A mysterious reason behind Lucian's escape

Zila:

"But there's something that puzzles me, Victoria..."

Victoria (curiously):

"And what is it?"

Zila:

"If my father had soldiers under his command... why would they want to capture us?"

She sighed a little, then added with a tone of confusion:

"Honestly, I don't know exactly what happened. But five months ago, we were living a peaceful life in our village. Then one night, my father rushed into the house, his face filled with worry, and said, 'Pack your things immediately.'"

Victoria (with interest):

"And no one asked him why?"

Zila:

"Of course I asked him... but all he said was, 'Just pack and don't ask too many questions.'

From that night, we left the village in a hurry. My father acted like something was chasing us. He kept looking behind him... like there was a real danger approaching. And as we were leaving, the village was filled with screams, and there were heavily armed soldiers searching for us."

Victoria (surprised):

"Soldiers? You mean they were actually after you?"

Zila (seriously):

"Yes. But my father was fast, and he managed to throw them off our trail, fleeing with us toward a great human wall.

We traveled day and night. He would sometimes carry us and rush, and sometimes we walked carefully deep in the forests, almost without stopping. That went on for five whole months... at a slow and dangerous pace, just to stay hidden.

I used to ask him, 'Why don't we go faster to reach safety?'

And he always replied with one sentence: 'I know what I'm doing. Don't worry.'"

Victoria (calmly):

"I see... And what happened at the wall?"

Zila:

"When we approached the humans' gate, we tried to disguise ourselves. But the guards were inspecting everyone who entered.

We tried to sneak in... but my little sister got scared. She cried heavily because she'd heard so many stories about humans—how they kill monsters and eat them. She used to hear those stories before bedtime, so she couldn't hold back her fear.

At that moment, one of the humans turned to us and shouted: 'Monsters! There are monsters!'

The gate was about to close, but my father quickly picked us up and leapt inside.

I asked him then: 'Why did you do that? They'll catch us immediately!'

But he replied: 'It's fine... I know what I'm doing.'

And indeed, soldiers surrounded us from all sides. I was ready to fight, but the surprise?

My father suddenly said: 'Surrender.'

Even the soldiers themselves were terrified when they realized who my father was... Speed.

Their legs were shaking... from sheer fear."

Victoria (astonished):

"Speed? So he was known even among them?"

Zila:

"Yes, very much so. No one dared come near him—until the guard captain arrived and shouted:

'Speed! Planning another trick? Are you mocking us?'

But my father calmly replied:

'I'm not planning anything... I came only to turn myself in.'

Then one of the soldiers said: 'Do you think we're stupid enough to believe a man like you would surrender so easily? And you brought your children too? Aren't you afraid for them?'

At that moment... I was very scared."

Victoria (smiling):

"Sounds like it was really tense."

Zila:

"Yes, everyone was on edge. No one approached—until an old man came forward and said confidently:

'I'll take him myself.'

A knight shouted: 'Don't do it, old man, he's dangerous!'

But the old man replied:

'It's fine... I've lived long enough. And look at him... he has no intention to fight.

I've been through many battles, and I know... if he wanted to kill us, we'd already be dead.'

The old man approached my father, despite the enormous power difference between them, and jokingly said:

'You insolent man... give me your hand. Do you dare resist an old man?'

My father laughed and replied: 'And you... aren't you the one who bullies young boys?'

The old man responded: 'Tch... kids these days have tongues sharper than swords.'

He took my father's hand, asked the soldiers for cuffs, and handed him over."

Victoria (reflectively):

"And that's how you were caught..."

Zila:

"Yes... and we were brought to you. You know the rest of the story."

A moment of silence followed, with Victoria lost in thought, then she muttered to herself:

"Apparently, things are much more complicated than I thought. Lucien didn't flee his village for no reason—something was chasing him... or someone.

His method of escape, his speed, his caution, even his change in travel style... it all points to him fleeing not just his tribe, but possibly from a greater power... Maybe he angered one of the strongest kingdoms in the Central Continent... and became a target, so he hid among humans.

That's dangerous. The coming days will be even more perilous, and I must double the guard around my son.

I won't let anyone touch him—not now that he's finally found himself again."

Zila (worried):

"Lady Victoria... are you alright?"

Victoria (smiling to ease the tension):

"Yes, I'm fine.

Didn't you say you wanted to be like me someday? Why not call me Mother instead of Lady?"

Zila (shyly):

"How could I call a great woman like you 'Mother'?"

Victoria (with a warm smile):

"I'm not as great as you think. But that's fine... when you're ready, call me Mother. And don't worry about anything else, understood?"

Zila (gratefully):

"Thank you... thanks to you, my heart feels lighter. As if I've released all the sorrow and pain I was carrying."

Victoria (gently):

"No need to thank me. I'll always be by your side, as long as you need me. From now on, you're my daughter... and you can ask for anything."

Zila:

"But... don't you think Arthur will be angry when he learns that I've become like his sister?"

Victoria (laughing):

"Don't worry about that. If he knew, he'd be very happy.

My son doesn't care about your origin or power... but about your character, your morals, and your principles. And that's what he saw in you."

Zila (happily):

"Really? That's amazing... your son has a strong character that even the greatest men don't have.

It seems you truly raised a great man."