Chapter 24 - A Monster Among Us(2)

KANETO'S POV:-

I have seen many strange things in this world.

So many that, I believe nothing can surprise me anymore.

Is what I thought at least...

A few weeks ago that brat, Julia, called me on a short notice.

She asked me to return the favour I had promised her.

What she asked me was simply, to take care of her cubs for 4 years but...she placed a strange condition,

"If any of the cubs defeat you in a one on one battle, our agreement will be fulfilled before the aforementioned time." She added with a serious face.

'Did she give birth to monsters?'

I was amused by her condition, after all how talented would an eight years old be?

Even in 4 years, I don't think they would be strong enough to defeat me one on one.

'Maybe she just said that to them so that they work harder.' Is what I thought...

"Teach the two kids, one with high mana and the other with high aura. And leave the third kid to do whatever he wants."

'Does she not love her third kid?'

Is what I had thought before...

"The third one is a monster among monsters, he is strong enough to defeat you with a flick, don't go on his appearance, never." She says with a complex expression. She looked intimidated too...what's with that expression? Just what happened to her in all these years?

I was confused but still nodded.

"The third one will help them teach along with you, take care of my children, uncle Kaneto" she spoke while bowing.

Having heard that much, my interest was piqued. I looked forward to the day I would meet them.

And soon the day came when I met them,

"I am Morpheus" the 'monster kid' said.

My first expression of him was that of a normal person.

He clearly didn't had that demeanour of a kid but it was still within the acceptable range.

I don't know why Julia was so fixated on the 'monster' part, but since she said so, I'll act accordingly...

The other two kids were fine.

On our way to Eslaine all they did was meditation and a bit of sword swinging, the 'monster' helped them a bit but was mostly quiet all the way.

Then...

One of them put 2 ton and walked from one end to another in the test area.

I was shocked. Is it flawed? No...he is just that talented.

Would I have been able to do that when I was kid?

No. I don't think so.

The other kid had a shocking proficiency in wood magic too.

'Julia, what kind of monsters did you give birth to?'

I murmured

Then the next day...

The ' monster' brings the strongest elf in Eslaine in our room. If that wasn't enough he asked a Ruby rank adventurer to be Phan's teacher.

What was more shocking his next words

"I will be curing the demon burning curse"

That words crossed the line..I was going to stop him from babbling nonsense but he continued..

And then....

..... he really did it. I was stunned.

After the girl passed out we sat down for talking,

Morpheus had a question answer session with the elves. Everything was going fine until....

"I'm sorry for what I'm about to do, Morpheus"

The elf was going to kidnap the kid, before he could do so I moved but it was a bit late...but he was stopped..no scared of the boy...something must have happened.

Something that shaked the elf to the core.

When I looked properly, I realised something terrifying.

'The positions are changed.'

And now we are back to training...

I again look at the boy peacefully meditating.

The monster in child's form.

'Julia, what kind of monsters did you give birth to?' I muttered the same line once again.

...

ZWAIN'S POV:-

I run away from that place.

From that monster's den.

I stop after reaching a considerable distance.

Robin is unconscious right now, my fast speed must have affected him.

I put my hands on my chest, my heart is beating fast.

'Looks like I am still scared'

I take out my badge from my pocket and pore mana in it.

A sword's symbol is etched on it with a lion around it.

"Hello sir, we are receiving the signal" A voice comes from the badge.

I calm myself down, then turn serious and speak,

"Send 7 Supreme mages at this location..." I tell them the location as I give this command, this isn't something I can take lightly.

"Yes sir," the voice replies.

I then put the badge in my pocket and wake Robin up.

He wakes up.

"Where am I?" He wakes up confused, he puts his hand on his head and then tries to stand up.

"Zwain? What's happening? Care to explain what's going on?" He speaks in a bit irritated voice.

His eyes are clearly showing displeasure.

That monster, Morpheus, said Robin will forget about everything but it doesn't look like it.

'Was it a bluff? Let's check it'

"Hey, Robin, what's the last thing you remember?" I ask him curiously. Honestly, I want to see some extent of Morpheus' powers.

"What? Ummm...I was at the restaurant with Lucy talking with you about how you were slacking off?" He feels confused, "Something is amiss and where is Lucy?" He asks getting a bit worried and tensed.

His eyes are straight looking at me for answers.

'His memories are disoriented.'

'So it is how he said it, huh?'

I then try speaking about what had happened before but I can't.

'That one too' I sigh a bit then,

"I think I found Princess Lia's location," I change the topic.

"What!!?" He is shocked from the revelation.

Then his eyes turns serious and he asks,

"Where?"

I give him the paper and tell him about the location.

He is shocked but still believes in me...

He doesn't pry much about how I got the location, his eyes are focused on the paper.

I tell him about my plan then.

...

In a small dark room.

The room is barely lit.

From the outlines, it is a completely empty room with only a girl sleeping barefoot in a corner.

The girl is wearing a worn out blue white dress and her silver white hair has turned messy due to lack of care. She looks like she hasn't eaten anything for a long time. Her cheek bone is visible and she looks like she might die at any moment.

Her eyes are swollen and some parts of her face is red, showing that she was beaten up before.

She is the Royal Princess of Elves, Princess Lia.

After a few moments...

.

LIA'S POV:-

I wake up and barely support myself to sit on the dark floor.

'How many days has it been?'

'One week, one month, one year? It's hard to tell.

In the beginning it was easy to move, and all I did was shouting.

The only result was that a guard came in and punched me on my face over and over until I lost consciousness.

I tried fighting him but it was all for naught.

When I woke up it felt hurt, at that time I was sacred, soon time passed, hunger took over my fear...then more time passed but no food came. After several days passed, the gate opened, I felt too tired even to be scared.

The guards threw a bag towards me.

I slowly opened the bag to find some bread and water in it.

I munched on it crazily, It felt like heaven when I got to eat.

Then memories started coming back.

The last thing I remember, I went with my friends and guards for monster hunting.

Things were going great until the devils came...

We weren't scared because of the guards but as the guards kept dying our fears were intensified.

The devils who came to capture me, Princess Lia, killed most of my friends and all of the guards.

The rest of my friends were kidnapped along with me.

But we were separated right after a few days.

And from there things were stagnant.

The devils confined me at this place for god knows how long.

I am given food and water maybe in once a week.

Elves have long vitality so living a week without food and water is possible but...

-grrrr

I am hungry and thirsty.

I feel weak.

How long will this go on?

How long do I have to suffer?

-crrrr

The door opens again

"It's time for food dear princess," a creepy voice says.

He throws the food bag towards me then closes the door again.

Is this how my life going to be now?

I slowly eat the food and then...I lose consciousness again...

...

Somewhere around the prison of Eslaine.

An extremely handsome boy of roughly 18 years is sleeping on a stone bed.

His hair is black with grey eyes.

He is wearing a black suit.

A fat elf guard then walks up to the prison cell where the boy is sleeping.

-clang clang

"Hey kid, wake up," says the guard to the boy while hitting a rod to the prison bar.

"5 min more," the boy replies getting in a more comfortable position.

The guards' eyebrow twitches a bit.

He gets irritated but soon he starts smiling as he thinks of something.

He calls his junior and asks him to do something.

The junior then starts smiling and runs at the opposite side.

Soon he brings something with him.

After a few minutes...

-splash

A bucket of water was poured on the boy.

"Son of a..." The boy wakes up cursing the person who did it.

"What? Is it morning already? Where is my breakfast?" The boy asks glaring at the guard.

The guard chuckles amused at the boy's reaction and says, "Your probation period is over, nothing illigal is found against you, you can leave now, but next time bring an identity card so that we can identify you."

The guard then left the prison.

"Won't have to take a bath today" The boy mutters as he stands up, chants something that evaporates the water on his body and clothes.

The boy soon walks outside and looks around.

A scythe was present outside against the wall.

"Let's go, darling, this place is boring...let's find some fun outside" he picks up his scythe and walks outside the prison.

Wherever he goes girls and ladies turn around to look at him again but he ignores them and moves forward.

"Interesting?..something interesting? Where are you? " The boy mutters nonsense as he kept walking around the market area.

After travelling a bit and looking around, he sees some strong individuals walking somewhere, they looked like they were in a hurry.

"Found it! Haha! Let's see if you can entertain me." The boy exclaims as he runs in the same direction as those individuals.

....