As the woman knelt before him and he stared directly into her eyes, he was mesmerized by their golden color.

When the shock had worn off, the boy felt the stinging pain return to his arms. The woman inched closer and muttered something to his ear.

"First... Aid..."

Soon, tiny green glowing balls appeared and they then orbited around the boy's injury which slowly closed his wounds.

"T-thank you. U... um..."

(Thud!)

"Miss?!"

"So... tired..."

The woman fell on top of him. So he quickly sprung to check on her but soon relaxes once he saw that she wasn't in any real danger. She may have just needed more time to rest. The human body isn't designed to spontaneously recover and be jumping back into action the next second.

Twenty minutes had passed...

He sat by her and had the woman's head rest on his lap. While contemplating whatever the crimson light that was on the dagger.

"So you were here all along..."

"?!! H-how did?!"

The boy quickly turned his head behind and he saw a man that stood only inches away. He couldn't sense the person despite being in close proximity to him, as there was no sound nor vibration from the ground.

"Anyone will discern where you were if you scream loudly like that."

He thought of that time when he screamed in pain when the sabertooth took hold of his arms with its claws. He slowly removed the woman's head from his lap and grasped for the dagger that was next to him.

The man looked at the dead sabertooth near the boy and the woman, he deduced that the boy was harmless after examining the dagger and the boy's shaking figure. Then the man quickly lunged forward and when the boy went to slash him, he gracefully maneuvers behind and holds the boy's hand up containing the dagger.

"Drop it or I'll break your arm."

"Tch."

Clicking his tongue the boy lets go of the knife.

"Good, what's your name boy?"

"... Matthew..." [Matthew]

"Lionel." [Lionel]

"I don't get the reason why you needed to know my name." [Matthew]

"We'll be keeping each other company for a short while so I find it less troublesome to always call you a kid or boy." [Lionel]

"Keeping me company?" [Matthew]

"I'm taking you to the Emperor." [Lionel]

"The Emperor?!" [Matthew]

When the man mentioned Emperor. Matthew felt rage surge from inside of him.

"You people... it's because of you that my mother was!!" [Matthew]

"I have no idea what you are speaking of. We are only tasked by the Emperor to take you to him." [Lionel]

"Fuck you and the Emperor!" [Matthew]

"Stop struggling or else I will have to kill that woman over there." [Lionel]

"So you're going to kill the person who saved me just now? Hah! You of all people should be thankful that I'm still alive because of her!" [Matthew]

As if sensing something, Lionel focused on his surroundings. Then, people started to slowly appear around them, one by one in different directions.

"Heh, I was right, if anyone were to get the kid it would-be leader."

"Grant." [Lionel]

"Hey, Hughes! You owe me a drink!" [Grant]

"Yeah-yeah." [Hughes]

Looking somewhat annoyed Hughes shooed away Grant who put his arm over his shoulder. After moving out from cover Artemis noticed the woman.

"I thought that she was dead?" [Artemis]

"All of us did. Maybe it had something to do with why the Emperor wanted him to be captured." [Lionel]

"Still this cut though..." [Hughes]

Hughes examines the remains of the sabertooth.

"Do you think that this person is a professional fighter?" [Grant]

"Even a talented individual would have trouble making a cut as clean as this." [Lionel]

"How about magic?" [Artemis]

"Possibly so... there is a small trace of it in the area." [Lynnette]

From behind a tree Lynnette exclaimed as she moved out into the open.

"You're late Lynn." [Artemis]

"My apologies Emi, physical stuff isn't exactly my strong point." [Lynnette]

"See, I told you to get a lighter robe." [Artemis]

With tons of sweat pouring down her face, Lynnette gets teased by Artemis.

"But Emi I love this one because it's very comfy whenever I fall asleep." [Lynnette]

"You really do love sleeping don't you?" [Artemis]

"My line of work also demands adequate rest." [Lynnette]

"Alright, I get it jeez..." [Artemis]

"Lynnette, can you prepare on sending us back?" [Lionel]

"On it, please give me twelve minutes." [Lynnette]

As Lynnette began to cast her spell, Hughes took a rest by leaning on a tree and Lionel examined what seemed like a map, while Artemis sat beside Matthew.

"Damn I never noticed that she had a nice figure once you got close enough." [Grant]

Seeing that everyone is doing their thing Grant walked up to the woman.

"Get away from her!" [Matthew]

"Easy, I won't do anything bad." [Grant]

Grant moved the woman's hair to get a clear look at her face.

"Oh, aren't ya a cutie." [Grant]

"Listen to the boy and move away from her you letch." [Artemis]

In an instant, the temperature dropped below freezing. Grant peeked at Artemis who was now staring daggers into him.

"Knock it off you two. Cant, you see that you're giving Matthew a hard time breathing?" [Lionel]

"Matthew?" [Artemis/Grant]

Once they understood who Lionel was referring to they had both stopped.

"Hahhh... w-was... that... killing intent?" [Matthew]

As if he was just released from his bind, Matthew wheezed.

"I apologize, my comrades don't know how to hold themselves back." [Lionel]

"I've finished casting." [Lynnette]

Lynnette calls them over raising her hand.

"Everyone huddle up!" [Lionel]

"What about the woman?" [Artemis]

"We'll bring her with us, she may prove to be useful." [Lionel]

"Alleyup! Oh! She's light as a feather, unlike someone that I knew of." [Hughes]

Hughes picks up and carries the woman over his shoulder and then made a joke.

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"I heard that the mud here tastes different, do you want to try some of it, Hughes?" [Lynnette]

"Uh, sorry no thank you..." [Hughes]

Hughes' face turned blue when Lynnette threatened him. He knew that she wasn't joking and that she would do it in a heartbeat if challenged.

"Guys let's go! I'm hungry and tired!" [Grant]

"... ... ... Transfer!!" [Lynette]

"W-wh?!" [Matthew]

The floor had suddenly lit up in a violet color and at their feet lay multiple spinning magic circles. Before Matthew was able to finish his sentence the magic circles made a blinding flash and all seven of them had disappeared...

Opening his eyes it was somewhat dark, he stepped forward and felt the floor beneath them has now changed from soft earth to hard stone. When his sight adjusted, he saw soldiers that were lined up in formation, they were in an enclosed corridor.

"The captain has returned!"

A soldier greeted Lionel's group with a salute. When Lionel raised his hand the soldier gave way for them.

"Where... are we?" [Matthew]

"Herxheim, to be accurate at the castle of the Empire's capital." [Artemis]

Matthew couldn't believe that they were in the capital so he rubbed his eyes to make sure that it was not all an illusion. The corridor is massive with paintings at the sidewalls and also on the roof.

"How did we get here?! Weren't the capital three months away from where we were!" [Matthew]

"It is because of our good ol magician here." [Grant]

"Huff... hahh... flattery... will get you... nowhere... Grant..." [Lynnette]

"Complain later, here take my shoulder." [Grant]

"... Thanks..." [Lynnette]

Grant supported Lynnette who was breathing heavily and sweating profusely. She became really exhausted from using that single spell alone.

"Sorry, Lionel." [Lynnette]

Lionel nods and Grant helped Lynnette back to her room. In his mind, if there were any alternative to Lynnette's spell he would use that to lessen the burden on his fellow subordinate.

"Artemis, Hughes. Can you also take the two of them to a room? The woman still doesn't seem well and Matthew is probably hungry from all that running." [Lionel]

"Alright." [Artemis]

"Roger that captain." [Hughes]

"What do you mean by?!" [Matthew]

Matthew tried to rebuke him but his empty stomach growled turning his face bright red.

Lionel left the group and went to the throne room. He saw that it is almost empty except for a single person.

There was an old man sitting by the table beside the throne. On the table were old brown papers and a tome, it seems fragile enough that even flipping the pages will tear it apart. It was written in a language that Lionel cannot decipher, although he can recognize a few symbols which are from magic circles.

"Good evening, Malik may I request an audience with the Emperor?" [Lionel]

"Same to you Lionel. Sorry but I'll have to decline, for now, the Emperor is currently residing within his quarters. He mentioned that he may only be disturbed if it is urgent or if there was an emergency." [Malik]

"I see... if you meet him tomorrow please tell him that we have the boy." [Lionel]

"Ahh, he will surely be pleased. I will inform him as soon as possible." [Malik]

"Thank you, Malik I will now take my leave." [Lionel]

Malik just silently flips a page as Lionel left the room.

~~~Matthew~~~

Artemis and that big guy whose name is Hughes if I remember correctly left me and the woman in a vacant room. It was complete with a bed, wardrobe and a window that is almost 40-60 feet high and a metallic door thick enough to prevent an escape. There is also a dining table filled with exquisite dishes.

To be honest, I expected that I would be treated badly because they were after me. I knew that they were only treating me like this because they were after my mother's work, but I wouldn't let them have it that easily. Mom dedicated her whole life on it and I will not let some other people take credit for what she had done. Especially since they are the sole reason for my mother's...

"Mmn..."

The woman who saved me woke up on the bed. She was brought there earlier by Hughes.

"Who are you?"

Prepping herself up she posed a question.

"I am Matthew, thank you very much for saving me from that sabertooth earlier..." [Matthew]

"Oh, Welcome Matthew my name is Angelica." [Angelica]

I think that Angelica is a good person since she saved me. If it were some other people they may have already turned tail and ran...

"Can I ask where I am?" [Angelica]

"We are inside the Herxheim castle... at the capital city Herxheim of the Asta Empire..." [Matthew]

"Wait... Asta Empire?" [Angelica]

"Uh, yes..." [Matthew]

"How close exactly is the capital from the Pilapil Mountains?" [Angelica]

"You're from Pilapil? How did you get t-" [Matthew]

"Please answer the question." [Angelica]

With a serious look, she interrupts me. She seemed to be distressed about something.

"About three months away..." [Matthew]

"THREE MONTHS?!!" [Angelica]

When I said how far we were she became even more confused...

"Well, to give you a short explanation. While I was running from some people I found you by the border, you were floating in the river and I rescued you from the brink of death. Then when you fell unconscious after saving me and we got captured then brought here by a magician using magic." [Matthew]

She can probably piece together what had happened from there...

"Hah... thank God... I thought that I was in a coma for three months or something..." [Angelica]

"Coma?" [Matthew]

"Nevermind... so... you were being chased by someone... have you... don-" [Angelica]

"I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING BAD!" [Matthew]

She was taken aback when I shouted at her. I wouldn't blame her for my sudden outburst, people usually just jump to conclusions.

"Sorry... it's just that... I've had my circumstances..." [Matthew]

"... Ok, I won't delve any further." [Angelica]

(Growl...)

"Hungry?" [Matthew]

She blushed as held her stomach with both of her hands. To break the awkwardness I offered her a plate of pork asado.

After biting off a small piece, she wiped the plate clean in merely a second... I never knew that there is another person much hungrier than I was...

I'll take this time to rest and recharge while I plan for my next escape.