Meanwhile, in the drawing room of the estate, Ramiro and Esteban sat with Lady Isabel, sipping their tea as they discussed about the orphanage. Ramiro offered her a nod of approval, his voice warm. "You're doing an excellent job here, Lady Isabel. The children seem well cared for."
Lady Isabel smiled, bowing her head slightly in gratitude. "Thank you, my lord. I am truly grateful for the opportunity you've given me to oversee an orphanage."
Ramiro set his cup down with a decisive nod. "It's time for us to leave. Esteban, go and fetch Luzia."
"Yes, my lord," Esteban replied, standing and making his way out of the room.
Moments later, he returned, his face clouded with concern. "My lord… Lady Luzia isn't there."
Ramiro's brow furrowed, and Lady Isabel immediately stood, worry flashing across her features. Without hesitation, they hurried to the sitting room where Luzia had been reading earlier.
The sight that greeted them only deepened their concern—rows of peacefully sleeping children, but no sign of Luzia or Alicia.
"Alicia isn't here either," Isabel murmured, pressing a hand to her chest.
Ramiro's voice was tense. "Where could they have gone?"
Isabel bit her lip, thinking aloud. "Ah… there's the garden, the courtyard... but if it's Alicia, she might have taken Luzia to the forest. She's been eager to test everything she's learned lately." She facepalmed, regret written across her face.
"The forest?" Esteban's voice dropped to a whisper, his unease evident.
Ramiro's face paled, and without realizing it, tears welled in his eyes and slipped down his cheek. "We need to find them—now," he said urgently, already moving toward the door. His voice grew quieter, his worry slipping through. 'We have to find them quickly... hopefully, they haven't… gotten there.'
Without another word, they rushed out of the estate, their hearts pounding with fear for the girls.
Meanwhile...
'What are we going to do? We can't keep running... and even if we hide, it'll still find us,' Luzia thought, her eyes darting frantically around the dense forest. She and Alicia pushed forward, their breaths ragged and their hearts hammering in their chests.
For the first time in her life, Luzia felt truly hopeless. 'Why can't I come up with a solution?'
"This is my fault," Alicia whispered, her voice shaking. "If I hadn't stepped on that twig..."
Luzia shook her head, forcing herself to stay calm despite the terror clawing at her mind. "No, I'm sure it would have found us either way," she replied, though inwardly she thought, 'I noticed that thing is blind, so it uses his sense of smell… so regardless, it would have come for us.'
With a sharp exhale, she added, "It's my fault for running into the forest without listening to you."
They kept running, their legs growing weaker with each step, until—
Suddenly, their feet caught on something hidden beneath the thick undergrowth, and they tumbled to the ground in a heap. Gasping for breath, they braced themselves for the inevitable... but surprisingly, the beast didn't see them.
'Huh? But I'm pretty sure it can smell us... right?' Luzia thought, watching in disbelief as the creature turned away from where they had fallen.
'What just happened?' Her mind raced, but the silence that followed was unnerving, an eerie calm settling around them like a heavy fog.
Before they could question their luck, a wave of drowsiness swept over them.
"I feel sleepy all of a sudden..." Luzia's thoughts grew sluggish, her eyelids heavy.
"Luzia... why can't I keep my eyes open...? Suddenly, I feel... so sleepy," Alicia mumbled, her voice fading into a whisper.
And without warning, Alicia and Luzia's eyes fluttered shut. They slipped into an unexpected and unnaturally deep sleep, their exhausted bodies succumbing to the strange pull of the forest.
The mysterious silver-haired boy appeared in the clearing where Luzia and Alicia lay asleep. His piercing eyes, cold as the sunset light filtering through the trees, softened momentarily as he gazed at them. A faint smirk played on his lips. 'How dare that Maisbeast try to harm my master...' he thought darkly. 'I will handle it so she can finally have a good rest.'
He turned toward the shadows of the forest, where the Maisbeast lingered, the creature growled low, its maw dripping with venomous intent, as if sensing its predator.
The boy raised his hand, and with a flick of his fingers, the air grew cold. Threads of silvery magic began to weave around him, shimmering like stars pulled from the heavens. His magic swirled, the ground cracking beneath him as his aura pulsed. The trees trembled under the weight of his presence, their branches bending as if bowing to him.
"You've made a grave mistake," he said, his voice calm but laced with a deadly edge.
The Maisbeast lunged, its claws raking the air toward him, but before it could reach him, the boy raised his other hand. A shimmering barrier of silver light formed, deflecting the attack with a resounding crash. The creature roared in frustration, but the boy remained unmoved.
With a flick of his wrist, silver chains erupted from the earth, wrapping around the beast and binding it in place. The chains glowed brighter with each passing second, tightening with an unrelenting force as the Maisbeast thrashed and howled in vain.
"You don't belong here," the boy murmured, his voice barely a whisper. He extended his hand, and a spear of pure magic formed in his grasp. With a swift motion, he hurled it directly into the creature's heart.
The Maisbeast froze, its eyes dimming, the miasma around it dissipating into the night like smoke. A final roar echoed, but it was quickly silenced as the creature crumpled to the ground, lifeless. The earth trembled beneath its weight as it fell.
The boy stood still for a moment, his expression unreadable, watching the light fade from the creature's body.
Turning back to Luzia and Alicia, he knelt beside them, his gaze softening once more. The moonlight glinted off his silver hair as he gently, he brushed a stray strand of hair from Luzia's face.
'Sleep well, Master,' he thought, his voice tender in the silence of his mind.
Hours passed as the boy stood watch, his piercing eyes scanning the forest for any further threats. He remained motionless, watching over the two girls.
Finally, footsteps echoed through the woods. Ramiro and the others emerged, their faces etched with concern. The silver-haired boy stepped back into the darkness, unseen, as Ramiro rushed to Luzia and Alicia.
The boy lingered for a moment longer, ensuring they were safe before vanishing into the shadows, as silent as he had arrived.
"Thank the heavens," Ramiro murmured, kneeling beside Luzia. His heart pounded in his chest as he took in the sight of her lying there, motionless. But why are they sleeping here in the middle of the forest? he thought, unease creeping into his mind.
A horrifying possibility struck him. Or are they...?!
Panic gripped him, and his eyes brimmed with tears as he reached for Luzia, the fear that she might be gone overwhelming him. But as his hand hovered near her face, he noticed the subtle rise and fall of her chest. She was breathing. Relief crashed over him like a wave, and he let out a shaky exhale, wiping at his eyes.
Esteban arrived moments later, his footsteps hurried. He dropped to his knees beside Alicia, his hands trembling as he gently checked for signs of life. He pressed his fingers lightly to her neck and felt the steady beat of her pulse.
"She's breathing too, my lord," Esteban said, his voice filled with relief.
Lady Isabel arrived shortly after Esteban, her face pale with worry, her hands trembling slightly as she knelt beside Luzia and Alicia. Her gaze lingered on Alicia, guilt flickering in her eyes.
"I should have known," she murmured, brushing a stray curl from Alicia's forehead. Her voice wavered. "I knew she was restless, eager to test herself, but I ignored the signs. I should have stopped her."
Her fingers curled into fists, pressing against her lap. "This is my fault," she whispered. "If I had just paid more attention..."
"Don't worry, Lady Isabel," Esteban assured her gently. "They're just asleep."
Lady Isabel looked at Esteban and nodded, though the worry in her eyes did not fade.
Ramiro's gaze locked onto the clearing where the Maisbeast's corpse lay. And what unsettled him more was the air around it—charged with a strange silvery energy.
As he stepped closer, something within him recoiled. It was faint, but unmistakable. A whisper of the power he had felt before in Luzia's room.
His chest tightened. Did she—? No. That was impossible. But then who?
Ramiro carefully lifted Luzia into his arms, cradling her against his chest as he stood. Her breathing remained slow and steady, her expression peaceful.
"Let's take Luzia home," he said quietly, his voice firm yet gentle.
Esteban nodded, scooping up Alicia with equal care. Lady Isabel trailed behind them, her hands clasped tightly in worry.
They moved swiftly through the forest, their steps careful but urgent.
Upon reaching the old estate, Esteban helped Lady Isabel carry Alicia inside.
Meanwhile, Ramiro held Luzia with steady hands, his grip firm yet gentle, as he made his way toward the waiting carriage. The evening air was cool, but the weight of his unease made it feel heavier. He glanced down at Luzia's peaceful face, her lashes resting against her cheeks—completely unaware of the fear that had gripped them all just moments ago.
Inside the estate, Esteban assisted Lady Isabel in bringing Alicia to her room. Lady Isabel pulled back the covers, her movements delicate as she helped settle Alicia onto the bed. She hesitated for a moment, brushing a strand of hair from Alicia's forehead, her expression laced with guilt and relief.
Once assured that Alicia was safely resting, Esteban quietly excused himself and returned to Ramiro's side.
By then, Ramiro had already placed Luzia inside the carriage, ensuring she was comfortable before climbing in beside her. Esteban arrived soon after and entered the carriage. As the horses began their steady trot back home, Ramiro watched over Luzia in silence, his mind heavy with questions.
What had truly happened in that forest? And what was that lingering, unshakable presence he had felt?