Clara stood over the lifeless body of the void scorpion, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. Her bloodstained hand trembled as she clenched it into a fist, then drove it into the beast's corpse. The sound of shattering chitin echoed through the clearing, her fist breaking through its armor with a sickening crack. Her jaw tightened, her teeth grinding as she fought to steady herself.
"You… took him from me," she whispered hoarsely, her voice breaking. Her arm throbbed from the impact, but the pain was distant. She grabbed one of the scorpion's massive legs, dragging its enormous body through the forest. Each step was a battle against exhaustion, but she refused to stop.
The mansion loomed ahead, the towering gates parting silently as Clara approached. She staggered into the grand hall Forcing the doors open witha slam, the scorpion's corpse leaving a crimson trail behind her. Her presence immediately drew attention—the Patriarch sat at the head of the long, ornately carved table, his brothers seated around him. Their discussion halted as all eyes turned to Clara. The Patriarch's calm demeanor shifted ever so slightly, his brow furrowing.
Clara stopped before them, her body trembling, her face smeared with blood and dirt. She released the scorpion, its body collapsing with a heavy thud beside her.
The Patriarch stood slowly, Turning his head to his guest. his voice a low growl. "Leave."
The room's occupants hesitated, glancing between the couple. His cold, commanding tone left no room for argument. "Now."
One by one, the brothers filed out, the heavy doors closing behind them. Silence fell over the hall as the Patriarch approached his wife, his expression hard. But as he reached her, his icy demeanor melted. He cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing away a streak of blood.
"What happened to you?" he asked softly, his voice laced with worry. What happened to you. are you ok. "Wait, Where is Nox?"
Clara's gaze dropped, her shoulders trembling. "I don't know where he is," she admitted, her voice shaking. "This creature attacked us. In the middle of our fight, a void rift opened, and he…" She clenched her fists, her knuckles whitening. "He was pulled through. I couldn't stop it."
The Patriarch's jaw tightened, but he remained silent, waiting for her to continue. Clara's voice grew quieter, each word weighed down by guilt.
"I told him I'd catch up. I promised him he'd be safe. And I… I lied to him." Her breath hitched, tears spilling freely down her cheeks. "I should have been faster. Stronger. If I had been, he wouldn't…"
Her knees buckled, and she collapsed. The Patriarch caught her, pulling her into his arms. She buried her face in his chest, her sobs shaking her entire body.
"It's my fault," she choked out. "I couldn't protect him. I failed him."
The Patriarch held her tightly, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "You didn't fail him, Clara. You did everything you could."
She shook her head vehemently, her tears soaking into his tunic. "No. I wasn't enough. I can't lose him. He's my baby, my little boy…" Her voice broke, her words dissolving into incoherent sobs.
The Patriarch's hands glowed softly as he began to heal her wounds, the warm light of his life magic enveloping her. He brushed a strand of blood-matted hair from her face, his own eyes glistening. "We will find him," he said firmly. "I'll give you a squadron to help with the search. But Clara…" He hesitated, his voice faltering. "Void rifts… they're unpredictable. He could be anywhere."
Clara's breath hitched as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "Anywhere?" she whispered, the word barely audible. Her voice cracked as she pleaded, "Then help me find him. Please."
The Patriarch's expression softened, his thumb brushing away her tears. "I will. But you must understand the risks. If he's in another realm, there's no guarantee we can reach him."
Clara's jaw tightened, her grief hardening into resolve. She pulled away, standing on unsteady legs. "I'll find him," she said, her voice trembling but fierce. "No matter what it takes. I'll bring him back."
The Patriarch nodded, his expression resolute. "And I'll do everything I can to help you. But for now, no one else can know. Word of his disappearance must remain hidden."
Clara's gaze met his, her eyes blazing despite the tears. "Thank you," she whispered. "I will find him. At all costs."
A sudden, chilling thought crossed his mind. What if he fell into the demon realm?
"No," he muttered, shaking his head. "That's impossible. The demon realm was sealed away by the gods."
But the thought lingered. If Nox had been transported there, his chances of survival were… zero.
The Patriarch's gaze hardened, his fists trembling. "Hold on, Nox," he murmured. "Wherever you are… hold on."