The Brother's Side of the Kidnapping

[Rudeus POV, earlier]

The pain in my head was relentless as I struggled to regain consciousness. Slowly, the haze lifted, and I found myself in an unfamiliar room, bound by rough ropes that dug into my wrists.

Despite the dire circumstances, I couldn't help but be struck by Eris's appearance. Even in her unconscious state, she looked like an angel with her disheveled hair and furrowed brows. Her defiance had a certain charm to it, though I wouldn't dare admit that out loud.

Recollections of our plan to stage Eris's kidnapping flooded my mind. The idea had been to teach her the importance of learning and education in a creative way. I couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of the situation.

"Milady, wake up," I whispered, attempting to rouse her gently.

She then groaned and blinked her eyes open, her gaze landing on me with a mix of confusion and irritation.

"Good morning, Milady," I greeted, maintaining a calm facade despite our predicament.

Eris's eyes widened as she took in her surroundings and realized she was tied up. "What in the world is happening, you little runt?"

I smirked, playing along with our charade. "It appears that we're been kidnapped, Milady. Looks like this is quite the predicament."

Hearing that, Eris's glare could have burned a hole through steel. "This is nonsense! Untie me now!"

Raising an eyebrow, I responded, "Ah, but you see, Milady, that's the catch. The only way to escape is by using magic and to do that, you must learn it yourself," I said as I casually burned the rope on my hand to prove a point.

Eris's expression twisted in a mix of frustration and disbelief. "Learning? Are you insane? I don't want to! Ghislaine! Reine! Where are you?!" she shouted, her voice loud and obnoxious.

Before she could retort further, her loud voice caught the attention of someone outside the room.

*SLAM*

The door burst open, and a man entered, his posture exuding a mix of menace and bravado.

"SHUT UP!" he roared, his eyes blazing with anger.

His appearance and demeanor fit the role of a bandit perfectly, and I had to commend his commitment to his part.

Seeing that, Eris's defiance didn't waver. "Let us go, you scoundrel! Ghislaine! Reine! Get me out of this mess!" Her voice rang out, loud and strident.

The man's face contorted in irritation, and without warning, he lunged at Eris, kicking her with brutal force.

I winced at the sound of impact and the young lady's pained cry. It was clear that this man wasn't playing a role – he was unleashing genuine violence upon Eris.

He continued his assault, his words laced with cruelty. "Noble girls like you should know their place! So, shut your mouth!"

Shock and fear coursed through me as I watched helplessly. This wasn't what we had planned. The man's sadistic aggression was all too real.

Finally, he moved away from Eris, his gaze shifting to me as he advanced. I braced myself for whatever might come next. With a swift motion, his hand struck my cheek in a sharp slap.

"Tch, pathetic runt..."

The unexpected blow sent my head reeling, pain radiating from my cheek. My mind struggled to process the sudden attack.

As the man departed, I was left to grapple with the realization that our situation had spiraled out of control. Our staged kidnapping had transformed into something far darker and more dangerous.

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Shaking off the sting of the slap, my immediate focus was on Eris, who lay battered and bleeding on the floor. Her injuries were a painful sight to behold – her bloody mouth and fallen teeth bore witness to the man's cruelty.

With determination to alleviate her pain, I moved closer and extended my hand towards her. Eris flinched slightly at my touch, a mix of wariness and pain clouding her expression. However, she allowed me to proceed, recognizing my intention to help.

Taking a deep breath, I began to chant a simple healing incantation, channeling the magic within me.

"Divine power is rich and nourishing. It offers the strength to rise again to those who have lost their strength. Healing"

The healing magic flowed through me, its warmth radiating from my hand as I directed it towards Eris. Her wounds started to mend, the pain subsiding under the soothing effect of the magic.

However, in the midst of the healing process, I purposefully halted the magic. Eris's injuries weren't severe, and I had a particular intention in mind.

She groaned and regarded me with a mix of confusion and frustration. "What are you playing at? Finish healing me."

A playful smile tugged at my lips as I responded teasingly, "It would be quite the experience if you learned healing magic yourself, milady."

Eris's glare intensified, and she clenched her teeth in irritation. Ignoring her reaction, I shifted my attention to our dire situation. Moving to the door, I pressed my ear against it, straining to catch any sounds from the other side.

Through the door, I caught snippets of conversation between two voices – one belonging to the man who had attacked Eris and another unfamiliar voice. Their words carried urgency and intrigue.

"Finally got them to shut up?"

"Yeah, gave them a good beating to be sure."

"We shouldn't damage our merchandise before the boss arrives."

"I understand. Regardless, they're annoying. We're selling them off anyway."

The discussion held implications that couldn't be ignored. It appeared that our captors were not acting on their own accord but rather adhering to some larger plan. The mention of selling us as merchandise was chilling.

With that information in mind, escaping this place was our top priority. My eyes scanned the room, and I noticed a ventilation shaft with metal bars.

Approaching it, I employed earth magic to soften the wall and remove the bars. Once done, I turned my attention to Eris and said, "It seems they were planning to sell us. I'm getting out of here."

"Wait, don't leave me here!" Eris cried out, pleading to accompany me.

"I said shut up!"

Her loud outburst caught the attention of the men outside the door. Swiftly, I used earth magic to create a barrier, preventing them from opening it.

"Hey, it won't open! Dammit!"

While the men were occupied with the locked door, I looked back at Eris and stated firmly, "You can come with me, but you must promise to follow my lead."

Hesitation flickered in her eyes, but the sound of the men trying to break the door down spurred her to reconsider.

As she was about to agree to my condition, an unexpected turn of events unfolded.

""GYAAAAAAAAH!!""

The two men on the other side screamed in pain, their cries accompanied by the sounds of swords slashing and bones breaking. Eris and I were utterly shocked and terrified by what was happening out there.

Eventually, the chaos subsided, and a deep raspy voice spoke from the other side. "You can release your earth magic. It's safe now."

Surprised by the voice knowing the magic I used, I obeyed and lowered the barrier. The door swung open, and my eyes widened as a figure stepped in, cloaked in darkness and wearing a mask with a conspicuous crack.

Seeing that, I had a realization that I'd encountered this person before. It was when Reine had run away from home, and this person had brought her back for us.

"Who the heck are you?!" Eris suddenly blurted out, snapping me back to reality.

She asked for the identity of the masked person and I'm also curious. However, the person didn't answer her question and instead, they approach her.

Eris was intimidated by the masked person's presence and tries to back away from them. "Hey! Get away from me! I'm warning you!"

The masked figure's approach was deliberate, their movements unhurried. Their presence exuded an aura of mystery and danger, leaving Eris visibly unsettled.

I stepped between them, shielding Eris from the masked figure's advance. "Hold on," I said, my voice steady despite the tension in the air. "Who are you, and what's your purpose here?"

A pause hung in the air before the person responded. "I'm here to rescue you both. As for my identity, it's not something I can reveal."

Eris's apprehension was palpable as she continued to regard the masked figure warily. Her discomfort mirrored my own, though I couldn't help but be intrigued by the figure's appearance and the way they had intervened.

Before Eris could retort, I stepped forward, my gaze fixed on the masked person. "You saved us, and we're grateful for that. But we need more than secrecy now. If you're truly here to help, we need to know who you are and why you've involved yourself."

The masked figure's silence persisted for a moment before they finally spoke, their voice carrying a weight of determination. "My identity is irrelevant. What matters is that I've taken an interest in your well-being."

Eris scoffed, her skepticism evident. "And why should we trust you? For all we know, you could be part of this whole mess."

The figure's mask hid their expression, but a hint of resignation seemed to underlie their response. "Trust is earned, I understand that. But believe me when I say that my intentions align with your safety."

I exchanged a glance with Eris, the unspoken question hanging between us. Could we truly place our trust in this mysterious individual? The circumstances were dire, and our captors were not to be underestimated.

"We don't have much of a choice," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.

Eris's gaze softened, a sign that she was reluctantly coming to the same conclusion. "Fine, but don't think we won't be watching you closely."

The masked figure's presence exuded an air of determination. "Understandable. Now, time is of the essence. We need to move quickly if we're going to escape from this place."

Eris and I nodded in agreement, following the masked figure as we exited the room. The sight before us was chilling – the lifeless bodies of the two men lay broken and bloodied on the floor.

"Wait, did you do this?" I asked, my anxiety rising as I looked at the masked figure.

The figure remained silent for a moment before finally admitting, "Yes, it was necessary."

The revelation left us both stunned. We were now in the hands of someone whose methods were as mysterious and dangerous as their identity.

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[Reine's POV, present]

Listening to Rudeus recount his side of the story, my heart raced with a mixture of concern and relief. The situation they had faced was far more dire and dangerous than I had anticipated.

The presence of the Laughing Coffin and the involvement of the masked figure known as Fracta added layers of complexity to our predicament.

As he concluded his account, my thoughts raced ahead to the present moment. We were all together now, united in our determination to overcome the challenges that lay before us.

"I understand now. That's what happened," I acknowledged, my gaze alternating between Rudeus and Eris.

Eris, who had been listening intently, spoke up with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity. "So, what's the plan now, smarty-pants? How do we get out of this mess?"

Rudeus turned his attention towards her, his tone a blend of concern and authority. "Well, milady, you haven't answered my question yet. You can join us, but you need to promise to follow my lead."

Eris crossed her arms, clearly not thrilled about the prospect of following someone else's lead. "Oh, please. Like I need your protection."

His response was firm, highlighting recent events. "You did just endure an attack from one of those men. Maybe it's time to consider that learning a bit from me could prove useful."

Eris huffed, her expression a mixture of annoyance and begrudging agreement. "Fine, I'll play along. But don't think I owe you anything."

Their banter brought a faint smile to my lips. Despite their disagreements, there was an undeniable bond between these two people, a bond rooted in genuine concern for each other.

With the bickering momentarily set aside, Rudeus took charge and led the way. Our path was clear – back to the citadel, where we could regroup, strategize, and hopefully unveil the truth behind the tangled web of schemes that had ensnared us.

Fracta, the masked figure who had aided us in our darkest hour, was absent from the present moment. Yet, their enigmatic presence lingered in my thoughts, a reminder that our journey was far from over.

Together, we moved forward, ready to face whatever challenges awaited us and to unravel the mysteries that had brought us to this critical juncture.