Near sunset, the Silverblood family was in disarray because the little lord of the family, the youngest child, hadn't returned yet from his journey. Valerius is preparing a search party that will have as its leader the captain of the guards, Tudor.
Seraphina instructed the maids what and how to prepare all the necessary things for the search expedition, and now she retreated to one of the chambers of the mansion to pray at the Goddees Nyaris for the safety of her youngest son.
Orion and Lyra were on the training grounds, looking for an activity to vent their worries and anger. They know that they don't have the power to do anything now. And because of that, they feel useless.
Taking a break from their spar, he comes with two glasses of water in his hands. He gives one to Lyra and takes a seat next to her, both leaning against one of the walls of the training ground.
"Do you think that little bastard is fine?" asks Orion. His wicked words are betrayed by his trembling voice and his worried eyes.
Lyra, who knows very well that her older brother shouldn't be fooled by his words, responds. "Well, if I make a beat, he is probably fine, just taking his time. Or maybe he is out there in the woods. Maybe he is a good cook and made some great meat with mom's condiments."
"Yes, you're right, sister. That little rascal is making us worry for nothing. He is probably fine. If I had to pick any 5-year-old to do his mission, he would have the best chances of survival. I just hoped that I could be there for him."
"Me too. But we all had our trials to do alone; they made us who we are. He may have one of us, if not the hardest one, at his age, but he will manage. He is Cain, the one chosen worthy by a legendary weapon and by Victoria Corvus. They for sure saw something in him that we didn't."
If they just knew that now even a spirit of an ancient magic forest deemed him worthy, they would be in a sock.
"Hey, Orion, do you think he will leave again? I mean, now he is Lady Victoria's apprentice. She will not stay here just to train him. She is a general in the Tepes Empire; she has her duties."
"I don't know Lyra. I hoped as an elder brother I could watch him grow and help and guide him when he needed it, but as I watch him more and more, I feel like he no longer needs me or us; he has somehow made his path. Like yesterday, he was the baby with red eyes that was being born in our family. Our little brother that we needed to take care of... and now he is out there fighting who knows what beasts and making a name for himself." Orion says it with a strong, emotional, and trembling voice. The strong and brave warrior from the battlefield, who has already gone through several trials, is nowhere to be seen.
And Lyra, with a little more stable voice but still very emotional because of her brother's words that, even if she doesn't want to show it, she feels the same, responds
"I know Orion; I guess we should follow his example. He was always this hot-blooded child who wanted to fight everyone, even if he lost. Oh, and he enjoyed to fight and to fight and to fight. In a way like you and like me, but I am not so expressive with it. But he was having something a little different than us. When he fought, he was enjoying it like you, but he was also cold-blooded, precise, and unforgivable. Like he was another person. His body was moving when you had an opening. His instincts were perfect, even impressing someone like Dad, who had seen a lot of geniuses in his life. I know it is a little strange to say, but we two know that we are geniuses, there is no doubt. But he is over that. I pity the one who dares to antagonize him when he becomes more powerful."
"You're right, sister. He is like a killing machine, one that Dad used to tell stories about that the gnomes from the other continents used to construct as their defenders. And I guess that is time for us to find our masters and to grow stronger so Cain doesn't leave us behind. And the next time he will need his brother and sister, so we could help him." As he gets up and gets his two-handed axe in his hands, he tells his sister, "Get up, sister, let's have another spar. I promise that I will not hold back, so you better don't either."
"Haha, even if you don't hold back, you will still kiss the ground, older brother." Lysara gets up and takes her shortsword and dagger in her hands, as a true assassin."
If Orion was the big warrior with a big double-handed axe that would hunt monsters out in the wild, Lysara was the agile and deadly assassin who would be as fast as lightning and would assassinate dangerous targets.
That didn't mean that she could fight head-on. She trained all her life with her big barbarian brother so she could manage herself. The same is true for Orion; even if he is bigger and a more direct combatant, that doesn't mean that he can't assassinate if necessary. These are the children of the main silverblood family. Deadly both as warriors and assassins. And, of course, they can also awaken powerful magic. How did Lyra awaken the lighting affinity power and Orion the earth affinity power? Both of them are awakened humans. Both of them awakened at the age of 6. Lyra still does not control her powers very well because she awakened just nine months ago.
***
On the court of the mansion, the preparation for the expedition is almost over. With 11 rank 3 guards, who are the adept level, led by the captain guard Tudor, a rank 4 warrior of elite level will leave in an hour toward the Shadows Forest to look for the young lord with blood-red eyes, or in the worst-case scenario, at least find the remaining of him. The toughness made everyone here turn black because all of them loved the little brave warrior who always asked them for a fight.
Valerius was giving Tudor the last necessary information and directions about the find-and-rescue mission, but he didn't know that the little rascal was just half an hour away from reaching the estate.
As the search party gathered in the fading light of the Silverblood estate, the grandeur of the family's ancestral home was a sight to behold. The estate, sprawling over vast acres of lush land, was a testament to the family's long and storied history.
The main mansion stood at the heart of the estate, its architecture a perfect blend of strength and elegance. Built from dark stone, the structure loomed large against the twilight sky, its tall spires and ornate gargoyles casting long shadows over the manicured lawns. The large arched windows, lined with intricate ironwork, glowed warmly, a beacon of light amidst the encroaching dusk.
The gardens surrounding the mansion were meticulously maintained—a maze of hedges and flowering shrubs that led to various statues and fountains. The paths, lined with cobblestones, wound through the gardens, each turn revealing a new, carefully crafted vista. In the distance, a small, serene lake reflected the last rays of the sun, bordered by weeping willows that swayed gently in the evening breeze.
Central to the estate's identity was the imposing Silverblood coat of arms, proudly displayed above the main entrance of the mansion. The emblem was both striking and foreboding: a burgundy collored spear set against a pitch-black background, with droplets of blood artfully descending from its tip. This powerful symbol encapsulated the family's legacy—one of strength, resilience, and a hint of ruthless efficiency.
The coat of arms was replicated throughout the estate, from the wrought iron gates at the entrance to the embroidered banners that hung in the grand hall. It served as a constant reminder of the family's heritage and the weight of the name they carried.
As the search party readied their horses and supplies, the estate seemed to hold its collective breath. The servants moved quietly, a sense of solemnity in their steps as they assisted in the preparations. The usual evening chatter was replaced by hushed tones and anxious glances, each person acutely aware of the gravity of the young lord's disappearance.
In the dimming light, the Silverblood estate, usually a symbol of power and security, felt like a fortress bracing for an unknown threat. The shadows cast by the setting sun stretched across the grounds, merging with the darkness that was slowly enveloping the mansion and its gardens, adding a sense of urgency to the impending search.
As the last light of day gave way to the velvet of night, the estate, with its imposing architecture and hauntingly beautiful gardens, stood as a silent witness to the unfolding drama. The Silverblood coat of arms, with its dark spear and trickling blood, seemed to watch over the scene, a sentinel to the family's unyielding spirit and the uncertain journey that lay ahead.