Soft Spot → Sylus

Beloved Uncle

It was hard to secure the children. While some children have legal recorded identities, making it easier for them to be transferred to a safer orphanage in Linkon, most of the children belonging to Vagrant's Land are doomed to stay due to their lack of identity. But, with Sylus's connections with the locals, he trusted the children to a community he has a long term business with, granting them a safer spot amidst the cruelty that is Vagrant's Land.

Bidding farewell to the children was also harder than you initially had in mind. They persisted to help you "catch the villains" while some begged to at least know you or your husband's name so they can at least know their savior's name and maybe, one day, return the favor.

"You'll know," was all Sylus responded to them. The children looked disappointed, but didn't complain. They're probably trying to engrave every details of you and Sylus's face into their minds.

"See you when I'm older, Miss!"

"I hope we can see you again!"

"Come visit us with your baby when she's better, Miss!"

"I'll tell everyone that an angel and a demon fought for my freedom!"

"You know that's rude?"

"Can I be your second wife when I'm older, Mister?"

"We wish you luck, Miss!"

"I'll pray for your safety!"

"Bye, bye, Miss! We love you!"

The voices of the children helps to keep your spirit up. Sitting on the sofa, in the solace of the peculiar living room of the cottage-like house, you look down at the bundle of cherry pink in your arms, refusing to let her out of your sight. You've tried breastfeeding her, which she responds to, but other than drinking, Theia gives no response, not even opening her eyes or crying. This makes it hard to tell whether she's hurt, uncomfortable, hungry, or anything of the likes. So, you'll have to manage a schedule to make sure she has everything she needs for the mean time.

One thing you also failed to notice is how your breast milk has decreased. Maybe, due to stress and being away from Theia for awhile, your body has grown to adapt to the changes. The blood flow from postnatal birth has also fluctuates; one day it could be less to none, the other it's so heavy, it makes you nauseous. It can be dangerous for your health, but you refuse to rest until you retrieve Theia's heart.

Soft footsteps reverberate through the silent living room, a tuft of white hair along with masked faces emerging from the basement entrance just on the far right side of the room. The door frame lacks a door, so it's pretty much just a dark, gaping entrance engulfing any light that tries to penetrate through. Sylus, along with Luke and Kieran, stand by the basement entrance, eyeing you with a worrisome expression.

"Still unconscious?" you ask without turning your head towards their direction. Your eyes are fixated on the wall across from you as you zone out.

"We can force him to wake," Kieran responds. "Do you want to meet him?"

You simply nod, standing up from the sofa. Sauntering over towards the tall men, Luke extends his arms out towards you as you stop by the entrance. "Here, I'll take care of her while you're down there."

Shaking your head in denial, you flash Luke a reassuring, yet tired, smile. "It's fine," is all you respond with. Clearly, you're traumatized and anxious, and every one of them understands. Luke nods, moving to the side along with Kieran to make more room for you to descend down the basement.

Sylus, masking his worrisome eyes with a placid face, turns on his heels to guide you through the narrow stair. You follow Sylus, carefully treading on the creaky staircases with Luke and Kieran tailing behind. It's a short walk down before you're greeted with a spacious room; the basement. During the time you and Sylus return to Vagrant's Land, Sylus had his henchmen to create a makeshift chamber in the basement, with the middle of the room divided by bars to make the other half of the room a jail cell. Inside the jail is no other than Caleb, laying limp on his back. Considering Caleb's Evol, Sylus has every single object taken out the basement, leaving it barren, not even a single fabric for a makeshift bed for Caleb.