Chapter 98: 98 — A Mirage
For the past few hours, the servant had been relentlessly searching for Eiran, as if the boy might sink into the very soil.
When Zayden stated that this was the place where he had found him, Ren stopped scouring the ground. Instead, he walked behind the General, silently guiding the way.
When the General tried to turn, Ren’s hands shot up, gripping his shoulders firmly.
"What if I get attacked from behind?" the General asked, suspicion lacing his tone.
What if you stab me in the back?
He would have asked if not for the fact that the hands pressing against his were shaking. He held the words from slipping.
"I will shield you. Just look forward."
It was more command than reassurance. Ren knew it. And yet, to his relief, Zayden obeyed without further question.
Not long after, two men appeared, hardly stronger than third-grade soldiers in Zayden’s army.
"Where is my son?" He demanded.
However, before they could even answer, they dropped dead, eyes wide, bodies collapsing soundlessly onto the rocky ground after groaning in pain.
The General froze, perplexed.
"What was that?" he muttered, hesitantly crouching to examine them.
Once he placed his hand flat before their noses, he grimaced. They were no longer breathing.
Ren’s complexion turned pale yet, he masked his expression into a mask of calm, though his heart raced violently.
They saw me.
A single eye contact with him had snuffed out their life, the way it always did. He hadn’t meant to—he only wanted to find Eiran’s lifestring by using his power, fast. And yet, once again, his curse betrayed him, taking away lives without his permission.
His knot formed in his stomach as Zayden’s eyes lingered on the corpses. If the General investigated further—if he pieced together the truth—Ren’s secret would unravel in an instant. He swallowed hard, forcing his voice steady.
"My Lord, Eiran is there." He pointed toward the faint shimmer of a door bound with magic.
Zayden turned, distracted, and with a dark violet spark from his palm, shattered the seal.
"It wasn’t even a strong spell," he mumbled, standing up and stepping inside.
Ren was already rushing ahead of him, heart pounding.
No monsters.
No guards.
No one.
Only silence greeted them.
"Are you sure he is here?" Zayden asked, doubtful. After all, how could he, a mere human, know where they hid the child? Yet, he found himself following his lead.
Ren nodded quickly, though fear gnawed at him. Earlier, he had followed the green lifestrings, hoping one of them would be Eiran’s and saw it in this very place. However, now, he couldn’t use his powers. Not after what happened. He could only hope it didn’t raise the General’s suspicions.
With every step, dread dug into his bones, around his throat. If Zayden discovered why those men died—if he realized that Ren’s eyes killed them—then everything he had done to remain in the General’s shadow, to earn enough to live with his child, would collapse.
He couldn’t risk that.
Not after he found out that the boy was his.
Finally, I found you.
***
Sitting in the empty room, Eiran leaned against the wall. He didn’t know how long it had been since he ate something. They did give him food; however, he couldn’t bring himself to eat it. After all, it was not impossible that they had put poison in it.
As crazy as it seemed, he didn’t know if his Dad would give up on trying to find him or not. After all, he was not his true son.
However... what about his Papa?
Would he also give up on him as well?
The snake had been taken outside by the two men after Eiran stopped fearing it.
"It’s no fun," one of them said before they exited the area.
"They said I am not scared because I am a demon," he snorted. He was not a demon. He was...
His mouth parted slightly. He didn’t know what he was.
I should ask Papa.
Just then, footsteps approached him.
Two people.
The kidnappers?
Had they returned?
He closed his eyes shut. He didn’t have the energy to question the men any further.
A trembling hand caressed his cheek. He frowned.
The touch... It was just like Ren’s!
He opened his eyes, glaring at whoever stood before him. Trying to imitate his Papa’s touch—
Before him was Ren’s face, and Zayden’s. Both had damp eyes, leaving the boy in disbelief.
Were they about to cry?
He scanned them closely. What if it was an illusion?
"E-Eiran..." Their voices shaky, they exhaled in relief.
"P-Papa? D-Dad?" He managed to whisper, his throat burning.
Ren cradled him in his arms, his body shaking.
"Y-you are not hurt, are you?"
Eiran shook his head, perplexed. He looked at Zayden, gesturing for an explanation. However, the man shrugged.
None of them could understand why Ren was acting like this. After all, he wasn’t the kind to show emotions openly like this. Much less affection.
Then, Ren pressed a soft peck on Eiran’s forehead as if blowing the final blow. The boy blinked, eyes wide. He narrowed his eyes, searching for answers from Zayden who shook his head, equally clueless.
"I-I am fine," Eiran pulled himself away from the hug, fingers pressing on the spot Ren had pecked. His Papa had never showered him with kisses before. He read in books that it was a way of showing affection—
His eyes burned and before he realized it, tears began dripping down his cheeks.
Ren and Zayden gasped, each wiping tears coming from each side.
"You truly are a crybaby," Zayden chuckled, a flicker of light flashing against the handcuffs, breaking them.
"My Lord!" Ren frowned at him. "He must have been scared..." His voice dropped, along with his gaze. He dared to glare at Zayden.
This time, he was bound to get punished!
"We should return home," the General rose to his feet, picking up the child.
Ren looked up, eyes widened in confusion.
"Do not look at me like that," the General chuckled. "I witnessed how scared you were. And I understand your worries for my son. But he is stronger than you think. He managed to hang on until we found him, right?" he glanced at Eiran who nodded with a bright grin.
Just then, Eiran’s stomach growled, upset for not having any food until now.
Silence lingered between them for a moment, Eiran’s cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
Zayden burst into laughter. However, he was interrupted by Ren’s soft chuckle.
His gaze focused on him, unable to look elsewhere. Subconsciously, a smile formed on his lips.
"Dad?" Eiran pulled onto Zayden’s shoulder.
He blinked, quickly turning away. His chest raced, loud enough to echo in his ears, cheeks flushing a pale red. Why did he keep looking at Ren like that?
Biting the inside of his cheek, he regained his composure.
"How did you break those handcuffs? Magic doesn’t work on them, right?"
Zayden nodded.
"But they can’t stop the magic of a demon," he mumbled, his voice low. "You must be hungry. Let’s hurry back to the mansion," he gently patted Eiran’s hair.
This time, the boy didn’t complain about his hairstyle getting ruined. It already was, if anything, a mess and dirty. However, he missed the large hands caressing him, showing him love. And now, he knew his Papa also cared for him.
Ren looked at them, stunned.
The General was a demon? Was that why he hated it when people called him that? To the point of killing people... But why didn’t he do the same to Ren?
Zayden extended his hand to Ren as if to help him up. But the servant didn’t take it. It almost appeared as if the man who shared a horse earlier, who let him lean on his back, was a mirage.