"Mother." the little girl's cheerful voice melt the tense air surrounding them. Xiao Yue ran toward her mother and hug her legs. "What are you doing?" asked the little one with sparkly eyes full of wonders.
"Lionel, just agree with whatever she wished. Today is your last meeting, after all. There's no harm in giving her a favor as a parting gift?" coaxed Danzel.
"I agree with Danz." an old man appeared from the sky and descended using his wind elemental. He landed in a dignified pose made a certain little girl gasped in awe toward the man.
"Sir Danzel, Sir Jaydn." Xiao Feng greeted the two men with a grateful look then focused her gaze back on Sir Lionel.
"Alright. Let's hear what you want from me." Lionel gave in at last.
"When the time has come, please guide Xiao Yue and make her a Time Master who is more powerful than me. Train her just like you had trained me. Guide her just like you had guided me. Give her all of the things she needs to know, and please make sure she could undergo any kind of obstacle."
That was not only 'one' request, not to mention, but the favor alone was also so troublesome. Once Lionel accepted it, it would bound him till the little girl grew up and became the Time Master.
Lionel looked at Xiao Yue, who didn't understand anything about their conversation. After staying silent and thinking for a while, Lionel finally let out a resigned sigh.
"A request from a splendid disciple is tough to refuse."
"Sir Lionel. This is not a request from the disciple. But this is a request by a mother to the person she trusts the most."
That words softened the man's heart while the other two men gave a gentle chuckle.
"Alright, I promise. I'll meet her and do all things you want me to do when she gets older and ready. Now, please get up. I don't want to look like a bad person in this young princess's eyes."
Xiao Feng giggled, looking at her daughter, who right now blamed Lionel with her small round black eyes. She was sure Xiao Yue thought Lionel was angry at her for no reason. "Thank you very much, sir. Lionel"
"But, we still need to leave the island. If we help you with the attack and change what should happen in the future, we might face a worse end."
"Yes, I understand. Yue'er quickly greets your new mentor. He will teach you when you grow up."
Xiao Yue obeyed her mother and salutes that person even though she confused about why she needs another mentor.
***
"YUE'ER!!"
Xiao Yue turned around to see who was calling her, her body turned into a statue. Her cold body hugged his brother warmly, with tears flowing like a river. She felt her body floated when her brother lifted her up and dash at rapid speed.
Jleb!
One arrow flew straight towards Xiao Yang and pierce his back.
Xiao Yue was crying harder when listening to her brother, groaned in pain.
"Sssh, it's okay. I'm fine." although he was in pain, Xiao Yang was still able to remain calm and comfort his sister.
Xiao Yue saw another arrow targeted her brother's leg, so she quickly warned him. Xiao Yang turned around in swift movement and burned the arrows to ash in an instant.
Then he turned around again and ran as fast as he could. But the enemy who was chasing them got help. More and more arrows shot towards them, and one by one, the arrow managed to fill Xiao Yang's back.
"No… Brother Xiao Yang," sobs Xiao Yue with swollen red eyes.
Xiao Yang didn't talk as he tried to ignore the pain desperately. He managed to make the pursuers lose his track for a while. He hid his sister in the bushes and covered her mouth to stop her crying.
His heartbeat accelerated as the pursuers arrived at their place. He was hurt, sweating, and his sights were starting unfocused, yet he remained awake. He will protect his sister at all costs.
He breathed a relieved sigh when the evil Elementalists were gone. He took his hand away so his sister could breathe freely.
"Sob… brother, you are bleeding," Xiao Yue felt heartbroken when she saw dark colored covered her brother's robe.
"I am alright. Are you okay?"
Xiao Yue hadn't even had time to answer because the ground they were occupying shook violently and lifted up, causing them to come out of their hiding place separately.
"Yue'er!" shouted Xiao Yang, trying to reach his sister's hand but failed because his body was pulled down by something. Then someone stepped on an arrow stuck in his back. "Aargh!!" The arrow that was stabbed at his spine pierced deeper into his body.
"Brother!" cried Xiao Yue.
"Finally, I managed to find you guys. Chasing you guys is really troublesome. Especially you, Your Highness. Say goodbye to your beloved brother."
"NOOO!" Xiao Yue shouted very loudly when she saw the person stepped on her brother's body, raised his knife, and pointed it at his brother's head.
That terrible sight suddenly disappeared and was replaced by someone's back.
Xiao Yue wept uncontrollably when she saw her brother's body floating in the air and gently landed in front of her.
"Big brother,"
"Princess Xiao Yue."
Xiao Yue looked up at the person while crying harder than ever. She never cried as much as this before. Why everything changed so drastically?
"Sir Jaydn."
Jaydn smiled. "Good, you still remember me."
Xiao Yue, who was still sobbing, glanced at the person trying to hurt her brother with a worried look.
"Don't be afraid. That person won't be able to hurt you anymore. I will use the rest of my strength to bring the two of you out of here. After this, they will not be able to find you. So princess, could you please hold on your brother."
The sobbing Xiao Yue couldn't make a sound, only holding her brother very tightly with all her might. After that, her whole body and her brother were surrounded by strong winds. Their bodies slowly lifted and flew towards somewhere at full speed, leaving Sir Jaydn behind with the horde.