Chapter 28: Shocking News (2)
POV Abel:
"They're back!... The reinforcements have returned!"
Sister Milly's voice echoed loudly throughout the room.
I immediately stood up. My heart was pounding fiercely, so fast it felt like it wanted to leap out of my chest.
"They... they returned!?" I asked in disbelief.
Sister Milly nodded quickly, still slightly breathless.
"Yes! They just arrived at the east gate! Quickly, we have to hurry!"
I didn't wait for further explanation. Without a second thought, I ran out of the room. Luna followed right behind me. The sound of our footsteps echoed in the long hallway of the orphanage.
Mia and Kyle exchanged confused glances, then ran after us.
"Sister Milly! What do you mean by reinforcements!? And why does everyone look so tense!?" Mia yelled, trying to keep up.
Milly didn't answer, only saying shortly without turning, a few tears welling up in her eyes, "You will know soon enough."
The night air was bitingly cold as we left the orphanage. The street lights shone faintly.
A few minutes later, we arrived near the gate. Kyle and Mia, who were unaware of the situation, were slightly breathless, their faces tense even though they didn't know what had happened.
In the distance, several shadowy figures of a group of people walked under the moonlight, two of them supporting someone. The group consisted of seven people.
It was them. The adventurers sent to the forest as reinforcements. Their faces were all grim.
I quickened my pace. "He... is with them, right?" I whispered, my breath catching in my throat, trying to hold back tears and screams.
But as we got closer... my steps began to slow. Something was wrong. I didn't see the white-haired figure.
I started to sob, praying that the thought in my mind wouldn't come true. Then, when we were close enough to them.
I stopped completely. My breath froze.
The person they were supporting walked forward despite his wounds—that person was the knight commander who protected me—Marcus. His body was covered in wounds and dry blood.
"Holy Maiden... I have returned... but..."
"But?" My voice trembled.
Marcus stared at me for a long time, then shook his head weakly. "Nine knights fell... and a white-haired boy—" Before he finished speaking, I shouted at him loudly.
"Where is he!!?"
"H-He—"
"Answer me quickly! Where is he!?" I snapped even louder. Luna, seeing me like that, held my shoulder.
"Abel, calm down—!"
"How can I be calm, huh!? Ren hasn't returned! It's Ren, I'm talking about, Luna!! Hik, hik!" I cried out loudly.
"..." Luna fell silent. Then the voices of Mia and Kyle were heard behind me.
"W-What do you mean, Abel! Ren is missing!?" Mia asked loudly.
"Please explain further, old man!!" Kyle asked, slightly calmer. Mia, Milly, and I simultaneously turned towards the old man.
The old man, Marcus, let out a rough and heavy sigh, finally able to speak. He was nearly out of energy.
"...That boy... He was taken by... the Demon Sword, Himmel Logan." He said softly.
Hearing that, the adventurers, who had been silent until now, widened their eyes in shock. They all looked at each other.
"The Demon Sword!? No way, right??" asked one of them.
"People say he's a monster in human form..." said another.
"I don't know him, but that title alone gives me the chills!"
Those words felt like a physical blow to all of us. The world suddenly felt frozen. My eyes widened. Not just mine; Luna, Milly, Mia, and Kyle all froze.
No one dared to speak. The night wind blowing made the torches on the wall flicker, and our shadows danced on the damp ground.
"...The Demon Sword, Himmel Logan..." The words kept ringing in my head. I didn't know him, but it seemed like that person was very powerful to be given that title.
I stared at Marcus in disbelief. "What... did you just... say?"
Marcus lowered his head, his voice hoarse and trembling. "That boy... He was severely injured. But he was still alive... Then that man took him away."
My hands clenched tightly until my nails dug into my skin. "So you let him!? You let Ren be taken away!?"
Marcus looked at me with tired and remorseful eyes. "The Demon Sword... his power is not something just anyone can fight. He's almost on par with the Holy Sword himself, even if his rank is lower."
I almost screamed, but my voice wouldn't come out. My body trembled, holding back my emotions. Luna held my shoulder tightly from behind, trying to calm me, but it only made my chest tighter.
"Why... why did it have to be him..." I murmured softly, tears continuing to fall uncontrollably.
Kyle stepped forward, his voice heavy. "The Demon Sword... is he dangerous?"
Marcus looked at him, then replied softly, "That man... he's not just dangerous. He's a living legend, the butcher of tens of thousands of demons in the war."
Hearing that, we all tensed up. Mia's legs trembled slightly as she hid behind Milly, as if afraid the name would devour her.
Marcus slowly raised his hand, "But relax, he's a good person—maybe, and he said he would take that child as his disciple."
Kyle stumbled hearing that. All of us, including the adventurers, were no better. One of the adventurers said quietly.
"Becoming the disciple of the Demon Sword? How talented is that kid?"
Marcus sighed, trying to stand up, but Sister Milly held him back. "Just sit down..." she said with a sad smile.
Marcus sighed in resignation. I, still shedding tears, spoke to him, "Alright... But, will we be able to meet him again?" I asked softly.
"I don't know..." Marcus replied quietly. "But I'm sure you and he will definitely meet again. But he might be different then; he will surely change into someone incredibly powerful."
Marcus shivered, remembering the boy's power. Even though he was still young, he already possessed terrifying strength. Just imagining him returning with far greater power was enough to make him feel faint.
Hearing that, I was stunned. 'He's right. If I'm strong, I can stand by his side. If I'm strong, I can do anything for him. And if I can have him all to myself without anyone interfering.'
A small smile slowly appeared on my lips, even as tears still fell. "You're right... I just need to become strong, or even the strongest, to be with him..."
Kyle, Mia, Milly, and Luna were no different. Kyle wanted to become strong to defeat him when they met again.
Mia wanted to become strong so Ren would continue to praise and spoil her.
Milly wanted to become strong to protect Ren so that no unwanted incident would befall him.
And Luna wanted to become strong to protect her Holy Maiden.
The five of them were determined to become strong with their respective intentions, but they didn't know what kind of power the white-haired boy would possess in the future—the boy who was now lying in a wooden house, far from the central city and the Empire.
.....
[Author's Note]
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