Crownless: The Fallen World - Chapter 38

“The whole mansion was destroyed because our house was in the way of the tornado. The strong and the blade like wind were slowly, but surely cutting our house into pieces. Father tried his best to order his servants to take what was in our treasury, and to store it in this ring like storage that I have never seen before.”

Arya and Hale showed interest in her story and listened attentively. When Sylvia saw it, she showed the ring that both of them saw in one of the goods in their Academy’s virtual shop. She placed it on Hale’s hand to make him observe it better, then she continued, “When father was close to giving that ring to me, he was suddenly caught in the wind and was pulled. I was almost caught too but the remaining servants got a hold of me and pulled me in a room and we hastily entered a door leading down a dark room. We stayed there for a few minutes until one of the servants wanted to come up and check the situation.”

She looked at them and smiled sadly, “That servant shouted that the tornado was already far away from our position but he was too naïve to talk early when he was pulled by another harsh wind. He held onto the railing and we tried our best to run towards him to grab a hold of him but it was all for naught when his arms got cut off when the sharp wind came.”

“The four of us were the only ones remaining in the House of Lenings. I am the last line of the main family,” Sylvia gestured at the two injured maids and one butler.

“I offer my condolences, Madame,” Arya offered her hand and Sylvia took it with a huge but sad smile. She yelled in surprise when Arya pulled her into a tight hug. The Madame hugged the Lady back, but Arya felt something so constricting, enough to suffocate her.

When they both pulled back, Arya glances at Sylvia’s chest, ‘Hmm…’

Hale patted her shoulder, “Condolence.”

“Thank you, both of you… I apologize if I never got anything to help you with it… but you could go and search in the Holden City situated on another continent. My mother lived there when she was alive. You can definitely find a true Liden’s descendant there.”

Hale pressed his lips in a thin line. If it was in another continent, almost four hours he had will never be enough to fly, ride a ship to go there, or even have to enter a particle portal. He could lose Aires while he was on his journey to go there.

Everything came crashing down to him; the stress, the urgency, and the pain he was feeling were stacked together that he couldn’t help but inhale deeply and exhale shakily. He then felt two thin arms around his waist, and small hands gently rubbing his back.

The child’s deep blue almond eyes looked at Hale as if it held the stars in it. The older was mesmerize that, surprisingly, calmed him down. He smiled then kissed the child’s forehead, rested his chin on its head before mumbling, “We’ll find a way to save your Dad.”

Arya watched the exchange, unaware of Hale’s words, as she awed at the sweet vice president. However, Sylvia’s reaction was of disbelief as she clenched her fists, clutching the soft fabric of her pink dress.

Hale let the child down and held his hands into his, “Please excuse us. We have to leave early.”

“It’s okay. It is such a shame that I wouldn’t be able to invite you to have tea,” Sylvia stood and opened the door for them, “Please do visit me next time.”

“Of course, we will,” Hale said before he walked out as he walked hand-in-hand with the child.

Arya watched them then she looked at Sylvia, “They’ll go back to Gavin City, it seems. Well then, nice to meet you, Madame Sylvia,” with that, she left, leaving Sylvia dumbfounded but conflicted.

She suddenly remembered how her father loved her so much that he prioritized her life first before anything else after her mother and her father lost a loving wife. The words of Hale affected her right then. Indeed, she had to do something about it.

***

Hale was now running towards the direction of the forsaken city, carrying the child on his back. His face held hopelessness as he contemplated how he will even save Aires in his predicament. Maybe if he sacrificed his body too, the burden will be halved, if that idea could even be accepted.

His legs were now giving up and were too weak; his fatigue finally came kicking in again. He was close to stumbling when he heard a loud honk, which made him remember how Aires honked the coupe back in their estate just to annoy the owner. It brought a sad smile on his face.

His thoughts were broken when he heard a familiar shout, “HALE!”

Hale slowed down and was greeted with a large white terrain truck and a woman waving at him, “Sylvia?!”

Sylvia shouted back, with her hands on the corners of her mouth, “Hale! Hop on! I’ll take you to the city faster!”

Without a second thought, he jumped on the truck. He almost slipped but was glad that three pair of hands caught him right in time. One of the maids, her face signifies that she was around in her late 20’s, reprimanded him, “You! You should’ve at least let the vehicle stop! What are you on about huh?! You could’ve died back there! What if we’re not in time to save your pitiful ass?!”

“Hannah, don’t panic now. Nothing will happen like that anymore,” the other maid patted Hannah’s head as it calmed her down, partly.

Sylvia smiled at the two and eyed the butler who was driving like a madman, hurrying to the once peaceful city. She led Hale to one seat and started speaking, “I’m sorry that I lied back there. Let me introduce myself again. I am Sylvia Liden-Lening, the direct descendant of the mother of ice, Martha Liden.”