Chapter 121: Familiarity

In a run-down unfurnished shack in the depths of the Slums district, a group of four were waiting, having a casual conversation.

The elderly woman wrapped in ragged red clothes was standing against the windows overlooking the dirty streets. Next to her, lying on the ground, seemingly asleep were a blonde-haired girl wearing a literal linen bag as clothing.

The same beggar she saw before all of tonight's happenings went down, was once again there, sitting on the mud, looking miserable. 

Several seconds of silence passed between the group. After a while, the elderly woman released a heavy sigh, and while gazing out the window she spoke.

"Such an evil place… I can't even imagine what you had to live through, Scarlet."

Behind him, sitting against the opposite wall, a silver-haired boy and a fiery red-haired girl sat. The girl was tightly hugging the boy, afraid she would lose him once again if she were to even slightly lessen her grip. 

The boy however didn't mind her affection and was also hugging, leaning against her. Both of them had bloodshot eyes as they had been crying ever since they were reunited.

Snuggling against her brother's chest, Scarlet, the red-haired woman spoke in a muffled tone.

"It doesn't matter anymore, I got my Draco back!"

The silver-haired boy, Draco, clicked his tongue as he cheekily replied.

"I no longer listen to that name sis. I'm Drake. I have nothing to do with that bastard and his family. Even if that knight finds me, I'm not going back. Neither of us is going back."

The girl released a muffled chuckle as she was still pressing her head and nose deep into his brother's chest.

"Ehehe, yes, yes, Drake, sorry." Raising her tear-stained head, she cutely looked at the boy and spoke in a disarming voice.

"In that case, can I get a new name as well? Please?"

Listening to their little chat, Granny smiled under her nose, and just gazed at the distance. She was waiting for the rest of the group to get back, so they could leave this awful night behind them. She already had to put Lily to sleep as she couldn't calm down, and was crying for her brother, refusing to listen to reason. In the end, she had to charm her to sleep, which pained her heart.

Getting lost in the otherwise uneventful scenery, she released another sigh, and silently listened to the small little debate behind her.

"Sure, sis, whatever you want." Drake answered along with a light kiss on the forehead. "Although, I do like Scarlet, it really suits you. If you just drop our family name, nobody would know who you are. Sadly, or maybe luckily, you left the family almost 10 years ago."

"Yeah… I did." As he mentioned the fateful night when her father ordered her to go with the old geezers that arrived and could never come back, caused her smile to droop. 

Noticing the change in her demeanor, he kissed her forehead again and gently whispered.

"Sorry sis, I didn't mean to bring it up." He gave yet another hearty smack before he spoke again. "Let's talk about this later, for now, let's just wait for the team to get back, okay?"

Enjoying the warmth of her brother's chest, and his affection, Scarlet could only mewl out a barely audible "Uhm".

Suddenly, crackling noise came from the middle of the room, alerting all of their attention, besides the sleeping Lily. Looking at the source of the sound, they could see as the air became blurry. The particles reacting to some mystical command from the ether, they started to vibrate and slowly form a black doorway. 

The energy formed a gate, with a black void surface. From the center of this surface, waves started forming and going all directions. In the next second, two masked figures stepped out from it both holding a person in their arms. The feminine figure immediately stepped to the right and placed the unconscious elderly woman she was holding to the ground, next to the sleeping Lily. Following her master, the boy did the same, laying the unconscious elderly man next to his wife.

Before the gate closed, two large black war hounds also stepped out, and as silent guardians, followed after the boy, standing one foot behind him at all times.

Looking at the two elders laying on the ground, Granny asked with a concerned tone.

"Are they okay? Did you use the cream I made?"

The woman, Number 3, nodded her head in response, replying in a soft tone, obviously careful not to wake the little blonde girl.

"Yes. They both should be stabilized. We will need to get them to the nearest church for a more… professional healing. Other than that, we might also need to fix their memories once they get better, going through such an ordeal will leave its mark."

The youth, wearing a white faceless mask, raised his head and looked at his master. In a surprised tone, he asked.

"Can you do that? Is that dangerous?"

Both adults looked at him. With a wry smile, Granny was the first to respond.

"Yes, Aiden. Doing something like that is extremely dangerous and incredibly difficult. Altering one's memories requires an incredible skill set and a good understanding of many ancient concepts. In fact, I only know one… well let's say person… that could do it…" With her last sentence she was gazing at Number 3, with a slightly angered expression.

Number 3 also spoke with the same soft tone as before.

"I can't do such magic myself, but my master can. While I can't just bring these two to them, I do have an item that was made for… me to use in… special circumstances." 

Turning her head to the woman with the mutilated hand, she released a soft sigh. 

"Even if it's risky, we might need to do it. What they've been through is not something they might be able to handle. We could modify their memories so they would think that nothing happened besides a light accident… Maybe the woman accidentally chopped her right hand, and that's why they woke up in the church bed?"

Listening to this crazy talk, the royal brother-sister pair in the far side of the room was flabbergasted.

The red-haired girl raised her head and meekly asked his brother.

"Brother, who are they?"

Although her voice was low, Aiden, the black-masked youth still heard it. Turning around, he faced the hiding lady and walked towards the pair.

"Sorry for our rudeness, but we were in a hurry. The lady is my master, I'm Aiden. The blonde-haired girl is called Lily. I'm sure you know that she was just rescued from the same situation as yourself."

Then, looking at the silver-haired boy, nodding at each other he continued.

"We owe your brother a lot, he helped us get into the facility and get both of you out. He is very brave, a real hero, you can be proud of him!"

Mentioning her brother filled her heart with a teensy bit of courage. Raising her head she looked at the masked face, and with a happy smile, she replied.

"Yes! Drake is the best! He really came for me! I knew he would!"

"He sure is…" Aiden smiled at the response, then switched his attention to the boy caressing the girl. 

"So, what is the plan now? We go back to your friends and make them officially free? After that where do you plan to go?"

"We continue. I still have to find my two little brothers. I got my sister back, but they are still missing…" He replied with a despondent look.

"Uhm… I…" Scarlet started to speak but quickly hid in Drake's chest once again, afraid to continue. Both boys looked at her. Drake gently patted the top of her head, urging her to continue.

"I might know where Little Dan is… Or where he was…"

"Where? Tell me sis!" Drake spoke with increased agitation.

"Uhm… Last I heard he was some sort of assistant at the local Academy. I don't know which professor, or where he is, but that's what they told me… as a reward about a year ago…" She answered in a muffled tone as she refused to raise her head. Hiding in a comfortable chest was much better.

"This Academy? Not the one in the capital?" Drake asked with visible confusion.

"Uhm, I don't know. I think they meant this one. I never got more information, nor where he is exactly, just that he is working as an attendant to a professor.

"He is probably used as a familiar." Number 3's reply came from the other side. "Those old geezers like to take small children away and turn them into familiars. It's quite nasty, they force a spirit inside the host, and use them as a sort of medium to chain the spirit to this world."

"Is there a way to rescue him?" Drake asked with an agitated tone.

"Well… There is, although it's not going to be easy..." she answered.