I placed my hand over the child’s forehead and used the Supre Healing spell. The burning temperature of his body slowly reduced to normal, and his breathing beca rather easy, and his heartbeat ca back to a normal rhythm.
"Who are you, Dragon?" I whispered, but except for his steady breathing, no response ca.
I sighed and was about to get up when I felt his fingers cling to my coat.
"... must save... must..." he mumbled, slowly getting uneasy in his slumber, and I brushed my hand over his soft hair.
"You did, Dragon. You did save my child," I whispered, and his temples creased and his face pinched in a frown.
"No... must save... must stop..." I couldn’t understand what he was aning to say, but it seed like the child had assud a great responsibility, which made anxious.
Regardless, I had to keep this child with until I’d figured out what was going on. The last ti a demon appeared, Kai’s life was endangered. Now another one had appeared and attempted to kidnap him. Why couldn’t they let my child live his life peacefully and safely?
"Hey, do you know what’s going on?" I asked my Patrons.
[Defender of Divine Glory asks you to be vigilant.]
[Goddess of Wisdom warns you that more is about to co.]
"Was there a ti limit? Is the danger already around the corner?" I asked.
[Giver of Gifts says that it’s beginning.]
"I should sue you guys for keeping the vital information from . My child’s life was at risk because of this today!"
[Goddess of Wisdom says that she never wanted Kai to be in danger.]
[Defender of Divine Glory was relieved when Kai was saved.]
"Who is this Dragon then?"
[Giver of Gifts looks at Goddess of Wisdom and Defender of Divine Glory.]
"What?"
[Goddess of Wisdom says that they can’t answer all your questions but only tell you enough that the peaceful life that you’d had till now will be ending and more tumultuous tis are up ahead.]
[Defender of Divine Glory says that they will lend their strength to you at tis.]
[Giver of Gifts trusts that you will pass through all the difficulties successfully.]
I clenched my fists. It was a given that this was going to start at so point, but the said war was still around seven years away. So, why now?
Was this supposed to be a long setup for the final Armageddon? Well, considering that this war would be like the one that happened in the past, as per my assumption, then it might probably be a huge affair.
I should hasten my preparations and make Eric the King of Sestia imdiately and be prepared for the future.
There was a knock on the door, and I turned my head to see Asher standing there, looking pale and anxious.
"Master," he spoke, and I glanced once at the sleeping child before I stood up and walked towards the door.
Once outside, he fell on his knees, and I clenched my fists.
"I heard... Master, please—"
"It’s not your fault," I spoke firmly, but he stayed in that position.
"It’s rather my fault for letting my guard down when things are anything but peaceful around us," I said and felt him growing even more strained.
"Get up. I’ve called for all the guards stationed in Oasis. Soone must have noticed sothing about the kidnapper, so I’m planning on asking around. I want you to stay around; in case sothing happens, you’re in charge of affairs."
"But Master—"
"We have to do all we can to protect our family, Asher," I spoke, and he stared up at .
I reached out to him, "Get up, we have a lot of work to do."
Asher took my hand and stood back up. Right around the corner, Lyall also ca running, looking anxious and pale.
"Master!" he gasped as soon as he saw and kneeled.
"Get up, Lyall," I said, and he clenched his teeth.
"What happened today was fundantally my fault, so don’t feel like it was yours," I clarified, and he looked at with bewildered eyes.
"But Master—"
"We let our guards down once, but not again. Get up," I said, and he stood back up.
I faced both Lyall and Asher as they stood in front of .
"First of all, make sure to increase the security around Oasis, and if they capture anyone suspicious, interrogate them thoroughly—no rcy. I don’t want such a slip to happen again," I ordered, and Lyall bowed.
"Yes, Master," he said, and I gestured for him to leave, then turned to Asher.
"Go take so rest for now. Enora is in there. In the morning, you will return and stay by Kai’s side at all tis till it’s ti for you to depart for Denril."
"But Master, how could I leave when things are like this?" he asked, and I sighed.
"It’s a promise that you’ve already made, Asher. I don’t wish for your family reunion to be delayed anymore. Just as Kai is my family, you also have a family, so leave and do your part before returning to his side," I said, and Asher looked conflicted but he nodded before he walked away.
I glanced once at the closed door, feeling the faint presence of the Dragon inside. I wasn’t sure who he was, but he must be a Lesser Dragon considering he was quite weak. I would have to use Mana Eyes on him and ask him once he ca to his senses.
"Master!" I heard Davian’s voice and turned to look as he walked towards .
"Is everything all right?" he asked at once when he ca up to .
"No," I spoke, and he ran a hand through his hair while looking at the door.
"Does it have sothing to do with the Dragon in this room?" he asked.
"Partially, but I don’t have ti to explain everything—just enough that you might need to return to the Montaire residence in the capital," I spoke, and he frowned.
"What? Why? Didn’t you say I should stay here?" he asked, and I sighed, running my hand through my hair.
"Things are going to get ssy, Your Highness. I can’t guarantee your safety anymore."
"What do you an?" he demanded as his eyes grew sharp. "Did sothing happen? Is Kai safe?"
I lowered my eyes and saw his fists clenching. He turned, about to rush off to Kai’s room, but I reached out and grabbed his hand before he could storm off.
"Wait."
"What do you an, wait?! I need to see if he’s all right, and why didn’t you tell right away?! What happened?!" he demanded angrily, and I felt my head throbbing with all the tension, but I kept my cool.
"He’s resting currently. Don’t disturb him."
"What happened, Master?!" he demanded as he looked right at .
Just then, Remi rushed to us.
"Master, the guards are here."
I looked at him and then at Davian before I gestured for him to follow along.
I walked ahead, making my way to the training ground where all the guards stationed in Oasis stood.
"I’ll make this quick," I spoke once I faced them, and they all straightened up.
"Soone attempted to kidnap Kai this evening," I announced, making almost everyone flinch.
"I need to ask if any one of you saw soone suspicious around the town today. Even if it’s a minor thing, tell right away!"
The guards looked around at each other, as if trying to see if soone had so information.
No one spoke.
"If you haven’t, then go around the town and ask around. Expand the search to the outskirts as well. I need to know who that man was. If they could co straight up to Oasis and attempt to kidnap my heir, then they could easily march into my house as well. Find out anything you can and report to imdiately. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Master!" they responded in unison, and I looked around at the guards who were stationed around the mansion.
"Kidnapping attempt..." I heard Davian mumble.
We returned back inside the mansion, and Davian followed all the way to the office where Roan waited anxiously.
"I contacted the information guilds to look into Esrtia and the Golden Serpent’s recent activities. We’ll get the reports soon!" he said as soon as I entered.
Roan was on edge as well. I sighed and took a seat on the couch.
"I understand. Thank you for being so prompt about it."
"Did the Golden Serpent arrange for this kidnapping?" Davian asked, and I looked at him.
"I don’t know. There’s no evidence," I said, and he clenched his fist.
"Kai was basically taken away from you today. How could you be so composed about it?!" Davian shouted, and my Dragon’s Presence unfurled.
The room at once turned suffocating, and Roan gasped, falling to his knees, clutching his chest, while Davian closed his eyes, trying to withstand the pressure.
"Whoever said I’m composed, Your Highness?" I asked, glaring at him. The danger had co right up to my family, and he was thinking I was calm and composed?
If it were up to , I would turn this kingdom upside down and burn everything to ashes in rage—but right now, my strong hold on my instincts was what was keeping everyone alive. If I snapped, this world wouldn’t have the demons to fear—it would be .
I saw Roan struggling on the ground under the great pressure of my Dragon’s Presence. I forced myself to calm down again, and the Presence retracted, making Roan slump over.
I stood up from the couch and walked up to Roan.
"I’m currently looking into it, and the one who is responsible for this will pay for it in the most painful way possible," I said as I took Roan’s hand, helping him up to his feet.
"So, if you’re not going to help them, I’d ask you to return," I said, making him flinch.
"Go have so rest now, Roan," I said, and he sighed before he walked away.
It would be tricky to find out who had summoned a demon this ti, or if the one that attempted to take Kai was the last of them. Demons were weak, but they were also extrely sly and quick. So, if this one had the ability to disrupt the mana flow in a Dragon’s body, then this one could be a rather harder opponent. I had to make sure to keep an eye out for anyone who approached Kai from hence on.
Suddenly, the doors of my office opened and Remi barged in, looking bewildered.
"Master! Hurry, it’s Young Master Kai!"
I rushed out of the office with Davian in tow. I could hear the sounds of cries and shouts before I finally turned the corner and saw Kai being coaxed by Enora and Lizzy, but it seed like they couldn’t calm him down.
"Kai," I called, and he turned his head to look at .
His eyes were dazed and tears were streaming down his face.
"Master!" he whimpered, and he rushed forth, staggering a little bit. I ran ahead and wrapped my arms around him before he fell.
He clung to , whimpering and sniffling, and I closed my eyes, keeping an iron hold on my emotions.
"It’s fine, it’s fine now, Kai. You’re safe. I’m right here with you," I whispered softly as I held him against my chest.
He clung to tightly as he whimpered, "Don’t abandon , Master. I don’t want to go there again. Please... I’ll be good... Please..."
It broke my heart little by little, watching as just this one single incident had managed to rip right through the wounds that were healing. Four years—it took four years for to make him realize that he was in a safe world with the people who love him, but that demon had to ruin it all.
I swear I’d give the one behind this a long and painful life, that death would be a sweet release.
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