11 Unexpected raid

The smoke slightly cleared out still leaving some ash pieces floating in the air, several feet below the silver-lined glass window covered with a thin layer of gray ash that Erica looked with a shock through was a group of thirty armed men holding weapons in their muscular hands pointing at the guards who let their guard down a few moments ago.

The front gate of the Calla lily mansion was completely blown off from the previous explosion, bits, and pieces of well-made metal laid on the ground next to a still burned body of a young man.

The scene outside the window made Erica collapse on the ground helplessly.

Ronan instantly got up from his bed when he heard the unfamiliar voice announce seconds ago and the miserable sight of his mother but he crashed to the wooden floor because of his weak legs that haven't recovered yet.

The viscount stood up instantly from his desk after being disturbed by the explosion but he was more taken back by the announcement.

He ordered the guards to take a look at the situation outside and if they're not outnumbered they shall engage in a fight as soon as possible.

"How dare they threaten me? Jarred can't be dead, he won't go down that easily, he won't!" Eric leaned on his desk then took a glance at Charles his most trusted man at the same time the captain of the guards worried expression, he sighed and looked away.

"Lord Eric, give me your order. Should I go and slay all of them?" Charles held the hilt of his sword tightly as he spoke as if he was much more offended than anyone else in the mansion.

Eric rubbed his forehead and straightened his back.

"No, don't act irrationally, trouble will only fall upon us."

The windows started shattering, screams and clashes were heard from outside. Blood splashed on the white stone ground getting in the tiny cracks and gaps between the stones.

"But, Lord.." Charles hesitated to talk back however he spoke two words before he was cut off.

Eric took out his sword and pointed at Charles's exposed throat.

"Not a single extra word shall leave your throat. Do as I say, got it? Go protect Erica and Ronan without fail. If anything happens to them don't be surprised if you find your head flying."

"You're command is my duty. I will protect them with my own life." Charles bowed and left quietly yet quickly.

Charles ran over the long stairs then through the lobbies until he reached one of the many rooms. He checked if it was locked and asked the nearby panicked maid for the key when he found out the door was locked.

The maid stuttered in her words, she said that she didn't have the keys with her at the moment then she left in a hurry before Charles could say anything.

No matter how hard he knocked on the door or how many times he shouted there was no response from the other side of the door.

"My lady! My young lord! Or are you there? Are you alright?! It's me, Charles."

Charles turned around him as soon as he felt someone behind him. In a blink of an eye, two swords met each other's blades. A finely tanned baldy without a top showing off his muscles engaged a fight with Charles.

Charles clenched his hilt and took his sword back after stepping a few steps backward.

"Hey, you're not so bad! Although you're way thinner than me!" The big guy opened his stinking mouth, Charles could've almost seen green gasses coming out, that's how much it was disgusting.

"Enough rubbish. Be ready to die here." Charles glared at the huge man in front of him feeling a little intimidated however that didn't hold him back, sapphire blue aura circled around his legs, he jumped high while raising his sword in the air, in a fraction of second blood stained a once shiny wooden table split into two halves.

"You almost got me there mate! But do you really think you can take me down so easily?" The big guy wiped the blood dripping from the straight-lined gash on his bald head into his left eye and refreshed his self.

"To your surprise, you don't look like a tough opponent, so seems to me like I could "Really" take you down in less than five minutes no give me two." Charles emphasized the word "really" as he got into a stance for the next attack.

Two weapons clashed together but one broke and the other stained.

On the other side of the door...

The window broke open a man with a black mask barged in. Expectedly the suspicious man threatened them both and tied their hands which was the reason why they didn't answer Charles shouted his lungs out, he held a saber radiating with bright red fire color at their unprotected throats.

The moment the sounds were cut of from the other side of the door the man began interrogating them but it slowly became too noisy to continue so he just waited for things to calm down in order for him to be audible to both of them.

A tear rolled down Erica's rosy cheeks slowly getting sucked by the nasty cloth stuffed in her mouth, Ronan wanted to cry as well since he was just a ten year old who cried in front of his mother over every small or big matter but after seeing his mother so distressed he couldn't afford to make her worry about him when she is supposed to worry about herself so he held back his tears and fear as much as he could.

"Seems like rock took care of him. Hah! As expected from my man! Now returning to you two, let's continue with my interrogation." The masked man smirked under his neck gaiter making it noticeable for Erica and Ronan then took out the cloth from their mouths.

"Where is the-"

Clash!

"What was that?" the masked man loudly asked as if expecting one out of the other two in the room to answer him when they are having the same question. He stood up and leaned closer to the door to get a better hear of what's happening outside.

A bloody sword was suddenly pushed inside the door from the other side, the intruder managed to only dodge by inches, or else he would've ended up being skewered.

The masked man stepped behind Ronan and aimed his saber at the door to throw it the moment it opens.

Loud bangs began assaulting the hard wooden door, quickly big dents and cracks appeared on the door, after that the door violently brook open into dozens of pieces and hundreds of bits. At the same time, the masked man threw his sword in the door's direction then immediately unsheathed a dagger from his waist belt and held it in front of Ronan's neck.

The dust cleared out and the saber indeed hit something but it was just the wall nothing else. The disappointment was seen in the man's eyes but he refused to let his guard down as the person who was supposed to be on the other side of the door completely vanished.

"Over here dull head or should I say hare-brained? Both are practically the same."

Charles jumped from behind the masked man onto his shoulders making the man lose his balance but before he could trip a sharp pain shot through his feet when he looked down it was the same sword that almost killed him a minute ago stabbing his feet. There wasn't any time to react to pain so he immediately pushed Charles off his shoulders and pulled up Ronan then held the dagger firmly at the little boy's small neck.

"You move and...the boy..dies, understand?!" The intruder stated in hesitation.

"Very well." Charles bit his lips and stood still while griping his shaft firmly.

"Now step back." The man ordered and Charles as did he was told.

"Alright throw your sword to the front and raise your hands." Charles stood straight and made direct eye contact with the masked man.

"I know I have seen him before... those eyes...is he.." Charles thought to himself while scanning the intruder from head to toe.

"What did I say!" The masked man yelled and pushed Ronan closer to the blade. Charles slowly placed the sword on the ground and raised both of his hands.

"That is much better, where is rock what did you do to him?"

"No idea." Charles shrugged his shoulders with a stoic face.

"No idea?" The intruder clenched the dagger to remind Charles that Ronan's life is in his hands.

"Well if you mean the bald one, I simply broke his "rocky" head into smaller stones."

"you killed him!? No, it can't be!"

Charles only blinked twice as the man looked out of the window in a hurry and fell to his knees, slowly lost his grip, and released Ronan unintentionally.

"You are losing I guess." Charles picked up his sword, blue aura gathered around his feet then he sprinted straight towards him. The man noticed him and dodged by the hair before it was too late, but what he didn't notice was that the cloth covering his face and identity was torn revealing a familiar face to everyone in the room.

Erica gasped and stood up while holding her dress in one hand and her son's hand in the other. "William!?"

Ronan got up with a similar face to his mother.

"What?! But-"

"I knew it. Those eyes I can never forget them." Charles lowered his sword and gave the intruder or William a sullen look.