Chapter 31 - Thunder Strike

After restoring the training ground to its original condition following the wreckage that had resulted from the spar, Reinhard and Rudeus were brought to Philip's office where they discussed how they were going to arrange their jobs while staying in their estate. Reinhard was scheduled to guard Eris at all times while Rudeus was going to teach her Monday to Friday. This came from Reinhard who wanted to give Eris some time off and gave Rudeus his own free time. Though he does have the same privilege since he is tasked to guard her still had the opportunity to train with Ghislaine.

Once everything was set, Phillip let his servant bring them to their room. The two arrive in a relatively large room with two seperate beds. It was dimly lit by candles and had all the necessity. Rudeus excitedly jumped into the bed while Reinhard was looking around the room.

"You look more tired than I am, Rudy."

"Hey can't blame me since hearing that fiancee's haughty remarks. I still can't believe you're putting up with it."

"Well, I believe that acting in emotion would result in mishaps. Not to mention, it's not worth getting myself worked up."

Reinhard thought logically and most of the time didn't let his emotions run amok. Not to mention, Eris was just an ignorant young girl and would eventually mature as times went on. He sat down on his bed glancing at Rudeus who had already fallen asleep, making him sigh. 

He laid on the bed while thinking about the future since he'll be in this place for 3 years at most. Reinhard option of heading to the holy land of sword soon to challenge Gal Fariom, the current Sword God to test his skills and techniques. He believed that it would be enough to refine his skill in swordsmanship to a King Rank. 

It already confirmed that he is at least a close to Saint Rank in swordsmanship only lacking proper guidance by someone higher. Reinhard wanted to be enlightened by someone who has lived with a sword their whole life and had dedicated himself in refining their skills. 

'*Sigh* a tsundere fiance huh….I should write to Roxy about it and ask how she feels about it. I mean at least it would become easier to convince her with Ghislaine.'

Reinhard pondered how he was going to go about with his relationship since Eris wasn't supposed to be with him. His brother had no interest in her and he can't exactly hate her only being influenced by the environment that she's in. Frankly, she just needed some reality to hit her and let her become humble. The best thing is to let her experience the little things in life. 

He could hypnotize Eris to change but that would just be cheating and dislike using it on children with few exceptions like those who want to forget the past. As someone who read the noble Eris was deeply hated by every reader because of her initial introduction but her character development became a tame wild woman like Ghislaine. 

'The thing I fear is Norn…'

Reinhard thought about his little sister who would likely have a deep inferiority complex once he returned and met her. She would always be compared to him and Rudeus which he didn't want. It was frustrating because he didn't want her to be in his shadow and let her carve a path for herself. 

'*sigh* That's enough problems for one day.'

He slowly shut his eyes feeling his mind slipping away and soon fell asleep while a few minutes later people came into their room and took them. They took both of them that were far away enough from the citadel of Roa into the outskirts and tied them up. However, Reinhard was brought to another place where he was heavily strained within a dungeon. 

"Is this the Miko you've mentioned?"

A man whose identity was hidden by a cloak stared at an unconscious young boy chained up like a wild animal. 

"Yes, he is claimed to be an abnormal child that even the Black Wolf Sword King claims that he is a Saint Rank." 

"A Saint Rank? This young!?"

He exclaimed upon learning that this young boy had power of a Saint Rank where it is normally accomplished by at least in their adolescence that even reaching at the age of pre teen could be considered as monstrous talent and this young boy was no older than 7 years old. 

Anyone could only imagine once he reached his prime. The mysterious man's expression grew grinning, taking out a magic item under his cloak.

"This boy will surely be useful in our group. I'll raise him into a fine too-." 

Before he had the chance to finish his words, the young boy's blue eyes shot open causing them to flinch before a flare magical energy burst shattered the chain pushing them back hitting the metal bars while the young boy stood on his feet. Reinhard cracked his neck looking at the man who was about to do something. 

'Hmmm, I was expecting to be with Rudeus…but whatever. I trust that he'll handle things and possibly make Eris fall for him.'

He thought turning his attention to the squirming cloak man who revealed to be someone with elegant hair and regal appearances that base from his clothes was noble. The man witnessed the young boy staring at him and before he could do anything saw him vanish then felt pain in his chest. He looked down to see the young boy had pierced through his chest and ripped his heart out. 

"B-Blugrh…Y-You…"

"Nothing personal."

The man fell to the ground while Reinhard looked down at his lifeless body with his hand and face had blood on them. He killed him to resurrect him in his Empyrea later and find information about the kingdom. Reinhard stared at his hand that had turned quite monstrous and had the idea from hunter x hunter when Killua turned his hand into a claws.  

He did it by changing the property of his claws into sharper and stronger materials while flexing his hands and covering it with Touki. Reinhard stares at the chain that remains on his wrist with interest.

'This seems to be disrupting my Mana flow…interesting.'  

Reinhard destroyed the remaining chains then went out of his cage where he spread his senses and found the number of people as well where he currently was. He frowned when something was troubling and quickly released his restriction, taking it seriously before creating a temporary sword since he left his sword back in his room. 

He used [ Shundō ] rapidly moving into the corridor where he found some guards and quickly killed them, sending them into his Empyrea. Reinhard could feel something was wrong and quickly try to find the others. Once he encountered another guard who quickly sneaked up on him and used magic to hypnotize him. 

"Speak, where did you take Eris Greyrat?"

Though, he disliked her personality and was still just a young girl and abandoning her would stain his hand again like before. Reinhard refused to let a child die because this is the only thing that he was proud of. Though he trusted his brother still felt something might go wrong. 

"S-She had escaped with that boy and is currently being pursued by Sword Saint, Cain."

The realization kicks in causing his expression to get serious since even if Rudeus is stronger than the canon doesn't mean he has the same experience and likely gets killed. Though, he pondered why someone like a sword saint would join a simple kidnapping.

"B-Because…Cain hates Ghislaine…"

Reinhard learned that this person has some grudge against her and wanted to get revenge by making Eris suffer who she was supposed to protect. He quickly killed him and sent the corpse back into his Empyrea before blitzing his way above, then spread his senses the farthest he got and quickly used [ Godspeed ]. 

His expression turned serious when he finally spotted them close enough and blitzed his way towards them leaving a trail of lightning behind him. At that moment, he witnessed Rudeus knock out while Eris was on the ground about to be killed by presumably the Sword Saint.

"-Die!"

===========

Before Reinhard arrived, Rudeus and Eris were trying to escape their pursuer finding themself in the forest running trying to find a way out.

"Do you even know where we are!? We've been walking for so long now!"

"I don't know but-"

"Useless!! I thought you were my tutor and know more than me!?"

Rudeus was extremely annoyed that this is how he was being treated after saving her and talked haughty despite being beaten to pulp by their kidnapper. He was worried that this was a real kidnapping and had no idea where they were taken. 

'I should have trained more with Nii-San and Paul…'

He regretted that he was unable to find a way out of their situation. Meanwhile, Eris, who was acting arrogant, was actually extremely frightened and afraid of being beaten again by their kidnapper. This was the first time she had been hurt that badly and didn't want to experience it again. 

'It's that Reinhard's fault for not teaching me!'

Despite it all her pride still blinded her and pointed the blame at the person who annoyed her the most. She deeply hated him for ignoring her request even though she had given all the privileges. Her grandfather always said that they should not bow to no one. Though, she interpreted it differently which resulted in her arrogant and wild personality. 

In that moment, A rock wall was erected that was a clean slice in half while Rudeus acted quickly and had Eris behind him. The red haired shivered when she realized that they're pursuer had caught up without them noticing. 

"You two really are something, especially this Water Saint Rank Magician boy wonder."

Rudeus stared closely at their enemy who had a beastman wearing only a jacket that showed his bare chest and wielded a Sword that he tapped on his shoulder. He bares his teeth at them while rubbing his chin as if finding his prey.

"What do you want from us!? Do you know who i-"

A blink of an eye the man appeared to graze Eris' face while Rudeus barely pulled her and created a spike on the ground hoping to stake their opponent. The man whistled at Rudeus who had his arm wounded by his quick blade that he quickly healed but fear was painted in his face.  Unlike his brother, he had yet any experience in combat and hadn't developed the keen sense to react against danger.

However, Reinhard had helped him form a Mana core and Mana sense that gave him enough reflexes to keep him safe. Unfortunately, He had to protect Eris and save himself in the process. 

"Woah! You manage to dodge that attack huh? Anyway, as for your question I know quite well who you are. The daughter of the boreas, a brat who thinks she owns everything and looks down on everyone and last but not the least, the young lady that bitch Ghislaine is supposed to protect."

They felt his killing intent that weighed down into their heart feeling death itself was approaching. Rudeus purposely sweat feeling slightly responsible for their situation since he was the one who suggested the kidnapping scenario.

"She took everything to me, I was supposed to be the Sword King but she exposed me and claimed that I am unfit to be one! That bastard Gal Farion doesn't know I am the most deserving to be a sword king and not her!! That is why, I'll kill you to get my revenge!!"

Rudeus felt pain in his chest as he was sent into the trees and knocked down in an instant, his vision slowly fading as he watched the man towering over Eris who was shaking in fear. 

"You! If you hurt me, my grandfather will make you pay!"

"Hahaha as if he could! You annoying brat would surely make her suffer once I killed you. It's too bad that I could kill that Miko kid but you are enough to make her feel what I felt, losing something!"

"N-No! Don't come near me!!"

Eris crawled to escape but the man appeared in front of her and kicked her straight to the face. She laid on the ground all bloody then was stumped by the man grinning maniacally.

"I really enjoy killing human trash like you who think their titles and fame have any meaning. In this world, as long you have power then nothing matters! Listen up kid, this is the real world and whatever you say is pointless unless you get stronger!! But I am just rambling."

She cried seeing the sword raise pointing at her feeling that this was the end and saw her life flash before her. Eris never knew what she truly wanted and felt that everyone always forced what she needed. The thing she wanted to be was Ghislaine and her story about the world. 

'I-I..don't want to die…Papa….Mama…Grandpa….Someone….Save me…please….Reinhard!!'

"-Die."

Eris closed her eyes as the sword was inches away from her chest when a flash of light appeared where the sound of crackling electricity could be heard. The man's face was struck by a devastating blow from the streak of lightning and sent him flying into the trees. The shockwave of the attack caused the air to form a ripple as the attackers fist seemed to smoke. 

"Lay off your hands on my Fiancee!"