I was having a great time at dinner with my parents. We were all chatting and laughing, and for once, I was actually enjoying small talk. Not to mention Carine is taking a nap, so I can focus on relaxing as Feyt. Mom had made my favorite vegetable soup and deer meat, and the delicious smell wafted through the room. Oh the nostalgia~

"So, Feyt," said Dad, turning to me. "How is it with Ricent?"

"Fun, I guess?" I replied, taking a bite of my food. We played for a bit, but we mostly just cleaned his room. Which is entirely his fault, by the way.

"Is Kaela doing great? I haven't had the time to go to the bar lately."

"She's doing fine mom."

The conversation flowed easily as we finished our meal, talking about everything from my plans for the weekend to my parent's farm. I felt relaxed, I feel like I don't need to keep up an act here. Perhaps I should take father's offer and extend my vacation a bit. A few days wouldn't hurt, right?

"I'll wash the plates."

Mom stood up and started picking up the plates.

"I'll help!"

Just as I was about to stand up, there was a sudden knock at the front door.

"Did we expect any guests?" said Mom.

"Not really, hold on, I'll get it."

Dad stood up and excused himself.

I watched as Dad walked to the door, a feeling of unease creeping over me. I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. The way the door was knocked, it was knocked aggressively, more pounding than knocking. And if I focus my mind a bit, I can hear some sort of commotion outside.

But before I could warn Dad, I can hear him opening the door and greeted the guests.

"Hello- Hey! What are you-!"

Suddenly, the door burst open and I could hear Dad being pushed to the ground. A group of armored men stormed into the room. Grabbing Dad with force.

"Let me go you-! Agh!"

One of the armored men punched Dad in the stomach, knocking him unconscious.

Dad's built like a tank, how strong is that man?!

I jumped up from my seat, Mom took a few steps back, shock and fear etched on her face.

"What's going on?" I shouted. "What are you doing to my Dad?"

One of them turned to me, a cold, hard look in his eyes. He then turned his eyes downward on a paper he is holding.

"Say," The man said to me. "Are you Feyt?"

How does he know my name?

"Y-Yeah? What-"

The man seemed to disappear, or rather, I couldn't see him anymore. However, I can hear his footsteps, I hear a loud kick to the floor as a gust of wind flew right into my face, causing my eyes to flinch and,

"GUHAGH-!"

Before I could react, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. My vision dimmed as I hear Mom scream.

"Feyt!"

I tried standing up, but my arms and legs won't respond. They felt like inanimate noodles.

I felt my body being lifted by someone.

"What should we do about her?"

"Leave her, we only need the kid and the men."

After that, I couldn't hear anything as my consciousness fade.

...

..

.

 

---

 

"Huh?"

I woke up with my head throbbing and my body aching. I attempted to stand up, but a sharp pain shot through my stomach.

"Gah!"

I slumped back down due to the pain.

I looked around, trying to get my bearings. I found myself in a small, dark cell with cold stone walls and iron bars. The floor is covered what seems to be hay and a single, rickety cot in the corner. The room has a few other people, all of them are men ranging from young adults to the elderly, and I recognize a few of them from the village. Some are sleeping, some are sitting in silence.

Then I realized that I was in a jail cell.

"Again? Seriously?"

I had barely lived in this world for a year, and I had already been kidnapped and put in jail, twice!! Thrice if I count Carine differently.

Anyway, I had no idea how I had gotten here or how long I had been unconscious.

I rack my brain, trying to remember what had happened. The last thing I could recall was having lunch with my parents, and then the armored soldiers attacked. They dragged me and Dad away.

Wait, that's right! Dad got kidnapped too, so he should be here!

"Dad!!" I screamed.

I looked around me and realized that Dad's not here. I yelled again, this time directing it out of the cell.

"Dad?! Where are you?!"

My shout echoed through the narrow halls.

"SHUT UP!" A loud voice responded in kind, echoing through the stone hallway outside of the bars.

I hear the clanking of iron boots as they near me. Soon, a man wearing armor that looks a bit different than what I'm used to seeing stands in front of my cell.

The armor the man is wearing has a design that is lighter in color, with blue drapes and cloths decorating it. The cloak he is wearing has a bear symbol that feels familiar to me, perhaps from a book.

Bears... Blue color scheme...

That's the Ortensian flag, isn't it?

However, my thoughts are cut short by the man's sudden punch at the iron bars.

"KID! Do you know how LATE this is?!"

Late? Is it nighttime? How long was I out for? I can't tell since there are no windows to give me a sense of time.

The man slammed the iron bars again with anger.

"I am TRYING to SLEEP! Got it?!" The man slams the bars each time he raised his voice.

Some of the people inside the cell with me who were sleeping woke up from his shouts.