Chapter 99: Watch Out.

“This incident wasn’t an accident,” Kaelis said quietly. “Not even by chance.”

He folded the letter and slipped it into his pocket.

He and Ezra stood in front of Ricardo and his family. The couple looked shaken, and their daughters clung close to them.

Ricardo rubbed his face with both hands. “I still don’t understand why he didn’t tell me. I could’ve left and found help. If you had known earlier… maybe we could’ve saved them, right?”

“No,” Kaelis said firmly.

“You have to remember what the letter said. The children were being taken one by one. The adults must have realized what was coming.”

His voice softened slightly. “Your clan head spared you because, as your wife said, you are the only one left who understands Fleur De Lys medicine. And your children are still with you.”

Kaelis placed a hand on Ricardo’s shoulder.

“For now, you should be grateful.”

Ricardo looked up at him, his expression uncertain. “But…?”

“But this also means something else.”

Ricardo didn’t get the chance to ask again. Lanie gently placed a hand on her husband’s back.

“This means we might be in trouble… right?” she asked softly.

Her gaze dropped to their two daughters, who were watching the adults with confused expressions.

’Poor kids. They probably still don’t understand what’s really happening,’ Ezra thought with a quiet sigh.

He nodded.

“Whoever did this wanted all the adults in Fleur De Lys to turn into Dark Ones,” Ezra said. “And the children were taken.”

He paused.

“For what reason, we don’t know yet. But right now, they’re hostages.”

Kaelis continued the explanation. “And we have no idea how long it will take before they realize some of you are still alive.”

The room fell quiet.

Ricardo tightened his arms around his daughters.

“So what do we do now, Your Highness?” he asked, his voice strained. “I don’t want my girls to be taken.”

“Taken?” Larnie asked, looking up at him.

Ezra glanced at Kaelis.

’Yeah… what exactly are you planning now?’ he wondered.

Kaelis’ expression was serious, but there was determination in his eyes.

“We’ll bring you to our headquarters,” he said. “Captain Aamon is there, along with several knights.”

“What?” Ezra stepped closer to him. “Didn’t you just say you suspect almost everyone except a handful of people? Why would you—”

“Because I expect them to be there,” Kaelis interrupted calmly.

“And if a group of trained knights and Aamon himself can’t protect them, then I’ll know exactly where the problem is.”

His eyes hardened.

“The knights there may be reckless sometimes, but they aren’t weak.”

Kaelis turned back to Ricardo.

“We should leave now,” he said. “Before any Dark Ones show up.”

Ricardo nodded quickly. “Alright, yes. Your Highness, let’s go now,” he said. His voice sounded steadier, but the worry in it was still clear.

He and Lanie each lifted one of their daughters. Larnie wrapped her arms tightly around her father’s neck, while Ranie clung to her mother.

Ricardo lowered his voice. “Girls, listen carefully. You need to stay quiet and hold on tight. If we run, you run with us. Don’t let go. And even if something scary happens, do not scream. Remember, screaming gives away our position.”

Both girls nodded immediately.

“We understand, Daddy,” Ranie whispered.

“We’ll be quiet,” Larnie added proudly. “Very quiet, like we practiced!”

Ezra watched the exchange, something warm tightening in his chest.

’They’re brave,’ he thought. ’It sounds like they’ve practiced this before…’

The thought made his chest feel heavier.

For a moment, the image of Lior flashed through his mind. The way Lior would cling to him. The way he tried so hard to be brave even when he was scared.

All the times Ezra had taught him what to do if something dangerous happened.

Ezra crouched down slightly so he could meet the girls’ eyes.

“Don’t worry,” he told them gently. “I’ll protect you with my life. I’ll make sure nothing happens to your family.”

Both girls’ faces brightened instantly.

“Really?” Ranie asked.

“Like a personal knight guarding a princess?” Larnie added excitedly.

Ezra smiled faintly. “Exactly like a knight guarding a princess.”

“Oh! Daddy, we’re like princesses!”

“Princesses!”

Their quiet excitement seemed to calm them.

Kaelis cleared his throat softly.

“We should move.”

Everyone turned toward him.

“Head toward the opposite side of the village,” Kaelis continued. “The other direction is where our knights are fighting the Dark Ones. The horde is there as well. We need to avoid that area at all costs. For your safety.”

Ricardo nodded. “I know the way. Your headquarters is near House Mirevale, yes?”

“Yes.”

Without wasting another moment, the family moved forward.

They stepped outside the house and into the abandoned village.

The air felt wrong. Ezra noticed the difference immediately.

’The horde must be gathered somewhere in this area,’ he thought. ’Or this darkness is something else entirely.’

But what?

Ezra and Kaelis followed several steps behind the family, watching their surroundings carefully as they moved between the worn houses.

After a few moments, Kaelis spoke quietly.

“I believe you already know how I think. But you’re surprisingly good with kids.”

Ezra glanced at him.

“I’m serious,” Kaelis continued. “I didn’t expect that from you. Of all people. The coldest knight who couldn’t even crack a smile.”

Ezra frowned slightly.

“Is this really the time to joke?” he muttered.

Kaelis raised an eyebrow.

“Both of your investigations just turned out to be connected,” Ezra continued quietly. “The kidnappings and the Dark Ones. And you’re still making jokes, Your Highness.”

Kaelis didn’t answer right away.

They continued moving behind the family, their footsteps soft against the dusty ground.

“You’re right,” Kaelis finally admitted. “It’s worse than I expected.”

The lightness in his voice had disappeared.

Then he glanced at Ezra.

“But… how did you even know about the kidnapping investigation?”

Ezra kept his eyes on the path ahead.

“Prince Aurien mentioned it.”

Kaelis blinked.

“Aurien?”

“Yes.”

They passed another abandoned house, its door hanging crookedly from a broken hinge.

“He said Prince Helios was originally assigned to the case,” Ezra continued. “But when you discovered something important, the investigation was handed over to you.”

Kaelis hummed thoughtfully. “That’s about right.”

They walked in silence for a moment.

Wind moved through the empty streets, carrying with it the faint smell of rot.

Ezra’s hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of his sword.

’This place feels too quiet,’ he thought. ’And quiet is rarely a good sign.’

Ezra’s hand instinctively rested on the hilt of his sword.

’This place feels wrong,’ he thought. ’Something’s off.’

His eyes moved slowly across the empty village. Every doorway, every broken window, every narrow alley.

He searched for movement. For a shadow. For anything.

There was nothing.

That was the problem.

Ezra’s eyes widened slightly.

“Your Highness,” he whispered.

Kaelis glanced at him. “Yes?”

“The horde. Most of them should be on land right now, correct?”

“Yes.” Kaelis looked ahead at Ricardo and his family as they walked. “Why? Feeling like you’re missing out on a fight you’d rather be in?”

His tone sounded teasing, but Ezra knew better.

Kaelis was serious.

Ezra shot him a flat look. “Don’t you think something’s off?”

“What’s off?” Kaelis asked, still watching the family ahead.

Ezra glanced around the village again.

“That the biggest horde we’ve seen in years is somewhere on this land,” he said quietly. “An entire population of Dark Ones.”

He paused.

Then he looked around again.

“And yet not one of them has sensed us.”

Kaelis froze.

He stopped mid-step.

Ezra stopped as well.

“Your Highness?” Ezra whispered, his brows furrowing.

Kaelis slowly scanned their surroundings.

Left.

Right.

Behind them.

Then his gaze snapped forward toward Ricardo.

His eyes widened.

“Watch out—!”

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