An Argyris would always find a loophole, and the Duke was satisfied with that answer. "Do you consider her safe right now?" He questioned, egging the boy on. Pursing his lips into a thin smile, he looked as though he were contemplating it for a second, before smiling again.
"She's not dead, is she?" He retorted, coming closer on his horse. She could barely focus on the two men as they continued passing passive aggressive comments between each other, neither one daring to look away.
The Duke didn't show it, but he was at a stalemate without Isaac knowing. He couldn't kill the child and didn't bother picking up anything he hunted along the way, they were completely useless to him who simply wanted to go for the largest animal and quickly test out how she'd deal with them.
He observed that he had nothing on him, but knew better than that. He still hadn't figured out a way to carry her, especially with her condition, he weren't sure if she could make it any further from the way she panted and struggled to keep her eyes open. Undoubtedly the body would have a solution if he handed her to him, but he wouldn't go down with a fight.
Taking an arrow from his bag, he was ready to jam it straight into his thigh to wake himself up, but dropped it as an insane surge of pain washed over his head, making his spin, only to see his own son's blurry smile and the sound of gunshots, the hunt had ended earlier than expected for evident reasons, the knights would be searching around very soon for anyone who never returned.
It was extremely satisfying for the boy who never expected to be able to do this or see his father's face like this so quickly. This is what he deserved. There was nothing redeemable to the man who forced his mother into a marriage, allowed her to get sick, ignoring all the pain she had to go through due to him.
He wondered if he noticed the mana suppressants. No, rather than suppressing mana itself, it was all thanks to that woman they could get away with it. The main part behind the plan wasn't just Isaac but Nyx. He likely couldn't feel any strong mana users around nor any magic used, Nyx was masking that while still being able to continue to use it, while Isaac left to distract him, he continued to focus on a single target while doing something else.
He didn't tell him to do this, but there's a reason Nyx was his right hand at the end of the day, he chuckled. He must of subjugated the beast by now, he thought as he grabbed Theia, her condition put her to sleep, but she was much better after succumbing, nothing bad would happen once she accepted sleep.
Heading back, he didn't expect to enter plan B so early, but took what he could get. He wanted to force him to retreat, but the royal family were too quick at decisions. He wished he had a drink as he carried her close to him with one arm, holding onto the horse with the other, going as fast as he could go.
His throat was dry just thinking about the outcome. He got away with it, there was no more, that was the end. All he needed was to pick up Nyx and ensure they made it back. The vial would last up to forty eight hours, that was plenty of time. Nyx was sure to play his part well and get bruises, perhaps even his exhaustion from using his magic would make it seem like he fell victim too.
Unexpectedly, he heard rustling behind him, and up came the Duke, chasing after, an arrow shooting towards his horse, his reaction time on point as stirred away, releasing the reigns and jumping with her in his arms, he should of known he wouldn't go down that easy.
The pain wouldn't stop until he went to sleep, that was Nyx's magic. Atleast, a part of it. Jumping over rocks and dodging trees, he knew he had become the prey at the moment for the Duke. He could guess that the Duke figured his strategy and accepted that if he had to, he would drag his son down with him despite the symbolism of game over.
He lacked a horse, but that didn't matter to him. This game was officially continuing until they crossed the gate, or they got caught. Neither of the stubborn two would accept the pain and fall asleep to relieve themselves.
Even if he were made to crawl, he would still force himself back up a hundred times to win. He wouldn't steal from him nor use his magic, and likewise he wouldn't use his magic on him nor steal from him, he just needed to make it to the beast before they're caught.
Slipping slightly, he'd lost apart of his coat to the foliage, knees buckling under him from pain and exhaustion, but he got back up and took a deep breath, jumping across a steam separating him from his victory. As an arrow went flying to him, it grazed his cheek as he decided to catch it, turning midair and kicking it back in the direction it came from, and barely falling at the edge, getting back up and running.
Blood trickled down his cheek and down his shirt, landing onto her her own face, as though she shed a tear of blood, down onto her neck. The animal carcasses he left had a distinct stench as they were moved, teeth marks sunk into them, followed by a deep and loud growl, where feet away from him laid a giant monster.
It wasn't something he didn't expect, but it happened at the worse timing. He didn't need to lead the Duke towards it, but the exact opposite. The size of a single leg was the size of him, and this wouldn't go down with a single arrow no matter if he trained his strength before hand.
Flying past him went another arrow as his mind was distracted, across the stream was the Duke, who had already fired. "Remember, no stealing my prey." He grinned, much to Isaac's fear.
He was too far away to catch it, and he couldn't do anything as the beast growled once more, his little sister in his arms stirring, eyes opening in direction of the animal that may just cost him his very pledge.