An Ambush

- 114 years after the apocalypse -

On the Way Back to Westrian Manor

"Jonan, want to play a game?" Luna asked excitedly, a small smile on her face.

"Sure," Jonan replied calmly. "What do you want to play, Luna?"

"Okay, the game is like this," she explained. "I say a color, and you have to guess what I'm looking at. Got it?"

"Alright, let's start," Jonan said with a nod. Ahh… I have the cutest little sister in the world! he thought to himself.

"I see something green!" Luna declared.

"The grass?" Jonan guessed.

"Nooo!" Luna shook her head.

"The stems of the flowers?" Jonan tried again.

"What?! How did you guess that so fast? Jonan, that's not fair!" Luna pouted.

"Give me another one," Jonan chuckled.

"Alright, alright," Luna huffed. "You don't have to rub it in. I'll try again."

"I see something brown."

"The trees?"

"No…"

"The carriage?"

"No…"

"You win," Jonan admitted. "What was it?"

"It was th—"

Before Luna could finish her sentence, an arrow shot through the carriage window, piercing straight through and shattering the glass on the other side.

"Duke! We're under attack!" the coachman shouted, drawing his sword.

The Duke didn't hesitate. In one swift motion, he unsheathed his weapon—a silver blade with an emerald-green hilt, gleaming even in the dim light. Without another word, he stepped out of the carriage, his expression unreadable.

"Stay inside! Do not come out until I say so!" he ordered firmly.

Jonan's body tensed, but he reacted quickly.

Luna had begun to cry. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, and swiftly hid her under the carriage seat, shielding her small frame from view.

With a steady hand, he reached down to his boot and pulled out a worn silver dagger, its hilt half-broken from years of wear.

"Stay quiet, okay?" he whispered in a calm, reassuring voice. "I won't leave you."

Luna, still trembling, nodded through her tears, pressing her hands over her mouth to keep herself from making a sound

The clash of swords echoed from outside, the sound of steel meeting steel ringing in Jonan's ears. He could hear the cries of soldiers—some fighting, some falling. And then… he heard something worse.

Footsteps.

Someone was approaching the carriage.

Jonan tightened his grip on the dagger, his breathing steady. He wasn't afraid—he had been in life-or-death situations before. But there was one thing he did fear.

Luna.

I will never let this happen again.

His thoughts raced back to four years ago—to his mother, to that night, to the pain of powerlessness. But this time, he wouldn't stand frozen.

His eyes hardened with determination as the carriage door creaked open.

In one swift motion, Jonan lunged forward, driving the dagger straight into the intruder's eye.

The man let out a choked scream before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

Jonan gritted his teeth and tried to pull the dagger free, but it was buried too deep. He struggled for a moment before realizing—this was his first kill.

No time to think.

Two more men were rushing toward him, their swords drawn. Old, battered silver blades.

One was short and stocky, his fat fingers gripping his sword tightly. The other was tall and muscular, his strides confident.

Jonan tried to dodge, but they were two against one—and both were far stronger than him.

Damn it… I should have trained more, he thought bitterly as the fat man's sword slashed across his cheek.

And then—a scream.

Luna.

Jonan's heart stopped.

How?!

He had been guarding the entrance. His father was on the other side.

That meant—he had made a mistake.

They had lured him away from the carriage.

And now, they were inside.

"Kid, drop your weapon or your sister dies," the fat bandit sneered, his blade pressing against Luna's throat.

Jonan froze.

The Duke turned, his grip on his sword tightening. His men stood tense, waiting for his command.

The fat man smirked. "Even you, Duke, drop your weapon. That is, if you want her to live."

The Duke hesitated—but only for a moment.

His expression darkened, his jaw clenched in fury. And then, slowly, he tossed his sword to the ground.

"Stand down," he ordered his soldiers, who—hesitantly—obeyed.

Not again… the Duke thought bitterly.

"What do you want?" he demanded. "Money? Land?"

The fat man chuckled. "Tempting," he admitted. "But no. I have a much better prize."

He turned his gaze to Jonan and Luna.

"Abnormals are worth far more than gold," he grinned.

The Duke's face darkened, his entire body trembling with rage.

Jonan could only watch as Luna cried in terror, the same helplessness from four years ago creeping into his bones.

Then—his father spoke.

And what he said shocked everyone.

"What if I give you my eldest son instead?"

Jonan's breath hitched.

"He's exceptional for his age," the Duke continued, his voice steady, cold. "In addition, I will give you a signed noble's contract stating that he is legally yours. But in exchange, you will return my daughter immediately."

His words hung in the air, the weight of them suffocating.

Jonan's blood ran cold.

The fat bandit stroked his chin, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

"Hmm… not a bad deal," he mused. "But how can I trust that you won't just send your men to take him back later, huh?"

The Duke didn't hesitate. His voice was steady, cold as steel.

"I will give you a Noble's Seal."

A hush fell over the air.

The Noble's Seal—a sacred contract in Vestia. No noble, regardless of their rank, not even the king himself, could break it. The punishment for violating it was death—not just for the one who defied it, but for their entire family.

The Duke's expression didn't change. He didn't even glance at Jonan.

Jonan stood frozen. He always knew his father hated him, but he never imagined he'd be so willing to give him away.

Still—he didn't protest.

He swallowed his emotions, swallowed his tears.

"I will do it," Jonan said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "I won't resist. I'll be obedient."

His emerald eyes locked onto the bandits, his expression unreadable.

"I can read and write," he added. "And you've already seen that I can fight."

His resolve was unshaken. Luna had to be saved. Even if it meant sacrificing himself.

But deep inside—he was afraid.

Afraid of where they would take him.Afraid of what they would do to him.Afraid that this time, he wouldn't make it out alive.

The fat bandit let out a booming laugh, his grin stretching wide.

"Well, boys, you heard them! Help our little young lord sign the contract," he sneered. "And tie him up—we wouldn't want him suddenly changing his mind, now would we?"

Jonan didn't react. He didn't struggle. He didn't even flinch as rough hands grabbed him, forcing his wrist over the parchment as they pressed an ink-stained quill into his grip.

The Duke did as they demanded, his face still as cold and unreadable as ever. He sealed the contract—the final act that severed Jonan from his family name.

Jonan, bound and subdued, was pulled away from the carriage.

But before they dragged him too far, he stole one last glance at his family.

Luna.

His little sister, her dress and face streaked with dirt and tears, struggling against their father's hold. Her cries cut through the night, her hands reaching desperately for him.

The Duke.

Holding Luna back, preventing her from running to him. His face remained unchanged. No sadness. No guilt. Nothing.

He really does hate me.

Jonan clenched his jaw. A weight settled in his chest, pressing so hard he could barely breathe.

And yet, he only spoke two words.

"I'm sorry, Luna…"

His voice was steady—but inside, something broke.

Jonan awoke inside a small, cramped cage.

Where am I? he thought, his mind still hazy. His body ached from being restrained for so long.

His thoughts immediately turned to Luna. Is she safe? Did they really let them go?

He slowly blinked, adjusting to the dim surroundings. All he could see were towering trees with thick, gnarled branches stretching so high that they blocked out the sky. The forest was dense—so much so that it felt like a prison of its own.

And right in front of him, sitting comfortably by the fire, was none other than the fat bandit.

The man grinned, his yellowed teeth flashing in the dim firelight, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Ha! You're finally awake," he said in a mocking tone. "Well, Jonan… you're one of us now."

He leaned forward slightly, his expression twisted with amusement.

"Be a good boy, and we might just let you out of that cage. Sound fair?"

Jonan didn't respond.

He just sat there, silent, his fists clenched.

It's not over… i will make u pay...!