Bocahr Settlement: The Journey (4)

"Father?" Erwin asked, his mouth agape as he made sense of the situation.

Because of how preoccupied he was in thinking of a way to save Ilya as soon as physically possible, Erwin had forgotten about what Hanom said before they parted.

Zarya's parents were not the Vaslavis couple who had taken care of her for the better part of five years. Threya and Grego saved her from suffering a dreadful childhood in the hands of her true father. 

"Yes, Father. Can you not hear well?" The man then stepped forward until he was only a few inches away from Erwin. 

He stooped down and caught his stare, smiling as he noticed the fear swimming on the old man's eyes. 

"I'm concerned, you know. I've been looking for my daughter for almost five years. She was kidnapped, you see. I feel foolish that I've been chasing an empty lead all this time."