A Perplexing Situation

Mikhail slumped against the tree beside Xander with a solemn look on his face. He rested his head in his hands as he sighed deeply. His mother is gone. There were so many things that had plagued his mind.

"Mikhail? Are you okay? If you're worried about those people, don't. They're fine. They'll get up soon. Just pay attention to me." Susie said as she rubbed her cheeks affectionately on his arm.

Mikhail didn't seem to hear her as his thoughts kept drifting back to two days ago when he last saw his mother. He was forcefully separated with her as the villagemen dragged him to accompany them during the riot. Now, he had no idea where she was. It had finally dawned on him that his home wasn't the one back at Vogrant, but within the loving embrace of his mother.

A slight movement caught his eyes as he turned to face Xander. He immediately aided Xander who was struggling to sit upright. He felt a tinge of guilt that he had made Xander's injuries worse as he tried his best to repay it by aiding him as best he could.

"A-are you alright...? Your Highness?"

Xander glanced at Mikhail in surprise as his expression then changed to one of disappointment. He never corrected Mikhail's way of calling him as he quite enjoyed the friendly atmosphere between the two of them because it was endearing. Now that Mikhail is calling him using formalities, it upset him.

"Just call me Xander."

"N-no. How could I be so disrespectful!"

"I... hahh... Nevermind then. What happened? Are you unharmed?"

"I'm fine. It's just you, Your Highness, you're injured pretty badly."

Xander smiled and ruffled Mikhail's head as he shook his head in defiance. He then leaned back against the tree and glanced at the sky through the shade of the tree.

Now the village head is gone... The riot should halt momentarily as they choose a new village head. I can use this time to aid them and send one of my men to train a better leader. At least everything ended we--- ?!

"Huh? What's that girl doing here?"

"Eh? Oh! Umm... Susie saw through her wrongdoings and swears to be a better version of herself! She apologises for harming you! Right?" Mikhail asked Susie as he glanced towards her with a smile.

Susie stares back into his clear violet eyes and blushes. She nods her head as she clings even tighter onto his arm. Xander frowns at the girl's actions but took it as a good sign that he could handle the situation slightly easily.

"Susie? You're not going to apologise?"

"Eh? No... Of course n... ... ... Just for you then... I'm sorry, Your Highness." Susie said giving in. If it was for Mikhail, she would do anything. She never felt anything like this before and decides to wing it by following her heart which is now filled with Mikhail. 

Mikhail beamed at her and once again patted her lightly on her head. He thanked her and then turned towards Xander to ask for his help in finding his mother.

"Your Highness... actually..." as Mikhail was about to request an aid from Xander to find his mother, the rumbling on the ground caught his attention and he turned  towards the source. 

Men and horses clad in red armour came into view as they headed directly towards the village. Xander stared at them with a confused expression as he had not sent anyone to contact them.

"Greetings to The Sun of The Kingdom! The Blood Knights are here to lend our services!" the knights got off their horses with great coordination and greeted Xander with such vigor as they genuflected.

Xander rubbed his temples thoughtfully before he slowly got up. Mikhail grabbed him by his waist as he noticed Xander struggle to get up, nearly slipping onto the ground.

"Insolent boy! How dare you lay your filthy grubs on the King! You swi... ..." The leader of the knights yelled out before noticing Mikhail's hair. He immediately shut his mouth as he lowered his head.

Xander nodded with amusement as he felt proud that the general of the Blood Knights could recognise royalty the moment he laid eyes on his son. He was well deserving of his position.

"You may rise. Aid the villagers and the other men. Let me know if there are any casualties."

"But Your Highness, what about you? We were sent here to aid you."

"You may start with the villagers and men. Come find me after you're done. Got it, Luke?"

"Yes, Your Highness. Men! Move out!" Luke saluted before instructing his men to aid the people who were still knocked out cold.

Mikhail glanced at Xander worriedly as he was about to ask him regarding his mother when bickering ensued. He frowned and turned towards the source only to find Richard and Luke arguing. It must not have been long since Richard got up as his words were still slurred.

"What is the Blood Knights doing here?! We've got it under control!"

"Quit joking around Richard! If the Platinum Knights were all that great, the King wouldn't be as injured as he is now would he?!"

"There were unexpected circumstances! How could we possibly have known to--"

"That's precisely it! You are the Platinum Knights! If you can't handle it, step down! You've been hogging the position for years!"

"Why you! Are you saying I'm incompetent?!"

"SILENCE! I asked you to check on the villagers, not bicker like children!"

"Apologies, Your Highness!" Richard and Luke said in unison as they stood upright with a salute.

"Since both troops are here, I expect you to cooperate and settle this... whatever this is. If you keep this up, you can always be promoted to castle guards."

Both Richard and Luke immediately kept their mouths shut as they lowered their head. Their discontentment with each other was still apparent but they've decided to work together for the time being and call it a truce.

The duo then saluted and left the scene, heading out to instruct and aid their fellow men. Xander sighed and ran his fingers through his hair as he shook his head to the side. Nevertheless, he had a rather gentle expression on his face, a sign that he actually found the two generals' bickering endearing. 

Mikhail glanced up towards Xander and back towards the men before tugging at Xander's shoulder and aiding him back to rest against the tree. He knew he might miss his chance if he didn't even though it may seem impertinent of him to do so as Xander was way above his ranking.

Susie stared at the closeness of the two and frowned, she didn't enjoy how close they were but held her emotions in check. If Mikhail had asked her to save him, it was obvious killing him would result in Mikhail holding her with contemptment. Hence why she kept to herself and pouted from her seat beneath the tree.

"Your Highness... I actually have a favour to ask of you... I know it's not really my place to request such a thing but... uh..."

"Please Mikhail, address me more simply. And there's nothing I wouldn't do to help you. You've been a big help. You helped me uncover such a big crime and aided those children which would have been sold into slavery. I think I owe you as much."

"That... Your Highness did most of the work though... I just..."

"Nonsense. So... What aid are we talking about?"

"Please pardon me if I speak out of turn but... It's about my mother..."

"Diane? What about her?"

"Well... she's missing..."

"... ... ... What?"

"She's missing. She's nowhere in the village. Even Susie said she hadn't seen her. She would never leave without telling me. We made a promise because we only have each other to depend on... Could you help me find her?"

Mikhail's voice broke as tears threatened to fall. His calm facade broke and revealed his vulnerable side. Xander stared vacantly at Mikhail as his head begun to spin.

Diane went missing? Again? It seems like she is always one step ahead of me. Like she never wants me to find her. Maybe she left again because of me... But... If what Mikhail said is true... Is it possible that she got abducted? But for what purpose? 

Xander pondered the question for a long while, leaving Mikhail to collect himself again. Susie moved to Mikhail's side as she tried soothing him not missing a chance when it showed itself.

"Mikhail, it's alright. I'll be there for you. We'll surely find your mother." Susie said as she extended her arms towards Mikhail to pull him into an embrace yet met with empty air as she fell to the ground.

"Mikhail, let's search for clues. I can't initiate a search unless I can guarantee she is nowhere in this village."

Mikhail glanced towards Xander who had pulled him to his side and had a serious expression on his face. He felt a great sense of hope fill his chest as he nodded his head fervently and helped Xander to his feet. Susie pouted again as she stared at the duo, feeling left out.

I really should have killed him off. Susie thought as she grinded her teeth in anger.

Mikhail and Xander headed off to the granary where Susie told them she saw Diane last. They paced about separately as they searched for clue. The search however, ended up leading them to a dead end.

The duo then made haste as they headed towards Mikhail's house to search for clues. That ended up leading them nowhere as well. Both of them felt frustrated at the lack of clues as Susie came back and told Mikhail how Diane had not been spotted anywhere in the village.

Mikhail frowned while Xander tapped at his forehead. The only place they hadn't check was the forest, but why would she possibly head back to the forest alone?

Xander then exited the house and headed straight for the forest, leaving Mikhail standing perplexed in the room together with Susie. Mikhail scratched at his head before trailing after Xander, Susie followed beside him, attaching herself to his arm.

***

Upon entering the forest, the prior signs of a forest fire was not apparent. Xander knitted his brows as he paced deeper into the forest. The situation felt more urgent as he felt his senses tingling. Something was not right.

Mikhail came dashing after him with Susie now holding onto his forearm, panting as she tried to catch her breath.

"Mikhail? What are you doing here? I don't think it's safe. You'd better head back."

"No. If it's not safe for me, it would definitely be a lot worse for you. You're already injured."

Xander frowned with displeasure as he turned his gaze back towards his surroundings. Mikhail's obstinate behaviour was not short of resemblance to Diane's. It was a pain sometimes.

"Well, if anything were to happen to me, that mage girl can keep you safe."

"Wha-"

"Of course. You can die anytime now. I'll be right by his side~" Susie blurted out with a grin as she squeezed tightly on Mikhail's arm, earning her a displeased glance from him to which she merely cocked her head to the side in a seemingly cute manner.

"Hey, black dog! Do you sense anything weird?"

"Who're you calling black dog?! Damn, to think the King had such a detestable side to him!"

"You're the one picking a fight. Just answer the question."

"Tsk! ... ... Now that you mention it... I do. The trace of my fire is gone. Even the scorched trees... or the soil... There's also a different atmosphere in the air..."

Xander glanced at Susie before walking ahead. If there was a chance that Diane was there, he'd have to rescue her. It always felt like he lost against an invisible force whenever it came to matters concerning her. Sometimes the burden of the throne felt too much for him and he just wanted to toss it aside.

"Xan--- Um... Your Highness! There's something here!" Mikhail called out as he lifted something up.

Xander furrowed his brows as he quickly walked towards Mikhail. Mikhail handed him the dark cloak and watched Xander inspect it. 

"Damn it! This doesn't solve anything!" Xander yelled as he threw the cloak back onto the ground, his face contorted with anguish and anger. Tears of frustration escaped his eyes as they fell down his cheeks.

Mikhail glanced warily at Xander and felt perplexed at his reaction. If anything, shouldn't Mikhail be the one upset? Mikhail ran a hand through his hair exasperatedly before heading towards Xander to try and calm him down.

"Hey, isn't this the emblem of Enoch?"

Both Mikhail and Xander turned to face Susie as they had a look of confusion plastered on their face. They then took quick strides and were quickly standing by her side.

"What do you mean?" Xander asked as he glowered at Susie.

"This. This cape. I found it on a bush a little further in."

"Cape? ... This..."

Xander stared at the all too familiar cape. He had lent it to Diane while he was fighting with Susie. Yet, here it is, left in the forest while Diane was nowhere to be found.

"What about the cape?" Mikhail asked as he lifted it. The cape was thick and heavy, it resembled a rug made out of animal hide from the weight in his hand.

"I lent that to her yesterday."

"Eh?! Then... wouldn't that mean she's nearby?"

"If she discarded it and stayed in the forest with the outfit she was wearing... I don't think she would have survived the drop in temperature..."

"What! What are you saying?! There's no way!" Mikhail yelled as he grabbed Xander's collar. Upon realising that he had just threaten a King, he felt his face pale and his frustration running amok in his head.

Mikhail backed away from Xander and slumped to the ground, placing his head in between his forearm as he curled himself into a position resembling a fetus.

"Mikhail..." Susie said softly before turning towards Xander. 

"You crazy?! Can't you sympathise with him?! I knew you royalty had hearts of stone but I thought you would be different from how you treated Mikhail!"

"Tsk. You... ... ... You're... right." Xander sighed as he calmed himself down. Nothing is certain yet as they haven't scoured the entirety of the forest yet.

"Mikhail. I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions... She might still be here. Let's give it another shot."

Mikhail sniffled a sob before nodding. He glanced at Xander and took his hand as he felt himself being pulled upright.

"... ... Hey, wait a second... Does your shoulder not hurt?" Mikhail asked as he was suddenly struck with realisation. 

"... Now that you mention it..." Xander replied with a surprised expression on his face.

"D-don't mind me..." Mikhail said as he unbuttoned Xander's shirt and undid the bandages. Susie stared at them with a look of boredom as Xander uttered a low moan when the bandage was pulled lightly against his skin, sending the trio into an awkward silence.

"It... it's gone! The wound! But... how?" Mikhail exclaimed as he tried to clear the awkward atmosphere. 

"You know... you could have just undo your bandage instead of stripping the old geezer." Susie said as she pointed at Mikhail's bandaged hand.

"Eh?" Both Xander and Mikhail replied simultaneously.

"O-oh... I guess it slipped my mind... My bad." Mikhail replied as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"But still, seeing that your injuries are healed and the condition of the forest... I think I finally understood what just happened."

"W-what? Susie? You know what happened?" Mikhail asked with a desperate look on his face. He grasped Susie's hand in his as he pleaded with her to spill.

"We-well... I think it's healing magic. You can only restore such a huge area with healing magic and be able to heal wounds as bad as that baldie over there."

"Wait, what bald--! I still have hair!" Xander exclaimed as his face flushed red.

"Well, I did notice Diane having such abilities... but on such a large scale... It's not possible. Unless she spilled her blood or something."

"What?!" Mikhail and Xander exclaimed as they directed their gaze towards her with anguish and worry painted on their face.

"Sorry to say... but this is beyond me. I've never heard of mages or anything that has anything to do with healing magic. People like that don't exist... Well, aside from Diane. So..."

"Say no more. We're still going to search!" Mikhail yelled as he spared a glance at Xander, hoping he felt the same way he did.

"Don't worry. I'll search with you."

Susie sighed as she watched the duo drift off into their own world, thinking of how annoying Xander was as a rival.