During the next weeks, Raen stopped trying to escape on his own, it was about time to see things from a diferent perspective; one that include every inhabitants of Minawoods. Undoubtedly the kid had the experience of numerous battles, he needed to study his opponents, as well as the villagers, he wanted to find a way to convince the last ones to join his plan. Even though distractions weren’t conspicuous by their absence…

It was night and Raen was helping Viktor to accommodate suplies in the basement when Rozen entered.

─Hey! Raen, tomorrow is a day off. The gang and I are going to pass it at the cove, what you say, wanna join? Hummmn ─asked leaning on Raen's shoulder, raisinging his eyebrows repeatedly. They worked together, so they’re were friends again.

─Of course I’ll join.

─Invite Ingrid and that she invites Flor.

─Hahaha I see, she’s the real reason for all this, eh?

─Don’t be jealous, you too have a teeny-weeny space in ma hearty, muack muack ─he pretended to kiss his friend.

─Diaagh, stay away. Use that space for someone else ─both laughed.

•◊◊◊•

The group of youngsters found the way to have fun all morning at the cove. They swam, they were wallowed by the waves, built figures with the sand, buried themselves in it, among other things. At dusk, the grown-ups came by surprise.

─Uncle!

─We were worring about you, you didn’t come back ─Viktor said.

─We came to see if the sahrks had already eaten you.

─Dad! ─Floralia scolded her father Oliver.

─Are there sharks?! ─Rozen exclaimed moving away from the water.

─There none, not in this zone ─Jethro laughed.

─We brought some snacks ─Viktor showed them.

The young ones ate, rest for a while, and continue playing happily. Jethro and Elyon didn’t enjoy to stay for so long at the water, so they decided to stay with the adults.

─Hmmmmn ─Don Viktor sighed in satisfaction.

─Is everything alright, Vik? ─Oliver asked.

─Yeah, it’s just that… Is the first time I see Raen so smiling.

─He should cause so much troubles to you and Ingrid ─spoke the crimson haired young man.

─Well… Yeah, somethimes; but he’s a nice boy.

─Are his arms still injured? or why the bandages? ─Elyon asked, she and her brother felt a weird interest in him since they met.

─Eh… no, but he has some very ugly burn scars he… doesn’t like to show them.

─Mmn, narcissistic the boy ─Jethro said laughing.

─Aren’t all of you at that age? My Flor doesn’t go aout until there’s no single hair out of place.

This group was having a good time. Before long, a few soldiers arrived to the beach, bringing some kegs of beer and jars, to drink all night. The gang stoped their activities and looked at the imperials.

─Oh, don’t mind us, today you can do whatever you want, ugly bastards ─said one of them while sitting next to Viktor’s group.

─How you doing Don Vik? Gentelmen ─ a pair of the salut the men ─. Beautiful crimson lady, you can come with us and have some drinks, we’ll have a great time.

─Grrrr ─Elyon glared at them while growling. This girl was intimidating when she was angry, a terrifying aura emanated from her.

─Maybe next time, soldiers ─Jethro answered while trying to contain his sister.

The imperials men desisted and decided to bother someone else ─. Look what we have here, with clothes you look all squalid, but you were hiding some muscles ─a soldier was mocking.

─Hehe, it’s nothing more than our hard work at the mines, Hah! ─Rozen and Leo were showing off their mighty biceps.

─We can change jobs at anytime ─the prince was joking.

─Hahaaa, very funny punk.

The boys kept playing in the waves for a while. With his bare torso and arms, Raen began to feel pressured, the men of the empire didn’t lose sight of them; he was afraid his bandages fall off revealing his tattoos. He chose to get out of the water and cover himself. At night, the girls were leaving.

─Aww you’re leaving? ─a disappointed Rozen asked.

─Yep ─Flor answered with a pretty smile.

─But we haven’t play at all ─was holding his girl hand.

─Rozen, hihi, we’ve been all day together ─with her free hand, she patted his cheeks, turning him red like tomato.

─Whatch out Don Oliver, he wants to stole your daughter ─one of the soldiers said.

─Hahaha, seems so.

The three girls picked up their belongings which were near their relatives and took the opportunity to say goodbye.

─Thanks for the snacks, today was a lot of fun, but we must retire ─Floralia said and made a little bow.

─Noou, let’s get warm at the fire, all snuggly, for a few minutes, yes?

─I’m sorry Rozen, tonight is girls night ─Ingrid said as she walked away with the other two girls. Raen laughed discreetly at his friend’s misfortunes, while he was squeezing his hair.

─Bweeh. yeah? Well we’re having a boys night at ma place much better that yours, right Raen, Jethro?

─Emnn… ─Raen looked at Don Viktor and asked whispering ─. Can I stay with him? ─the other nodded happily ─. Yeah! our night will be funnier.

─Yeah, no guuuurls ─Leo added. The rest of them wooowed.

The girls took their way, the adults joined the soldiers to get drunk on the beach and the boys headed to Rozen’s house.

─What do you do un a boys night?

─Hahahaha, that’s why I like you so much, dear Raen. Bring your sleeping chlothes and whatever your using tomorrow; I see you at the lair ─Jethro and Raen obeyed ─. Ah! also bring some more snacks! ─yelled at the distance.

The boy utilized this time to change his bandages, they were wet and a lot of sand was caught in them, which gave him a tremendous itch. He gathered his clothes, some snacks and headed to the… “Strident Skulls Lair”, which wasn’t anything more than Rozen’s house. They called it like this for fun, because only the orphaned children of the town lived there, in reality this place was a refuge where the elders took care of the younger ones.

─Agh, you finally arrive, what took you so long? ─Rozen whispered ─. Jethro was so fast. We thought you fall asleep, we ate everything.

─I know, sorry ─they were going to the second floor of the lair.

─Shhh, let’s go to other room, there’s no space here.

Raen looked inside the room, all the children that went to the cove with them, were exhausted. There were two beds, four kids plus a baby sleeping on them, three more on the floor over some blankets.

─Mnnn… So… A boys night is… Just sleep all tight in the same tiny room?

─Hahaha, shhh don’t make me laugh. Seriously you’ve never had one of this before?

─Nop, not really. The people I hang out with in my city, were adults.

─Boring.

─Weeell… Sometimes, but you learn a lot from them.

─Uuuuugh, see, boooooring.

The boys entered into Rozen’s bedroom, it was simple: there were two beds separated by a cabinet with drawers, a wooden wardrobe, a small rug, a trunk at the end of each bed and a window. Raen changed his clothes.

─Now what do we do?

─We eat the snacks you brought ─they both sat facing each other on one of the beds.

─I just found some strawberries and… ─was hidding something behind him and smiling ─. Dragon bread ─he showed it excited.

─Give me, everything made by Flor is delicious ─They shared the bread.

─Have you invited her on a date? just the two of you, not with all your gang like today.

─Mnnn… yeah. We tried several times, but the empire wants the girls only for them, they always beat me up before I could kiss her.

─Ouch, I’m sorry.

─Is the only thing they know to do, so watch out they don’t see you romantically with Ingrid ─his words caused Raen to choked with his food.

─You’re mistaken… I don’t have romantic… feelings towards Inyi.

─Inyi, my love ─was imitating his friend ─. You don’t fool me, this morning you were literally on top of her.

─Because the wave wallowed us.

─You have to teach me that move.

─Hahaha, it wasn’t a “move”.

─Mn-huum, if you say so, ma fren.

─Don’t believe me then, I see her as…

─Your future wife.

─Nooo ─he was laughing ─. I see her as a sister. She and Don Viktor have done so much for me, that’s it.

Finishing the meal they had, each one lay down on their bed, and the conversation continued.

─What did you do for a living in your hometown?

─Umn… protect my city from… dragon attacks.

─Pfff ─he covered his face to not wake up the other with his laughter ─. Then you were lousy at your old job.

─Hmph ─the comment upset him ─. I guess I was. I should have asked for help, instead of facing him on my own… I was very confident I could defeat him.

The atmosphere had suddenly become bitter.

─Oh, sorry… you… you still have family looking for you, right?

─Yeah, but I don’t think they’re looking for me… it’s been so long, they must be thinking I’m dead.

─That’s why you tried to flee at all cost… Aww, you miss them ─Raen nodded ─. I… I also miss my family. Since the beginning we were just my mom and I… she… ─he looked away, his face was full of fury and helplessness.

─Could control a kivet.

─… Yeah, an air kivet. The empire took away from me the one I loved the most in this world, and made me watch it… That’s why I hate them so much. At least you still have someone waiting for you at your city, you’re so lucky.

<<Yes, that’s so true>>.

─I don’t understand their motives, they seem to enjoy torturing us. That day they attakced us, the sentinel showed a smile and satisfaction all the time.

─Inyi… ejhem, Ingrid told me that they were two sentinels… who werw they?

─I don’t know their names, but one was: a tall woman, with gigantic boobs with a tight fire armor, a whip and a panther as black as her long hair, was very attractive; but she was more scary than angry Inyi.

<<Fedora, he described her very accurately>> ─. And the other one.

─It was a man with a humpback posture, without his left arm, indigo hair and golden eyes; a damn fucking Camilleri. His gaze gave chills, he’s a maniac and back then he seemed to be about our age.

<<Alexander, I wish I could tell you that Bao was the one who ripped off his arm>> ─. Does any of them visti Minawoods?

─Annually. But only the psycho, not the sexy lady.

─Is he coming soon?

─Ummn, I don’t know Raen, the last thing I want to do is see that psycho’s face. Why are we talking about this depressing topics? Huh? Let’s…

<<This complicates everything a lot, Alexander is very dangerous, I have time counted, I need to save this town before he comes back>>.

─… And that’s why I rather think about the girls. Do you think they’re talking about us? yeah they must be…

The youngsters continued talking for hours, until they fell asleep. Of course they arrived late to the mines the next day, which caused them to work overtime; they had to clean the trash from the stinky docks.