They stepped into the village, only to find the rhythm of life there tinged with a strange unsettling air. Some were selling their wares in the small markets, others were buying in a frantic hurry, while the children had disappeared entirely. The streets were devoid of their laughter and running; instead, they were hidden behind windows and bolted doors. The villagers' faces were taut, their eyes darting in their sockets, carrying a hidden terror as if something sinister were lurking in the shadows.
Luce approached a pale-faced woman, her eyes overflowing with anxiety, and said in a calm but firm voice: "Are you alright, lady?"
The woman did not respond; she took refuge in a long silence as if the words had petrified in her throat, her eyes fixed on the ground. Luce tried again, with a gentler voice: "Please… speak to me, are you okay?"
The woman struggled against her fear until the dam of silence finally broke. In a voice trembling and choked with tears, she whispered: "The guards… they are taking the children… they claim a disease is spreading… and everyone who goes with them… never returns… they took my only daughter…"
Then she continued, her voice fragmented by intense stress: "They are moving the children away… there is a rumor about a plague affecting the young…" The woman burst into heavy sobbing, her tears tracing paths on her pale face: "They took my daughter… please…"
Anger ignited in Luce's chest, and he gritted his teeth harshly: "Lady… where did they take the children? And since when?"
The woman replied, her voice shaking: "They just took my daughter… and a few children of the village… there was a mysterious person wearing a black cloak following the guards… he promised me he would return my daughter and all the children…"
Luce took a step forward, his eyes burning with rage, while Jasmin stood beside Erold, her heart beating fast, realizing that the apparent calmness of the village was nothing but a fragile mask hiding a coming storm.
Erold asked the woman for descriptions of the mysterious person. She said while wiping her tears: "I didn't see his features… except for a clear scar on his mouth…" Then she pointed with a trembling finger toward the direction they took: "That way…"
Luce sped off toward the direction she pointed, shouting: "Let's go, Erold!"
Erold lifted Jasmin lightly to place her on Utma's back, grabbed the reins, and shouted: "Move, Utma!"
Utma shot off like an arrow. Erold approached Luce and reached out his hand to pull him up behind him on the horse's back, and they tore through the ground toward the unknown individual. Luce said, gritting his teeth: "We must return the children, Erold!"
Erold, with focus: "You know that is exactly what's on my mind."
They approached the site to find the soldiers lying on the ground unconscious. In the center stood the cloaked individual, holding one of the guards and nearly finishing him off, muttering angrily: "My God… more guards! They kidnapped another girl, you bastards!"
Erold whispered to Luce: "It seems he thinks we are the enemies…"
But before he could finish his sentence, the unknown person attacked them with lightning speed, the blade of his sword passing right by Erold's eyes. Erold glimpsed a ripple in the air around the attacker's feet, so he leaped off Utma's back gracefully. Erold shouted: "Take Jasmin and go secure the children, Luce!"
Luce, concerned: "Fine… but will you be alright alone?"
Erold replied confidently: "Don't worry, I'm not alone…" then he whispered within: "Did you hear me, Arthur?" The reply came immediately: "Yes, I heard you."
Luce headed with Utma toward the wagon holding the children, but he suddenly noticed that the horse's movement had become unnaturally slow and heavy. The mysterious person said coldly: "The horse is not to blame… nor is the girl."
Suddenly, he directed his attack toward Luce, launching an arc of compressed air, saying: "You will die quickly… don't worry!"
Luce blocked the attack with his sword with difficulty and shouted: "Damn this gravity… it's slowing my movement!"
The unknown man praised him, saying: "Well done, man… even with the immense weight on your body, you managed to block my attack. But don't you dare move, or the gravity will increase!"
Luce fell off Utma's back under the weight of the pressure. The unknown person said: "The gravity on you is increasing… as for the horse and the girl, their weight is light; they will return with me to the village."
The stranger turned to see Erold lunging directly at him. Erold shouted in a firm voice: "Don't you dare hurt them! Let's talk first!"
But his opponent gave him no time and attacked him fiercely. Erold parried from the right and left with swift, precise movements. With every clash of swords, enthusiasm ignited within him, as if every attack increased his strength and resolve.
The man did not want to talk; instead, he increased the pace of his attacks and suddenly rose into the air, launching three air arrows toward Erold. Erold dodged two skillfully and blocked the third with his sword, saying with a mixture of amazement and respect: "A Mage-Fighter… this is incredible."
The man did not stop; he turned his hands into a center for launching air pressure waves, attacking Erold again. The latter found himself taking a step back, leaning on the winds that seemed to support him as well. Erold smiled and said: "How clever you are… do you have more?"
The mysterious man smiled confidently and said: "I will give you what you desire."
He lunged toward Erold, directing a powerful punch surrounded by a gravity field to floor him. But Erold dodged it with amazing flexibility, then shouted: "Farewell, man!"
In a fleeting moment, Erold spun and delivered a powerful counter-strike to his face, pushing him back until he fell to the ground, his face exposed for the first time under the sunlight. Erold froze in his place from amazement; he didn't expect what he saw.
He was a youth appearing to be eighteen years old, with thin features and a prominent jaw as if it were precisely carved. His eyes were still, carrying a cold calmness hiding storms, and what distinguished them was that they were of two different colors: the right was a dark purple like the depth of night, and the left was completely white as if it were blind. His dark eyebrows increased the intensity of his mysterious gaze. His dark hair fell in a chaotic wave on both sides of his face, and on his lips was a slight scar that didn't mar his features but rather added to the aura of mystery around him.
The youth wiped the blood from his face, and Erold asked him: "So… what is your name, boy?"
The youth replied with a mocking smile: "Huh? My name is Argus from the region of Mari… I came from the West."
Erold answered with a sharp smile: "And I am Erold… let's make this fight something the victor can boast about."
Argus laughed: "You have it!"
Argus jumped, attacking from above, but Erold parried him, then lunged with a grim face trying to kick him. Erold said warningly: "Watch your foot, boy!"
Argus grabbed Erold's head to balance himself in the air, laughing mockingly: "Ooh… a great idea, but it's inhumane!"
Erold smiled confidently and said: "Time for seriousness!"
Erold drove his old, dilapidated sword into the ground and drew the sword of the King of Thieves from its scabbard. He stared at the shining blade, saying: "I shall name you… Thorn. Do not fail me."
He lunged with immense power, and Argus found himself retreating under the pressure of the consecutive attacks. Argus muttered within: "This monster… he has become stronger and faster than before!"
Argus tried to push Erold away using wind magic; a powerful wave exploded around them, scattering leaves and pebbles. Argus retreated a little and said: "Alright then…"
He raised his hand to the sky, and a massive spear of compressed air materialized, a dark purple glow swirling around its head. He gripped the spear between his hands, his eyes burning with resolve, and stood facing Erold without a shred of fear.
Erold laughed, opening his arms, and said: "I welcome your attack!"
They were about to lunge at each other when Jasmin's scream split the air: "Stoppppp, Argus! We are here to help the children!"
Argus froze in his place, the spear dissipating from his hand, and said in amazement: "Huh?! Didn't they kidnap you?"
Jasmin replied quickly while gasping: "No, they didn't! Rather, the mother of one of the children is the one who told us you went to return them, and we are here to ensure their safety and return them!"
Argus's features changed suddenly; anger disappeared and was replaced by regret. He said coldly while lifting the gravity magic from Luce: "I am… truly sorry. I didn't know this… my apologies."
Jasmin ran toward Erold, stretching out her hands: "Erold, carry me!"
Erold looked at her in internal amazement: "Why does she want me to carry her now?!"
But before he could speak, Jasmin hit him on his head with her small fist and said angrily: "You cursed lunatic, you lover of fighting! You should have tried to stop him and reach an understanding instead of getting absorbed in the fight, you idiot!"
Erold smiled mischievously and lifted her high to hang her by her clothes on a high tree branch, saying: "Stay here. We'll take the children and leave you."
Jasmin shouted as she swayed: "Put me down, old man!"
He replied coldly while turning his back to her: "No, I won't."
She started screaming for help: "Luce! Don't let him do this! Answer me, Luce!"
But Luce was lying on the ground laughing quietly, ignoring her screams and enjoying the scene. Jasmin shouted again: "You, Argus! Put me down from here!"
Argus stood frozen, looking at this scene, before shouting stunned: "Who in the name of heaven are you people?!"
Erold looked at him and said simply: "Just passersby."
Argus's heart trembled for a moment; he felt that what was before him was not just an ordinary man, but a mixture of a knight and a monster—a character whose steps could not be predicted. Jasmin's scream cut through his thoughts as she was still swaying angrily: "Stop the idle talk! Put me down now before I show you a hell you won't forget!"
Luce laughed out loud this time, then rose, brushing the dust from his clothes, and said: "It seems I have found the craziest companions."
Argus lowered his head slightly, then said with seriousness returning to his features: "If you are serious… let's free them. The children who were moved are being held in the Kingdom. If you want to help me… this is your time."
Everyone shouted as one, shock etched on their faces: "The Kingdom?!"
Argus exhaled and answered seriously: "I interrogated one of the guards… and they confirmed that they are handing the children over to Commander Kurash in the Kingdom. They aren't taking them from this village alone, but from the neighboring villages as well. We must stop them… for there is no ailment or disease as they claim."
Erold turned quickly: "You mean… the Kingdom of Uruk, right?"
Argus nodded: "Yes…"
Erold said firmly: "That is our path."
Luce approached the large wooden wagon, examining the door locked with a sturdy iron lock. He raised his eyebrows with a mocking smile and said: "This lock of yours isn't even fit for a wretched shop." Then he pulled the door with force until he wrenched the lock and opened the wagon doors at once. The interior revealed seven small children, their faces pale and their eyes tearing, retreating backward in terror. Luce leaned in slightly, smiling very gently, and said: "Do not be afraid, little ones… you are safe now. Come on… we will take you back to the village."
But Argus suddenly shouted: "You forgot to free the children!" (referring to Jasmin).
At that moment, the children rushed outside. As soon as they came out, their eyes fell on Jasmin hanging from the tree as a punishment. They trembled with terror and ran to hide behind Luce, clinging to his clothes while crying: "Please, sir! Don't let them hurt us like her!"
Erold was flustered and raised his hands in denial: "No… no! She is with us! It's just… she was a bit ill-mannered!"
Erold took Jasmin down from the tree. She looked at him sharply and whispered: "You started this!" Then she ran quickly to Luce, grabbing his arm and feigning trembling and crying: "Please, sir… don't let him come near me! He threatened to hit me!"
Erold's eyes widened from shock, while Argus looked at him in disbelief. As for the children, they all shouted at once at Erold: "Get away from her, you lunatic!"
And they lunged toward Luce, embracing him tightly as if he were their only protector. Luce burst out laughing until his eyes teared, saying: "My God… I haven't seen a play so perfectly executed in my life!"
Suddenly, Arthur's specter emerged from Erold's body laughing, saying: "Well done, Jasmin, you've truly put him in a tough spot."
From the other side, Argus's eyes shone with ferocity, and he shouted warning Erold: "Watch out! There is an entity circling you!"
Erold and Jasmin were amazed, and Erold said: "Can he see Arthur?!"
Argus didn't wait; he attacked Arthur with an air spear. Erold lunged to block it, while Arthur retreated, shouting: "Who is this moron?!"
Argus shouted: "I will kill you!"
Arthur headed toward Erold, saying coldly: "I'll be fine; he won't touch me while I'm inside your body."
But Erold dodged Arthur skillfully, leaving him in the open. Arthur stood in the air stunned and said: "Huh?! Do you want him to kill me?!"
Erold replied with a gloating smile: "You won't return until you say: 'Sorry, Master Erold.'"
Arthur shouted stubbornly: "Over my dead body! No!… wait… I don't have a dead body… over your dead body then!"
Erold smiled coldly: "As you wish, then."
Arthur turned to see Argus approaching with insane speed, directing his sword for the attack, and said in panic: "Come on, Erold! Stop playing!"
Argus lunged, and Arthur flew toward Erold, shouting: "Fine, fine! Sorry, Master Erold! Please let me in!"
Arthur returned and slipped inside Erold's body, who immediately drew his sword (Thorn) to block Argus's powerful attack, and said with effort: "This is my soul, Argus! It's Soul Separation!"
Luce and Argus stopped, shocked, and said in synchronized amazement: "Soul Separation? How did this happen?!"
Argus retreated and apologized: "Sorry, I thought he was a Jinn. He possesses a strange aura; I haven't seen a soul or a soul aura before."
Erold: "Don't mention it, but Arthur is still angry."
Argus said, directing his words to Erold's body: "Sorry, Arthur."
Arthur's voice came out shouting at him from within: "You moron! Don't attack before you know what's in front of you!"
Argus shouted with curiosity: "Your soul was outside your body! How are you still alive?"
The voice of one of the children interrupted them, pulling Luce's pants: "What's happening, sir?"
Luce replied while stroking the child's head: "Don't mind it, little one, they are crazy." Then he urged everyone to move: "Come on, let's return to the village; your families are waiting on pins and needles."
They headed toward the village. Luce and Argus each carried a child on their backs, while Utma carried five children, and Jasmin was walking with tired, dragging steps beside Erold. Extreme exhaustion was evident on her. She said in a faint voice: "I'm tired, please carry me."
Erold smiled and said, trying to tease her: "Think about what you did to me first."
But she was truly exhausted. She looked down to find the ground suddenly moving away from her. She realized that Erold had lifted her and placed her on his shoulder. Jasmin smiled with gratitude, and Erold continued walking steadily.
On the outskirts of the village, the woman was waiting as the sun trailed its coattails toward sunset. One of the neighbors came to console her: "They won't come; go back to your house, you'll get sick if you continue standing like this."
But as the sun disk disappeared, the sounds of children's laughter reached her ears. She was amazed and said eagerly: "They've returned! People of the village, our children have returned!"
Erold, Luce, and Argus reached the village square with the children, keeping their promise. Argus stopped before the shocked woman and said calmly: "I have returned your daughter to you, lady."
The girl ran from among the children shouting: "Mother!" Everyone rushed toward them, tears filling their eyes, and every child returned to their family's embrace. Luce looked at the scene and said with a trembling voice: "What a heart-warming sight."
Suddenly, the children ran toward Luce, pulling him by his clothes and shouting with joy: "This man is the one who saved us!"
Argus looked at Erold with feigned disappointment and said: "He saved them? And who was pinned to the ground by gravity?"
Erold smiled and said calmly: "It doesn't matter, man; what matters is that they returned safely to their families."
One of the village elders stepped forward and said gratefully: "You are my guests from today; stay as long as you wish. This is the least we can do."
Erold stepped forward: "Thank you for your generosity, but we will move tomorrow in the early morning."
The man replied: "As you wish, but first let us have dinner in your honor."
They went with him to find a large and comfortable house. Erold asked while contemplating the furniture: "What is the nature of your work, man?"
The man replied, smiling: "I am a merchant, called Sebastieli. I sell jewelry in the Kingdom, but I return here for rest after long work seasons. I was raised here and I consider the villagers my family."
Jasmin asked curiously while biting an apple: "Since you go to the Kingdom, do you know a person named Kurash?"
Sebastieli replied: "Ah, the name is common; specify his profession?"
Jasmin said: "A commander of the guards."
Sebastieli's face changed, and he said in shock: "Lord Kurash? Do you know him?"
Luce replied with quick wit and calmness: "Yes, but we haven't seen him for a long time."
Sebastieli explained in a sad tone: "A terrible tragedy has befallen him; his wife and son were executed by the King's order after they were caught with a group of rebels. They were all executed while Lord Kurash was on a mission outside the walls. Since he returned and learned the news, he has been acting strangely and aggressively, but I don't blame him."
Luce said, moved: "What a shame… poor Kurash."
Erold whispered to Luce: "Do you really know him?"
Luce in a faint voice: "No, but claiming knowledge makes him open his heart and hide nothing."
Erold smiled within and said: "A clever man."
Sebastieli shouted: "Servants, bring the dinner!"
Not moments passed before a bountiful table was spread before them, adorned with plates of grilled meat, fish, vegetables, and fresh fruits. Everyone sat around the table, and tensions faded with laughter and exchange of conversations.
As dinner ended, the man led his guests to their rooms on the upper floor. They lay on the comfortable beds, calmness pervading the place, while silver moonlight sneaked through the windows. Everyone closed their eyes, feeling comfort and safety for the first time in days.
Argus broke the silence, asking Erold who was in the opposite bed: "You haven't told me where you're from."
Erold replied calmly while looking at the ceiling: "I don't really know… but I spent my childhood in the Kingdom of Egypt, until a day came and I left there."
Argus smiled and said with enthusiasm: "That's great! A new king was installed there a short while ago. The ministers and nobles were the ones effectively ruling the country all along, until they found the nephew of the previous king (Amon) and crowned him king."
Erold closed his eyes, ignoring the details, and said: "And why did you go there?"
Argus answered, his voice increasing in intensity: "I heard there was a person possessed by a Jinn a long time ago."
Erold opened his eyes suddenly and asked: "And if you found him… what would you do?"
Argus replied with total coldness and harshness: "I would fight him without any mercy."
Erold closed his eyes again, hiding his disturbance, saying: "So that's it… let's sleep now, we move in the morning."
Erold looked at Luce and found him sleeping in a chaotic way, almost falling off the bed. He smiled and said: "It seems he is unaccustomed to sleeping in a comfortable bed."
Argus laughed quietly and said: "Should I push him to make him fall?"
Erold smiled and said: "No, let him sleep."