Rio woke up in the far end of the slums. The place was foggy that he could barely see. His mind was fuzzy, he couldn't remember what happened or how he ended up in the far side of the slums. He stood up, he had no shirt on but somehow had pans. As he moved, pulling himself up he noticed he had no scars anywhere, all his wounds were healed up showing no signs of scars.
"What the hell is going on here and how did I get all the way here…. Wait what! My wounds… They are all healed up."
Rio closed his eyes and tried his best to recall what happened to him and how he ended up in the slums. A memory came to him; he saw that lady in black but could not recall her face. He quickly opened his eyes in shock when he remembered the feeling of the intense spirit energy he felt.
"What was that energy… WhatWhat kind of being poses that much power?"
He stood silent for a minute as he tried to understand the motive of that mysterious being that saved his life.
The sun was already setting so Rio forgot all about that and started making his way home. As he walked his way home the slums were originally normal, nothing out of the ordinary . Rio took the mysterious person as a bad dream for all the beating he received.
"no matter it's no big deal. I wonder what we are having for dinner" Rio made his way home not thinking about any consequences that may follow him home.
Rio made his way home. The sun was already set. Rio opened the door to find his mother Gudy and his two brothers kale and Adrian panicking in the house. "What's going on? Why are you all running around the house like you are penicking… Did someone die?" Rio asked as he stood at the entrance.
"Dud mom was all worried about you men. " Adrian said with his usual calm voice and care free personality as always.
Kale walked up to Rio and slapped him "do you know how worried we were about you. Where the hell were you… I mean you've been gone for 10 hours. And why don't you have a shirt on? " He said, looking at Rio with the eyes of a concerned big brother.
Rio made his way inside the house, closing the door behind him. He walked towards Gudy with his face looking down showing regret. "I'm sorry mom, I should've been more considerate about your feelings." Rio said, bowing his head in front of his mother with tears running through his face.
Gudy touched Rio's face gently "It's ok my boy as long as you are safe I have no reason to complain" she answered, shuttering a tear. And gave Rio a hug like he was a kid.
"You guys done, yet I'm starving." Adrian said, making his way to the table. Everyone followed to the table for dinner. Food was not much but it was enough. The boys were already use to this life.
"No matter where you boys may be in this world you will always find each other." Gudy said looking at the 3 boys. Kale, Rio and Adrian nodded their heads as they smiled looking at this happy family they have. At that moment a sub skill "Bonde" that will always bonde them together was uqaer.
Meanwhile back in the castle. The captain made his way back to the cell where Rio is held . He opened the door and inside he saw nothing, no sign of Rio anyway. He rushed to Prince Luke's chambers. He calmly knocked on the door. "come in" a voice in the room responding to the knock.
"Huh, Captain Terrien. You bring good news I suppose"
"No, not at all, Luke. You see… the riftborn we heard in the torture cell is…. Uhu… He is gon sir"
Prince Luke's eyes filled with rage. He looked at the captain "you had one job and you failed" he said throwing a class across the room. "you will go and find that riftborn first thing in the morning. Do not come back without him." he said violently.
Captain Terrien made his way out of the room. He walked the hallway looking angry. "I will make you pay, kid. When I get my hands on you it will be the end for you." he said with an angry look on his face.
When morning broke the captain already had a team waiting in the castle gates. They made their way to the slums. "Come on boys, let's hunt us a Riftborn." the captain said to his man as they cheered in joy.
Soon they made their way to the slums. They arrived an hour later. They made their way to the middle of the slum settlement where countless Riftborn gathered, bound by curiosity.
"Listen up Riftborns… I'm Terrien, captain of the royal knights, and I come here with direct order from the first prince of Benvill, prince Luke. I will be searching your property looking for a boy with blue hair and red eyes." the captain said on his horse addressing the Riftborn civilians.
Murmuring arose from the crowd. Everyone is panicking. Upon the crowd was Adrian. He knew only one person in this settlement who matches that description . "This is not good," he said, running back home.
He rushed in, giving everyone in the house a shock. "What is it Adrian? Why are you banging in like that? " Gudy asked
It's bad. There are some knights outside searching each house looking for… Rio."
Gudy and Kale gasped looking at Rio. "explain." They both said in high pitched voices. Rio had no choice but to explain that he saved Aya and he was captured instead and he escaped.
Suddenly a knock came from the front door. "We are the royal knights and we came to search for a boy in this property. Rio, Kale and Adrian were all picnicking. "Stay calm boys, I'll handle this."
"Gudy made her way to the door and opened. How may I help you sir?"she said calmly. The captain saw Rio inside. "We came for him." he drew his sword but Gudy did not flinch. "That is my son and you will not be taking him anywhere." The captain had an overwhelming aura but it was nothing compared to Gudy's suffocating aura and intense spirit energy.
The boys despite knowing Gudy since they couldn't remember they have never seen this side of her. What is this power? "I never knew mother had this much energy." Kale said trying to keep it together
The captain was shocked he couldn't believe what he was sensing from this intense spirit energy. Not to mention the aura she has. He knew she was no ordinary Riftborn. His eyes were filled with shock.
He had no chance but to retreat . "Let's go boys." he said "but captain…" one of the knights said.
The cap just looked at him with his deadly eyes and he stepped back.
As they made their way back to the castle one of the knights asked "captain why did we retreat." the captain looked at him and said because we could have died if we had fought her. That's why. That was no ordinary Riftborn. You saw that black hair right."
"Only demons have black hair and she is on a different level. She might be a…." His eyes widened as he realized who she was.