It was a bright, sunny morning. leo ray chris and helen They were waiting in the lawn when the heavy wooden front door creaked open. A teenage boy of average height stepped out. He had fair skin, blonde hair, and was wearing a black t-shirt with pants.
Spotting Leo and Ray, his face lit up and he shouted excitedly, "Leo! Ray! How are you guys doing?!"
Leo and Ray yelled back with equal excitement, "Felix! Get over here quickly!"
Felix ran across the lawn and stood before them. "How have you two been? And what are you guys doing here in Morveth?"
"We just came here to look around," Leo replied. "The Magic Academy hasn't started yet, and we haven't received our admission letters."
Felix sighed, looking a bit disappointed. "I haven't received my letter either. I'm honestly dying of boredom just sitting at home."
Ray smirked, getting an idea. "Then why don't we all go out together?"
Without a second thought, Felix immediately agreed. He turned to his butler, who was standing nearby, and said, "Tell my father that I am going out with my friends."
But as he turned back toward Leo, something suddenly crossed his mind. With a tense expression, Felix quickly turned back to the butler and added in a hushed tone, "Just... don't tell my mom."
The butler gave a knowing smile and bowed. "Very well, my lord. I will have your carriage prepared right away."
"No, no, there's no need for a carriage," Felix insisted. "I'll just walk."
"As you wish, young master," the butler replied.
The Market and the Expensive Choice
With a cheerful "Let's go!" from Felix, the five of them headed out through the mansion gates. Walking side by side, they left 34th Street behind and soon reached the bustling main market area of the town.
After walking for a while, Felix held his stomach. "Let's grab something to eat. I've been starving since morning."
Leo and Ray nodded. "Sure, sounds good."
Chris spotted a small, humble eatery (dhaba) across the street and pointed. "Let's eat over there." However, Helen and Felix's eyes caught a grand, highly expensive hotel further down the road.
"Let's go there!" Felix said, pointing at the luxury hotel.
As the group kept moving, Chris, Leo, and Ray halted right in front of the small eatery. Helen and Felix, completely oblivious, kept walking straight toward the high-end hotel.
Leo watched them with a confused expression. "Where are those two going?" "I don't know, let's just ask them," Ray said. He raised his voice and called out, "Felix! Where are you going?"
Felix and Helen turned around. Felix looked bewildered. "Why did you three stop over there? We should be eating inside this hotel!"
Chris grimaced, thinking to himself:
'These guys are definitely going to drain my wallet... I've already spent so much money.'
But then, a crucial realization hit Chris. Changing his mind, he spoke up, "Alright, fine. Let's eat at the hotel."
Hearing this, Leo and Ray turned to look at Chris with deep suspicion. Leo narrowed his eyes. "Are you really the same guy who was trying to save every money until yesterday?" "Yeah, are you actually Chris, or did someone replace you?" Ray teased.
Chris gave them a completely blank stare and whispered, "That hotel will be quiet and empty during this time of day. It's the perfect place to safely tell Felix that his mother is going to be attacked."
Leo and Ray nodded in understanding and began moving forward. As they walked ahead, Chris followed closely behind them, adding in a calm but dead-serious whisper, "Remember, do not mention anything to Felix about the demons or the cult. Got it?"
"Yeah, we get it," Leo and Ray murmured.
Fragrance and Hidden Secrets
The five of them arrived outside the hotel. It was a beautiful, single-story building made of pristine white marble walls. Next to the entrance, a black stone slab was fixed to the wall, engraved with white letters: "Welcome."
The moment Chris pushed the door open, a soothing, aromatic fragrance washed over them. It smelled incredible. Right next to the entrance sat a small reception counter displaying three differently colored candles, which were the source of the pleasant aroma.
A waitress stepped forward to greet them. She wore a neat formal suit, her hair was tied back beautifully, and she carried a warm smile. "Welcome to our hotel. How may I assist you today?" she asked in a calm, confident voice.
"We'd like to have brunch," Chris replied. "Certainly. Please feel free to take any table you like," she said.
Chris looked past the waitress to scan the interior. It was a spacious hall with well-spaced tables and a lush green carpet running across the floor. Seeking privacy, Chris pointed toward the furthest corner. "Let's head over there."
They seated themselves around the isolated corner table. Every table in the restaurant had a bowl filled with fresh fruits and a burning red candle that emitted a sweet fragrance.
Felix beamed, looking around. "Great place, right? Just wait till you taste the food, you're all going to love it!" "Yeah, it's a nice place..." Chris replied aloud, though inside, his soul was weeping: 'There go my savings.'
Felix then pointed a finger toward Chris and looked at Leo. "By the way, who is he?" "Oh, right! I totally forgot to introduce you," Leo blurted out. "This is Chris, the Magic Knight Captain of the 6th Division."
Chris offered a polite smile. "Hello."
Felix's eyes went wide. "A Captain?! What is a Magic Knight Captain doing hanging out with you guys?"
The question instantly struck Leo, Ray, and Chris dumb. None of them had a ready excuse. Leo scrambled to cover up, lying on the spot, "Uh, well... I actually knew the Captain from before. He was here in Morveth on official business, and we bumped into each other on the train. That's why we're traveling together."
"Oh, I see," Felix said slowly. Then he shot another question, "But Leo, Ray, what are you two doing here anyway?"
Silence fell over the three of them again. Leo forced another lie, "We just felt like traveling, so we chose Morveth. We didn't really have anything else to do."
"Ah, alright," Felix nodded. He then gestured toward Helen. "And who is this lady?" Getting irritated by the endless interrogation, Ray snapped, "Why are you asking so many questions?"
Fortunately, the waitress arrived at their table. "What can I get started for you all?" Chris quickly placed the order, and the waitress left with a polite nod.
A Generous Farewell
A short while later, the delicious food was served, and everyone ate heartily. Wiping his mouth, Ray complimented, "Wow, that food was seriously amazing."
Helen, finished with her meal, stood up from her chair. "Well, I should be taking my leave now." "Where are you heading?" Chris asked.
Helen gave a faint, bittersweet smile. "Well, since I've been fired and am currently unemployed, I need to go drop off my badge at the Morveth Times office. After that, I'll start looking for a new job." She looked at the group. "Alright, I'm off. Take care of yourselves, everyone." Turning to Chris, she added, "Thank you for the treat."
Without a word, Chris reached into his pocket, pulled out a valuable Platinum Coin, and placed it directly into Helen's palm. "Get the lock on your house fixed," he said quietly. Staring at the platinum coin, Helen didn't refuse. She accepted the small, meaningful gift, gave a warm smile to Ray—who smiled back—and walked out of the hotel.
The Grim Warning
With Helen gone, a heavy silence settled over the table. Leo and Ray locked eyes with Chris, who gave a solemn nod.
Ray turned to Felix. "Felix, there's something serious we need to tell you." "Go ahead," Felix replied casually. "We received information that there is going to be an attack on your mother," Ray stated bluntly.
Chris, who was in the middle of eating ice cream, froze. He slammed his spoon down on the table and glared at Ray. "What the hell are you saying?! Do you ever think before you speak?!" He slapped a hand against his forehead. "Ray, you weren't supposed to bring it up like that!"
"Well, it wouldn't change the facts anyway," Ray muttered defensively.
Chris exhaled and took control of the conversation, looking straight at Felix. "I am the Captain of the 6th Division. We have a solid lead indicating that on the day your unborn sibling is brought into this world, a group intends to attack your mother to steal the baby."
Panic visibly seized Felix. He looked completely terrified. "But why?! Why my mother? Why my sibling?!"
"We don't know the motive yet, which is exactly why I am investigating this case," Chris explained seriously. "I need you to stay by your mother's side at all times and do everything you can to protect her."
Felix slammed his hands onto the table, his voice trembling with fear and anger. "Who are these enemies?!" Chris could see the raw dread in the boy's eyes, but because he couldn't reveal the existence of the cult or the demons, he lied, "We don't know who they are yet. Our investigation is ongoing. For now, let's get you home. We have a lot of ground to cover tomorrow."
Chris stood up and walked over to the counter to pay the bill. Felix remained seated, his face pale with anxiety. Ray placed a reassuring hand on Felix's shoulder. "Don't worry, we will handle this. Just look after your mother." Felix could only offer a weak nod.
The Mountain Pass Ambush
After settling the bill, they stepped outside into the cooling evening air. Dusk was beginning to fall. Chris spotted an approaching carriage and waved it down. "Let's get in."
The four of them climbed inside. As the carriage rolled forward, a tense, suffocating silence filled the cabin. Chris watched Felix, who sat quietly staring out the window. Chris thought to himself:
'Any kid would react this way after learning their mother is a target.'
Exhausted, Chris closed his eyes. The carriage pressed on. The golden rays of the setting sun painted Chris's face through the window, but within moments, he felt a sharp change in the vehicle's movement. The smooth road was gone.
He snapped his eyes open and looked out. They were no longer on the town roads—the carriage was speeding along a narrow, treacherous cliffside path high up a mountain! On the right side, a massive, dense forest stretched out far below.
Suddenly, Chris sensed an incredibly strong, malevolent presence radiating from deep within that forest.
At the same time, Leo, who had been half-asleep, felt the terrifying surge of magical energy. He bolted upright, his eyes wide. Looking straight at Chris, he yelled, "I need my katana!" He grabbed Ray, shaking him awake violently. "Ray, wake up! We're heading straight into danger!"
Chris leaned out of the window, shouting toward the front, "Hey! Where are you taking us?!" There was no reply. Activating his mana-eyes to pierce the twilight, Chris gasped—there was no driver. The seat was completely empty. The two horses were sprinting blindly, pulling the carriage rapidly along the cliff edge.
Felix woke up from the commotion, disoriented. "What's going on?" Recognizing the danger, Chris acted instantly. He struck Felix sharply on the side of his neck, knocking him unconscious to keep him safe and out of the crossfire.
Chris could now sense multiple hostile presences closing in. Suddenly, a thud echoed from above. A Cultist had leaped onto the roof and ripped open the left door of the moving carriage. In a mocking, childish voice, he chirped, "Hello, everyone!"
Before anyone could react, the cultist delivered a devastating kick directly into Leo's chest. The sheer force shattered the right door of the carriage, sending Leo flying out into the open air, plummeting down the steep cliff toward the forest below.
The cultist lunged forward to grab the unconscious Felix by the throat. But Chris, moving with a Captain's reflexes, intercepted the dushman mid-air, locking onto the cultist's arm and twisting it with brutal force.
The bone snapped loudly. Without missing a beat, Chris hurled the screaming cultist out through the broken right doorway. As the cultist plummeted, Chris grabbed Leo's katana and threw it downward into the abyss with precise, calculated strength.
Falling through the air, Leo spotted his weapon slicing through the wind. He reached out and caught the hilt perfectly.
But as his fingers gripped the sword, Leo looked up. The cultist Chris had thrown out was falling right above him, reaching out with his good hand to choke Leo in mid-air.
Leo took a sharp, steady breath, locked eyes with the approaching threat, and unleashed a powerful, blinding Slash!