Chapter 6 : Beast in the forest
It was dark. Because of the lack of light, Arthur couldn't see who that person was. But his lips was visible.
It was small dry heart shaped lips.
Suddenly Arthur noticed he started talking to someone. But there was no one.
"The target is in front of me." said the mysterious man with his hand on his right ear. As if he was talking through that.
"Who are you talking to?" asked Arthur.
The mysterious man lifted his right arm to his face and lifted his pointing finger to his lips. As if he was telling Arthur to stay quiet.
"Sush."
Chills started to run down Arthur's spine. He held his chest with both of his hands and started to breath heavily. It's if a 10 ton object was on top of him. His eyes became grey because of the fear. Sweats started to drip down his forehead. Even with all the panicking he was able to control his breath.
"Who.. Who are you?" asked Arthur in a shake tone.
"You don't need to know that." replied the mysterious man.
"What do you want?" asked Arthur.
"I just want you. Come with me."
"Do you really think catching me is that easy?" said Arthur as he jumped the mysterious man with his newly gifted steel sword from Shiro.
"Oh you stupid child." sighed the mysterious man.
Arthur ran towards him with all his might, jumped high in the air and slashed down his sword.
"Did I get him?" Asked Arthur to himself.
Arthur looked past his sword and saw the mysterious man still standing there. He blocked Arthur's slash by gripping his sword.
Arthur tried his best to force his sword down. But it was as if the mysterious man was a rock wall. Arthur couldn't break free of his grip.
Suddenly the mysterious man put force on Arthur's newly acquired steel sword. The sword shattered to pieces.
As Arthur saw his new sword break into pieces, he muttered to himself, "No... Way..."
The mysterious man grabbed Arthur by his collar and pulled him closer and punching Arthur's intestine.
"Augh!" Screamed Arthur as saliva spitted out of his mouth.
Arthur got knocked out as soon as he was hit. His eyes became lifeless as he lost consciousness.
The mysterious man picked Arthur's unconscious body on his shoulder and he started to walk away.
Time passed. Morning came. Shiro woke up from his sleep. He looked around and saw Eris' father sleeping with a bow. Her mother went to another room.
Shiro looked around here and there. He wasn't able to find Arthur. Shiro stood up. He went outside the room to find Arthur. He searched here and there but couldn't find him. Sweats started to run through his cheeks.
Shiro went outside the house. He found Eris knocked out on the bench in front of the door. He ran towards Eris. He also saw shattered pieces of steel on the ground.
"Eris!" shouted Shiro as he was shaking the unconsious Eris.
"Mmh." moaned Eris.
Eris slowly opened her eyes and saw a blurry Shiro with a worried face.
"Wher.. Where am I?" mumbled Eris.
"You are outside of your house. What happened? Why were you unconsious?"
"A man... A man."
"A man?"
"He kidnapped Arthur!"
"What!" shouted Shiro.
Eris explained the situation how a mysterious man kidnapped Arthur and how she got knocked.
Time passed. All of the ministers of the kingdom were in a meeting with the king. All of them sat on the round table and was discussing about how to save Arthur.
"Lord king. What shall we do? The kidnappers of Lord Arthur wants a huge sum of gold which we are not capable of giving." said the minister of finance.
"So are you saying we should abandon Lord Arthur?" said Shiro while shooting daggers at the minister of finance with his eyes.
"Gulp..." the minister of finance swallowed his own saliva as he saw Shiro angry.
"My my, Lord Ken. Lets not fight here. We should focus on how to get back Lord Arthur." said the chief of security.
"..." Shiro said nothing and sat there.
"Does anyone have any ideas where Lord Arthur may be taken to?" Said the strategist.
"..."
The room was in silence. The king was speechless and he sat on the chair with his hands glued together on the table. A dark shade was placed upon his face clearly showing his disappointment.
As everyone was silent. Someone raised their arm. It was Shiro.
Everyone looked at Shiro.
"Do you know where Lord Arthur may be kidnapped to?" Said the strategist.
"It is just a hunch. But may I have a map of the capital?" Said Shiro.
A map of the capital was brought and spread on the table.
Everyone gathered around Shiro.
Shiro pointed towards the forest beside the east gate.
"One day I was walking through this forest. I suddenly ran into a small hut in the middle of the forest. It was abandoned. That place is where they most likely took Lord Arthur to." said Shiro.
"Are you sure about that?" said the strategist.
"It's just a hunch."
"Alright. But who will go there?" asked the strategist while looking at everyone.
"I will alone go there. It's my duty to protect Lord Arthur. I will not mess up anymore." said Shiro.
"Are you sure you won't mess up this time?" suddenly said the king.
Everyone looked at the king and looked back at Shiro.
"Yes. I'm sure." nodded Shiro.
"So be it. You are in charge of saving Arthur. Meeting over." told the king as he stood up.
Everyone stood up from their chairs and bowed down to the king.
Shiro went outside of the castle and he got on top of his chestnut colored horse. As he started to ride down the streets. A familiar face blocked him.
It was Eris. She was standing in the middle of the road with her arms spread out trying to block Shiro.
Shiro pulled his horse's leash and stopped.
The horse groaned.
"Eris. What are you doing? said Shiro.
"Take me with you too." said Eris with a frown on her face.
"No. It's dangerous there."
"I don't care. I'm also responsible for Arthur's kidnapping."
"Hah." sighed Shiro.
Shiro smirked and said, "I guess there is no stopping you then."
"Heh." smirked Eris.
Eris got on Shiro's horse and sat behind him.
"Hold tight."
Shiro flapped the leash on the horse and the horse groaned as it stood on it's hind legs. Eris grabbed Shiro by his weist.
The horse started to run in the direction of the east gate.
Somewhere in the east forest. A small hut. Arthur was kept captive in there. He was tied to a chair with his hands behind his back and a blindfold and a tape on his eyes and mouth.
"Mmph. Mmph." tried to talk Arthur but it was in vein.
"Hey open the tape. Let him take a breather. We don't want him to die on us." said an unknown voice.
Arthur looked at where the voice came from. Suddenly a hand grabbed him by his throat.
"Guh." panted Arthur as someone opened the tape from his mouth.
"Who are you guys! What do you want?" asked Arthur as he looked here and there to find someone in the darkness.
"Don't worry about us, 2nd prince. We just are some people who loves money."
"So you guys are merchants?"
"That's right." said the mysterious man.
Arthur was quite.
"So you guys were also the people behind who summoned that spider that day?" asked Arthur.
"Pretty smart for a kid of your age. No wonder you are a threat to this kingdom." said the unknown person.
As Arthur heard the answer of the unknown person, a smile formed on his face.
Noticing the smile the unknown person asked, "Why are you smiling?"
In reply Arthur said, "Because how weak the spider was."
"So what?"
"Since the summoned creature was so weak. I had a feeling the summoner would also be weak." said Arthur.
Hearing Arthur, the unknown person became furious. His veins were visible as blood started to run fast through his temple veins.
"You son of a bi*ch" cursed the unknown man.
As he cursed Arthur, he brought his left arm to the back. And swinged it toward's Arthur's face.
*Bam*
He punched Arthur on his face. As Arthur was punched, his face became red and swollen. Blood started to come out of Arthur's nose.
"Ugh" Screamed Arthur in pain."
As Arthur was screaming, "Stop it!" a mysterious voice came from the darkness on the corner of the room.
As the unknown man heard the mysterious voice, he started sweating. Soon he got on all fours and vomitted. Not only the unknown kidnapper but Arthur also sweated but he did not vomit.
"Mana implanted voice?" said Arthur to himself.
"I-I am sorry...! Please sto- stop!" begged the unknown kidnapper.
Arthur looked over to where the voice came from. He heard footsteps coming closer where he is from the dark. As the footsteps got louder, a man in all black with a dark brown cloth over him appeared out of the darkness. The man had a pale face with a sharp jawline, sharp green eyes and black hairs which came up to his lips covering his right eye. He had a muscular body. His height was like 6 ft 4.
The mysterious man came closer to Arthur and he bent down to face Arthur.
He grabbed Arthur by his jaw and lifted Arthur's face.
"How unexpected of you to resist my mana implanted voice." said the mysterious man.
Arthur frowned as he was sweating.
"Haha. Somehow I found a beast in this forest." said Arthur.
To be Continued....