Lady Francesca felt her legs give way beneath her as the news of Javier's disappearance reached her ears. She gripped the edge of a nearby chair for support, her normally composed demeanor cracking under the weight of concern.
"My son…" she murmured, her voice barely audible. "He's mischievous, yes, but he's never stayed out this late. Where could he be?"
The maids surrounding her exchanged worried glances but said nothing, unsure of how to console their lady.
"Miss Gloria," Lady Francesca said finally, regaining a measure of her composure. "Send word to the estate guards. I want every capable man searching for my son. Light the beacons if you must, and keep the perimeter secure. We cannot risk anything happening to him."
"Yes, my lady," Gloria replied, bowing before hurrying out of the room.
Lady Francesca sank into the chair, her hands trembling. Normally, she could rely on her husband, Lord Garius, to take charge in such situations. But he was away in the capital city, attending a royal meeting with the king and other nobles—a gathering that couldn't be interrupted for anything less than a disaster.
Her elder sons, Marcellus and Cedric, were also out of reach, studying at the prestigious magic academy in the capital, miles away from their family's territory.
This left Francesca as the sole pillar of the household, a role she was prepared for but rarely had to shoulder so heavily. The absence of her husband and sons only heightened her anxiety.
"Liana...where liana?"
"My lady, Miss Liana has gone to search for the young master herself, accompanied by several guards."
Francesca let out a shaky sigh. "Good. If anyone can find him, it's her. But…" She paused, her thoughts clouded with worry. "Make sure preparations are in place should she not return by sunrise."
The maid nodded and hurried out to carry out the orders.
Left alone in the grand, dimly lit room, Lady Francesca pressed her hands together, praying silently.
Javier, my darling… Wherever you are, please be safe.
The estate was eerily quiet when Liana returned with her weary search party. The tension hung heavy in the air as the clock ticked past midnight, and still, there was no sign of the young master.
The guards exchanged tired glances, their armor reflecting the dim light from the magical lamps scattered around the estate. Even the maids who had been anxiously waiting looked disheartened.
Liana dismounted her horse and dismissed the others. "Get some rest," she said firmly. "We'll regroup if needed, but I need to check something first."
The group reluctantly obeyed, and Liana made her way to the Pekko pen, her instincts pulling her there. Sure enough, her Pekko was lazily sprawled on the ground, looking well-fed and content.
She sighed, brushing her silver hair back. "You know where your partner went?" she asked, kneeling beside the creature.
The Pekko squawked loudly in response, turning toward the gate as if understanding her words.
"Good," she said, standing up. "Help me find them."
Without hesitation, she saddled her Pekko, ensuring her weapons were secured. Her dual blades were hidden beneath her cloak, her dagger strapped to her thigh, and her magic bow slung across her back.
As she approached the estate gates, two guards stepped forward.
"Miss Liana, it's dangerous out there at this hour," one of them said. "The monsters—"
"I know the risks," she interrupted, her voice calm but resolute. "Tell Lady Francesca I've gone to search for him. The rest of you stay here and prepare for his return. If he comes back while I'm gone, secure him immediately and inform me."
"But, Miss Liana—"
"Enough," she said, her emerald eyes sharp. "This Pekko will guide me, and I'm better off searching alone. Too many people will only slow me down."
The guards hesitated but eventually stepped aside, opening the gate.
Liana urged the Pekko forward, squawking as it trotted off into the night. She glanced back briefly, her gaze steely.
Young Master… wherever you are, I will find you.
With that, she disappeared into the darkness, the light crystal on her bow glowing faintly as the night swallowed her figure.
---
"Oh yeah!!!" Javier's voice echoed through the dark forest, "Night is the best time to gain experience! Hahahaha!"
Monsters shrieked and snarled as his arrows struck true, bursting into flashes of mana upon impact. All around him, the puppet knights he'd summoned were in perfect sync, hacked and slashed through the horde.
"Yes!! That's how you fight, my knights!!" Javier cheered, standing atop his loyal pekko as if he were a general on the battlefield. His smirk grew wider as he admired his creation. "Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful! Keep it up!"
The pekko beneath him let out an excited squawk before leaping into the fray, stomping a goblin into the ground and its sharp talon ripping through another.
"Hey, buddy!!" Javier shouted, his tone half-annoyed, half-amused. "Don't take all the monsters! Leave some for me!!"
But the pekko, clearly enjoying itself, only squawked louder, flapping its small wings as it spun to kick another goblin into a tree.
"Come on, buddy!!" Javier reloaded his crossbow and took aim at a hobgoblin trying to flee. "Don't hog all the fun!! Save some for me!!"
The bolt flew straight and hitting the target with a satisfying thunk.
"Ha! Gotcha!" Javier grinned, hopping off his pekko to sprint into the action. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his trusty longsword from his magic storage,charged at a group of snarling monsters.
"Alright, let's dance!"
The horde seemed endless, but Javier couldn't have been happier. His puppet knights surrounded him in a protective circle, striking down anything that came too close, while he darted in and out of the chaos, his attacks swift and precise.
In the midst of the battle, his pekko let out another victorious squawk, standing triumphantly atop a pile of defeated monsters.
"Oh, come on!!" Javier groaned, pointing his sword at the bird. "You're showing off now, aren't you?"
The pekko tilted its head innocently before stomping another goblin into the dirt.
Javier couldn't help but laugh. "Fine, fine, you win this round, buddy. But next time, I'm claiming more kills!"
"Buddy!! Look over there!!" Javier's eyes gleamed as he pointed toward the dark treeline where several figures emerged. Their glowing red eyes and ominous forms screamed one thing: elite monsters.
A trio of armored ogres, twice the size of an average man, lumbered forward with spiked clubs. Behind them slithered what looked like a snake-wolf hybrid, scales shimmering under the moonlight, while sharp fangs glinted menacingly.
"Ohhhh!! New types of monsters!!" Javier's excitement was palpable as he hopped back onto his pekko. "For sure, their materials and meat will sell for a fortune! Ehehehehe!!"
The pekko squawked in agreement, was ready for this profitable hunt.
Javier didn't waste any time. "Knights, form up!! Surround and strike!! Let's clean this up quick!!"
The puppet knights responded immediately, their movements precise and methodical. They rushed toward the ogres, shields raised, deflecting the powerful swings of their clubs. Sparks flew as steel met enchanted metal.
Meanwhile, Javier stood tall on his pekko, summoning a glowing orb of light above his head. "Double up the experience!! Let's go!! Kikikiki!!"
The orb burst, releasing a wave of energy that bathed Javier, his pekko, and the puppet knights in a golden aura.
"Time to clean house!" Javier laughed as he took aim with his crossbow, releasing a volley of bolts at the snake-wolf hybrid. Each shot hit its mark, slowing the beast's movements until it was cornered by the knights.
The ogres, enraged by the relentless assault, roared and charged, but Javier's pekko intercepted one with a flying leap, slamming its talons into the monster's face.
"Buddy!! You're on fire tonight!!" Javier cheered.
The remaining ogres were quickly overwhelmed as the puppet knights hacked at their legs, toppling them like trees. Javier dashed in, his longsword glowing with mana. With precise strikes, he finished them off, ensuring the valuable materials remained intact.
When the dust settled, the battlefield was littered with the remains of the monsters. Javier's knights stood triumphant, their armor gleaming despite the carnage, while his pekko let out a triumphant squawk.
"We're unstoppable!!" Javier exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air. "This haul is gonna make me richer than ever! Kikikiki!!"
( End of Chapter )