On their journey back to the wooden cabin in the mountains, Elion and Verion walked behind their mother, letting her lead the way while they whispered and discussed the situation among themselves.
No one was willing to give up on permanently silencing Kaelan. However, they knew they would need a solid plan and had to act without Elara finding out.
They spent the entire walk hashing out their plan and, eventually reaching an agreement, decided to wait for the right moment.
As they approached the forest near their home, Verion spoke up. "Mother, I'd like to stay and train here for a while. You go on ahead; I'll catch up later."
It wasn't unusual for Verion to train in the forest, so Elara didn't suspect anything. "Alright," she said with a smile, then turned to Elion. "And you, Elion?"
"I'll stay with Verion for a bit, Mom."
Technically, Elion wasn't lying—he did plan to stay with Verion. Just not for the reason she assumed.
"Okay, then. I'll head home and cook for you two. Make sure you're back before dark."
The brothers nodded, and once Elara had turned away and was out of sight, they exchanged wicked grins.
"Alright… first, I'd like to see that hole you dug, Elion."
"Sure thing."
After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at the hole. It was large, with a pile of disturbed earth surrounding it. Roughly three meters deep, it seemed perfect for burying someone.
"Here it is," Elion said, pointing to it.
Of course, Elion hadn't dug the hole with any malicious intent. Elion merely decided to study the composition of the earth here and compare it with that on Earth out of boredom.
"Hm… It seems a bit small," Verion remarked with mild disappointment. But as he glanced up at the treetops, sensing the presence of several hidden figures, his expression shifted to a wide grin.
"Dig it deeper, Elion. We might be burying a lot more today."
"Alright." Elion ignored Verion's tone, as he had also sensed the intruders since their separation from Elara.
Verion drew the sword that hung at his waist just as five figures clad in black, their faces hidden by hoods, emerged from the shadows and hurled knives at him.
"Five assassins, huh?"
The knives sped toward Verion, aimed at his heart and head, but he remained calm. With swift, graceful movements, he deflected and redirected each knife, sending them clattering harmlessly to the ground.
"What…?"
The assassins were stunned. A child—barely three years old—had just performed a feat they found hard to believe.
"How amusing. Kaelan actually sent five expert-level assassins to deal with a child. Even more amusing, you all accepted the job," Verion laughed, his voice dripping with mockery. His laughter only intensified the rage simmering among the assassins.
The truth was, even they found Kaelan's request absurd. But refusing a Vossmer was not an option.
"Damn it," grumbled the apparent leader, drawing a sword from his back and pointing it at Verion. "Let's end this quickly."
The other assassins followed suit, brandishing their weapons and closing in on their target.
The five assassins spread out, converging on Verion from different angles. But Verion wasn't about to sit and wait. He lunged at the tallest of them, a wild grin on his face.
As the distance closed, the assassin swung his sword. Verion ducked effortlessly and, with a swift movement, gripped the man's balls before unleashing a surge of power. The man's scream tore through the air.
"AAAAARRGHH!"
Blood pooled around the assassin's legs as he crumpled.
"What… what the hell?"
The remaining assassins froze, their eyes wide with shock.
One of them, a broad-shouldered man, stumbled backward, unable to take his eyes off Verion, who stood with bloodied hands and a twisted grin. His blue eyes radiated with an intensity that shivered through their spines.
"I… I'm done," he muttered, backing away before turning to flee.
But the leader's voice boomed through the forest. "Where do you think you're going, idiot?!"
The man ignored him, fear driving his every step—until he suddenly stopped. His limbs wouldn't move. Panic washed over him as he struggled in vain.
"What's happening?!"
All eyes turned to Elion, who emerged from the shadows, one hand casually resting on his chin as if contemplating something.
"What are you doing, Verion?" he asked, sounding more annoyed than concerned. "I'm tired of waiting while digging."
The assassins stared, realizing the invisible force binding their comrade came from this child.
"Magic? A magus? Here in Murim? Who are these children?" one whispered, horrified.
As Elion ignored their murmurs, swiftly moving his fingers to send the imprisoned assassin hurtling back towards the others, he then turned to Verion.
"Let's wrap this up. We need to get back before nightfall."
Verion sighed, gripping his sword tighter. "Fine. I'll make it quick."
Elion sighed as well, raising his hand toward the immobilized assassins and activating his [Levitas] skill, freezing their bodies in place instantly. "Hurry up," he said lazily.
"S-Shit. I can't move!" The assassins strained with all their might, but it was futile.
With steady steps, Verion approached the paralyzed assassins, whose bodies trembled like leaves in the wind. The thick scent of blood filled the air, amplifying the oppressive tension.
"No… wait…!" one of the assassins pleaded, but Verion showed no sympathy.
Reaching the first assassin, his grin widened. "You will all pay dearly for your foolish bravery," he said, his voice raspy and unhinged.
In one swift and brutal motion, Verion reached for the assassin's manhood. A small, sickening pop echoed, leaving everyone in stunned horror.
"AAAAARRRGHHHH!" The agonized scream reverberated through the forest. The assassin collapsed to the ground, blood pouring from his wound, while Verion strolled casually toward his next target.
The remaining assassins turned deathly pale. Their knees shook, and their eyes darted between Verion and their writhing comrade.
"D-Damn it! This kid... he's insane!" One of the assassins stuttered, his voice cracking.
Verion let out a quiet laugh and moved toward his next victim.
"Your turn."
The assassins' fear peaked. Their bodies felt paralyzed, breath caught in their throats, and a few even lost control of their bladders. Their hands trembled violently, and their weapons slipped from their grips.
"P-Please… anything but that!" one of them begged.
But Verion showed no mercy, methodically repeating his brutal act. Their screams grew louder and more desperate, echoing through the silent forest.
From a distance, Elion watched with a bored expression. "Well, at least this is more interesting than digging holes," he muttered, smirking slightly as he continued to observe Verion's grim work.
-----
[At the Wooden Cabin]
Elara hurried about the house, preparing dinner. The wild boar meat her children had hunted earlier was plenty for a hearty soup. She busied herself cleaning up the mess left from Verion's training, washing clothes, and sweeping the floor. But as time passed, worry gnawed at her.
"What's taking them so long? They usually come back before dark," she murmured, concern in her voice. Memories of their recent troubles in the city surfaced. "Could something have happened?"
A knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts. The children never knocked. And for three years, no one had come to visit.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Elara felt a powerful Qi presence behind the door. Swiftly, she moved to the corner, lifting the mattress to retrieve a hidden dagger. Silent and swift, she approached the door, prepared to strike.
However, a recognizable voice abruptly interrupted her.
"Lady Elara, it's me—Darius."
The deep, raspy voice belonged to an older man.
Elara hesitated before finally opening the door. There stood Darius, his hair streaked with gray, wrinkles around his eyes, but his posture still firm and commanding.
"Darius… why are you here?" she asked, bewildered.
He was the head servant of the Vosmerr family. His unexpected visit immediately made her uneasy, especially considering what her children had done to Kaelan.
"It's been a long time, Lady Elara," Darius said, bowing slightly. "I'm here to deliver a message from Lord Graviel."
Elara stiffened. "The family head has a message for me?" Her voice trembled as fear coursed through her.
Her grip on the dagger tightened. If this had anything to do with her sons, she would kill Darius and escape with Elion and Verion.
Sensing her murderous intent, Darius sighed and shook his head. "Please, Lady. You're not in any danger."
Though Darius had always treated her kindly, Elara remained wary. But before she could reply, rustling leaves interrupted them. She turned to see Elion and Verion emerge from the woods, their clothes soaked in blood.
"Mother, who's this?" Elion asked, raising an eyebrow. In their three years here, they'd never had a visitor.
Beside him, Verion's eyes narrowed at Darius. He felt the immense Qi radiating from the older man and tensed.
"Oh my God!" Elara rushed to her sons. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
Verion glanced at his blood-stained clothes and smiled. "Ah, this? Don't worry, Mom. It's just wild boar blood. We caught some while training."
Darius chuckled softly, surprising the small family. He then bows again. "Forgive the intrusion. My name is Darius, and I have come on Lord Graviel's orders to bring all of you to the Vossmer residence."
"What?"