Izrun swallowed hard as he looked at Long, imagining the worst possible scenarios in his mind. He could only see blood, the smell disgusted him.
Holding his head in his hands, he despaired, trying to stop thinking about these things. The creature looked at him again, what a delicious smell, fear, frustration, despair.
The only thing standing in the way of having a decent meal was...
Tired of playing, It advanced hard towards Long, who got scared, running even faster as he dodged its attacks.
– Izrun! Please!
Izrun looked at him, sniffling and wiping his tears. Standing up, he swallowed hard. Looking around he realized that there was nothing that could help him in this place, and even if there was, what was he going to do?
The noise of the creature crawling through the rubble and its attacks towards Long disturbed his concentration, Izrun couldn't feel its power.
Long dodged another one of the creature's attacks, dodging it and making it disorientate.
He looked at Izrun, trying to think of something to help him. The creature didn't waste much time this time, seeing him standing still, it didn't hesitate to attack him.
Long didn't think it would get up so quickly, noting the attack too late. Long was hit, flying a few meters he rolled in the rubble.
Izrun got scared, going down and running as fast as he could toward Long, who was a little disoriented by the blow. The creature was also heading towards him, one of them would arrive first, and whichever it was, the expected for both was bad. Even if Izrun got there first, what would he do?
As he ran, Izrun alternated his gaze between Long and the creature, thinking of a way to stop it. The only thing he had were his powers, but he couldn't trust that enough.
His father would be disappointed… but…
Right now, it wasn't his father he should be thinking about, but Long.
Izrun clenched his fists, the creature would reach Long before him.
With a flick of his right hand, he managed to throw a small ice crystal toward the creature. It didn't look bigger than a needle, but somehow, the creature freaked out at the tiny thing coming towards it.
Unlike what Izrun saw, the creature didn't just see this small needle coming towards him, but the distortion it caused as it cut through the air to hit it.
It was frighteningly giant the unseen distortion lines that followed it.
The creature sank into shadow before being hit, the needle passed and hit the wall behind it, disappearing completely.
It didn't melt or shatter, it simply went through the stone wall, its piercing force was so great that it continued for a long time piercing the rock in front of it until it disappeared due to the slowdown.
That was enough time for Izrun to catch up with Long.
Trying to help him up.
The creature stepped out of the shadows again, glancing irritably at the tiny hole the needle had made in the rock, trying to figure out how far that thing had reached during the puncture.
Without all the pressure that the cave caused, and all the resistance that the stone offered, with that projectile, Izrun could hit anything within a radius of tens of kilometers. In an open field, Izrun could end a battle just by aiming this thing at the enemy leader.
No one could understand what had happened.
The creature seemed to have turned its gaze toward the boys – I want this… give it to me!
Its tearful voice, cutting and high-pitched, could cause distress and anguish in anyone who heard it.
Izrun just had time to stare as she approached. In a stroke of desperation, he caused the entire cave to freeze over, and darkness took over, the top of the cave was pushed back, and the tremor his magic caused brought tremors throughout the surroundings.
☙✨❧ ☾☙✨❧☾☙✨❧☾☙✨❧☾☙✨❧☾☙✨❧☾☙✨❧☾☙✨❧☾☙✨❧☾☙✨❧☾☙✨❧
In the palace, several jars were broken on the floor, Rairin, whenever he received a negative response from his soldiers, would break something within reach – Haven't they found him yet?!
– Your Majesty, we are doing everything possible to find him...
Rairin, with eyes full of blood, grabbed the man and lifted him up, muttering – If they were, my son would be here already.
Jiaohui entered the throne room, tired of these situations. Long had never done this, and now, twice in a row in less than a solstice – Did you find anything?
Rairin released the soldier, avoiding Jiaohui's concerned gaze.
Bavellis bowed – I'm sorry my queen, but we haven't found him yet. We have already warned the cardinal and collateral leaders, your majesty disappearing in this way is very strange…
– Long can't have run away, he wouldn't do that – Jiaohui exclaimed even more worried.
Bavellis frowned – My opinion is the same, my king, we have been receiving reports of kidnappings in the south and in some coastal towns to the west for some years now.
Rairin looked at him indignantly – Are you saying that Long might have been kidnapped?
Bavellis nodded – It is a hypothesis, your majesty.
Jiaohui clenched her fists upon hearing the general's speech – If it were… wouldn't there be a ransom demand?
– There should be, but if this is the correct hypothesis, it may also be that the kidnappers do not know the origin of the little prince.
Rairin remained silent, thoughtful.
An uproar suddenly erupted at the entrance to the hall, and dozens of guards were suddenly knocked to the ground. Bavellis quickly drew his sword.
Jiaohui looked at the beautiful woman with blonde hair who entered the hall – Alba?
Rairin frowned even more – What does that mean? Alba, you are not allowed to enter this palace.
Upon getting close enough, Alba knelt down, surprising all those who were present in the hall – My king, I ask you to forget my sentence for today, I come to bring serious news and ask for your help.
Rairin looked at her in astonishment, his cousin had never treated him like this, she had never respected his authority, for that sudden attitude, surely the matter was serious.
Jiaohui approached her, making her get up – You don't need all that my friend, what happened?
Alba looked at her a little desperately, holding her in both arms – Izrun disappeared.
Jiaohui looked at her in a daze, Rairin froze upon hearing her, looking at Bavellis.
The general nodded.
– It was strange that he didn't attend classes, but I… – Alba stopped, she couldn't say that she hadn't seen him for a while because she was traveling, she couldn't even travel. Izrun has been taking classes with Aruna this whole time, and she even told Aruna that if he doesn't show up for classes she shouldn't worry because the boy could study on his own in his room.
It happened when she came back from her trip and went to talk to Aruna.
Jiaohui looked at her with a complicated expression.
– When? When did he disappear?
Alba swallowed – It's been a few days.
Rairin got up furious – And you just now notify me?! What kind of master are you?
Alba lowered her head, it was her fault, she should have seen it sooner, and should have warned him.
– The two must be together, at least we don't have to worry too much now that we know that the prince has someone who can protect him… right Miss Ocannanes?
Protect him? Finally noticing the situation and the heavy atmosphere that was in the hall, Alba realized, the prince had also disappeared... Relieved, she sighed. They were together.
Alba looked at Bavellis, nodding a little hesitantly, even if Izrun didn't know how to control his powers well, at least he still had them, unlike the prince.
Rairin raised his hand to massage his temples – I'll deal with you later Alba, first, before you invaded the palace, we were talking about the possibility of a kidnapping.
Alba pursed her lips.
Rairin raised his eyebrows – Do you know something about this?
Alba took a deep breath – A few decades ago, we noticed suspicious movements near the limits of Silverleak, in a more detailed investigation, we found bags and ropes left in the forest. We saw this as an attempt at theft or robbery, kidnapping our students was also one of the possibilities we thought of, for this reason, we increased the number of guards and invested more in security...
– So it's not just the south and west…
Alba interrupted him suddenly – These are the places with the most reports because they are closer to where the agreements and purchases of slaves are made.
Rairin was shocked – Purchase of… slaves? How do you know all of this?
Alba snorted – Rairin, you should go to the streets from time to time, even if it's not the streets, you can always tell, there are people talking about it everywhere, or you're inattentive or ignorant.
Bavellis held his sword – Watch your tongue Ocannanes, remember, you are the last of your line.
– Your threats are of no use to me General, the Ocannanes family has always been on the side of the Soleil family, they are families born from the same ancestor, I have full right to give my opinion within these salons.
Bavellis raised an eyebrow – You forfeited that right when you betrayed your own blood.
Alba glared at him dead.
Jiaohui sighed, bringing her hand to Alba's eyes, closing her field of vision – My king, we must investigate this, I am relieved that Long is not alone, but they are still too weak to defend themselves.
Rairin nodded, getting down from his throne and walking towards the door, stopping suddenly – Let's go south… is there anything else you know? Alba.
Alba looked at him for a moment, he couldn't see her face, she looked away guiltily – No, your majesty.