[THIRD-PARTY POV]
"If you are so worried about him, why don't you go after him," Grant said dismissively while Cassius growled out in warning. There was no point in being rude to each other since they were on the same team.
Gideon considered landing a punch on Grant, but he looked at Delbert and thought otherwise. Maybe he had taken a liking to the warrior and wanted to look good in his eyes, or maybe, he just wanted to prove that he was a good person.
So he ignored Grant and turned to his high priestess, ready to utter the words that no mother would ever want to hear from their children.
"Okay, I'll go with him," Gideon said and Criselda shook her head at him, not agreeing with his choice.
"No, son. I refuse. I don't have the strength to mourn a child. Don't do this to me. How do we even know you will come back? You didn't have to go there, let the warriors go, Gideon," Criselda pleaded and the leaders just watched with sad eyes.
They knew there was nothing they could say to Gideon to make him stay put, and they also knew he wouldn't listen to them. Even Zelina was quiet. The fierce warrior who didn't think with her emotions was quiet and that couldn't have been more surprising.
They all could see she didn't want Gideon to go, but then there was an adamance in Gideon's eyes that told them that he had made up his mind. Nothing Criselda would do, was going to make him stay. However, they didn't want to tell that to the high priestess, because she was hurting.
"I'll be back, mother, I promise. I will be back. I'm your son, remember?" Gideon said as he kissed Criselda on the cheeks. He knew this was probably him being cruel, but he needed to do this. It was almost like he wanted to confirm something.
No one knew what was going on in his mind, not even Delbert who had followed him outside with the lizard. It was safe to say that Gideon was a strange kid, but no matter how storage he was, Criselda would always love him.
"You know I never lie, I will come back mother," Gideon said as he walked out of their hideout even before Griselda could say another word.
As Criselda silently cried, the men looked at Zelina as if she had some powers that could help Criselda. There was something about Zelina that screamed comfort, not that the males would even try telling her that.
The woman hadn't even realized it yet, but she was the only other female here, who could reach out to Criselda without the whole situation feeling awkward and pressed. They would survive the night, that was their only hope.
Maybe they would come out while smiling, or maybe they would be mourning again.
"Okay fine, jeez," Zelina said as she pulled Criselda into a warm hug. she understood Criselda, even though she didn't want to t show it.
This pain was something she was familiar with and being a fighter like herself, it wasn't surprising to know that she hid all her pain behind the masks she wore. No one would ever question that anyway.
So she hugged the woman, consoled her as they waited for time to pass and most importantly, for the children to randomly pass. children they would have to use for this experiment. An experiment so dangerous, but one they were so sure would be worth it in the end.
"There, finally some kids get to pass by," King Eddy said, relief filling his voice. They had been waiting here for hours since Ulrike and Gideon left, and none of them had seen any kids. They just hoped that this trap would work, otherwise they were all doomed.
If the beast ever found out that they were using children as bait, he would finish them without a second thought. After all, he wasn't the beast of the midlands for no reason.
"Shut your trap Eddison," Criselda said irritatedly. she didn't want to hear a word for the king.
"What crawled into your ass, woman," King Eddy asked and that was all it took for Criselda to want a fight with the king.
Sure, they had never been at war, so there was a high chance that her trying to attack king Eddy was because of the frustration she was feeling now that her son was out there with the beast and the hound. Two creatures that could tear him apart without a second thought.
Maybe they were overthinking this.
"Y'know what, I'm out of here. Call me when you catch the damned beast," king Eddy said as he walked out of their hideout and headed towards the gates of Acrod, however, unknown to his fellow leaders, he had made a sudden turn and never made it to the gates.
No one had seen him, because everyone was busy watching the kids. It was the dark of the night, so no one was ever really going to worry about him. After all, he hadn't become the king of Udrad by being afraid, right?
The children who had passed the leaders were humans. They had no scent of the supernatural realm, save for the fact that they were just walking in it like it was their home. They were the most vulnerable creatures here tonight.
"I told you the midlands are safe. We will be home soon," one of the kids said.
"This is a world of different creatures. I wonder why we had to go this far just for some stupid pearls" the second kid whined.
They had come from their lands and over to the lake in the midlands. There had been rumors about pearls being in the lake, and no one had believed them, because why would there even e pearls there, right?
However, their parents needed to know for themselves, and sure, there were no pearls, because it was midnight and the kids were walking back home.
"Haven't you guys heard the story of the beast of the midlands? He will surely tear us apart" the kid said, insisting that they should find someplace to lay their heads for the night.
They may have been humans, but they were intelligent, unlike the common myth that the humans were always weak all over.
"Shhh, did you guys hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"Aaaaahhhh," the kids suddenly screamed when Ulrike dumped in front of them. He was a fully developed hound and in his truest form when he scared the kids. He looked like he wanted to eat them, especially with the growls.