"Verano, Verano!" shouted Marzia as she pushed open the gates to the castle's mead hall. She faced wall after wall of people standing and discussing. "Excuse me, excuse me," she slithered through the crowd. "Verano? Verano, are you there?"

"Here's for my nephew Verano, hahaha!" Laughed Mario raising a mug. "I'm such a great trainer that even a desert boy will leave bending fire!"

"Sorry to interrupt," bowed Marzia as she touched Verano's shoulder and leaned in to whisper at his ears. Her hands trembled. "Verano, something horrible just happened. I need you to come with me."

"Excuse me, Uncle Mario." Said Verano standing up from the mead hall's table. 

"See you, kid!"

Marzia pulled Verano behind a pillar.

"I can't find Arnaud anywhere," she said. "He’s been missing ever since everyone left the dirt field."

"You've really checked his bedroom, the kitchen; anywhere Arnaud likes being around?"

"Yes, everywhere. No sign of him. But a watch guard said that he saw a boy running into the Hanged Doll's Woods. Thought it was a peasant."

"Damn it, I should've talked to him." Snorted Verano tightening his fists. ”I got carried on with the emotion of bending. He must have felt horrible."

"Should we talk to our dad?"

"Not yet, let's look for him. If dad finds out what happened, the forest will seem nice compared to what he's gonna do to Arnaud."

"I agree." She frowned. “I hope it’s not too late.”

"Hey, don't worry, Arnaud has too much weight to carry.” Verano rubbed his belly. “He's probably not far. We'll find him, alright?"

She lifted her scowl and joined him in his optimism:

"Let's go!"

Marzia and Verano walked through the hallways of the castle and searched a way outside.

Yet a voice echoed from the Duke's chambers and robbed the boy of his attention.

"The news travelled fast that an adopted son of obvious eastern traits bended fire. Is that right?" Spoke a young man wearing holy vests. He had a bowl haircut. "The bishop is curious. This event is unheard of."

"Maybe he had a firebender as a parent?" Replied the Duke without much interest. He bathed in cold water to heal from the burn wound from Verano's attack. "Duchess Livia never told me much about how she found him. Being eccentric as she is, I've always thought he had been kidnapped."

 "May I request an immediate audience with your wife then, Duke de Sforza?"

"Not in a million years. If the Bishop is so interested in my son, he will have to come personally. I do not talk to mailboys."

"Sir, I’m legate of the Church of Heaven’s Shrine. I’ve never met with such disrespect--"

Verano wondered if both men talked about him and old doubts about his past in his heart. He ceased to move.

"Come, Verano, I got the door open!" Called Marzia. “What you waiting for?”

“A-Alright!” Said Verano swinging his head and following his sister.

Both siblings left the castle and ran towards the woods. An eerie breeze crawled from the sea and sprung into the forests as if the wilds invited them in.

"Let's go in?" Asked Marzia as she noticed her brother faltered.

"I'm-" He blushed. "I'm a bit scared of the dark."

"I'll..." Marzia opened and closed her right hand until a flame appeared. "I'll have this."

"Better not. Spirits will think we came to burn their forest. It'll be worse," faltered Verano. "I hate places like this.

"We'll go together," smiled Marzia holding his hand. "I'll keep you safe, alright?"

“Alright.”

They wandered in the wilderness together.

 "Arnaud!" Yelled Verano as he roamed the wild. His eyes roamed his surroundings without resting. "Arnaud?"

His voice roamed the forest without answer. They had to go deeper.

"I'm starting to lose the direction from which we came from..."

"Marzia, please don't say things like that..." Faltered Verano swallowing dry and crossing his arms as he searched his surroundings.

"Never thought I'd see you scared of anything. Generally I am the nerve-wreck--"

They heard Arnaud's voice:

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Verano! Marzia! Here!"

"You heard that?" Recoiled Marzia pointing at the horizon. "It came from over there. Let's go, Verano!"

They walked into a dark swamp. A thin veil of mist hovered over the ground.

"Arnaud, are you around here?" Asked Verano.

"Verano? Is that you? I'm here!" Replied the boy. He was inside a dark pit. A white mantle of webs surrounded him.

"Thank Heavens we found you!" Sighed Marzia with a hand on her heart as she rushed to save him. "Come on, let me take you outta there-"

Her leg was stuck. She could not move.

"W-What is this?" Asked Marzia as she struggled to set herself free. A carpet of spider webs paved the swamp. "Verano, stay away from us!"

Verano waited by the edge of the place and searched for a way to see them free.

"Damn it, this looks like a Spider-Bettle's nest..." Faltered Marzia looking around. "Why didn't you tell us about the webs before, Arnaud? When you were calling for our help?"

"B-But I never called you!" Arnaud Jr frowned.

“Then who did?”

Verano pulled a knife out of his vests.

"Catch it, Marzia!" 

She picked the blade and freed her feet. She walked to Arnaud Jr's cocoon to cut through the webs with the blade.

"T-This is all my fault, I know," sobbed Arnaud Jr. "I'm always causing trouble and you guys always suffer for it. I thought that maybe if I went into the woods and felt like my life were on stake, something could happen. All I did was falling in a pit and dragging you guys with me. Like always…" He ranted. "Even Verano can bend. I’m always the useless one.”

"Don't worry, Arnaud." Verano narrowed his eyes at him and Marzia as she still tried to free the boy. "It could be much worse-"

"Behind you, Verano!" Shouted Arnaud. A pair of red eyes hovered over his brother.

A spider-bettle descended from the trees and thrusted its mouth against Verano's back.

"Get down, Verano!" Yelled Marzia as she kicked the air and a blaze flew against the monster's eyes.

Verano rolled away and the disoriented spider-beetle dove its jaw against the ground.

"Nice kick..." Gasped the boy while glancing at Marzia.

She had a hand on her heart as if the flame had exhausted her.

Her fire had turned the spider-beetle into a moving torch. Yet the creature walked towards them without showing any sign of pain.

"H-How is it not dead?" Asked Verano taking the blade from his sister and hurrying to free Arnaud.

"These spider-beetles are used to Firebending, argh-" Explained Marzia falling on her knees. She breathed heavy. The fire had exhausted her. "We've hunted them so much that a couple lineages with fireproof shells multiplied."

"This is too thick, this sword might break before the web." Verano gritted his teeth as he thrusted his blade and pummeled fire into the webs wrapped around Arnaud. He grew desperate.

The flame's around the spider-beetle faded and the animal tackled the group.

"Quick, get-" Faltered Arnaud Jr. He swallowed his fears as he saw the creature’s ominous presence about to trample his family. "Get away, you guys! This is all my fault and you don't have to suffer for that!"

Verano ignored him and faced the advancing monster.

"Marzia, try cutting Arnaud free and prepare a flame." He ordered.

"Fire won't hurt the spider, I told you--"

"Don't fire at him." He glanced at her. "Fire at the sky."

"I get it." She nodded.

The spider-beetle tackled Verano. The boy jumped and thrusted both legs and arms downwards in the hopes that a flame would propel his jump. Yet he faltered as the stench of death from the approaching creature filled his nose and the monster’s eerie eyes stared into his soul. He lacked the experience to break through the shackles of fear. The spider-beetle’s horn mauled his chest and sent him diving against the ground.

"I got it!" Yelled Marzia cutting Arnaud free. "Run, Arnaud, run!"

She turned around to assist Verano who could not move. He laid down with a hand on his ribs as the spider-bettle prepared to sink its teeth in his flesh.

"Here!" She threw a fire jab against the creature. “Let him be—“

The monster turned around and rose a paw to send Marzia flying against a tree. She mauled her chest against a tree trunk and rolled down unconscious.

"Marzia, no!" Shouted Verano. He still saw Arnaud from the corner of his eyes. "And what're you still doing here? Run away! Argh--" He fought the pain to stand up and throw a rock at the creature that approached his sister. "Fight me!"

The spider-beetle pulled the web littering the ground and the earth beneath Verano shook. He fell on his backs and the circuit of webs paving the ground captured his body.

"I can't..." Arnaud faltered as he watched his brother fall. Tears rolled down his cheek. "I-I can't just run away..."

"Argh, this is disgusting--" Groaned Verano as the spider-beetle pulled the web and dragged him to its mouth. He contorted himself and threw blazes at the monster. "It's not working!" Verano gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes at Arnaud Jr. "Arnaud, don't just watch! Get away from here!"

"All I need is air in my lungs and a desire in my mind..." Arnaud whispered the words from Mario to himself. He swung his head and took a loud step ahead. "Enough," he shouted as he ran towards the monster. "I'm don't wanna be a pushover! I am a warrior!"

"No, Arnaud, get away from here!" Shouted Verano.

Arnaud breathed a wall of fire against the spider-beetle. The flames spread through the forest and devoured trees and branches. Wood rained on the inflamed monster. 

The fire consumed the webs imprisoning Verano.

"Yes, Arnaud, keep going!" He yelled as he rose from the ground and ran to rescue Marzia. "Come on, let's get way!"

"One moment..." Arnaud fell on the floor and gasped. "I need air. Air!"

"There is only smoke here--" Verano coughed. "Let's get out, now!"

 They ran from the spider-beetle's swamp as if the earth burned. Marzia laid unconscious over Verano's shoulders.

"I think..." Faltered Verano as he found a hollow tree trunk far away from the swamp. He gasped loud. "I think it's safe here."

Arnaud threw himself on the ground and let the air fill his lungs.

"Oh, yeah, definitely!" 

"Marzia's too heavy. What's she been eating?"

Her head rose faster than lightening.

"Am I what?" She asked.

"An uptight bore." Replied Arnaud.

Both brothers chuckled.

"D-Did I miss something? My chest hurts so much..." She laid the right hand on her ribs. "Why are you two idiots happy? What did I miss?"

"It's Arnaud, sis," smiled Verano. "He's awesome."

"That's a bit too much..." Arnaud rolled his eyes. "I'd say much above average."

A voice spoke without sound:

"You three are not done playing with me yet."

Verano and Arnaud sprung off the ground. They searched their surroundings.

"Did you two hear that?" Asked Arnaud. "Is it--"

"The Hanged Doll. The Spirit that rules these woods. Don't let your guard down!" Ordered Marzia as she stood up and joined them.

Smoke escaped through the trees' crowns far away. Strings emerged from the leaves and pulled the spider-bettle like a puppet.

"You three are so much fun," the voice spoke again. "Especially you, Old Spirit."

"Old Spirit?" Faltered Verano.

"It's coming our way!" Shouted Marzia. "Too fast for us to run!"

Verano took a step ahead.

"We stay and fight," he rose his fists. "It's the only way."

The spider-beetle’s steps shook the earth. The creature sprung at the three siblings yet a blaze in the shape of a blade's tip impaled the animal against the ground.

"F-Father?" Asked Arnaud Jr turning around to see his father, the Duke Arnaud de Sforza, in full armor and mounted on Scheherazade, his lion-lizard. A blade weighed in his right hand.

“Don’t you ever,” the man faltered. He could not hide the relief of seeing his son again. “Ever do this again.”