Lord Frozenfang's command echoed through the gathering, his voice carrying a blend of authority and curiosity. "Bring forth the child with noble blood. I wish to see him."
The trafficker wasted no time and moved to retrieve Kenshin, but the young boy, sensing danger, pushed past him and darted away. "Get him! Don't let him escape!" barked the trafficker, his frustration evident.
Reacting swiftly, Lord Frozenfang removed his gloves and pressed his palm against the ground. Frost spread rapidly, forming icy tendrils that ensnared Kenshin's feet, halting his flight.
The trafficker, visibly angry at Kenshin's attempted escape, raised a fist to strike. However, Lord Frozenfang intervened with a stern command, "Hold! Do not harm the merchandise."
Calm restored, Lord Frozenfang turned to Kenshin, his gaze sharp and assessing. "Come with me," he ordered, his tone brooking no disobedience.
Reluctantly, the trafficker grabbed Kenshin, and together they followed Lord Frozenfang into the depths of a nearby forest. The air grew cooler as they approached a clearing dominated by a peculiar stone encircled by a gentle, meandering river.
The ancient stone stood as a silent sentinel in the heart of the forest, its weathered surface hinting at untold mysteries. Lord Frozenfang approached it with purpose, the trafficker and Kenshin trailing behind.
"Touch the stone," Lord Frozenfang instructed Kenshin, his voice a command veiled with curiosity.
Kenshin, though wary, extended a hand toward the stone's surface. As his fingers made contact, a surge of energy rippled through him, mingling with the latent magic within. The stone responded, emitting a soft, ethereal glow that enveloped Kenshin and drew Lord Frozenfang's keen interest.
"Intriguing," murmured Lord Frozenfang, his eyes narrowing as he observed Kenshin's connection with the stone. He noticed the boy's lack of reaction to the magical lights, a detail that added complexity to the unfolding events. It hinted at a deeper mystery surrounding Kenshin's abilities.
Later, as the forest whispered its secrets and the river murmured ancient melodies, Lord Frozenfang summoned an ice spear, his actions swift and deliberate. With a display of brute force, he dashed toward Kenshin, intent on testing the boy's mettle. Kenshin, however, remained unmoved, his senses attuned to the imminent danger but showing no outward signs of fear or panic.
In the fleeting moment before impact, Lord Frozenfang halted his assault, the ice spear dissipating into a chilling breeze that brushed against Kenshin's face. The young boy's calm demeanor under such duress did not escape Lord Frozenfang's keen gaze.
Frowning slightly, Lord Frozenfang turned his attention to the trafficker, his voice edged with anger and disappointment. "He is blind," he stated bluntly, as if the revelation explained everything. "I won't pay extra for a disabled child."
With a decisive gesture, Lord Frozenfang tossed the agreed-upon payment to the trafficker, a finality in his actions that brooked no argument. "Leave my lands," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
The trafficker, his expression a mixture of resentment and compliance, nodded curtly. "As you wish, Lord Frozenfang," he replied through gritted teeth, his eyes promising a future reckoning even as he retreated from the noble's domain.
As the caravan departed, a chill settled over the forest, matching the frosty atmosphere between lord and trafficker. The unspoken tension hung heavy in the air, a harbinger of conflicts yet to come, as Lord Frozenfang's decision reverberated through the intertwined fates of those touched by magic and ambition within his realm.
Later, within the depths of Lord Frozenfang's estate, Kenshin found himself in a large underground chamber—a pit where the other children purchased from the trafficker were kept. Nineteen pairs of eyes, filled with a mixture of fear, hope, and resignation, turned toward Kenshin as he was lowered into their midst.
"I'll be back later," Lord Frozenfang declared with a steely resolve, his gaze sweeping over the captive children as if measuring their potential and worth. The promise hung in the air, laden with unspoken challenges and possibilities, as Kenshin faced a new chapter of trials and revelations in the icy embrace of Frozenfang's domain.