Romanoff Dukedom: Eschira Forest (5)

It's almost as if their hearts ceased from beating, embracing a silence -- One that was so discomforting, so nauseating...

... So suffocating.

Fury erupted from deep within Ivar's being. He swallowed hard -- his saliva having the metallic taste of blood -- sending his stomach into a spasmodic episode.

He longed to release the beast inside him, to find the enemy and ravage its flesh. He thought of killing it in the most merciless way possible. The anticipation at the ends of his nerves seemed to be on the verge of spilling out, tainting the dirt with its shade.

'Where in the forest is this scum? Don't tell me it got away? Or is it merely concealing itself, waiting for us to let down our guard? Perhaps, did it combine with one of our shadows again?'

Ivar pondered over the scenarios that could be transpiring at that moment. But ponderance had its limits. That ability shouldn't be associated with reason. There was nothing normal about it.

'This is bothersome. I hope Ius will pardon us this time. I'm certain he will be understanding. If n-'

"I don't think he will let you off just like that."

Upon feeling the hot breath of the whisperer on his nape, Ivar's pulse danced to a rapid rhythm. He wanted to confront the enemy at that very second. Having said that, as he sensed several vine-like objects beginning to wrap around his limbs, he couldn't help but freeze on his spot.

"The young master is not patient after all. It's your fault that you got caught in my simple trap. I didn't know that you were this careless, Ivar Chroly."

"Is that how you address a noble, Erwin Pelt? I thought butlers are vigorously trained in the ways of serving their masters. You make me think otherwise." Ivar spitted, trying to free himself.

Ivar urged his fiercely beating heart to calm down as he formulated a plan to free himself from the confinement.

The Romanoff Household's Head Butler, Erwin Pelt, was the adversary that they're currently facing. There were a lot of questions that Ivar sought to be answered, yet he was in no capacity to claim dominance in the confrontation. He was aware of the difference in abilities between him and Erwin who was an elder wolf.

Erwin Pelt and Dorothea Bashar were the only beasts among the servants within the Romanoff Dukedom. The Duchess was responsible for hiring them, believing that fellow beasts would do a better job in controlling her employees rather than a human.

The benefits outweighed the risks.

Of course, the Duchess considered their beast nature. The two were given ample breaks during heat seasons. In those instances, their substitute would take their roles.

Back to the present, what disturbed Ivar even more was the fact that the previous holder of the shadow ability was an individual from the snake clan. It should be established that the current holder should also be one from the snake clan.

'Why does Erwin have this ability? He's one of the wolf clan's grand elders.' Ivar questioned himself.

He then gave Aaviren and Ulysses a glance, signaling them to stop on their tracks.

"Well, I wonder, youngling. What do you think is the right answer?" Erwin muttered under his breath, the volume solely enough for Ivar to hear his query.

All the while, he was eyeing the two young men who were throwing the bladed glints on their eyes at him.

Granted that Erwin could possibly be reading his mind, Ivar continued to contemplate their circumstances. There was no method to cease his thoughts from flowing anyway.

Latterly of gathering his composure, the man eased his tensed muscles and heaved a sigh. Filling his lungs to their fullness, Ivar spoke, "To sum it up, you're nothing but a traitor, aren't you?"

"It's amusing that you're accusing me. I've dedicated my whole life to serving the Romanoff Dukedom, yet you have the audacity to call me a traitor? How naive. I expected more from you, candidate Ivar Chroly."

Though he was being accused, Erwin's tone didn't carry an ounce of emotion. He was stating his sentiments as if nothing was amiss.

Ivar and Erwin became engaged through their gazes. The young one attempted to read what was on the old man's mind, but to no avail, he couldn't figure out anything from his blank countenance.

"It's not like I have expectations from you too, Grand Elder."

"Young Master Ius will be arriving soon. Why don't you keep your mouth shut till his arrival? You're not my goal from the beginning. It's only Young Master Ius that I need."

"You have no right to order me."

A smile crept up towards Erwin's darkened visage. The butler proceeded to grab the man's shoulders and said, "Keep on being preposterous. You won't be able to do it erelong."

Before the three men's cognizance could absorb what was happening, Ivar was blasted to a distant tree. As his body made contact, his mouth hurled a mouthful of blood. The impact left a significant dent on the bottom part of the tree's trunk, so deep that it might fall upon receiving a weak hit from a toddler's fist.

Erwin didn't even pay attention to Ivar after his attack. His fixation was on the young man who had just appeared in front of him.

The old man didn't say anything for a short while. He just glowered at the newcomer, his smile growing even more sinister. Right then, the young man raised his hand that was holding a ragged man. He loosened his grip, dropping the man on the ground without blinking an eye.

"Young Master, your aim seems to be rusty."

"My bad, you were my original target. But using clairvoyance against us is quite unfair, don't you think, Erwin?" Ius went and bent his neck from side to side, stretching it as much as he could, "I should've anticipated that you will do something underhanded. At the end of the day, the Orschetta Head's bastard son is nothing short of gifted."