“Whew, that was close,” Kirine breathed, collapsing into a chair. Ares, still holding the sack, nodded in agreement.
A small voice emerged from within. “Can I come out now?”
“I’ll get you out, just a second,” Ares replied, his heart pounding. He carefully untied the sack, and Sasha, her face flushed with excitement, tumbled out.
“Were you okay in there? You weren’t suffocating?” Ares asked, his voice filled with relief.
“Yeah! It was fun!” Sasha giggled, her eyes sparkling. The child, believing it was all part of a game of hide-and-seek, was oblivious to the danger they had faced.
But Kirine and Ares couldn’t shake the unease that crept into their minds. Was this really the right thing to do? Kirine was the first to voice her concern.
“Are we really okay with this?”
Ares sighed. “What choice do we have?”
Kirine nodded, her expression heavy. It was already done. Even if it wasn’t allowed, they had no intention of leaving the child alone in the mansion now.
“I’ll come back to pick her up after training,” Ares promised, his voice soft as he ruffled Sasha’s hair. The child beamed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. With a final wave, she watched him disappear down the hallway.
***
“Mom…”
At the sound of a small, whiny voice, Kirine turned her head slightly. Sasha, with her chin resting on the table, pouted, her expression a portrait of boredom.
“What is it? Are you bored?” Kirine asked, her voice gentle.
“Yeah. Let’s go see Dad.” Sasha blinked up at her, eyes wide and pleading. When Kirine didn’t immediately respond, Sasha edged closer, trying to catch her attention.
Kirine suppressed the sigh building in her throat and rubbed her temples. She had brought a storybook, hoping it would entertain Sasha, but the child hadn’t even glanced at it. Instead, she had been relentless in her requests.
“You’ll see him soon, Sasha,” Kirine reassured her.
“But I want to see him now…”
When Kirine still didn’t give in, Sasha’s shoulders slumped, her energy fading.
The child didn’t throw a tantrum or plead any further, and Kirine felt a wave of relief mixed with guilt. Unable to shake the feeling, she decided to step out briefly to grab some snacks.
As soon as she exited the room, Cecil, who had been lurking nearby, approached her. “Do you need anything?”
“Just wondering if there are any snacks,” Kirine said.
Cecil raised an eyebrow. “I thought you didn’t like snacks?”
Kirine shrugged. “Sometimes you just crave something sweet.”
“I’ll bring some right away.”
“Thanks. Knock before you come in.”
Relieved that she didn’t have to go far, Kirine quickly headed back to the lab, assuming all was well. But as she opened the door, a chilling silence enveloped her. The eerie stillness sent a shiver down her spine.
“Sasha, where are you?” Kirine called, her voice echoing in the empty lab.
Desperate, she searched every nook and cranny, her heart pounding in her chest. But there was no sign of the child. The only thing left open was the lab window, a gaping maw that seemed to taunt her.
“This is bad,” Kirine muttered, a sense of dread settling in her gut.
***
The Imperial knights were gathered, chatting idly as they prepared for training. “Did the Captain have a daughter?” one asked.
“Apparently, and they say she’s a real cutie,” another replied.
“I’d love to see her,” a third chimed in.
“They say she looks a lot like the Chief of the Magic Division,” someone suggested.
“Nah, I bet she looks more like the Captain,” countered another.
“Does it really matter? As long as she’s cute,” someone joked.
“Of course. With parents as attractive as those two, it’s only natural,” another agreed.
But their lighthearted conversation was abruptly interrupted. “How long do you plan on idling around?” Ares, their Captain, approached, his voice cutting through the chatter. The knights immediately snapped to attention, their laughter fading.
“Now then…” Ares began, just as a figure approached from behind. He turned to see the Emperor’s aide, his expression a mix of surprise and dread.
“His Majesty requests your presence,” the aide announced.
“Right now?” Ares asked.
“Yes, he instructed you to come immediately.”
Ares knew it must be urgent. Without a word, he dismissed his knights and followed the aide. But as he hurried through the palace, he unexpectedly ran into Kirine.
“Where are you going?” Ares asked.
“His Majesty called for me,” she replied, her voice trembling slightly.
“You too?” Ares couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. Something was clearly amiss.
Kirine’s expression was one of pure terror. “What should we do?” she asked, her voice barely audible.
Ares’ heart pounded in his chest. “What do you mean?” he replied, his voice filled with dread.
“Sasha is missing.”
A cold dread washed over Ares as he realized the gravity of the situation.