Heart Knots (Part Six)

Time flew swiftly, and before long, the young boy had reached the age of fifteen, while little Lux had turned twelve. 

As the years passed and the girl grew taller, she finally became capable of assisting her brother with various tasks, such as washing their tattered clothes or preparing lunch and dinner to bring to him. 

Since the incident at the quarry, no one in the town had discovered that the siblings had stolen from anyone, allowing the boy to secure a position as a servant in Baron Kalan's household. 

Though the wages were meager, they were just sufficient for the siblings to sustain themselves. Occasionally, when the baron was in good spirits during the holidays, he would generously reward his servants with delightful food, and the boy's portion was never overlooked. 

Overall, compared to the difficult days following their mother's departure, the siblings' lives had become considerably easier. 

Thus, on nights when they squeezed into their small bed, the boy would gaze at the ceiling, finally feeling entitled to dream of future aspirations. 

However, little Lux was evidently uninterested in her brother's desire to join the military like their father and become a revered general. For her, as long as her brother took her along wherever he went, that was enough to bring her contentment. 

Her brother belonged solely to Lux. 

Occasionally, when she caught a glimpse of his contemplative profile, she would quietly think to herself, filled with happiness. 

Yet, the world soon cruelly shattered the girl's dreams. The sudden arrival of a red-haired girl in their lives instilled in Lux an unprecedented sense of anxiety—her brother seemed at risk of being taken away. 

Katarina was discovered by the boy amidst a pile of straw at the back of their small courtyard. When Garen inadvertently uncovered her, the red-haired girl had already succumbed to unconsciousness due to excessive blood loss and fatigue. 

With no funds to take Katarina to the town's small clinic, the siblings resorted to using a few plants with slight hemostatic properties to dress her wounds. Fortunately, they had not brought the injured girl to the hospital. 

At that very moment, the town's lord, Baron Kalan, having received word from above, arrived at the sole clinic with several servants, informing the doctor that a Noxian spy had fled into the nearby woods. He instructed that if any severely injured young girl sought treatment or if any local shop had purchased a large quantity of wound care supplies, they should notify him immediately. 

Fortunately, the siblings' impoverished circumstances meant they could not afford the expensive healing supplies, allowing the gravely injured girl to escape a dire fate. 

Though only fourteen, Katarina was already a fifth-tier practitioner, allowing her external wounds to heal quickly. Unfortunately, a severe injury that pierced her chest was quite grave, and lacking sufficient medicine, her overall recovery progressed slowly. 

Upon regaining consciousness, Katarina confided in the siblings that she was being pursued by enemies and had narrowly escaped. However, her adversary was a high-ranking noble, so she implored Lux and her brother to keep her situation a secret. 

The young siblings, sympathizing with the girl of their age who had lost her family, naturally did not question her story. Although the boy occasionally overheard whispers about a Noxian spy's escape while working at Baron Kalan's estate, who would have imagined that the spy was merely a fourteen-year-old girl? 

Thus, the red-haired girl quietly settled in, marking the first guest the dilapidated little house had received in years. 

Katarina harmoniously coexisted with the caring siblings, as they were all of similar age. Having witnessed the treachery of many, the red-haired girl found herself envious of the pure bond shared by the orphaned siblings. 

In Lux's memory, the first two months after Katarina's arrival were the happiest times she could recall. With Katarina's presence, the small house seemed to come alive, and Lux no longer found herself bored, counting ants in the corridor while her brother worked. 

Katarina would tell countless stories—tales of dragons and knights, heroes and demons. Each time she recounted these captivating tales, Lux, who had never heard stories before, felt immense joy. 

However, the joyful moments were fleeting. Before long, Lux, who often clung to her brother, became acutely aware that he no longer seemed to cherish her as he once did. 

This realization caused her brow to furrow with anxiety. 

In truth, it was not that her brother had lost affection for her; rather, Lux was troubled by the unsettling notion that her brother might be taken from her. 

After all, they were two young souls awakening to their feelings—one innocent and kind-hearted, albeit somewhat dull-witted, yet undeniably brave, having cared for his sister alone since the age of seven. He had never succumbed to the pressures of the outside world, steadfastly upholding his intrinsic moral compass. 

The other girl, having endured harsh training from a young age, had witnessed the darker side of humanity. Thus, the boy's unwavering principles appeared even more precious to her. 

As mutual feelings blossomed between the young boy and girl, they gradually developed a tender bond during their months of shared companionship. 

Though the older boy was inexperienced in such matters, he found joy in the presence of the red-haired girl, often smiling foolishly while working at the baron's house. 

Katarina, too, lacking experience but possessing maturity beyond her years, was aware of her own feelings. For her, having been raised under strict expectations with little warmth from a family, this newfound sensation was not unwelcome, and that was sufficient. 

As the unexplainable feelings between the boy and girl deepened, little Lux grew increasingly anxious. Though she could not articulate her concerns, the sensitive girl sensed a looming threat that unsettled her. 

However, it seemed that Lux's fervent prayers bore fruit, as the source of her unease—the sister who had inexplicably troubled her—finally departed. 

After residing with them for four months, the girl regained some mobility and bid farewell to the siblings, promising to return once she had resolved her affairs. Yet, since her departure, the boy remained sullen and withdrawn. 

In contrast to her brother's gloom, Lux was elated, her small face perpetually adorned with a radiant smile, even waking up with a grin in her sleep. 

After Katarina's departure, the siblings' lives gradually returned to tranquility, the only difference being that from that day forward, the boy found himself constantly yearning for the reappearance of the beautiful red-haired girl. 

Half a month later, when the girl he longed for failed to return, an event unfolded that would alter his life forever. 

Awakened by the cacophony of chaos, the boy realized it was midnight. Even through the cracked window, the relentless clamor from the town reached his ears. 

The sound of hooves pounding against the cobblestone streets, the anguished cries of townsfolk being slaughtered, and the frenzied roars of butchers intertwined to create a terrifying symphony of hell. 

The boy rushed to the window, cautiously peering out to witness a horrifying massacre unfolding in the darkened town. The air was filled with screams and the thunderous gallop of warhorses. Doors were violently kicked open, and merciless butchers slaughtered everyone in sight—regardless of age or gender. 

In that moment, illuminated by the faint moonlight, the boy's heart sank as he beheld a formidable group of knights arriving at their dilapidated home atop majestic steeds. 

"General Sain, there's an abandoned shack here," one soldier remarked. 

"Let's investigate. Our mission is of utmost importance; we must not allow the Demacian forces to discover our presence. We cannot overlook anyone who might leak information," the towering figure leading the group, standing an imposing four meters tall, rumbled. He was the only soldier on foot, yet even those mounted on their grand horses barely reached his chest. 

It was clear that this giant was the infamous General Sain. 

As several soldiers forcefully kicked in the decrepit wooden door, the boy froze momentarily before sprinting to another room, desperately rousing the still-sleeping girl. 

"Lux! Lux! Wake up!" he exclaimed, shaking her frantically while softly calling her name. 

"Huh? Is that... you, brother?" The girl, still groggy, rubbed her eyes, her vision clouded with sleep. "Brother, it's not dawn yet." 

Shaking her vigorously, the boy's voice trembled with panic and urgency, "Lux! Lux! Wake up! You must run out the back door immediately! As far away as you can! No matter what sounds you hear, do not look back! Remember! You must not look back!"