Chapter Fifteen
_ Riley Toria
Nyla's body stiffened and she felt her heart tearing apart, she barely spoke:
" He... disappeared... my son disappeared.."
It seemed that Nyla's situation attracted the knights near her..
" Madam, are you alright?"
Nyla looked with burning eyes at the knight, stood up with his help, and gripped him tightly, saying through her teeth:
" Where is Damian?"
" Madam..."
"..."
" I will spread the news.."
The knight was shocked and felt confused; wasn't the child there moments ago? The crowd had swallowed him for just a few moments. He left Nyla and hurried to inform everyone, and in an instant, all the knights began searching and closing the market, even Nyla gathered her strength and began searching, when she found Celine panicked. Nyla felt a greater danger, so she grabbed her and said in a shaky voice:
" Where is Damian?"
Celine looked with worried eyes, and began to speak with a trembling voice as tears fell:
" He was in front of me… for a moment only, a lady asked me about the direction… I didn't turn away but for a second, and when I returned… he wasn't there… he didn't move… he just… disappeared…"
" Why didn't you tell me immediately?!"
" I couldn't find you either! You disappeared… I searched for both of you everywhere… but you weren't there…"
" I… did not move from my place…"
"…"
Celine froze, and her eyes trembled as she looked at her.
The silence was short and heavy.
Nyla's chest tightened, and she felt as if something had finally fallen into place… the man's grip on her hand. The way he held her— she felt a chill crawling through her body, as if a void had swallowed a whole moment without her realizing it, her eyes widened suddenly.
" …Did they use magic?"
She wasn't asking Celine… but trying to comprehend what happened.
" Madam?"
Nyla turned around and grabbed one of the knights who was clearly panting from the search..
" Tell Lord Percion, they used magic, it makes anyone disappear.."
The knight felt surprised but nodded in agreement and moved quickly towards his leader..
* * *
' I must find the thread..'
Percion had searched the place several times, when the knight who was beside him told him..
" Sir, the young master was buying from that stall, and Mrs. Harvey was there and between them the maid.. I was there, and Frank was at that point."
Percion looked at the places that were close, separated by a few steps, so he went towards the stall where his young master was and asked:
" Sir, about an hour ago, there was a child buying from you."
" Ah, I remember a child with shining eyes and black hair.."
Percion remembered that Nyla had placed the necklace around the child's neck so his eyes would not be recognized, so he nodded in agreement and said:
" Didn't anyone approach him or talk to him?"
The old man put his hand under his chin thoughtfully and said:
" No, he told me to put his purchases aside until he brought the money from his mother, then he didn't come back."
"..."
Percion looked at the man calmly and thought: 'How was he kidnapped in those seconds?'
" Sir, will you pay for the child's purchases or shall I return them?"
" Heh.."
The knight almost shouted in the old seller's face, but Karal stopped him and smiled kindly at the man:
" How much is the price?"
Karal paid the money and carried his master's purchases after buying a basket from the same seller Nyla had bought from, and before he could ask, a knight approached him and whispered to him what Nyla had told him, so his eyes opened in shock then he regained his composure quickly and shouted at the guards:
" Raise the magic barrier quickly!"
The knights moved quickly and returned to search, and despite this desperate search, there was something out of place; because they did not find even a single thread indicating his location..
* * *
He yawned for the fifth time, it seems that something happened here and there is no way to get out, he felt the sinister energy circulating in the place..
' Should I buy some souvenirs?... Hmmm not necessary..'
CRASH!!!
He felt someone collide strongly with him, he looked at the person who fell and was surprised when he saw a child, and he puckered his lips in wonder: 'What is this strength?' but he asked him kindly:
" Are you okay, little one?"
" ..."
The child did not answer and raised his head with silver eyes shining with tears, he looked at the young man in front of him then behind him with concern and tried to stand up and escape, but the young man stopped him firmly:
" What is happening?"
Damian hesitated, but when he felt the men approaching behind him, he said:
" I will give you what you want, return me to my mother, these people want to kill me.."
The young man looked at the child and noticed that despite the simple design of the clothes, they were expensive and there were men chasing him..
' What scum, kidnapping a child for money..'
" I don't need anything from you, I will return you to your mother.."
He spoke with kind words to reassure him, dusted off Damian's clothes and stood up, but Damian pulled him back..
" They are not ordinary, they use magic.."
The young man's gaze was calm as he looked at Damian's attempt to move him:
" We will find the knights nearby, come.."
The young man placed his hand on Damian's head and patted with a pure smile:
" Don't worry."
Damian trembled when he saw the men, he didn't want anyone to get hurt because of him, so he looked back at the man..
" I am strong."
He didn't finish his sentence except with one of the four men punching the young man's face until he fell to the ground.
' This young man will die, the knights should have been at this point as well..'
The young man stood up with a refreshed feeling and looked at the shocked Damian and the mages:
" I have finally woken up."
And it seemed they didn't realize that the young man was carrying a sword; because when one of them approached him, he felt his hand separate from his body, so the rest retreated before the sight of their companion's hand. The young man turned with embarrassment and said:
" Little one, try to cover your eyes."
It seemed the opposite happened, as Damian's eyes opened wide, he had seen many animals fall and be cut, but a human in front of him.. he doesn't deny that he feels afraid, but he couldn't stop watching in amazement. The four mages were severely beaten, the young man avoided killing them, then he looked at Damian with a smile and said in surprise:
" Wow, you seem like a strong child, we must look for your mother.."
" And these?"
" Security is tight, someone might have heard the noise here and will come to check the situation."
"..."
" The priority is to hand you over to your mother."
Damian was in a state of amazement, he always knew he was strong, but he was helpless before the kidnappers; he realized that there was still much ahead of him to be able to protect his mother..
They were walking in the middle of the noise in silence, the young man did not initiate any word because he realized that what the little one went through was not easy..
" Sir.."
The young man looked calmly at Damian and waited in silence until he spoke:
" Thank you... if I were a little stronger maybe.."
The young man went down to the level of Damian's eyes and said with a smile:
" When I see your eyes, I remember someone.."
"..?"
Damian tilted his head in confusion, but the young man said kindly:
" You tried and resisted, this is the best you can do now.."
"..."
" In the future you can become stronger."
The young man pointed to Damian's heart kindly:
" Because you want that.."
Damian's expression brightened despite the glistening tears in his eyes, and when he spotted Celine and his mother from afar, he looked at the young man:
" My mother is there.."
" Go to them.."
" Won't you come with me?"
" I must return to my work."
Damian wanted to thank him in the best way, and it seemed the young man understood that, so he signaled him to go quickly. Damian sighed in frustration and ran quickly towards Nyla and with a strong voice:
" Mother!!"
* * *
Despite her failed attempts at calmness, her heart was aching severely, she placed her hand on her heart and prayed silently..
' I hope my child returns to me..'
This point had been passed for the seventh time, the sun had begun to announce its departure, and the knights had completely despaired, for their opponent was mages..
" Motheeeer!!"
Those nearby looked at each other then at Nyla, who was clearly trying to confirm her ears..
" Mother!"
Silent tears fell and Nyla turned towards the child, who hurried and hugged her tightly, as his mother seemed stiffened..
" Mother, I was afraid I wouldn't see you again.."
The words rushed out with crying, making them barely clear, but Nyla, who was crying silently and hugging the little one, found no words to say, she felt her world falling; if something bad happened to her child, her life would have no meaning..
" Damian, your mother is selfish; because she takes you as a reason to live."
It was a faint murmur, Damian barely understood it but he hugged her tightly and thought, if he were stronger, he wouldn't have been kidnapped, everything was visible before him, he saw his mother collapsing while he was unable to say anything..
" Mother, I want to bid farewell to spring.."
" As you wish."
Nyla nodded yes and embraced her child more deeply, she had promised to protect him, so she would not break her promise..
* * *
And with the appearance of twilight, people gathered around the river carrying flowers filled with wishes, and in a less crowded corner Damian sat in front of the river and beside him a basket full of flowers, his mother looked at him with a warm smile, and with the start of the signal, people began throwing flowers time after time..
Damian, who was throwing his flowers in silence and calm eyes and inside him many thoughts..
' I wish to become stronger and stronger, I want to protect my mother and everyone I love..'
He wished the same wish, while Nyla threw flowers and looked at her child, fearing his disappearance from before her eyes..
* * *
Achoo!!
" I will catch a cold."
The atmosphere was warm despite the beginning of the night, he looked at the river stream which looked like a river of flowers, he wished everyone's wishes would come true, in the past he was confined to wishes, but now he feels somewhat satisfied, he has some wishes but they are things he can achieve..
' I must hurry.'
When he reached the huge castle gate protected strongly by guards, he removed the cover, to reveal honey-colored hair and sky-colored eyes, despite the dust covering his hair and some of his clothes, the guards stopped for a moment then gave their military salute..
" Sir Commander, welcome back.."
" Thank you."
The young man smiled and entered quietly and one of the knights stepped forward to him..
" Mr. Hans told me that you must go to His Majesty upon your arrival.."
" Fine.."
"..."
" Where is Lord Percion?"
" The Supreme Commander went on a mission.."
" Fine, I will go to change my clothes."
The young man headed to the Knights' Order and bathed to look decent, and his appearance had completely changed, he stepped forward to the Archduke's office and before knocking he took a deep breath and knocked on the door, until he heard permission to enter..
" Riley Toria, second assistant to Count Percion and leader of the Lyria unit, greets Your Excellency."
Riley stood with discipline giving his military salute as he looked at the Archduke, who looked at him calmly for a moment then said..
" At ease."
Riley lowered his hand but did not reduce his discipline in his standing, as he passed his eyes over the office and his eyes fell on a strange candy basket that did not look like it belonged in the place, he looked closely and found that there were pieces that had been eaten..
' Does His Majesty like candy?'
He suppressed the question in his heart and looked at the Archduke, waiting for orders..
" What is your report?"
" The border mountains have been almost cleared, we increased the strength of the magic barriers so that monsters do not cross.."
" Good.."
"..."
" Did Karal tell you about your new mission?"
" I haven't received any news.."
" No matter, from now on you will take over the mission of protecting and training.. my heir."
Riley looked with steady eyes at his master, why does he feel that this man resembles his old self in a sarcastic way?
" I follow Your Excellency's orders.."
" Go to rest today and tomorrow you will start your mission.."
Riley left the office and released a deep breath, all he needs today is sleep..
...... To be continued ......