saw the creature because the creature was a little cutie. It looked like a white tiger's cub with blue lines with specks of silver on his white fur. Most of its fur was white.
When Sephia sees the little cutie in the cave, he stands on guard. Recollecting last night's events, he clearly remembers that there was no beast around here. If the cub is here, then that must mean that the mother must be close.
He lifts his head to inspect the cave, his vermillion eyes shining with the sun that came from the hole above the cave from where he had fallen.
After inspecting the space of the cave where he was, he couldn't find anything. Lowing his head to scan the grass for some beast's traces, he didn't see any traces of beasts coming. The grass was intact, with no traces of beasts entering the cave. He shifted his gaze toward the little cub and saw that the little cutie was returning the look.
He then noticed something on the little guy's head; Something on his forehead was slightly shining. He bends down to look what it was. Reaching his hand to touch the little cutie's forehead, he moves a little of the fur to the side. He was surprised when he saw what it was. There was a gemstone stuck to his forehead.
The gem was like flowers over a snowflake.
It was beautiful but also astonishing. The flower was one of the symbols of the Winter family. The 'Blue Glory of the Snow' (also called 'Blue Giant Glory of the Snow' because it has two sizes -small and big-) is part of the emblem of the Winter family, his family (the original owner's family but now his).
Although, the emblem of the Winter family differs a little from how the one on the little guy's head.
While in thought, he retrieves his hand, but then he perceives something holding his ankle, awakening him from his trance. Lowering his gaze, he sees the little guy hugging his legs.
From that moment, the little guy follows him.
->->->
End of flashback.
Sephia was exploring the caves. He already had breakfast with the little cutie and was now trying to find an exit.
The place where he rested before was just a small part of the entire cave as he was right now, exploring the tunnel to find an exit from the underground.
The little cutie in his arms was blinking his eyes while on his arms.
He wanted to leave the little guy near the pond, but the little guy kept following him. He saw that it was impossible to leave the little guy alone, so he decided to take the little cub with him.
Furthermore, he had a little idea about how the little guy appeared here.
Probably the little guy was his ancient beast.
While walking, he glanced at the little guy. 'If I remember correctly, every member of the Winter family awaken their ancient beast at the age of 10. Perhaps when I crossed, the original must have been in a state of awaking his powers but must not have survived because of the awakening, and when that must have allowed me to take over his body..." He thought.
It is the power the original Sephia awoke when on the verge of death, and i-it must have passed to me when I inhabited the body...' He sighs, 'and it must have been the reason why the little guy manifested.'
With these thoughts in mind, he looked at the little guy.
Although his face was expressionless, his eyes flashed a slight trace of concern before it disappeared. He observes the little guy; he remembers the little guy was a male when he checked, so he thought it was needed to give him a name.
The little guy in his arms noticed Sephia's glare and turned his furry head to face him. Seeing the little guy turn his face to him, Sephia softened his eyes.
Looking into the little cutie's clear blue eyes and jewel on the little guy's head, he just had one word in mind, 'sky.'
Two pairs of eyes looked at each other, vermillion eyes stared at the pairs of cerulean-like cat eyes, and cerulean-like cat eyes glanced at vermilion eyes. The little guy tilted his head, confused as to why Sephia was looking at him.
Noticing how the little guy tilted his head, Sephia raised his hand and caressed the little guy's head with soft touches.
"Well, since you'll be with me from today onwards, your name will be Cielo." If he remembers correctly, 'sky' in a foreign language of his world is traduced as 'Cielo.'
While caressing his head Sephia continued to explore the cave's tunnels to find an exit.
Little did he know about what was happening outside with his disappearance.
...
In the meanwhile, in Duke Winter's territory.
Clink clink clink.
Heavy footsteps can be heard in the hall, footsteps of someone running with urgency. The sound of footsteps is sound like metal.
With a sudden halt, the person's footsteps in the hall stopped its steps. In front was a double wooden door with the design of a flower.
It was the door to the study of the duke.
The person knocks at the door.
"come in."
A voice from inside came giving consent to enter.
With the consent to enter, the person outside opened the right side of the double door.
A magnificent room appeared in front. Bookshelves with countless books were on the right and left sides of the walls (right and left of the double doors). The room is big & the bookshelves are not too near the double door, just 9-10 feet away from the door. At the center of the room are two couches and between them is a table.
Then there is a big floor-to-ceiling window, in front of the window is a big office wood table in which there are countless papers, the entire room looks like taken out from a painting.
In the study, a man is sitting on a chair. The man is looking at the outside of the room, at the garden from the window.
He has navy-blue hair and pale skin color. Thin and red lips, straight nose, but what captured a person's soul is his indifferent phoenix-shaped eyes with silver color as the moon but cold as the snow.
And because of his handsome face and fit body, it could be said he can make many women fall for him.
And even though he is already in his mid-fifties, he looks like a person in his mid-twenties.
It was one of the characteristics of this man, no, to be precise, of their blood "to never age."
He was the duke, Lord Caelan Evertime Winter, of the Winter territory.
The man who entered the office was a messenger of the family.
The messenger was nervous, but his fright was worse than his nervousness. The news that he came to inform could make the man sitting angry, and he knew how the man was when angry. Even if the lord was always cold and indifferent, he was always warm to his family.
Just as he was hesitating to pass the message, he heard Lord Caelan's voice.
"What happened?"
The voice was cold and indifferent, but at the same time, magnetic as if it was the voice of a young man.
"...L-l-lord... there is urgent news..." The messenger said while stuttering, he was sweating all over. He was afraid of what the lord would do after listening to the news he came to inform. As he hesitated to speak, he heard the duke's voice once again.
"Speak."
This time the voice became colder, and as if afraid of being punished, the messenger spoke.
"I-i-its t-the young master...."
"Which?"
"The third young master, young master Sephia." The messenger started to speak fast.
"What happened this time? What has he caused ag..."
Just as he was about to finish the sentence, he remembered that Sephia went to Cratos under his orders to reflect on his actions. Then he became much colder than before. Lord Caelan stood up. He turns around and walks over to the couch.
"... What happened? speak." Said, after sitting on the couch.
When the lord orders to speak, the man starts to tremble in fright. He kneeled and begged for forgiveness.
"I beg your pardon if we had intercepted the message much faster; Please forgive me..." Just as he was speaking, the door opened & a new figure appeared.
The person who opened and entered the room had navy blue hair, just as Lord Caelan Winter. This man also has cold and indifferent silver eyes.
He was Henry Evertime Winter, the 1st son & heir of the duke.
His appearance is similar to his father & their temperament also, is almost identical. But the 1st son is much more patient than the father. They both look like twins even though they're father and son. Their appearance is almost similar if not for their stature. No one would doubt if they say they're twins. The father is 1.90, while the son is 1.83 in height.
And just like his father, he is also handsome and has a strong body.
The messenger can now breathe a sigh of relief. Now that the 1st young master is here. At least now, he wouldn't die on the spot.
Just as Henry entered, he saw the messenger kneeling on the floor. Then he turns to his father to greet him, "Father."
When Caelan sees his son greet him, he does the same. After greeting each other, Caelan returns his attention to the kneeling man.
"Continue." Said Caelan with a cold voice.
The kneeling man was afraid, but not as much as before continued speaking.
"The message just arrived this morning. The message said that the carriage where the 3rd young master was, was found in a pr-precipice..." The man spoke very fast, afraid to delay the message, and when the man said the last word, he stuttered.
After he spoke, the whole room was silent. The man on the floor was afraid of raising his head and seeing Lord Caelan's expression, but because his head was down, it was also the reason why he couldn't see the change in the face of father and son.
more
When Lord Caelan and his son Henry heard that the carriage was on a precipice, they were shocked but more worried.
Their cold and indifferent expression cracked.
Lord Caelan, for the first time, was afraid, afraid that something must have happened to his son. The more afraid he was, the colder and bitter his expression became. Just as he was about to speak, he heard his son's voice.
"And Sephia, what happened to him?" asked Henry, and even though his voice sounded cold and calm, Lord Caelan could hear a hint of worry. Lor Caelan can notice Henry's voice shaking.
The messenger who heard that cold voice was trembling, but even so, he spoke, although stuttering.
"T-t-the 3rd young master disappeared."
As soon as these words were said silence befalls. Then the voice of Lord Caelan is heard.
"How and when did this happen?" He asked. The voice was cold & the terrifying oppression of the aura the lord was emitting made the messenger who was kneeling on the ground tremble in fright.
Now, it was not just the oppression of the aura the lord was emitting, but also, the lord was now manifesting his power because of anger. The study's temperature was lowering and becoming cold.
The kneeled man's complexion was becoming pale because of the cold. The man was about to be turned into an ice sculpture. Just when he thought he was dead, Henry's voice resounded.
"Calm down father, if you continue, he would die & we wouldn't know what happened to Sephia."
When Henry spoke these words, Lord Caelan instantly calmed, and the whole office warmed once again. The kneeled man sighs slightly in relief. But then, he once again heard Henry's cold voice.
"Speak, tell everything in detail, from beginning to end."
"Yes." Said the man.
Then he starts telling everything. When he finished telling what happened, it was almost noon.
.....
"So, tell me, how on earth did you receive the message so late?" Ask Henry, his voice cold and with a murderous intent that he tries to suppress.
"I-i-its..." The man stuttered.
"Say it," Henry said.
"It's just that all the knights guarding young master Sephia are dead, no one survived, and the messenger who brought the message was almost in bed's death when coming here." says the messenger.
When Lord Caelan heard that the knights and including the messenger, are now dead, "That is impossible, how can my knights be death." Said the lord, his voice cold.
Lord Caelan couldn't believe it, and Henry, who was at his side, also couldn't believe it.
The knight trained by the Winter family are difficult to deal with & only one power can contend with their family aside from the royal family.
The only power capable of contending with them is the 'Etrian Dukedom.'