Back inside the barrier, the five 5-year-olds ran as fast as they could to get to where Nova was.
"How much further?" Noam asked with bated breath.
"We should be there soon," Zane replied, after he managed to catch his breath.
"Hide!"
Eric suddenly pulled them aside to stop running and hide behind a large pillar near them.
The five of them caught their breath and tried to breathe calmly. They all looked exhausted after running so many times.
Eric tried to peek out from behind the pillar, "There's someone.''
They all tried to see what Eric saw. They almost jumped back when they saw the broad back of someone who looked quite tall from where they were. Fortunately, this time the person was standing with his back to them.
Noam frowned in confusion, "He's not the two intruders we met earlier."
Hana swallowed wearily, "Don't tell me he's the third intruder? The one who screamed angrily?"
Immediately, they remembered the loud scream and subconsciously, their bodies shivered with fear. Just from the sound, they could tell that the owner of the voice was an angry and violent person.
Zane looked seriously at the person's back, "The situation has become more complicated.''
Rose's eyes narrowed as she focused her gaze. She tried to get the other four's attention, "You guys, try to pay more attention. There's someone lying in front of the big guy."
They immediately did as Rose said. There was someone in a maid's outfit lying motionless. Hana almost screamed hysterically when she recognized who it was.
"It's Nova!" She squealed in a low voice in disbelief. She covered her mouth with her hand so that he wouldn't hear her voice.
Eric clicked his tongue, "She looks really bad."
Noam grimaced in pity at Nova's condition that didn't look too good, "What are we going to do?"
Zane interrupted his friends as he noticed something strange, "Wait a minute, where are those two intruders?"
"Oh! What have I got here?"
A voice from behind them made them jump back as far as they could. Unfortunately, their shock caused them to unknowingly come out of hiding.
The person who spoke was Hans, who laughed amusedly at the five small children, "Some sneaky rat.''
Noam snarled angrily, "You!"
Hans raised an eyebrow with a frivolous smile, "You are very brave to choose to go back instead of hiding."
"Your Highness!"
The call made the five of them focus on the source of the voice. Nova, who they originally thought was unconscious, was still conscious and trying to get up to approach them.
Now they could see her condition clearly. She had many cuts all over her body. Her temple was bleeding so much that it hit Nova's left eye, which she was forced to close. One cheek looked swollen and the corner of her lip appeared to be torn to the point of bleeding.
Seeing Nova's condition made Hana jump, "Nova!" She almost ran over to Nova if her brother hadn't held her hand to stop her.
The tall man, who turned out to be Herris, looked at them with disinterest.
"Who are they?"
Hans shrugged indifferently, "Our side targets."
Noam glanced at his friends, "Side?"
Eric snarled angrily, "Because their main targets are Arion and the others."
He could say that because the intruders came to the babies first instead of approaching them. Although it was possible that the reason was that they were also being watched by many servants and knights. And the babies were easier targets because they couldn't defend themselves.
Herris snorted lightly, "Just a bunch of kids."
A grin suddenly appeared on his lips as he stepped on Nova's head to keep her still, "Shall I crush this old woman in front of them?"
"Stop it!" Hana shouted angrily, not accepting that Nova was being treated like that.
Herris grinned broadly. A wide grin filled with cruelty as his eyes gleefully gazed at Nova's helpless body, "Anyone who dares to anger me, I will make them suffer before I cruelly kill them."
Noam clucked his tongue in annoyance, "He's crazy and a psychopath."
"They all are," Rose replied coldly.
Nova gritted her teeth as she tried to speak while Herris kicked her head, "Your Highness! Get out of here!"
She could say nothing more as Herris kicked her head until she was thrown to the side.
Herris muttered angrily, "Shut up! I never said you could speak!"
Hana snarled angrily, "Stop hurting her!"
Hans snorted, "Just finish your business with her. I'll take care of these kids."
He approached the five with a broad smile. He hummed and drew his sword, which glowed menacingly. Unconsciously, the five slowly backed away.
"What now? We have no weapons." Zane whispered to his friends without taking his eyes off their enemy. The sword looked like it could split their small bodies into pieces. He shuddered at the thought.
Hana glanced somewhere far behind them for a moment before she said seriously, "We need to lure these two away from Nova first."
Noam shook his head slowly, "It's not going to be easy for the big guy. He seems to have a real grudge against Nova."
Hana didn't answer him as she turned to Eric, "Brother."
Eric paused and stopped stepping back. Now his eyes were on Herris and not on Hans who approached them, "Hey big guy."
The call managed to get Herris' attention as Hans stopped walking and looked at him both confused and curious as to what his next plan was.
Eric gave him a flat look, "Are you sure you don't want to finish us off first?"
Herris snorted lightly, "I can finish you after this old woman is dead."
Eric tilted his head. His golden eyes flashed dangerously, "Are you sure? Your friend will do it before you. I'm pretty sure he won't leave any remains for you to finish off."
A mocking grin appeared on Eric's lips, "Is that not how all the praise will be directed at him? Someone who takes out a king's descendant is more praiseworthy than someone who takes out a servant."
Rose fell silent as Hana holding back a smile. Noam stifled a laugh as Zane sighed. How could they forget that Eric could provoke someone with his sharp mouth? Especially with that mocking look on his face.
As they thought, Herris, provoked by Eric's words, immediately gave him a sharp look, "Are you underestimating me, boy?"
Hans snorted at the sight of Herris being so easily provoked, "Calm down, Herris. The boy was just trying to bait you."
Herris snarled angrily as he started to walk towards Hans and left Nova, "Shut up! Or do you want to take all the credit? I won't let you!"
Hans sighed, "Fool."
Herris clenched his hands tightly as his gaze fell on Eric's figure staring back at him fearlessly, "I'll finish you first before I go back to take care of the old woman."
As Herris and Hans stood side by side, Noam walked up very quickly and threw something in their eyes. His movement was not expected by the two, so they were slow to react.
Noam grinned proudly as he ran away, following his friends who had left first, "Taste my chili powder, crazy people!"
Don't know where Noam got the chili powder and why he kept it. One thing is for sure, he was grateful to have it with him.
"Argh! My eye!" Hans cried out in pain as he held his face, which was starting to turn red.
"Damn you brat! I'm going to destroy you!" Herris' angry scream echoed around the area again, making the five small children almost jump in fear.
They tried to ignore her as they concentrated on running away. Hopefully Nova would understand their efforts and try to get away from the two intruders while they were busy with their pain.
"Over there!" Hana pointed to the wall, bringing up a lightning symbol that confused the three.
Ignoring the confusion of his three friends, Eric immediately approached the symbol as he began to smear some of his blood on it.
Suddenly, the symbol glowed, revealing a hole in the wall that seemed to contain something as Eric began to take something inside.
"What is it?" Zane asked, finally unable to contain his curiosity.
But his question was immediately answered as Eric pulled out several weapons and immediately handed them to his friends.
Noam blinked in confusion, "Weapons?"
Hana nodded, "Hidden weapons. Only accessible to members of the Gewitter royal family and the soldiers trusted by Daddy and Uncle Reiga."
Eric, Noam and Zane held swords. Hana and Rose held bows with arrows.
"Here you are!"
The call put them on alert. The hole in the wall disappeared as soon as all the weapons were taken.
Herris stomped over, his eyes and face red from the chili powder Noam had thrown, "I hope you're ready to be dismembered.''
Hans behind him was no less furious. His condition was not much different from Herris'. In fact, they both forced themselves to keep their eyes open, even though it was very painful.
As the five small children prepared their weapons, a clapping sound from behind Hans and Herris made them pause, but they did not let their guard down.
A chuckling voice echoed in the area, "You better stop rebelling, kids."
Herris, realizing who the voice belonged to, immediately shouted angrily, "Dean! Get out of the way!"
There was a humming voice, "Take it easy, I have no intention of getting in your way."
Dean slowly approached, followed by someone controlling the orbs. The contents of the lightning ball made the five children freeze in shock.
"No way..." Rose whispered in horror. Hana's body shook as Eric gritted his teeth in anger. Noam growled angrily as Zane gripped his hand tightly.
Dean smiled broadly, "I was just trying to make the atmosphere more festive."
Hana couldn't help but scream hysterically.
"Arion!"