Please, let it be you, Dera

"Your Highness, someone saw a man using the same sword technique as Knight Dillon in the town of Yorath."

The king gazed at him, stunned.

He was delighted by the news. Knowing that the three may survive their encounter with Casimir. He waited for 8 years, never giving up, for he believed deep down in his heart that the queen was still alive. And he was fully aware that his friend Alaunos and Dillon were not easily defeated.

"I also sent someone to tail the man, and it turned out that the man also carried the same sword as the knight" he added.

"Let's head to Yorath," the king said without hesitation.

He directed his three servants and the two wizards sent by Damayanti for protection to keep an eye on Ayira while he was gone. He then traveled from Absalom to Yorath, which was a two-day trip.

"There are no people in here, Your Highness." Alec, the mage, barged inside the house where a man with Dillon's sword was seen living.

King Themis and Alec went into the house. No people were found. The room had been emptied, yet there was evidence of people living there.

Alec addresses his highness when he notices a four-used cup. Themis goes towards the cup and notices that there is tea inside; the cup is still warm, indicating that people are living in this house.

"Your Highness, I believe the people ran away when they discovered we were coming," Alec stated.

"Search the area," the king commanded. Alec, the mage, excused himself to the king before rushing outside to seek him.

"Please let it be you, Dera," he mumbled, glancing at the four cups on the table. Hoping that Dera, Her Queen, was still alive.

"Mister?" A young boy's voice came from behind him. As he looked back, he noticed a boy about the same age as his daughter.

The boy has crimson hair and blue eyes.

"Why are you here in our house?" the young child inquired, concerned. Themis smiled at the youngster and knelt.

"Is this your house?" he inquired, softly touching the young boy's hand. The child nodded in response.

"Who is with you?" he questioned again, eager to hear her majesty's name.

"My two uncles and my mother," the small child responded.

The king looked perplexed and wondered, "Your mother?" The red-haired boy nodded.

"Your Highness," Alec returns abruptly, his gaze fixed on the tiny boy, who looked at them perplexed. Themis stared at Alec with anticipation and then stood up.

"Highness? Are you royalty?" inquired the tiny child. Themis glances at him. He forgot that there was a child in the room. Themis smiled at him and patted his head, whispering, "Don't tell anyone I came here," before heading in the Mage's direction and instructing him to speak outside.

Themis is extremely cautious when going out, as he does not want anyone to know his whereabouts for the princess's safety, because he believes Casimir is still searching for them.

"Your Highness, I didn't bump into or see anyone in this area," Alec clarified.

"They just vanish in an instant?" Themis asks, holding his chin and wondering how they did it.

"It's possible they had somewhere to hide," Alec speculated.

The king said, "The child!" Thinking that the child might be the answer, the two quickly gazed in the child's direction but the child disappeared. The child they left standing was nowhere to be seen.

"Where did he go?" Themis said, still perplexed by the child's sudden disappearance.

"I'll go find him," replied Alec, and fled.

While the mage, Alec, was investigating the area, Themis began to roam about outside the house, looking for answers. He continued walking into the house, gazing around at this small, tiny abode. His feet led him to a bookshelf, and his gaze wandered across the shelves, which were filled with books containing information on magic, history, and swordsmanship. A ceramic sculpture drew his highness' interest, and as he was about to touch it, the young kid with red hair reappeared behind him.

"Your Highness?" the small lad exclaims. The startled king looked behind him and met the gaze of a perplexed-looking child holding a loaf.

"I go to town to purchase some bread for His Highness to eat. My mother told me that if you have a visitor, you should give them something to eat as a welcome." explained the young boy.

"Where is your mother?" the monarch curiously inquired. The young child then turned away and went to their tiny kitchen to prepare the loaf he purchased.

"She's...out of town," the tiny child nervously stated.

"I see," Themis said, still doubtful. Themis started walking in the child's direction.

He has a lot of thoughts going through his head, as well as a desire to discover who the child's mother is.

"How old are you, young child?" he inquired.

"9, Your Highness," the young child responded, and finished preparing the bread slices.

Themis took a seat on one of the chairs and motioned for the tiny child to join him. The child sat on the king's order.

"Do you read all those books?" he inquired, referring to all the books on the shelves.

"Y-yes, Your Highness," he hesitantly responded, avoiding eye contact with the king. The king smiled as he saw a scared child.

"Don't be scared," he murmured, patting the child back.

"And drop the formalities," he said as he grabbed a piece of bread. The child looks at the monarch, who is enjoying the bread he purchased.

"Are you not scared?" inquired the child. Themis stared at him puzzled.

"What if I poisoned that bread?" remarked the boy, who caused the monarch to stop chewing.

The child broke out laughing as the king was stunned.

"So, you like this kind of joke, huh!" Themis says to the giggling child. He then began to smile, admiring the child's bravery in making a potentially dangerous joke.

The mage arrived, seeing the two talking and sharing laughter. When Themis observed the Mage's appearance and expression, he knew the answer. The mage saw nothing.

Themis beckoned for the mage to wait outside.

"I think I need to leave; it's getting dark," the monarch said to the youngster. When he rose, he noticed the child looking at him with sadness in his eyes.

"I enjoy speaking with you, Your Highness," the child stood up and bowed his head, showing respect for the king. Themis then gently patted his back, and when the child raised his head and looked into his highness' eyes, Themis smiled.

Themis travels back to Absalom. He was disappointed that he didn't see the person he wanted to see, but he was pleased to meet the young red-haired child who made him laugh so much.

"This is the first time I've seen you laugh a lot, your highness," Alec replied with pleasure. Themis gave a smile.

"I did not expect to laugh as much as I did," Themis said. He then glanced at the magician, who was staring at him, and continued, "He even joked about poisoning the bread I was eating." He laughed, recalling the child's jokes, while the mage gazed at him, stunned and worried.

"Your Highness-" the king interrupted him, knowing Alec was worried about him.

"It's fine. It's nothing to be serious" he said.

"But we don't know the child's background," replied the worried mage.

"Don't worry, he's not dangerous; do you see his smile?" Themis said, recalling his time with the child and assuring the skeptical magician, Alec.

The mage began to close his mouth, trusting the king's instincts.

"Oh! I forgot to ask his name," Themis exclaimed. Forgetting to ask the child's name.

"But I know his age," he explained, smiling. He then peered outside the carriage they were riding in. While the mage, Alec continued to glance at the monarch with worry.

"I guess you enjoy too much of the child's company, your Highness" replied the mage, Alec. Themis only nodded and smiled while admiring the sights they passed by. He even forgot to ask more about the child's mother.

"He could be friends with Ayira or even marry her," Themis said, laughing. Alec smiled as he looked at the king, who was making a foolish joke about marrying off his daughter.

"Let's go back to that house whenever we have time," murmured Themis, wanting to see and chat with the red-haired child.

"Yes, Your Highness"