Chapter 325: Brother...

"How much longer do we have to sit and wait?!"

Anxious about her brother's current situation, Scarlet yelled out in the mostly empty and large meeting room as soon as the door was unlocked, and Sara's figure appeared in the door frame. 

After getting back to the city with the last small batch of human freed-up slaves, they all rushed back to the Guild Hall. From there, Sara quickly guided them into this empty room, just in time for the big bulky amazon to suddenly fall to the ground. 

She still couldn't completely understand what happened, but for the explanations, Naybeah had some sort of strange connection with the Amazon Queen. Through this method could this inhumanely strong, powerful demi-human possess the faltering blondie and save her at the critical moment. 

Ever since, she wrestled against the constant pressure, the 'backlash' of this ancient ritual to remain with Naybeah and guide her back to safety before she was completely ejected. 

Naybeah, although survived, was still in dire straits; the possession was not something that should have kept up for such an extended period of time. The strain the host's body and soul had to endure was tremendous, way more than what any mortal should be capable of resisting. 

After she checked her, Sara explained that she was still alive, albeit barely, she was basically hanging on a thread. The big amazon was stable, for now, but to heal her they would need someone experienced with damages to the soul. 

After that, Sara hurriedly left her alone saying she had to report everything that transpired and ask if there were an option to get capable help. 

Before Scarlet could retort, she was left alone, and the door, the only exit was locked down, essentially trapping her inside. 

The minutes passed incredibly slowly as she was left with her thoughts. At first, thoughts of Sara's betrayal appeared in her mind, which she quickly dismissed. After what they went through, Scarlet refused to believe that this purple-haired woman would turn out to be a money-hungry backstabber.

After that, she couldn't help but think about her brother who has left for the orcs' camp, and ever since then she had no information about his state other than knowing he should still be alive.

While she entrusted his safety to Aiden, she couldn't help but worry. Did they escape safely, or were they captured? Sure, Drake should still be alive, but for how much longer? Could those pigheaded brutes be still torturing him for information? 

This feeling of uncertainty, her being helpless was eating her up. She desperately wanted to escape from this place and rush back. She didn't care if they would capture or kill her. Her life would be meaningless without her brother. Throughout the years of her hellish childhood, the only thing that kept the life in her and kept her pushing forward was that sliver of hope that she would one day be strong enough to break free from the chains of her enslavement and get back together with him and her other brothers.

She never thought about her dear old father, the supposed ruler of the kingdom. To her, that man died the moment he agreed to withhold that agreement and allow those bastards to take her, and her other brothers away. 

The look on his face, the cold, solemn, heartless stare as he watched his two brothers and then herself being dragged away… That was the moment he died in her eyes. 

Revenge? What would be the point? Would that bring back her lost years? Would that make all the horrible things that happened to her go away?

No.

It might bring some sort of closure, that's true, but her heart wouldn't be able to heal by itself. Dealing with daddy wouldn't bring her the light that she hoped for.

She tried hard to forget that dreadful day… 

*Year 565, Royal Palace, Capital City Elsaid* 

A thin pillar of light seeped through the thin slit of the maroon-colored silk curtains that was supposed to protect the sole resident of the lavish, exquisitely designed, and decorated room. Whilst the dominating motif in the room was clearly gold, the light pink painted wall, the literal army of fluffy teddy bears made it clear that the slumbering resident wasn't a male.

However, her peaceful rest was about to be put to an abrupt end, as suddenly a series of loud knocks reverberated in the room, soon to be followed by the familiar but agitated voice of her attendant.

"Wake up, Princess! You need to get up and get your breakfast. Your father, the king has requested for your presence in an hour!" A short, black-haired woman wearing a black and white frilly maid attire opened the door and hurriedly went for the little, red-haired girl that just showed the first signs of movement.

She placed the set of clothes she brought with her on the cupboard before she reached for the covers and pulled it back, revealing a wild-looking fiery-red-haired small girl. She quickly buried her head behind her pillow, desperately clinging to those extra seconds of rest.

"Princess…" The maid sighed, seeing that she would have to go and wrestle with the young lady to get her to leave the bed. "My lady, you know that you have to get up. Please don't be so unladylike."

As always, she tried arguing whilst she went to the window and pulled the curtains to the sides, and letting the blustering daylight into the room, causing even further discomfort to the defiant princess.

"Mmwwww!" The red-haired girl groaned helplessly, trying her hardest to resist, but ultimately failing. Letting out a sigh, she sat up throwing her beloved partner, the pillow to the side.

She was wearing pink pajamas, and with the sight of her wild, messy dark red crown of hair all in her face, she gave out quite a cute visage.

Meanwhile the maid has already gone to the bathroom and came back with a small wooden basin filled with clear, cold water. She stepped in front of her Young Lady and placed the basin down on the floor. 

"Come on, Princess, let's get quickly ready, so you can enjoy a filling meal before you meet with the king."

"Mwuuaaaah!" The red-haired girl yawned in response, not resisting as the maid washed her face and then clothed her. "Elsa, do you know what does daddy wants? Was he angry?"

She asked with a hint of worry in her voice. One had to know that as royalties, they rarely ever saw their father, he rarely took the time to visit them. The only time they could earn his attention was when they did something that displeased him, or during big events.

So, since she was asked to visit him, Scarlet immediately tried to think back, what could she have done to earn another session.

"I do not know, my Lady. I was only told by Sir Lloyd that you and your brothers have all been asked to see him after breakfast." Elsa responded whilst she finished buttoning her blouse. 

She stood back up, and whilst revealing the same gentle smile, she reached out her right hand for her to grab onto.

"Come now, let's go. They are probably already all waiting for you."

"Oh! Let's go then! I don't want to keep my brothers waiting!" With a happy smile, she grabbed onto the offered hand and swiftly left her room together with her maid. 

She didn't know at the time, but that was the last time she ever stepped into that room or walked those hallways… 

For that day was the dreaded day when that bastard gave her and her two younger brothers away to those old monsters in exchange for their continued support.

*Present Day*

Scarlet couldn't help but clench her fists as she could still vividly remember that day. When they were told that only their eldest brother can stay in the castle and that their future held a different fate… when those monsters grabbed each of them and pulled them away… 

The last scene she saw was how her brother tried to come to their rescue only to be brutally slapped and thrown down to the ground by their supposed father. She saw as despite being held back, he tried reaching out, and cried, desperate to save her…

She didn't know how, but she could somehow hear his words rang throughout the room, echoing in her and most likely each of her brother's ears.

"I… WILL… SAVE… YOU ALL… WAIT FOR ME!"

That was the last she saw of her brother for more than a decade. Her childhood ended then and there. She was then continuously beaten, abused, tortured, and trained to be a good, loyal hound, a warrior, a gladiator to fight for them tomorrow.

She would have given up if not for the slight, sliver of light, the hope that her brother's promise would one day come true, and that he would come for her.

And now, that he did, and they were reunited only to be separated once again, she had an increasingly hard time holding herself back. She wanted to see him. She NEEDED him.