Damian flew as fast as he could toward his house. From a distance, he could already see a crowd gathered outside the front door. His sisters, Mimi and Nana, were in the street, crying.
He landed in the yard and ran straight to a man standing beside them.
— What's going on here? — he asked, out of breath.
The man explained that in the middle of the night, his sisters had run down the street screaming for help. Their mother wasn't moving, and their brother had disappeared. Some royal knights had been called to assist.
— When they arrived — the man went on — your mother was still alive. She had a head injury but was breathing. They rushed her to the nearest hospital.
Damian's heart, which had been clenched tight, loosened. Tears streamed down his cheeks — this time, tears of relief.
— Thank you... — he whispered, wiping his face before approaching his sisters.
— Mimi! Nana! Are you okay?
— We're okay... — cried Mimi, still trembling.
— We hid in the attic until the noise stopped — Nana said. — Then we went out looking for you... and found Mom lying there, covered in blood. That's when we ran for help.
— It's okay, Nana, Mimi. Mom is going to be fine. The man said they took her to the hospital. Everything's going to be alright.
A neighbor, Charles, stepped closer.
— Damian, where have you been all this time? Did something happen to you? You're covered in blood.
— I'm alright, Uncle Charles. I was kidnapped by the men who attacked Mom... but I managed to escape using a knife I found in their cart and ran back here.
— My goodness... You're lucky to be alive, boy. You could've been lost out there. I hope your mother recovers, and that those bastards are caught.
He looked at the three children with pity.
— Poor little ones... If your father were still alive, none of this would've happened. If you need anything, knock on my door. I'll do what I can.
— Thank you, Uncle. We'll let you know if we need help.
Hours later, the royal knights questioned Damian. He knew that if he told the truth, they might link everything to the chaos he had caused in the town square. So, he altered a few facts when answering their questions.
Once the interrogation was over, the knights sealed the house — now considered a crime scene — and took the keys. They told the children to find somewhere else to stay while the case was investigated.
With no options and no money for rent — since what little they had would go toward their mother's treatment — the siblings decided to look for Hundred.
By sunset, they had reached his neighborhood. Fortunately, they found him on the street. As they walked to his house together, Damian told him everything that had happened. Hundred was so shocked he could barely respond.
When they entered the house, they found Hundred's father in the kitchen — in a rare mood: smiling, almost glowing.
— Hundred! You won't believe what happened to me today!
— What is it, Dad? Don't tell me you're drunk again...
— Not at all, you brat! Today I got promoted to farm supervisor! The boss said he'll triple my pay. We're going to have our old life back. Your mother and I won't have to break our backs anymore!
— Wait, seriously!? We're going back to a normal life?
— I mean it, son! I know I've been a fool lately. Forgive me, Hundred. I don't want to disappoint you anymore.
He hugged his son tightly.
— I'm not the one you need to apologize to, Dad... It's Mom. I hope you two can make peace.
An awkward silence fell over the room.
Damian tapped Hundred's shoulder and whispered:
— Psst... Hundred...
— Ah! Right! Dad... can Damian and his sisters stay here for a while? Their house got sealed off, and they have nowhere else to go.
— Of course they can. Make yourselves at home, Damian and...?
— I'm Nana.
— And I'm Mimi!
— Oh, what adorable girls! I wish I had daughters like you... instead of this ugly son I got!
— What!? Say that again, old man!
Everyone burst out laughing.
And that night, despite everything, they made dinner together. Damian and Hundred were now living under the same roof.
It was a night that should have been sad...But it turned out to be one of the happiest nights of Damian's life.
Still, the lives of these two boys are no fairy tale.The harsh reality of their world is about to come knocking... once again.