Kenneth found himself running through the rice fields, the familiar scent of earth and open air filling his lungs. He recognized this place instantly—the countryside where he’d grown up before moving to the city. But something felt strange. He was in his child form, laughing and playing with friends, yet his movements felt restricted, as if he were watching from inside his own body, unable to fully control it.
In the distance, he saw his parents standing by the doorway of their home, calling him back. The warm light from the house cast a glow that felt comforting and familiar. As he reached the entrance, his mother smiled and gestured inside. “We have a guest. Go greet him,” she said softly.
Curious, he hurried into the living room, where a figure sat on the sofa, dressed in elegant, noble attire. The man seemed familiar but Kenneth couldn’t quite place him.
“Hello! Nice to meet you…” he began, but his voice sounded distant, almost muffled.
The stranger stood, his gaze locking onto Kenneth’s, an intensity in his eyes that cut through the haze. He stepped closer, bending down so their eyes were level.
“Wake up, kid,” he said, his voice sharp and clear. And with a quick snap of his fingers, the world around Kenneth dissolved in an instant.
Kenneth jolted awake, heart racing as the fragments of his dream settled into place. That guest… the first emperor. Did he just help me break free from the brainwashing?
He blinked, still in his child form, the unfamiliar surroundings reminding him he wasn’t alone. How long had he been under the woman’s spell? I hope this mission wraps up before I revert back.
A small voice interrupted his thoughts. “Are you awake?” Kenneth turned to see a young girl staring at him with wide, curious eyes—Lucy. She looked at him with innocent trust, seeing him only as another kid.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” he replied softly, forcing a reassuring smile.
Lucy tilted her head, a bit of relief brightening her face. “You were sleeping for a long time,” she said, her voice as gentle as her expression.
Kenneth managed a small smile in return. “Yeah, guess I needed it.” He took a quick glance around, his mind calculating as he tried to piece together how long they’d been there. “Do you know how long we’ve been here?” he asked gently.
Lucy shook her head, clutching a small stuffed animal to her chest. “No… but it feels like a long time.”
Kenneth nodded, giving her a steady, reassuring look. “Don’t worry,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “We’ll be okay. Someone will come for us soon.”
A hopeful smile crept onto Lucy’s face. “Will Brother come for us?”
Kenneth let out a soft sigh of relief—thankfully, she hadn’t been affected by the brainwashing.
“Yeah, he will,” he promised.
＊＊＊
In the early morning light, Kenneth scanned his surroundings carefully. The house they were held in was set apart from any signs of life, nestled in an isolated stretch of countryside. I wonder if they'll be able to find us.
“Mother!” a chorus of young voices echoed as the children, all with dazed expressions, ran eagerly to a woman standing at the center of the room. Kenneth’s stomach turned as he watched her, the one who’d brainwashed them all. Swallowing his unease, he forced himself to mimic the others, moving toward her with outstretched arms to avoid suspicion.
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As he hugged her briefly, his eyes darted around, searching.
Where’s Lucy? he thought, noticing she hadn’t joined the rest of them.
His gaze fell back to the woman, who was watching Lucy closely, her eyes glinting with something unsettling.
A chill ran down his spine. He sensed the woman’s focus on Lucy wasn’t casual—it was calculated, almost hungry. He struggled to maintain his expression as he pulled away, his mind racing with possibilities. What does she want with her?
It was bedtime, but Kenneth couldn’t sleep. He lay in bed, staring at the empty spot where Lucy should have been. She hadn’t returned yet.
His mind replayed the unsettling look on the woman’s face earlier, a bad feeling creeping through him. Finally, he slipped out of bed and quietly made his way downstairs.
The house was dark, with only the sound of his small footsteps echoing through the silent hall. As he reached the ground floor, he noticed a faint light spilling from beneath a closed door. Just as he moved closer, he heard a muffled sound—a child’s soft, pained moan.
Heart pounding, Kenneth took a cautious peek through the gap in the door.
Inside, Lucy lay on a table, her small body limp. The woman stood over her, one hand hovering above Lucy’s forehead, her fingers curled as though she were pulling something from within. Her expression was unsettling, a twisted, hungry smile that made Kenneth’s stomach turn.
“Ahh,” the woman murmured, eyes gleaming. “As expected from the Luminel bloodline—such rich pnevma. After feasting on mere Commoners, it’s been ages since I’ve tasted something this… exquisite.”
Kenneth’s hand flew to his mouth, barely stifling his gasp. His chest tightened as he realized the truth—they were extracting pnevma.
Suddenly, a figure in a dark cloak and a mask stepped into view beside the woman. His voice was cold and restrained. “Lust, this wasn’t our agreement. The pnevma you harvest is meant to be sent directly to the Nether Clan.”
The woman, whom Kenneth now knew as Lust, paused in her extraction and moved toward the man. With a sly smile, she traced the back of her hand along his jaw before letting it slide to his neck, her fingers tightening like a vice. “You can take all the others,” she purred, her eyes gleaming with possessiveness, “but she is mine.”
The man gasped, his hands clawing at her grip as he struggled for air. “If I report this to Pride,” he managed, his voice strained, “he won’t overlook it.” His face flushed as her hold tightened, his breaths coming in short, pained gasps.
Lust clicked her tongue in irritation, her hand slipping away from his neck with a sudden, dismissive flick. “Report, then,” she sneered, her tone dripping with disdain. “But we both know Pride wouldn’t waste his time on this.”
Without another glance, she returned to her place beside Lucy, resuming her twisted ritual. Kenneth watched in horror as she placed her hand back on Lucy’s head, her face twisting in a mix of satisfaction and hunger as she drew the pnevma from the helpless child.
Kenneth sank to the floor, trembling. In his current child form, he couldn’t access his fire magic, and facing off against the woman and her accomplice, both radiating dark, oppressive power from the Nether Clan, was out of the question. He clenched his fists, frustration building. We have to find a way out of here, he thought desperately.
Taking a deep breath, he focused his remaining pnevma into his bracelet, sending an erratic pulse of energy—an encoded message that would signal to the outside. It wasn’t much, but he hoped someone would notice the unusual pattern and respond quickly.
A sudden, piercing scream broke through his concentration—Lucy’s voice. Kenneth spun around to peer into the room, just in time to witness a magical seal flare to life around her. The air grew dense as a force exploded outward, slamming both Lust and her accomplice against the walls, rendering them unconscious.
The room fell silent. Heart pounding, Kenneth pushed the door open and cautiously stepped inside. Lucy lay still, her small form surrounded by a faint, shimmering seal.
What just happened? he wondered, his mind racing. Reaching out, he touched the glowing mark above her.
At his touch, the seal dissolved, fading into the air.
Realizing this might be his only chance, he quickly lifted Lucy onto his back. Her head rested against his shoulder, and he adjusted his grip, steadying her weight as best as he could. Casting one last look at the unconscious figures, he slipped out of the room, moving quietly down the hall.
Navigating the dim corridors, Kenneth struggled to maintain his pace, his small body straining under Lucy’s weight. He wanted to run, but his child form limited his strength and speed. Step by step, he made his way to the front gate, his heart pounding with the hope of freedom. But as they neared the exit, he felt an unexpected resistance, and they both stumbled to the ground, held back as if by an invisible barrier.
Breathing heavily, Kenneth gently set Lucy down by the fence wall and cautiously reached out, feeling the air near the gate. His hand met an invisible wall, a barrier blocking their escape. He tried along the fence, searching for an opening, but the barrier extended across every inch.
We can’t escape, he realized with growing dread.