Separation (End Prologue)
"That Oscar..!He is planning something sinister, our sons life will be jeopardized if he were to remain within the Estate."
Catherine's eyes widen as she hears this, but she maintains an expression that suggests she expected it.
"I have been suspecting him. I have had a hunch for a while, you know? He has been aiming for the Clan Head position, and this is an excellent opportunity to seize it."
She responds bitterly.
"If even you can sense how dangerous he is, then he must be planning something terrible."
She says with her eyes closed and arms crossed.
"But as long as you are here, I do not think he will dare to do anything harmful to our child!"
"That is the issue! You see, the reason I fear for Alf's safety, is because I will be leaving tomorrow!"
Cathrine looks at him with a questioning expression.
"Why? You just got back yesterday!"
Alvar clenches his fist. "If only Alf had been born with the talent for wielding Ether, his path would have been much easier.
But fate had different plans...
Now I must ensure that he survives in another way!" He thinks to himself.
"It appears that while I was traveling here, my men were ambushed by enemy soldiers, and hundreds of them were killed due to a lack of command. My absence has resulted in numerous casualties, so I must return to the western borders!"
Alvar says with regret.
Hearing this, Catherine attempts to persuade him not to return, claiming that someone else could go in his place.
However, he disagrees, stating that he cannot abandon his comrades for a threat that may not even exist.
"Listen to me, perhaps it would be best if Alf were to grow up at some other place.
If he were to stay here, he would not feel welcomed and would be an outcast among his peers. I do not want such a life for my son!"
After a few seconds of silence,
Catherine presses a hand to her chest as if steadying her breath.
"You are correct." She mutters.
Her words were bitter, but she spoke them anyway.
Alvar sighs deeply upon witnessing his wife's grief.
"You can spend a week with him, after that, he will be sent to live with 'Daniel'. He is a man I have a lot of faith in."
"He is a former comrade who now lives on the outskirts of the capital. Alf will be well-cared for there, and you could pay him a visit once every few months.
He will also train him in martial arts while I am away. Since he can't use Ether, martial arts training is the only way he can get stronger!"
He says, with a look of anticipation.
Hearing this, Catherine clenching her fists, simply nods. She walks away, and heads to the bedroom where Alf was sound asleep.
Alvar let's out a deep sigh and decides to leave the living quaters, hoping to give his wife some space.
He leaves the next day, missing the opportunity to speak with Catherine one last time.
"I forwarded the letter to Daniel— it is now Cathrine's decision, whether or not to send Alf to live with Daniel at Zalglen.'"
Alvar thinks inwardly as he rides his horse through vast grasslands.
~~
A week later—
Catherine is riding in a carriage through a dense forest, holding Alf in her arms.
"If everything goes as planned, we will be at Zalglen in three days."
The coachman tells a pale-faced young man with blue eyes and black hair.
"Did you hear sis? We will be there in just three days!"
"Yes, I heard."
Catherine responds with an expressionless face.
Following that, a terrifying cacophony of barks rises from the forest. A group of red wolves emerge, drooling and howling. They start surrounding the carriage.
"What is a pack of red wolves doing so far away from their usual habitat!?"
The coachman exclaims.
"Oh Lord! I don't want to die!"
In a state of panic, he tries to steer the horses away, but one of them is bitten by a wolf while attempting to flee.
"Don't even try! There are too many of them, we cannot escape without a fight!"
The young man exits the carriage with his sword unsheathed and glowing with a blue light.
He glares at group lunges. In an instant, he closes the distance, stabbing, poking, and slicing. If a wolf came within a reasonable range, he would cut it down, and if it was farther away, he would stab it.
Within a few seconds, a dozen wolves were sliced down.
"So, you are the only one remaining."
Like a predator observing its prey, he gazes at the wolf.
He lunges forward, attempting to stab it with his sword, but the wolf easily dodges and charges at the man's neck.
The man staggers as the wolf's claws approach him. He narrowly avoids the fatal blow by ducking just in time.
"It appears I must use the Ether flow if I don't want to get killed!"
His sword begins to glow with an even brighter blue light, and he launches an attack. This time, the wolf wasn't so lucky and the sword pierces its neck, ending its life.
"Huuh! Its finally dead— man was that exhilarating!"
The man exclaims with a wild grin.
Catherine exits the carriage distraught, but when she notices her brother still standing and the dozen wolf corpses on the ground, she sighs with relief.
"Thank God you are safe! I was so anxious!"
"You are worried for nothing; do not you know how strong I am?"
He asks with a smug smile.
Catherine chuckles at her brothers cocky attitude. "He has grown up to be just like his father."
"Thank you so much Sir Ethan! If it weren't for you, I would'nt have survived. I owe you my life!."
The coachman bows his head in appreciation.
When Ethan saw this, he grabbed his shoulders to pull him from his bow.
"My sister is the reason I came on this journey, I am here to keep her safe. This is my duty, no need to thank me," he says while shaking his head.
~
Catherine finally arrives at Daniel's house in Zalglen, after three days and nights of riding.
The house was built entirely of wood and features a traditional Indo-European design common in the Asid Empire.
A fierce-looking man with sharp features and a robust physique was waiting at the house's entrance.
"I welcome you to my home, Lady Elerian. I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival!"
Says the fierce looking man.
"Thank you! I appreciate your warm welcome!" Catherine replies politely.
"I suppose you are Mr. Daniel?"
"Oh yes! I am Daniel. Sorry for the late introduction!" He replies, scratching the back of his head.
Daniel invites Cathrine into his home.
"I am afraid I cannot invite Sir Ethan as well, as we do not have enough room for any more people," he says, with an apologetic expression.
"Oh! I guess it cannot be helped since you don't have enough space. I am fine sleeping in the carriage; I have been doing so for a few nights." Ethan replies with resignation.
~~
After a brief introduction with the rest of the family, he inquires about Alf, and asks her the reason for sending him so far away from the main estate.
After some thought, she decides to tell him everything. "Since he will be looking after Alf from now on, it would be better to reveal everything."
She goes on to explain everything that has happened, from Alf's birth to the talent awakening and the agreement with Oscar.
"Hmmm... I see. I understand why commander decided to send Alf here. It was probably the best option for his safety and growth."
Daniel nods as he comments.
"You can rest assured my lady! Alf will be loved and well cared for. He is the commander's son, and I will make sure he has everything he needs. My daughters have already grown fond of him."
He gives a thumbs-up.
(A/N:Lol. Fun guy)
~
Catherine had spent the whole night chatting with the family members.
She wanted to ensure that Alf was placed with a family that was suitable for him. She observed that this family was loving and caring, and it was only then that she decided to leave first thing in the morning.
"How can I be so selfish and force you make you stay with me? I do not want my selfishness to continue to put you in danger."She thinks inwardly, while clenching her fist.
"It breaks my heart to leave, but I know it is best for you to stay here and grow up safely." She mutters as she presses Alf against her face, her eyes moist.
Her gaze drops as she releases her son and steps into the carriage.
To be continued...