February 4, 2021
"Gajev."
"My lady, you were supposed to be resting in your room—wait! This blood... don’t tell me you’re injured?"
Recognizing Alicia, Gajev rushed ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) toward her. His eyes fixed on the traces of blood she hadn’t managed to wipe away. Alicia spoke quickly.
"It’s not mine."
"It’s... not your blood?"
Gajev frowned, shifting his gaze toward Fenril. Fenril quietly averted his eyes. Silence was the best refuge for an accomplice.
"There was an... incident."
"Could it have been an attack—?"
"It wasn’t anything like that, so don’t worry about it. More importantly, have you found Mikael?"
"We just discovered traces of the young master. His Highness is personally searching now, so we should find him soon."
Gajev smiled reassuringly, trying to put her at ease.
"You found traces of him? Are you sure?"
Alicia clutched Gajev’s hand tightly, holding back the sob threatening to escape her throat. The suffocating anxiety in her chest finally loosened, if only a little.
"The soldiers found his footprints."
"His footprints?"
"They were discovered on the path leading to the antique storage room. It’s an area rarely used, so the dust was thick on the ground."
"Why would Mikael go somewhere like that?"
Alicia furrowed her brow. Mikael often explored the castle, calling it an adventure, but he was a timid child. Even during his so-called "expeditions," he only ever ventured down well-traveled corridors.
"The young master didn’t go to the storage room."
"He didn’t? Then?"
"His footprints disappeared on the way there."
"Does that mean someone kidnapped him?"
Alicia’s face went pale. No matter how much she tried to bury the past, the nightmare from eight years ago never fully faded.
"That’s unlikely! We only found the young master’s footprints—there were no others! The chances of abduction are very low!"
"Then... Mikael..."
"There are many hidden passageways in Schwarhan Castle. After His Highness took residence here, he mapped out most of them, but there may still be some we haven't discovered."
"Are you saying Mikael found one of those hidden passageways?"
"We believe that’s highly likely. His footprints led inside, but none came back out."
"Then where is the entrance?"
Instead of answering, Gajev turned his head. Alicia and Fenril followed his gaze simultaneously.
What they saw was a gaping hole in the wall, with piles of stone debris scattered beneath it.
"...Don’t tell me His Highness did that?"
Fenril swept a hand through his hair. The exposed section of the wall stood out starkly—the cut edges were too clean, the stone untouched by the passage of time, unlike the rest of the surrounding brickwork.
It had been destroyed recently.
"Searching for hidden passageways is a time-consuming task. So His Highness decided to take a more... direct approach."
Gajev let out an awkward chuckle, adjusting his slipping glasses. Even now, he could vividly recall the moment Cabelenus unsheathed his sword the instant someone suggested they couldn’t find the entrance.
***
Mikael curled up tightly against the wall, his wide eyes darting around. He had cried so much that he was now too exhausted for more tears. But the countless glowing eyes staring at him in the darkness remained unchanged. They did nothing but linger in the shadows, golden irises gleaming eerily.
After a long pause, Mikael cautiously opened his mouth.
"What are you guys doing?"
Grrrrrrr...
Of course, the only response was the low, rumbling growl of beasts.
Mikael rolled his eyes, gathering his courage before speaking again. Anything was better than sitting in this suffocating silence.
"If you dragged me all the way here, shouldn’t you be doing something?"
"Why are you just standing there staring at me?"
"Can you even understand what I’m saying?"
He was trying his best, but there was only so much he could do when talking to himself. Mikael eventually stopped thinking about what to say and slowly stood up.
At first, the glowing eyes had terrified him. But after staring at them for so long, they didn’t seem as frightening.
Besides, golden eyes were something Mikael was quite familiar with.
Taking a deep breath, he carefully extended his hand and took a step forward. Then another.
And another.
Moving like a wind-up toy, Mikael hesitantly reached out—until his fingers brushed against something.
A thick, coarse coat of fur.
Swallowing hard, he cautiously lifted his gaze. Even without seeing its full form, he could tell the creature before him was massive.
"You guys are monsters, right? That’s why you took me, didn’t you?"
Mikael chewed on his lip. Even now, the countless golden eyes continued to watch him, unblinking.
"My uncle says... I’m a monster."
Fresh tears welled up in his eyes. Mikael clenched his hands into fists, trying to hold them back.
"But I don’t want to be a monster. If I do, I won’t be able to see my mom anymore. So... can’t you just pretend you didn’t see me?"
Please, he pleaded silently. Mikael sniffled but kept his gaze locked with the creature’s.
The monster stared at him before slowly lowering its head.
Mikael instinctively shut his eyes tight.
Lick.
"Hik!"
Something warm and wet swiped against his cheek.
Startled, Mikael jumped back—only to freeze when he found himself nose-to-nose with a pair of glowing golden eyes.
The creature’s rough breaths brushed against his face.
"D-Did you just... lick me?"
Instead of answering, the beast responded with another swipe of its thick tongue.
Mikael wiped his damp cheek with his sleeve, blinking in shock.
"Wait... can you understand me? You can, right?"
His eyes lit up with hope.
The shadowy figure moved slightly. Though blurred in the darkness, Mikael was certain it nodded.
Mikael’s grip on its fur tightened as he gazed up at it with pleading eyes.
"Then... can you take me back to my mom?"
The creature stared at him before slowly shaking its head.
Mikael’s shoulders slumped in disappointment.
"Really? You really can’t?"
Lick.
"Hey! No more licking!"
Lick.
"That’s not helping! I just want to see my mom!"
"If you wanted to see her so badly, you should have behaved and stayed out of trouble."
Mikael froze.
That voice—
"...Mister?"
His head whipped around frantically, searching.
But no matter how much he turned, Cabelenus was nowhere to be seen.
Mikael’s face scrunched up as he fought back another sob.
"Mister, where are you?!"
"Where are you looking?"
"Hiik—!"
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
A hand suddenly reached out, startling Mikael so badly that he fell backward. Before he could hit the ground, Cabelenus swiftly caught him, his brows furrowing in disapproval. Mikael blinked rapidly as he took in the man before him.
"...Mister? Where did you come from?"
With a hand over his chest, Mikael took a deep breath. Just a moment ago, Cabelenus had been nowhere in sight.
"Where else? I’ve been here the whole time."
"You were here?"
"Yes. I called you several times, but you didn’t answer."
"That’s impossible. The only ones here were..."
Mikael’s voice trailed off, his eyes widening.
For some reason, the area around him was now brightly illuminated.
And the monsters were gone.
"Why were you playing around in a place like this?"
Cabelenus raised the lantern he was holding, casting its glow over Mikael’s face. The flickering light revealed the traces of tears staining his cheeks.
"I wasn’t playing! I heard a monster, so I was trying to run away!"
Mikael lifted his head, his gaze meeting Cabelenus’s. After a brief moment of hesitation, he threw himself at the man’s leg, clinging tightly.
"What are you doing?"
"When I’m with you, the monsters disappear."
"What?"
Mikael’s arms tightened around him. Cabelenus frowned at the clumsy force constricting his leg.
"It happened last time, too! Just now, there were so many monsters here, but as soon as you showed up, they all vanished."
"You mean to say monsters were here?"
"Yes! They were right here!"
"Until when?"
Cabelenus’s brow arched. As far as he could tell, Mikael was the only one standing there, dazed. There was no trace of any other presence.
"Until you touched me."
"..."
"You didn’t see them again, did you?"
"No. I didn’t."
Despite his answer, Cabelenus carefully surveyed the area. No matter how quickly a creature fled, it would always leave some trace behind. Yet, there was nothing here. Not even the faintest scent of beasts.
Which meant there was only one possible explanation.
"Maybe the monsters are scared of you?"
"That’s possible."
Or perhaps they were never creatures I was meant to see in the first place.
Suppressing his thoughts, Cabelenus shifted the lantern’s glow toward the walls. There, etched into the stone, were intricate carvings—symbols and figures crowded together, reminiscent of golden-eyed beasts.
Whatever had lured Mikael here had done so with purpose.
"It makes sense that the monsters would be scared. You’re mean, after all."
"You seem to be talking just fine, so I guess I don’t need to worry."
Cabelenus reached out and firmly pressed down on Mikael’s head. The boy blinked up at him, completely unbothered by the action. There seemed to be no immediate issue with him, but ensuring his safety came before any investigation.
"Mister, were you worried about me?"
"You’re always wandering around. It was strange not seeing you underfoot."
Cabelenus pried the child off and handed him the lantern. The enchanted stone embedded within it gave off a steady warmth. Mikael curiously ran his fingers over the glowing light before scooting closer to Cabelenus.
The man’s solid presence alone was reassuring.
"You know, I honestly didn’t think you’d keep your promise."
"I said I would. I do what I say I’ll do."
"Then... will you always protect me? No matter where I am or what I do?"
"Yeah."
The simple, offhanded reply made Mikael beam. It wasn’t the most enthusiastic answer, but it was enough.
"I think I like you a little more than before."
"...Only a little more?"
"When it comes to choosing a stepdad, I have to be very careful."
"..."
"You can stare at me all you want, but I won’t budge on this! My mom deserves the best husband possible!"
Cabelenus narrowed his eyes before lowering himself to Mikael’s level.
"Come here."
"W-Why?"
"I’ll carry you."
Mikael immediately stepped back, eyeing him warily.
"Mister, why are you suddenly being so nice?"
"You said the monsters disappear when you’re with me."
"..."
"Your mother is waiting. Let’s go."
Mikael hesitated before cautiously stepping forward.
The moment he did, Cabelenus scooped him up effortlessly.
"Mister."
"What."
"...Did my mom cry?"
"If you know the answer, don’t disappear on us again."
Cabelenus’s hand firmly pressed against Mikael’s back.
The child, initially stiff in his grasp, gradually relaxed.
He had noticed before—Cabelenus carried him far too easily.
And for some reason, Mikael liked that.
Slowly, he wrapped his arms around the man’s neck, closing his eyes.
Without his vision, the warmth against his cheek felt even more vivid.
"...Mister, can I ask you one more thing?"
"What ridiculous thing are you going to say now?"
"Am I a monster?"
"..."
Cabelenus’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
