Chapter 414 - [Bonus chapter]Kidnapping in the Time of the Festival (1)(unedited) (2/2)
The children nodded in agreement and went with the flow of the crowd to exit the town square. Aerith took her little brother's hand while Alphonse held little Thalia's.
They were walking with flow of the many people when suddenly someone bumped into them. Without knowing who, the twins let go of the hands they were holding.
”Hart… Hart!” Aerith was searching for her little brother. She was getting nervous when she cannot find him.
”Thalia, where are you?” Alphonse also called out.
”What is the matter, your highnesses?” Philip heard their dire calls.
”I was just holding Hart's hand when I felt someone bumped into me, then I lost my grip on Hart.” Aerith was genuinely getting anxious.
”The same with me.” Alphonse was scanning the sea of people in the town square. ”I believe someone made us let go of them on purpose.”
”Then we need to find them!” Aliyah said.
”Aliyah is right.” Deimos replied. ”With this many people, it is common for kidnappers to be present.”
”K-Kidnappers?!” Aerith's anxiety peaked up even more.
”There are still some bad people that do such things in the empire.” Deimos replied. ”Even if our parents are working hard to sweep out evil in the empire, some hide so deep that they are hard to chase.”
”They are going to pay.” Alphonse clenched his fists hard. ”I will not let them get away with this.” He gritted his teeth in anger.
”I cannot let you go on your own to find his highness Prince Leonhart and little Lady Thalia.” Philip said. ”I need to get you back to safety first and ask the other knights for help.”
”No!” Alphonse rejected. ”We do not have time for that!”
”Al is right Philip.” Aerith replied. ”That will just give the kidnappers time to run with Hart and Thalia. Let us help you.”
”Yes, let us.” Deimos said. ”We are no ordinary children.”
”We can protect ourselves Philip.” Aliyah said. ”Unlike Hart and Thalia who has not awaken their magical powers yet, we are trained well with both magic and the sword.”
”Hah, okay.” Philip sighed in defeat. ”But if it gets dangerous, do not go out rushing. Come straight to me, understand?”
”Yes.” The children replied in unison.
The children separated in groups. The twins Aliyah and Deimos were together while Aerith and Alphonse are in one group. Philip was the only one who was alone and searched around.
”Hart, Thalia!” Alphonse and Aerith started to go around the radius of the town square.
”Hart, Thalia!” Alphonse called harder.
The twins were frantically searching around for any clue that they can get. While they were busy looking around, a white cat suddenly jumped in front of them.
”Little prince and princess…” Snow called out.
”It is you Snow.” Aerith was happy to see her.
”Your little brother has been taken away by hooligans.” Snow said. ”Come with me. Tempest is currently on their trail.”
”That is good to hear.” Alphonse lighted up when he heard Snow's words.
The twins followed the white cat while it was running and jumping around through the streets. They took many turns like it was a maze. Alphonse looked above and saw his father's falcon, Tempest. It was a sign that they were close.
Their path led to the harbor of the south sea. Not many people where here because many had ended their shift early to spend the night at the festival in the capital.
”Shhh… quite.” Snow said.
The twins nodded in understanding and crouched low. Snow led them to what looked like an old harbor factory that was abandoned. They snuck inside a torn wired fence and quietly got in a hole on the wall just the size of their little bodies.
Inside, they were crouching low behind wooden boxes and crates to avoid detection. The twins took a peak and saw Leonhart and Thalia with their hands and feet tied behind their backs.