Fren wakes up in an unknown yet familiar room. He stretching up his hands and yawning. Then, he almost jumps up in surprised when he saw his dad, Rizel sleeping in the chair next to him.
“Dad…” Fren mumbled silently, did not want to awake Rizel. He almost tears down when he thought about what happen to him before. He thought he going to die… How did he still alive? He totally did not remember what have happened after he blanks out from the wall impact. He has a memory of a demon Fren but he still cannot help, behaves like 7 years old boy.
-You become too soft Fren.. You should not trust others… Y..You should not be with them.. You are not one of them. It only makes you weak, flawed and fragile…..- a girl sweet soft voice said in Fren mind.
“Where are you??? Who are you?” Fren glancing around searching for the one who speaks to him.
-Y-you forget me? Why??....... I will talk or see you next time.. Bye, little sis or maybe little bro- the voice said sadly before it vanished.
“Wait!!!” Fren unexpectedly yelled which caused Rizel awake.
Rizel keeps blinking when he saw his son, brushing his eyes a few time before sniffing. He quickly embraced Fren.
“I thought I lose you. I glad you alive, my cute lovely adorable sweet little son!!!” Rizel crying. Fren sweatdrops and pushes his father away slowly. To much skin contact make Fren uncomfortable. Then, suddenly Vendrick dashed inside the room.
“Young Master….” Vendrick muttered, quickly kneeling and also sobbing. “I vow to protect Young Master but in the end, I fail my duty. I want to see Young Master before be punish or kill”
“Ven, it is not your fault. He is an S-Rank criminal who use forbidden magic to control people mind. My son also will forgive you. Right?” Rizel said while gazing toward Fren. Rizel knows Ven totally devote himself toward his duty and love Fren like own son. He was the most loyal subordinates he ever has. It quite a waste to lose him."
“What have happened, dad? Did you save me?” Fren asked in confused. Rizel seems surprised and shakes his head.
Rizel honestly did not want to explain something that unclear. When he arrived, Fren already fainted and covered with blood. He found unknown half burnt finger and dark burning mark in the floor. There was blood painted the floor and the wall. He uncertain whether it was his son or someone else done it. There was no witness. It might a traumatic incident for his little son. From registration guild, it was proved that Hilan already dead. His status already vanished.
“No. I am not. Ven, suddenly comes toward me and I found you 5 minutes after I searching the whole mansion. Hilan, son of Duke Hide the one who attacks you died. He was once a most talented Mage and even got the title prodigy since he created a few new spells.” answered Rizel while ruffling Fren hair.
“You know him, dad?” Fren asked again when he saw his father a bit sullen expression.
“I can still remember when he was a small bright child, he will sometimes come toward me nagging or forcing me to teach him something although I usually ignored him...” Rizel said a bit drooped sadly with a paused.
“He suddenly interested in forbidden magic and keep researching on it for 5 years. Then, he obtains the eyes that can control someone mind but, it has negative side effect toward its owner. So, he hides it from others people knowledge. When Cardes(King) and the councils found out about it, they afraid that he will use it to rebel against them. It's pity that he such a good child, the only one among his family. I know he never murdered anyone before, even experimenting the forbidden magic, he uses it on himself. He dedicates himself searching for knowledge. However, he did not realize the sins that his families commit when he was long gone working and researching. Duke Hidea always kidnapped young girls for his own pleasure, torturing them or enjoying killing them afterward. He kept increasing taxes caused many poor civilian in his territory suffered. His wife looked down among people, teaching his son the same and always punished the civilian without any reason. Sometimes she captures a few innocent boys putting them into their hidden prison. There were many complaints about their behavior. I never care about what they did before but, when Duke Hidea trying to assassin my son, he has crossed the line. One day before I without hesitated eliminate Duke Hidea estate, Cardes put a decree to prison Hilan because of his research. They seal his eyes and all his magic. At that times, I did not even realize he was Duke Hidea son and did not even know he was a prisoner. Two years after I found out where he was. When I visited him, he already consumed by his revenge. He thought I betrayed him and making him the criminal so that I can annihilate all of his family. I never thought he can escape with the high security of High Thorn Prison. Killing one of the council. Although he managed to infiltrate Mist Estate, he did not even kill anyone which he capable to. He just put some sleeping dust, make illusion and control some people mind so that no one ever realized”
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“Dad, he hurt me. I thought I already dead.” Fren pouted madly. “It seems like dad really like him, huh?” Fren said after that. It was quite a speech and he never heard his father talking so long about others. Rizel only smiles warmly.
“Even if he was once my favorite people. Harming my child mean our bond already broken.”
Rizel and Fren keep talking for 30 minutes, totally forgot about Ven who still obediently kneeling like a lost puppy.
“Ahh.. Sorry Ven… I forgot” Fren hurriedly ran toward Vendrick and embraced him. Then, Fren patted Vendrick head with his small hand. “It is not your fault Ven. I forgive you. I love you, Ven. I do not want to lose you. Never hurt yourself if you did not want me to be distress. You are one of my precious family” Fren said grinning. Vendrick surprised and felt warm in his heart. Rizel looked a bit jealous.
“Oh, now I wonder, Ven. How are you suddenly in Beast Country all of sudden and found me?” asked Rizel.
FLASHBACK(Ven POV)
“Move away from the Mist estate as fast as you can” Hilan commanded me. I did not know why I obeyed him and running randomly in any direction even above the sea. When I recovered myself, I was in unknown place inside a forest. I ran again in really lightning fast until I found a village.
“Excuse me where am I?” I asked a random cat race women.
“Why are you here? Who are you? You do not suppose to be Black Cat Territory.” the women was surprised when she saw me and her tail stand up showing that she will attack me anytime. Isn’t Black Cat Territory is inside a Beast Country? I asked myself. How come I suddenly in another country. I think I only running about 4 or 5 minutes. I did not bring any teleport talisman and I have a huge trouble on returning back. Young Master was alone. I need to return back.
“Can you tell which direction toward Starlight Country?” I asked but the women only hissed and more cat people were coming toward me.
“I sorry if I offended you,” I said as I vanished from their sight. I did not want to be interrogated by them, it wasting my time and I might never return back to my country. I ran in a random direction and met another clan but being chased out without them answering me. It quite depressing. Then I run again in another random direction and panted hard. It quite exhausting using my special skill to moving fast for a long time. And my mana kept depleting. Suddenly I saw a familiar face who communicate seriously with a few people.
“Master Rizel.. Master Rizel.. Sorry to disturb you.. But, we have a huge problem,” I said bowing, still panting.
“Why are you suddenly here, Ven” Master Rizel was surprised and the others watched me curiously. I walked closely toward Master Rizel and whispered toward him.
“Hilan use some kind of magic toward me. He wanted to kill Young Master. We need to return fast. I did not bring any of my teleport talismans and I did not know where I was”
Master Rizel was shocked and coldly grim. He turned toward me, giving the teleport talisman and immediately vanished. I bowed toward the others who look puzzled and also disappear, returning to Mist estate.
END FLASHBACK
“I feel really grateful that I found Master. It must be a fate. If not I did know how I will return. The citizen in Beast Country really antisocial” Ven explained his experience a bit dramatic. Rizel deadpanned.
“How can you lost and came into Beast Country?!! Normal people usually take 6 months to go there from Mist Territory. Even with your speed, it will take a week!! It is impossible! Did you found a shortcut to Beast Country? Where it is??” Rizel appears in front of Vendrick and shook him violently by the shoulders.
“I…I d..do n..not k..know” Vendrick answered in dizzy.
“Nevermind.” Rizel sighed. If there really a shortcut, it really profitable for him, for his business and his territory. But, if the Beast Country was the one who found it, it favorable for them when they start a war. It quite bothersome.
“Is it really important dad?” Fren asked.
Rizel gazed at his son who stared at him with his big innocent looking eyes. Rizel heart squeal, totally dissipated what he have thinking and in instinct hopped toward his son. But, Fren moves a step to the left caused Rizel to fell down to the floor.
“Why? My little Fren hugged Ven but why not your dad.” Rizel asked emotionally.
“It because… it is you dad” Fren answered quite plainly caused Rizel to be disheartened and like always sulked like a child.
Vendrick chuckled a bit. His master and young master really entertaining to watch when both of them interact.