Leah's face froze in disbelief, no one was there to take the dried horned bunny meat in her hand.
"Mira?"
It took my brain some time to get going, but Mira is no longer here.
I had to act fast. Without hesitation, I jumped off the cart, and when I was about to run at the back of the carriage to inspect it, Balto barked, stopping me.
I turned and looked at him, his blue eyes locked on me, his tongue dangling out of his mouth.
What does he want? Did I do something wrong?
No, no time to think about that, I have to find Mira before the worst happens, and if anything happens to her...
I've never felt so much anger, I felt my muscles tense and my heart clench at the mere thought that Mira was in danger.
My emotions were so confused that my expression became blank.
I'll find her, I will search every nook and cranny of this place.
Just as I was about to turn my back on Balto to go get Mira, Leah also jumped out of the wagon, cutting me off.
"White wolves are rare, high-ranking hunting beasts; I'm sure he wants to help us find her."
Leah's hands were clasped together on her chest, her face worried. I forgot, I can count on her.
Watching Balto, I realize that what Leah says makes sense; surely wolves know how to hunt, right? So I think that for a big fantasy wolf like that, finding a little girl will be easy.
My body relaxed a little as I approached Balto, my hands more lucid as I undid Balto's reins.
As soon as he was freed, he immediately ran towards the back of the carriage. I didn't know wolves could be that smart, even to the point of knowing if a person is lost.
Leah and I followed him. Behind him, we watched him sniffing the ground and the back of the carriage, He meticulously inspected every corner. I looked around too, but I saw no footprints or signs of an attack. Mira didn't leave on her own; something had deliberately taken her without leaving a trace.
Then, Balto stopped, raised his head towards us and barked. It was the signal that he found something, he began to walk in the forest.
"Leah, come on."
I said as I began to follow Balto from behind, Leah nodded and did the same.
The forest was quite dense, the wood rather dark, and the sun was mostly obscured, letting through a few rays of light following the shape of the leaves prevented the place from becoming too dark.
We began to walk in the forest, Following Balto, who was sniffing the ground, he followed the direction of his trail.
Leah looked quite worried, so I was. But I couldn't let her lose her composure.
"It'll be fine, we'll find her."
That really didn't help, Leah couldn't even give a proper smile in response.
"You're right but, Disappearances like this never end well."
I can hardly believe I'm seeing Leah like this; I've never seen her so resigned. The situation may be worse than I imagine.
"I'm sorry! I didn't want to be a spoilsport."
"Don't apologize." Leah sounded guilty, but not completely. It was like a part of her had already given up.
Maybe we should... No, I won't abandon Mira, I will find her again, no matter the price to pay.
"Leah, I'm telling you we'll find her."
About half an hour passed as Leah and I followed Balto, At this hour, only a few rays of the setting sun remained to light us, which wouldn't last long. The deeper we go, the faster I felt time passing.
"Leah , It's getting dark, do you have anything to shed some light?"
"Light? I know a minor light spell, but it's not my affinity; it's likely to be too weak and useless."
So we can cast spells that are not of our affinity? No time to think about that, we have to find Mira.
"It doesn't matter, anything will do."
Leah looked at her hand a bit hesitating, then she closed her eyes and sighed.
"Fine."
Leah joined her hands, eyes closed, her breath controlled. Lux, That's what she said, before inside her two hands, a small sphere of light appeared in her hands. It was indeed small and weak, but still there, and it was enough to not completely immerse ourselves in the darkness that the forest is becoming.
Balto, on the other hand, didn't stop. It seems like he didn't need light. Leah and I caught up with him and continue to follow him.
"It's been a while, I hope we find her."
That's what Leah said, she was nervous, scared and growing less and less confident about the situation, I thought she was the kind of person who would never give up.
"Why are you so pessimistic?"
Leah looked down, a bit surprised and embarrassed that I noticed it.
"Something capable of taking Mira from us silently in a carriage, without making her scream, and something more dangerous than you think, Amos, could very well be an assassin or a stealthy magical beast of high rank."
I could only say that it upset Leah, but she was certain about what she was saying. My heart sank a little when I heard what Leah said.
She might be right... Mira may already be—
Balto stopped, he sneaked and growled. In front of us, a camp. The soft light from the campfire made this spot impossible to miss in the darkness of the forest, but more importantly, voices.
"Leah." I said, lowering myself to Balto's level.
Leah followed instantly and approached me, I stroked Balto's head to quiet him down; he was making too much noise.
A man was sitting near the campfire, but not just anyone, The light from the campfire reflected off his completely black outfit, with a grey pattern of the same level of detail as Yoalnd's outfit. He wore an empty black mask under a hood; it was impossible to see who he was.
I'm going to get the truth out of him, I put my hand on the hilt of my sword, ready to stand up, then Leah stopped me by putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Wait, We're not sure if we can fight him or if he's even involved."
"Balto stopped here, Leah's trail ends here, I don't need anything more—"
But before I could finish my sentence, I heard a voice approaching the man.
"Sorry for the wait."
Two men approached the one in black, He wore light armor, a tunic over it, a sword and a cloak, typical mercenary attire.
"Do you have her?"
The man in black said. One of the two men pointed at the carriage that was near the campfire.
"She's in there; we made sure she's still secured and in good condition."
"Perfect, bring her here to me if you want the pay."
One of them was about to go get the "her" who was surely Mira. I have to wait for him to take her here And then take her and run away? No, it would be dangerous to let them take her; she would be right in the middle of the confrontation. I have to act now. No, They are too much for me—
Leah put her hand on my shoulder.
"Amos, You seem stressed, we're here."
I forgot, I wasn't alone. I had Mira and Balto that could help.
"You're right. I have a plan; at my signal, you attack the two men, and I'll wait for the other one behind the carriage."
Leah nodded, balto stayed still. It was my turn now. I discreetly went around and positioned myself behind the carriage, I discreetly drew my sword, crouched behind the carriage.
I heard footsteps getting closer and closer, I had to be ready. One, two, three— now!
As soon as his head appeared, I swung my blade towards his head, which was the only exposed part. With a swift stroke, my blade pierced his head, piercing his skull through his eye; a slight slash and the crack of his bones was the only sound that came out. My sword, heavy with divination, the whole weight of his lifeless body pressing against the blade of my sword. I gently laid his body on the ground; it disgusted me to touch a corpse, but that could wait, I had to save Mira.
I stood up and jumped inside the carriage, there she was, Attached and asleep inside.
She didn't seem to be hurt, thank goodness. I untied her, took her in my arms, and climbed out of the carriage with her. I could feel her breath against my chest, which was a relief.
Everything went smoothly; I wasn't caught, no need to give the signal. We'll leave discreetly.
"Ventus secare!"
What— It was Leah's voice, followed by a man's shout. I hadn't given the signal yet. What happened?
I ran to the front of the carriage. The first thing I saw was Balto biting the hand of one of the mercenaries, pinning him to the ground. He still had his sword in his hand. While he was on the ground, the man raised his sword near Balto's head, who paid no attention but continued to mutilate his arm.
Damn, he's about to—
I lifted Mira with one hand, then lunged at the man, my sword in the other.
A heavy clash of metal.
Before his sword could touch Balto's neck, I managed to block it with mine.
"What?" That was all the man could say. I had no choice; I had to finish him off now.
I didn't give him time to react. I plunged my sword into his neck. He wouldn't die right away. He released his grip on the sword at the same moment Balto released his arm, his blood running down his neck to the ground, creating a pool. He groaned in agony and pain on the ground, his hands trying to stem the flow.
It was horrible to watch, even though I couldn't look away.
Then Balto barked, snapping me back to reality—Leah!
"Nice, but it's over now."
Those muffled words took me by surprise. When I looked up, I saw the masked man holding Leah hostage, a dagger brushing against her throat. She was trying to fight back, but it seemed the man was strong enough to hold her down by her hair.
"Amos, don't worry, just leave."
Leah's face contorted in pain from the man's grip. I couldn't leave her there even if she wanted to. I—No, Balto and I can save her together.
"Leave her alone, it's pointless now."
My last card was to intimidate him. It was a two-on-one, which would turn into a three-on-one if Leah broke free. Anyone would know we have the advantage in this situation.
But the man only chuckled, his grip tightening more than anything else.
"All alone, huh? You really think you stand a chance against me?"
My teeth clenched as I heard his words, his confident voice muffled beneath his mask.
"Give me the little one, and I'll let this girl go."
"Why are you so keen to have her?"
His target was clearly Mira, not just human beings, otherwise he would have left with Leah immediately.
"I'm not going to answer. An ignorant man like you will never realize how valuable this girl is."
Valuable? Is it because she's the daughter of a Lord? He probably wants to use her as a hostage and only release her for a huge sum. Whatever, I won't give her to him.
"This is my last warning, let her go."
He ignored my words, holding Leah who was trying to struggle. Balto growled at the man, ready to attack. I still had Mira in my arms, and my sword in the other, which was a hindrance; in these conditions, I would have difficulty fighting.
We stood there, staring at each other.