Lord Édouard lets his surprise translate into words for a fleeting second but before anything else may be spoken, the screech of shattering glass and a heavy “huff” echo from the ground floor. A cacophony storm almost overwhelms your hearing as, with the distinct sound of hurried footsteps climbing the stairs, everything begins to subside – even if only slightly – as a village guard comes up calling for Lord Édouard and Lady Marie:

-        Ici! I have found them!

  With you still exchanging puzzled looks with the guard – that only now process your presence –, Lord Édouard moves to the back of the room hastily and then returns to the hallway with his mother in his arms, carefully placing her down on the floor, with her back resting against the wall:

-        CALL A DOCTOR QUICKLY! She can’t breathe!

  Another guard, who just got here, immediately descends the stairs hurriedly, leaving the first one and you to receive other orders:

-        You! Stay here and keep my mother in this position until the doctor comes. Orion, come with me!

  Yet before the lord may get of his knees, Lady Marie holds his arms almost as if holding for her own life, as she tries to warn him of something:

-        N-Ne pars pa-pas… That was no-not... the-

  However, before she may continue, Lord Édouard moves her hand off his arm gently, trying his best to hide the absolute hate and thirst for revenge that the Beast clouded his heart with. Then he tries to calm her, with such kind and worried tone that you fail to believe that he is still the same lord you thought you knew:

-        Breathe slowly, maman. The doctor is already on his way. Everything is going to be fine, d’accord?

  Now getting back on his feet and shooting  the guard an imperative gaze, almost as if warning him “Do not fail” he soon heads towards the ground floor with heavy – and furious – steps, having you follow barely three behind.

  There, Captain Löschental is somewhat forced to follow along as the lord inquires him whilst walking out of the manor and towards the village’s main gates:

-        Where did the beats go?

-        Milord, it just climbed over the north wall and kept heading that same direction.

  The poor captain darts a concerned look your way – most likely wondering how exactly did you manage to enter the manor – but shows no hesitation when answering his liege. Upon passing the central plaza, Lord Édouard points towards the tavern – where both Thaís and Jorge seem to be still arguing with a guard – and commands, without even slowing the pace of his steps:

-        They’re coming with us.

  Captain Löschental then hurries that way whilst the lord begins shouting orders to the gate guards even though you two are still roughly twenty metres away from it:

-        Guards! Fetch me some guns and ammunitions, now!

  Though their faces are instantly covered by a mixture of dread and confusion, they leave their posts hastily and proceed to procure the requested equipment without making a sound. All whilst, in an act of simply perfect timing, the captain is back along with – already armed – Jorge and Thaís.

-        Orion? Garoto, weren’t you resting?!?!?!

  Thaís’ tone feels like a vice forcing an explanation out of you with otherworldly pressure, but before your tormented mind can even process all the necessary information, her brows cease frown and instead furrow narrowly as she shoots Jorge a scrutinising look. Shaking his shoulders, Jorge seems to answer without words, causing you to imagine that, were him to become a father, Thaís’ life expectancy would certainly go down quite a lot out of stress from his nonchalant, panic-free approach to responsibilities.

  Either way, the current situation is far too pressing for you to entertain such thoughts and the captain’s worlds serve as a sharp reminder of how this is no time for humour:

-        Milord, after such unforeseen attack, I must ask that you don’t proceed with such sudden react-

-        Ouvrez les portes!

  Lord Édouard’s command to the gate guards simply drowns Captain Löschental’s words of caution the same way a tsunami juggernauts through a small costal village. There is fury burning within his heart and, even if for just a fleeting moment, you fear the fate that waits the Beast. Yet, instead of simply become devoured by such fury, Lord Édouard displays some admirable self-control by not ignoring the safety of those around him, instructing the captain:

-        Double the number of guards at each post around the village, have squads of four to five guards patrol each quarter… I’m trusting the people’s safety to you, my friend.

     And once the gates are fully opened, he turns back to you, Jorge and Thaís:

-        Tonight… We kill the Beast.