He was wearing a sad smile. "My name is Jack, and I'm just a servant from the palace."
Killian lifted his head toward the boy. "Who is he?"
Jack shakes his head. "That I do not know. I found him after hiding in the room when I heard chaos behind the doors when I was sleeping. I knew trouble was happening, so I hid."
Jack pursed his lips. "The boy must be one of the servant's sons and must have lost his parents in the war."
Jack rose to his feet and bowed his head, pleading, "I know I'm asking too much, but please take the child with you."
A faint frown appeared between Killian's brows. "Why? You're not worried about me harming the child?"
The man smiled sorrowfully. "No, you saved the child and have more capability to protect him than I do. I am weak and have nowhere to go. He will only be a burden to me."
Killian knew what he was talking about. Taking the boy with the man would mean feeding him and clothing him, which costs money and effort, and time.
Killian knew that Jake was desperate and had no other choice, and taking the child with him would ensure that the child would survive. And Killian asked calmly, "Do you want to come with me?"
Jake shakes his head. "No, if fate allows it, we will meet again."
Jake wants to keep his words as vague as possible. He knew it was selfish, but he didn't want to be responsible for the demon king's son. After all, it was forced, not sincere.
Even if the child is innocent, it doesn't change the fact that the child has the blood of a demon.
Some day, people will discover the truth about him, and he wants no part of it. It's up to fate itself, or if the child can survive.
Jake stared at the child with dark eyes and whispered. "Forgive me, child."
Jake turned away with his heart heavy in his chest. With a last glance, he looked in the sleeping child's direction, stepped into the woods' direction, and disappeared.
Killian sighed faintly and looked at the sleeping child in his arms. Killain carried a faint suspicion in his heart about the child's identity, but the suspicion was fleeting.
***
The next morning arrived; men around Killian woke up and took a cold bath in the lake, and hunted a small animal, a rabbit.
The rabbit was easy to gut and cook, so Killian decided to help cook the rabbit. He turned the meat that was getting darker, and Sonny was sitting next to Killian, very silent and watching.
Killain didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say; he didn't have any experience with children. He looked at the meat and saw that it was good and cooked well, so he passed the meat on the stick to the child and warned him. "Blow first."
Sonny nodded and grabbed the stick. He blew on the meat and thanked the man. He felt warm by the man's action, and for the first time, he felt safe after his parents' death.
Sure, the man wasn't exactly soft-looking, but he didn't hurt him or touch him anywhere.
Sonny carefully bit into the meat and hummed happily, "Hmm. It's really good."
Killain nodded and ate with the child. Killain told the men across from them, "I'll be leaving with the child."
The man who was the leader nodded his head. His dark eyes narrowed sharply at the man, and some of the other men watched curiously with a dark gaze. Some of them discussed last night attacking them to make them become their servants.
But the leader refused, saying they could sense that this man was dangerous and that the man's cultivation was higher. He wasn't someone to be provoked.
The gang leader wore a big grin despite having yellow teeth. "Thanks for having a meal with us!"
Killian nodded and took Sonny into his hands. When they walked away, Sonny felt nervous because he didn't know where he was going. He didn't know this man, so it was a little awkward leaving with a stranger, but it was better to leave with this person than to stay with the other group.
Sonny watched the man take out a long silver sword, gleaming in the light; he was taken aback by the cold aura radiating from it.
A cold chill ran down his spine, and Sonny almost wanted to step back, but the man placed his hands on the boy's shoulders. "Don't be afraid."
Sonny gulped and nodded.
Killian dropped the sword that flew slowly to the ground and elevated like a flying leaf. Killian elegantly stepped on the sword and tilted his head at the boy, "Come here."
Sonny wasn't surprised to see him standing on the sword. He had seen his father and mother have their own sword and fly on it a couple of times, and sometimes they would take him on it for fun or take him somewhere important.
Sonny stepped on the sword in front of the man. The sword vibrated underneath him like a purring cat showing its belly.
Sonny jolted forward in surprise when the sword flew up higher in the blue sky, the ground getting lower beneath him.
Sonny wasn't frightened by the sight; instead, he felt exhilarated and freed in a way.
Sonny felt a smile bloom on his face when he saw a valley of grass and animals appear in his eyes. Zebras running across the field like fire stars flickering across the night sky.
Sonny heard the man's deep, calm voice speak. "Hold onto me."
Sonny nodded and grabbed the hem of the man's robe, and the sword moved faster than the blink of an eye.
When they arrived at a location, Sonny shivered, for he was cold. His body couldn't take the cold, and he looked amazed at the big mountain.
The big mountain zoomed from left to right like a mighty wall, and the white clouds filled the mountain like a mass of mist. The mountain was filled with trees, grass, and a big jungle at the end of the mountain, with dangerous animals lurking within.