Gentle Big Bear

The gate covering the old fortress was mostly rusted. Elle could feel the dread filling the long hallway. She didn't know if it was because of the old molded bricks surrounding her or the lack of light in the long hallway leading to the dungeon but the longer the path, her nervousness bubbles up.

"Do you think you can handle meeting this criminal?" Count Arthur's voice broke her attention.

She turned to him and showed a small smile, "I'm sure, I can," she was more worried about her own emotions. Last time she had been so mad was when she heard that blonde knight rejoicing over the slums' death. It had resulted in her slapping his face, something she had never done before and never knew she could be so capable to do.

As they continued to walk, she reflect on her mind. She asked what kind of person could be responsible for such heinous crime. Why would you kill those who are weak and could do nothing against you? Was it so wrong for them, who is also a human, to survive? What made them hate her family so much that they had to take them away from her?

The more she tried to think of a reason for the criminal to kill her family, the more upset she became. The anger that fell asleep in her heart was woken up and she clenched her fist, thinking that she could never forgive the perpetrator no matter of their reason.

They arrived at the end of the hallway, stopping at the thicker wooden door that was guarded by more men than the front gate. One of them was a man dressed in the church uniform. Elle flinched as she had spent almost all her life running away from people dressed in such uniform, feeling frightened that her true identity as the phantom thief would be discovered.

She saw how Count Arthur's face lit up upon seeing the person and they quickly exchanged a friendly hug to one another, "Santoz!"

"Arthur! It has been such a long while! Four years is it?" Santoz stood taller than even her father. His large build almost cover her entire view when she stood in front of him but what caught her eyes more was his dark grey eyes.

"I am so glad to see you my friend," said Count Arthur, "How is your work?"

"Well with the new lord, it has been tiring but generally it's been better than before," Santoz then looked at the bright pink haired girl who stood beside his old friend, "You must be…"

Lightly pushing her back, Count Arthur proudly introduced his daughter to his old friend, "This is Estelle, yes, my Elle."

Elle didn't forget her manner. Showing Santoz a smile, she said gently, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh lord, saintess," whispered Santoz. "Thank lord you found her!! The saintess had blessed you with her mercy Arthur! This is such a great news! Why didn't I heard of it!" The werewolf appeared to be genuinely pleased to see that his friend had managed to find the missing daughter he had desperately searching for years. Elle could see that the man was warm despite his rough outward appearance. Even the scar under his eyes didn't appear harmful. He then looked at her, "You should hold a grand party to rejoice this news and please let me be invited as well."

"I would have held a ball but," Arthur sighed, "The family that had took care of Elle was in the slums."

"Oh Lord," came Santoz surprised gasp. He then looked at Elle, "My condolences, Miss Elle."

"Thank you," she whispered but there was no words in the world that could comfort a person who had lost her entire family. Regardless, she felt thankful that the man seemed to be sincerely disappointed unlike some others who would scoff knowing the slums was gone.

"You must be here to see the criminal then," Santoz said. "Are you prepared?"

Elle firmly set her jaw and nodded to the man. Her golden eyes glowed brighter, "I am."

"Well let's not prolong the time," Santoz took the key from his subordinate and took it upon himself to open the door to the dungeon.

Right upon entering a sharp nauseating smell filled Elle's nose. She scrunched her face but persisted. While they entered, Santoz spoke, "Our new Lord, he is one who cares for everyone." He started, surprising Elle and she noticed he was trying to speak and ease the current situation for her. Santoz continued, "At first he had dropped me from one of the case that I've took care for a long time. I thought it was unfair, thinking he was one of those people who cares more of the wealthy than those who are suffering but surprisingly after these past few days, I have realized that my understanding of him had been completely wrong."

"Was it the phantom thief case that you had to let go, Santoz?" Count Arthur asked for Elle to gulp hardly.

It turns out this werewolf, the Knight Santoz, was also the one who had been searching for her for years!

"Yes, but upon feeling sad, I learned that he had tasked me to find the perpetrator to the fire. I overheard from his butler that the Lord only assign tasks to those who think he is capable, which honestly made me very proud." The man had a smile that was bright from proudness for being recognize instantly by the new lord of Raindawn.

He continued, "Most nobles think it's unnecessary to find out what happened and I was quite defeated thinking that the case would be buried again in the dark. If the Lord hadn't passed the case to my hand, perhaps the truth would have been buried forever."

"The new lord seems to be a great leader," said Elle, not knowing she had seen him before.

"Indeed, charming he is and clever," Santoz spoke about Magnus in favor.

"I was worried," said Count Arthur who chimed in, "Although the Emperor had anointed him to become the new Lord of Raindawn, we know nothing about him except the fact he is the child of a duke."

"I suppose no one knows a lot about him, granted he isn't one of Raindown people. But it is a fact that he is a direct descendant of the Royal line. I was as worried about him as you did, especially when there are rumors— some saying that he had done a great mistake back in the castle and was casted away here; far from the castle. I was worried that would mean he is an incapable dimwit of a ruler but much to my surprise, not only is he efficient he is also extremely intelligent. He knows almost everything," Santoz continued. "It's as though he had lived for centuries."

Elle hummed as she heard about the new lord, imagining him to be an old man for some reason.

"Would you like to meet him?" Santoz then looked at Elle.

Elle tilted her head innocently, "Why?" Because she didn't think she would have a reason to meet the lord of Raindawn, especially when in truth she is the phantom thief that had wreak havoc.

Santoz laughed aloud, leaving her speechless and confused while Count Arthur shook his head. She didn't know just how many ladies would beg Santoz just for the glimpse of the lord— as he was known to be the most handsome man in the land. They would pray to saintess above to give them a chance so they would start the heart thumping romance with the most powerful man in Raindawn. Santoz had somehow expected Elle would care for such too and wouldn't have minded to introduce her, but he found it rather adorable how clueless and uncaring Elle is, patting her on the head with a warm smile of an uncle.

"Mhm not knowing anything is a bliss."

After a while, their steps came to a halt. Santoz then spoke with a heavy sigh, "Here we are."

"Elle," Count Arthur said with concern.

Elle turned and showed him a firm smile, "I will be alright," she promised. She didn't know what she would do, but she knew she wouldn't cry.

Santoz watched with Arthur as Estelle moved forward, looking at the iron bars covering the small cramp room. The room was too dark to let her see the person inside and she took a step forward, readying herself for who she was about to meet.

How surprised was she when the face she illuminated by the lantern was such a familiar face of a person she had seen since she was so very young….