– You know … it could be worse. – Gerard took a sip of liquor and returned the glass to the desk – It is not as if it was the last corner of the world … there are businesses to manage, and a good group of subordinates. If you get used to the methods … you can sleep in peace, just like a baby.
– ………
He got up with his hands behind his and circled the desk slowly as he continued to speak.
– With my cultivation … Should I be an important subordinate in the capital, or continue to control a city on my own? – He questioned, although his tone indicated that no option satisfied him – At least, that is the question that most would have in my position. Curiously, for me there is another question, a doubt that has continued to torment me for years to the point of interrupting sleep.
– ………
He stood in front of his desk and leaned his body towards the silent teenager sitting there.
– What the hell is in that forest? – He demanded with a cold expression.
– Do I really have to repeat that I have no idea what you’re talking about?
Bran was sitting without any ties, for the obvious uselessness of trying to escape. At least that mysterious phenomenon so far seemed to have calmed down and the clarity had partially returned to him.
– Ha ha … boy. I have to admit, you sound really convincing. But … what a shame for you. In the last hour the forest went mad as if a damn switch had been turned on. Each span is being scrutinized without success, and “coincidentally” a transport arrives together with the phenomenon with a person who is affected. And you mean you don’t know anything about what’s going on?
– Wow … you understood perfectly … – he joked, in a bad mood.
– Enough! If you think that we will go for good because you are a child … you are in the wrong place … – gesturing towards the entrance.
~ Bumb
At that moment, the strange pulse swept again in all directions.
– Aaahhhhh! dam … n! …
Identically to the previous one, everyone felt it, but Bran was the only one really affected. He held his head and again words began to seep in mixed with a tearing pain.
– Incredible … – exclaimed Gerard, with his expectant eyes – Ah? …
– ……?
Both Bran and his captor were again surprised. For whatever reason, the strange pulse had stopped as fast as it started. The pain faded in response, but a few words were strongly echoing in his mind. This time they were his own.
What the hell is going on…?
–
–
– Those bad guys … Where are you taking brother?
– Everything will be fine, trust me. Those vandals will get what they deserve and we will rescue him. – Airy comforted holding tightly that emblem – It’s true … the driver …
She stepped forward and found out what she feared. The man was unconscious, although without serious injuries. She tried to revive him with little success in the middle of the recent night.
She temporarily gave up to return to the cabin with a worried expression.
– Little Quin, we will wait until the next transport comes. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of …
Silence.
– ……… !! – she came out again with agitation – Quin! … Where are you ?!!
–
–
– Emmm … Where am I?
Little Quin bowed her head. She had gone down for a moment to investigate the shiny thing on the side of the road, but what seemed to be really close was never within reach.
The good news was that she had finally found the source of the glow, under a small ravine. The bad news was that she had no idea how she got there.
– This is not OK. And that Ms. light … is so elusive … – she complained, putting her hands on her waist.
She poked her head through the ravine, but there was nothing but dirt, grass, and rocks. Nothing like a magical and shiny plant. Yet just below her was the source of all the light, a blinding glow that invited her small body to come closer without fail.
– It must be the treasure that brother talked about … – she declared convinced – If I get it … maybe the bad guys will return him to me …
Crack!
A noise in her back startled her and she turned toward the origin. A few meters between the trees she saw not one but several white wolves staring at her.
– Hehe … H-Hello? … N-Nice night … – she greeted awkwardly, as she instinctively backed away, not realizing that she had nowhere to back off.
~ Swish
– Wooooh! Waaaaaaaa! …
Before she could react she found herself falling without a brake, rolling and sliding down the steep slope. Her body was hit several times along the way and when she reached the bottom she had won wounds on her arms, and a mark on her forehead.
– Ouch !, Ouch. Buuuu … it hurts!
She arched her small body trying to get up, while that intense glow illuminated everything around her.
– Buuu … mister treasure. It’s all your fault … – she claimed, pointing towards the light source.
~ Bumb
As if responding to her complaints, a new pulse was emitted for brief moments until suddenly everything died down and a silent darkness flooded the forest in her eyes for the first time.
– Huh? …
This state lasted for a few moments until a light source emerged again, only it was as faint as a small spot on earth. Before Quin could react to these changes, the earth suddenly rose up and that point of light came out in the form of a circular object, traveling through the air exactly in her direction.
– Weeeeee …?
She barely managed to cover herself with her hands while the object hit the center of her palm with total precision and braked instantly. At the mere touch, the faint golden aura that this emitted was spread throughout her body, and the blood in her hands was avidly drawn to the object.
Although at this point Quin could no longer hear it, submerged in some kind of trance, a soft woman’s voice with a slight mechanical tone began to be heard.
|| Carrier detected. General analysis.
Age: 2788 days.
Female gender.
Estimated compatibility: ……… ||
Silence.
|| Is this what fate means? Master, you are really hopeless ||
Silence.
|| Injured carrier. Moderate damage. Initiating measures ||
Silence.
|| Body fusion: Denied. Active functions: Denied. Passive functions: Authorized at 5%. Small and useless carrier in recovery. Forced regeneration: Single authorization ||
Silence.
|| Active potential: Null. Redundant supervision. Returning to suspend mode ||
Silence.
After an indeterminate time, Quin blinked weakly. Opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was the darkness subtly cradled by the soft moonlight.
– Buaaa … take it away. Bad treasure … huh? ……?
She scratched her head, tilting it in confusion. She was supposed to be under attack and injury, which hurt a lot. But, it was perfectly fine. Even her clothes were not torn.
An illusion?
– Mmmmmm? …
However, when investigating the cold sensation that came from her hand, she discovered a white and gold medallion resting impassively. She thought she remembered something similarly, before passing out.
– Emm … this certainly is not a fruit. – She raised it, curious – It is definitely a super treasure. Hey! I must return … Mission accomplished! Brother will be fine!
Some would think that there was something wrong with her head. Where others would be scared, traumatized or confused, the little girl seemed unable to lose heart for more than a few moments regardless of the situation.
Excitedly clinging to the medallion, she turned to find a way up, but she quickly stopped in her tracks. There, where there should only be a little dirt, grass and stone, an elegant young man watched her calmly with his hands behind his back.
