"Any ideas, Miko?" Roan repeated his question again.
This time, the words found my lips.
Horrible words.
"No."
Roan just nodded, as if expecting that answer. "And you, Farvakhin?"
I turned to see Farv, fresh out of the shower and into his night clothes.
The sight almost made me cry. He was preparing to rest for the night after a hard day of work. Even putting his best foot forward wasn't enough here. You never knew when things would suddenly change for the worse. Just 30 minutes ago he was returning home after a day with Aruna. And now he would learn that she was missing.
Farv was understandably confused. "Uh, what? I promise I didn't do anything today!"
Roan nodded. "I know. I've been keeping a watch over you all. You were hard at work, and you returned from your training. The princess didn't."
The miserable realization dawned on Farv's face. "She- where is she then?! Where's Aruna!!!"
Roan closed his eyes. I was sorry I ever doubted him. He showed more emotion these last few minutes of interrogation than he had for the weeks I've known him.
"I'll find out."
"Wha- what does that mean Roan!? You'll find out?! Where the hell is Aruna!"
Farv was pacing around the room nearly tearing his hair out.
Roan walked over to Farv and placed his hand on Farv's shoulder, forcing him to stop.
"I mean I swear I'll find her. If I need your help to bring her back, I'll let you know. Otherwise, you won't have anything to worry about. The princess will be found and the people who captured her will be crushed."
His promise made, Roan left us alone to ourselves.
I knew Roan would probably be more fit for such a reconnaissance mission, but I wouldn't sit idly by while Aruna was in danger. Even if it was as Roan said, that she could handle herself. She was strong.
But I'm strong too, and I have to protect her.
"Farv, where did you last see her?"
"This one field to the left of town. I forget its name." He said as he went to our room.
"The Thysa field. Ok. You stay here."
In just seconds he had changed into streetwear, his intentions were beyond apparent.
"No, Miko. I'm coming."
"The people are going to be too dangerous for you!"
"Then you're going to protect me. I got Aruna-
"No, you didn't," I interjected, knowing where he was going. Aruna's disappearance wasn't his fault.
Still, he hung his head down as tears flowed down his face, dancing on the floor. "Even if you think I didn't, I did. So I'm coming."
Raising his head, his tears already dried and fixed with conviction, he pushed past me and opened the door.
"Whether you like it or not."
...
We searched through the city for hours and yet didn't find a single lead. Somehow, not a single soul in the entire city had seen Aruna. She had a distinctly beautiful look, so I knew that if someone had seen her they would know just by her description.
That means whoever took her left no traces behind at all...
Who could do something like that?
"Let's go, Miko. There's gotta be someone out there who knows something."
Farv pressed forward, not waiting for any reply. Somehow, he was even more determined than me. Ever since we started he hasn't taken a single second of a break. Not that I have either, but it's as if he was a machine.
Usually, at this time of day, he'd be lying in bed complaining about how sore he was.
Without hesitation I followed him, feeling no fatigue as we prepared to search all night.
"Do you think that girl would help?"
Girl?
"What do you mean Farv?"
"The science lady. The weird one that's always pestering me to help her experiments."
"Nola. I don't know."
"Let's try."
Ever since Farv's arrival, Nola has been nagging both of us to help with her experiments. And when we declined, her dismay often turned almost hostile. A few times she threatened to exile us from the city, but couldn't think of any charges that would stick.
I don't know why she wouldn't understand our hesitancy to do any of that science stuff after the whole Necropic ordeal. Even if Farv didn't remember much of the details of his experiment, he remembers the aftermath. And of course, he would never want to risk that mistake happening again.
"The girl has gone missing?" Nola said nonchalantly, clearly paying more attention to her stupid plants. I could punch her right now.
"Yes, Aruna. Do you have any idea who could've taken her?"
Nola set one of her plants down, satisfied with her useless work. Raising her head to look at Farv, she said, "No, not necessarily. I don't have any concrete ideas."
"But you have a hunch," I said, feeling my anger rise.
"Maybe." She said with a shrug.
I marched forward, feeling a murderous intent overtake my will. Farv reached his arm out, stopping me. Raising my arm to move him aside, I saw a look of fear in his eyes. A fear that pushed my anger away.
I was being stupid and irrational. Getting angry wouldn't lead to answers. More than that, I was going to be violent to someone far weaker than me. If I wanted to, I could kill her in a second.
Like a demon.
Paying no mind to my short outburst, Nola simply smiled as she looked over some of her other plants.
"I have reason to suspect a certain group. I'll give you their location for free. However, Farvakhin, I would like you to reconsider your current position on joining my team. We could certainly use someone with your skills."
...
It didn't take long to arrive at the place specified by Nola. A small establishment in the southwest of the city, this building was apparently a hideout for this new upstart group. Dubbing themselves as Purists, Nola said that they claim to fight against her regime, against her desire to find a way to better humanity. According to her, they just used that claim to act as terrorists.
If they were fighting for the first thing, to end Nola's regime, I couldn't care less what they did. I just want Aruna back and safe.
But if what Nola said was true, that they're terrorists.
There would be no reason to feel guilt even after I killed every last one of them.
As Farv knocked on the door, I readied my blade, preparing for the worst.
"Who is this?"
A girl?
Well, Aruna is a girl. That wouldn't make either of them any less dangerous.
Moving forward, I motioned Farv out of the way. Leaning against the door, I said "I'm Miko, the guy who inherited the system. I've been told that you have Aruna. Uh, the princess. Short, blonde, blue eyes, feisty. If you do, I'd like her back. If you're hiding her, I'm going to kill all of you."
I backed up as I heard a few locks click, with murmuring voices interjecting between each lock. My senses picked up 3 people in deep conversation, even as they prepared to let us in.
Their voices were filled with fear.
Hearing the last lock click, I raised my sword as they swung the door open.
My murderous resolve faltered as I looked at the group. 2 young girls, no older than 16, and an even younger boy. He was maybe 12.
There's no way they kidnapped Aruna.
The boy stepped in front of the girls, paying close attention to my sword. Even through his fear, he was ready to face me.
Unequip.
His eyes wide with a youngster's curiosity, he said "How did you do that!"
He's just a kid...
Looking over to Farv, I could see he was just as perplexed as me. Neither of us really understood how to handle this situation.
Looking back to the kids, I said "You guys didn't take Aruna, did you?"
The boy, over his curiosity, protectively threw his arms as if to block any attacks toward the girls. His face showed a forced look of calmness. His body's nervous shaking betrayed his true feelings.
"Sir, Papa says we is to respect you. You is threatening to harm us though. Mama said you are a great warrior, someone destined to protect all of us. You is threatening to kill my sisters though."
Fear filling her eyes, one of his older sisters meekly chimed up, "Is Aruna alright? We promise we didn't do anything to her! Promise!"
The other one slowly piped up as well, "We would never hurt her, promise! We saw her during the festival, in her beautiful white dress! We would never hurt her! We would never hurt the one who inspires us!"
Realizing my grave mistake, I felt my knees buckle under the weight of my cruelty and despair.
I was going to kill these kids... based on some words from Nola.
What kind of woman is she... to send me to these kids!
"Hey, what did I tell you 3 about opening the door to strangers!"
I looked up to see the kids had run behind a much older man. I assumed he was their father.
One of the girls said, "He's not a stranger, papa! He's the Savior!"
He took one big look at me, assessing the amount of danger I presented.
"Oh. Come on in then."