Chapter 5: Unconscious... Again

“Urgh…” I groaned as I slowly opened my eyes.

Only darkness greeted me as I tried to understand my situation.

I immediately noticed that my hands were tied behind my back while my legs were also bound.

Fuck, not again!

I was confused, yet relieved that I wasn’t tied to a cross this time.

What happened? Did Amanda do this to me? But why…?

While I cursed her in my mind, I eventually noticed that I was stuck inside a box with barely enough space to move.

I hated small spaces.

“Ow…”

My head suddenly banged against the box.

The box was clearly moving.

I finally understood the seriousness of the situation and began to panic. I desperately tried to free myself from the ropes like I saw in some movies, but it was clearly impossible.

Besides, even if I succeeded, I would still be stuck inside this bloody box.

I hoped she would not suddenly decide to plant swords inside like in a magic show. Even if magic existed in this world, I seriously hoped she wouldn't do it.

“Free me, Amanda! Why are you doing this? Free me now!”

My voice was only met with silence.

No matter how loud or how much I yelled, no one answered. However, I still continued, in the hopes that someone other than Amanda would hear my pleas.

After a few minutes, I clearly realized that it was useless, but I still continued a little longer.

After screaming to my heart's content, I felt a little better. Self-control was never my strong point after all.

I also stopped my pointless struggle to preserve my strength in case I need to fight.

I began to concentrate and collect any information on my situation. All I knew was that we were still traveling and, despite being in such a small space, it was clear that we were moving at a fairly steady pace.

It was apparent that the driver was in a rush.

With nothing better to do, I could only unleash my fury and frustration in my mind.

She caught me by surprise last time, but as soon as I have a chance, I’m gonna kick her sorry ass. I know I promised myself that I wouldn't be a brute, but… kidnappers are an exception. She’ll be in for a surprise.

I smiled coldly as those thoughts accompanied me on my long trip.

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After a few hours of traveling, we eventually came to a sudden stop.

I readied myself as I patiently waited for my chance.

I could hear the sound of footsteps. At first, it was quiet but then it grew clearer, indicating that someone was coming.

The lid of the box finally opened.

As soon as it did, I gathered all my strength to propel myself out as fast as I could to do a head buck.

*BAM*

The culprit abruptly closed the lid onto my head, knocking me back into the box.

“Are you calm now?”

I knew right away whose voice it belonged to.

“That hurt! Why are you doing that? I didn’t do anything to you and my parents don’t have a lot of money so release me. Release me right now.” I yelled angrily.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that just yet. I’m not after any reward if that is what you think. I only did this because I was ordered to do so.” She said in a relaxed tone with a smile on her pretty face.

“Someone ordered you to kidnap me…” I said in a surprised tone.

“Who? I don’t remember wronging anyone… at least I think so…”

“We still have a long road ahead of us to make, but you’ll understand everything once we get there. Don’t worry, here’s some water. ”

She handed me a plain canteen.

Don’t worry… Nice joke!

I angrily took a sip of water from the canteen in her hand. I didn’t plan on wasting my second life by dying of dehydration after all.

As I drank from the canteen, I couldn’t help but frown as I realized my mistake.

“Pffa *Cough*”

I quickly noticed that something was mixed into the water of the canteen. I quickly spat the water that I hadn’t drunk, but it was already too late.

“W-What did you….”

Once again, I drifted into to the world of dreams without even finishing my sentence.

---------------------------------------------------

As soon as I woke up, I found myself lying in a dark room on a soft bed.

“Where am I?”

I stood up as fast as I could only to immediately fall onto the floor. Her drug was quite potent, but at least it wasn’t poisonous.

“You’re finally awake.”

The woman whom I thought was only my neighbor stood before me with a grin on her face. Her long black hair was tied up in a ponytail as she wore a simple dark shirt making her almost invisible in this room without windows.

“Where am I?” I asked in a calm demeanor.

Inwardly, I was actually nervous, as I didn’t know what she was going to do with me.

“You’re far from home. You can scream all you want but no one will be able to hear you. This little house was made especially for this, after all.”

I could have jumped on her and try to take her down as I was no longer tied up but her smile was eerie. I had a bad feeling from just looking at her. Moreover, having a five-year-old body didn’t reassure me.

I had no other choice but to stand down.

For now.

This woman was dangerous. I couldn't underestimate her.

“I was expecting you to jump at me or cry but you’re surprisingly calm. My master will be pleased to hear that.”

“Your master?” I asked.

“Yes, follow me. He wants to meet you.”

She exited the room and led me into a vast dining room. Every piece of furniture seemed old, covered with a lot of dust. It didn’t look like this place was inhabited.

In the distance, I saw an old man sitting on a chair on the other side of a large wooden table. His hair was brown and slightly long with some white drills near his temple. His face was pale with a few wrinkles giving him a tired look.

He looked straight at me as soon as I entered the room. His brown eyes were examining me from head to toe as if I was some kind of object.

Don’t tell me he wants to buy me? Is he a slave dealer? Shit, this is no joke.

“Good afternoon Sillath. I am very pleased to meet you. My subordinate told me many interesting things about you. Do you by any chance know who I am?”

I began to search in my memories after hearing his words. Anything that would help me identify this man before me, but nothing…

“No, but if you have been monitoring me for some time already then you’re obviously not some ordinary slave dealer.”

I answered with anger burning in my child-like eyes. My tone and gaze were fierce but I knew that I couldn’t escape with the body of a child.

He simply smiled at me.

“You think I’m a slave dealer? Well, you made a realistic deduction for a kid of your age. Amanda was right, you’re quite precocious. However, you guessed wrong. My name is Arthur Waldemar. Do you know this name, kid?"

I only shook my head in denial.

He seemed disappointed.

“What the hell have they been teaching you in school? I’m the head of the Waldemar Great Noble House that is among the four leading families in this kingdom.”

I suddenly remembered.

Indeed, Gandalf did tell us about the Dorell Kingdom and its four great noble houses.

Toro, Vasos, Fivar and Waldemar were the most influential noble houses in the entire continent. Among the six official advisers of the king, one was chosen from each of them while the king was the one to decide the other two.

“What does the great house of Waldemar wants from me? I’m just a kid and my parents aren’t that special.” I asked out of curiosity.

“What would you think if I told you that the name Zadir comes from your mother?” He replied.

“And so what? Get to the point already!”

I was beginning to lose my patience. My head was still hurting from the strange drug.

“The name of your father was Millodas Waldemar, until he gave up everything for his whore. He betrayed me, leaving me without any heir.”

My mouth opened in surprise, as I finally understood.

“I let my subordinate follow my treacherous son and ordered her to stay close to look for his descendants. Her mission was to inform me if he were to have any sons or daughters. After your exploits at the elementary test, I recognized your true value. You will be my next heir. Be proud of that.”

I felt my head become hotter.

“Are you stupid, old geezer? Who would want to become your heir? If you wanted to do that, you should have asked before. I have no intention of becoming the heir of your crappy house so let me return home.”

He didn’t say a word. He simply nodded.

Huh? He accepted to let me go? Well, maybe he was not so bad.

While thinking that, I suddenly received a powerful blow to my lower back causing me to fall onto the floor.

I immediately realized that Amanda kicked me from behind as soon as she received the signal from her master.

“What are you doing? I already said that I don’t want to become your heir, you can’t force me!” I exclaimed angrily.

“This is where you’re wrong, Sillath. I can and I will. Amanda is here for that purpose. She will train and teach you here in this house.”

Amanda then pulled my hair, raising me back on my feet.

“Your threat doesn’t scare me.” I retorted.

“Threat? That wasn’t a threat, but a fact. If you want me to threaten you, then let’s say that I’ll kill your family if you don’t accept."

A strange smile appeared on his tired face after uttering those cold words.

"See, now that was a threat.”

I couldn’t help but give him a sudden look of anger after his sentence. He smiled, but his eyes weren’t giving the same feeling. He was serious. I could feel my body grow cold after hearing his words.

“You would kill your own son?”

“His name is Zadir now. He is no longer my son.” He replied firmly

A heavy silence settled in the room before Amanda finally released my hair.

“So what fate will you choose? Do you want to become the heir of the Waldemar family or do you perhaps choose to become an orphan? Now choose, Sillath.”

I clenched my fists in frustration.

I knew that I had no choice.

I couldn't risk losing my family again. I had to protect them.

After I finished pondering, I finally answered.

“I accept, but only if you promise me that you will not hurt them in return.”

“In the name of the Waldemar house, I promise that I will not hurt your family if you comply with my wishes.”

With this single sentence, he left the room.

Before leaving the room, he turned to face me again.

“I expect great things from you. Don’t disappoint me as he did.”

With those cold words, he finally exited the room, leaving me alone with my kidnapper.

“Go rest in your room. Your training will begin tomorrow at five. Be ready.”

I went back into the same room that I awoke in without giving her a single glance. I immediately threw myself on the bed and buried my face into my pillow, trying to quell my anger and frustration.

In just a few hours, my life had changed so drastically.

I was worried about my future sibling, but in the end, I wouldn't even have the chance to meet him.

I didn’t even know if it was a boy or a girl. I wanted to go back. I wanted to be a good brother. This was my chance to atone for my sin.

Is the world mocking me?

Do you want to make me suffer?

Do you want to see me in despair?

I continued to ponder the whole night, while silently cursing the fate that was forced upon me.