Attu:
-"What happened?"
Valorant:
-"Duke Alaris is dead," Valorant said.
At that moment, Anna was also there. When she heard these words, her face turned pale. Her expression showed she couldn't believe what she had heard. Anna stood up from her seat and ran out of the dining room. Attu, Valorant, and the others rushed after her to stop her. With tears in her eyes, Anna ran through the hallway, thinking, "This can't be happening! I don't believe it! There was still time!" As she cried and ran, she dashed up the stairs to the second floor.
She reached her grandfather's room along the hallway. Anna saw that the door to the room was open. She stopped in front of the door and looked inside. Only a small beam of light was coming into the dark room through the door. Without entering, Anna paused at the door and peered inside. In the room, a doctor in a white coat was covering the duke's face on the bed, and someone blocked the light coming into the room from behind. She turned to see who was obstructing the light.
When the doctor saw Anna, she sat down on the floor. The doctor slowly approached Anna, placing a hand on her shoulder and said, "I share your sorrow," before leaving the room. Anna began to wail at the top of her lungs, "Nooooo!"
Before long, Suna and Attu arrived at the room. Suna came and embraced Anna. Anna continued to cry, hugging Suna tightly. Attu stood off to the side, watching. He reflected on what Valorant had said when he was coming this way.
Valorant:
-"Attu, quickly, pack your things as fast as you can. Also, help Anna!" he ordered Attu.
Attu:
-"Why? Shouldn't we just leave the duke behind?"
Valorant:
-"It's not about that. The sooner we leave here, the better. I'll tell you the second part of the mission. The second part of the mission was to take Anna away from here as quickly as possible when Duke Alaris died and reach the elves' forest. Right now, go and help Anna. Be ready in ten minutes."
Attu:
-"Okay, teacher! But you'll explain everything later!" he said, running after Suna.
Attu remembered how he felt when he lost his mother. He recalled standing by the riverbank, crying and shouting at the top of his lungs. Not knowing what to say, he repeated what Valorant had told him:
-"Anna, Suna, get ready quickly. We need to leave here as soon as possible."
Suna, holding Anna in her arms, was furious:
-"What are you talking about? Are you thinking before you speak?"
Attu:
-"My teacher said so. We must leave here as fast as we can."
Suna:
-"Why?"
Attu:
-"Unfortunately, I don't know why we have to do this!" he said, feeling sad.
Suna:
-"How? Where will we go without even burying the duke?"
Attu:
-"Trust me! Trust Teacher Valorant! He said we need to get away from here quickly. That means there's a serious reason for this. We're going to the elves' forest."
Suna:
-"What's there? What will happen to us?"
Attu:
-"I don't know. Hurry up! By the way, you need to get ready too!" he urged Suna.
Suna:
-"I don't know what's going on, but fine, I'll do what you say," Suna agreed to Attu's words.
Attu:
-"I'll also get my things ready. You all should prepare quickly," he said and ran to his room.
As Suna held Anna close, she began to speak:
-"Anna, forgive me! Maybe my words will be hard for you to hear, but we need to leave quickly. Mr. Valorant said so."
Anna, still crying, replied:
-"I don't want to leave. I need to stay here."
Suna:
-"I understand, but we can't stay. Mr. Valorant said so. Do you remember your grandfather's last words?"
Anna recalled the last time she had entered with Suna to see her grandfather. In the room, Alaris was lying on his bed, while Anna sat in a chair beside him. Suna stood by the door, looking at Anna.
Alaris:
-"Anna..." he said, reaching out his hand.
Anna:
-"Yes, Grandfather, I'm here," she said, holding his hand.
Alaris:
-"You know I will leave you soon."
Anna:
-"Don't say that! I'll find a way to heal you very soon. Just give me a little more time, and I'll discover the magic and healing herbs that can help you."
Alaris:
-"I trust you. No matter what happens, never stop learning and growing in life. Only then will you achieve your goals. And remember to follow what Valorant says. You can trust him just as you trust me."
Anna:
-"Okay, Grandfather."
Alaris:
-"Anna, one more thing. This world may not be as beautiful as you think. Not everything will go as you wish. Never forget this! No matter what happens, do not look back; always strive forward! Don't dwell on the past! Aim for the future!" He said, gently stroking Anna's head with his hand.
Anna smiled brightly, feeling happy.
Alaris:
-"Now, go on!"
Anna dashed out of the room. She recalled the events that had taken place. Suna, remembering what had happened back then, also wanted to leave. Just as she was about to step out, Alaris called to Suna:
-"Suna, come here!" he commanded.
Suna:
-"Yes, Sir?" she replied, surprised.
Alaris:
-"Suna, no matter what happens, protect Anna. She trusts you. You know Anna is very naive. I apologize for putting this heavy burden on you."
Suna:
-"Don't say that. What you have done for me is worth so much more. I am grateful to you."
Alaris:
-"Thank you, now go to Anna."
Suna:
-"Okay, sir." She said and exited the room. Suna closed the door behind her and leaned against it, recalling how she had come to this house. Many years ago, Alaris had found her in the forest, amidst the bodies of her family members, in a terrible state, her clothes stained with blood. Seeing her crying for her lost family, Alaris had taken pity on her and picked her up without a word, bringing her with him. Later, he had given her a place in his home and taken her on as a servant. Suna remembered these things very well.
Anna:
-"Yes, I remember."
Suna:
-"Then your grandfather told you to follow what Mr. Valorant said. Fulfill your grandfather's last wish!" She wiped the tears from Anna's crying face.
Slowly, Anna rose to her feet. Suna also got up and took Anna's hand, saying with a smile, "We need to move quickly. Let's go!"
Just then, Valorant appeared in the hallway, dressed warmly, with a bag slung over his shoulder and a sword in his hand.
Valorant:
-"Aren't you ready yet? Hurry up! We have little time," he said, drawing the girls' attention.
Valorant was still some distance away from the door of the room. As he approached the girls, he noticed someone's right hand reaching out from the open door of Duke Alaris's chamber. Everyone else in the house had already left; no one remained in the duke's room except for him. Upon seeing the hand extending from the room, Valorant's face went pale. He thought to himself, "How? I didn't expect Alaris to succumb to the curse so quickly," and he recalled the conversation he had had with Alaris.
Valorant had been sitting in a chair talking to Alaris. The room was dark, the windows covered with curtains, and Alaris was lying on the bed.
Valorant:
-"When did the current symptoms begin?"
Alaris:
-"The curse began to show its effects about six months ago. At first, I was able to control myself. But..."
Valorant:
-"But you lost control, and you nearly injured someone."
Alaris:
-"Yes, that happened. I attacked one of the household servants. Fortunately, Gustav was with the girl; he saved her from me. As a result, I terrified the girl."
Valorant:
-"It must not have been easy for her."
Alaris:
-"Right. During the rescue, she got injured in various places."
Valorant:
-"Has your body changed? Or do you still look the same?"
Alaris:
-"At first, my appearance didn't change, but then the effects of the curse intensified, and my body began to transform."
Valorant:
-"I say it won't be easy to take Anna to the elves' forest."
Alaris:
-"I can only trust you."
Valorant:
-"How long can you hold yourself together before you die?"
Alaris:
-"I don't know for sure, but I think I can last about ten minutes. It might also be shorter."
Valorant:
-"In that case, a lot depends on you."
Alaris:
-"Yes, I will do my best."
Suddenly, the hand that had reached out from the room grasped the edge of the door. Valorant sprinted away, calling out "Fiery Steps." As he ran, with each step, green flames erupted beneath his feet. In that moment, he drew his sword and approached Anna and Suna.
Suna thought, "Why is Mr. Valorant coming toward us with a sword?" Anna and Suna had not yet noticed Alaris coming out of the room. Suna began to sense why Valorant was acting this way and glanced into the adjacent room. She saw things that were invisible to Valorant. Just then, Suna spotted Alaris emerging from the room.