Wake up, Theron!!
The voice struck before his eyes could open.
Huh, who is Theron?
What happened? I was just in front of the tree.
"Just five more minutes," the voice came out lazily. But Leo didn't say them.
His chest rose, his lips moved, and his voice answered, and yet he was only watching.
What... is this?!
He tried to move, but nothing happened.
Panic crept in, slow and suffocating. He was inside, but not in control.
"Wake up, Theron!! We're going to be late.
Captain will skin us alive!" the voice came again, this time sharper, closer.
Captain?... Who is he?
The words echoed in his mind. It was unfamiliar yet heavy.
He felt it before he understood it. Fear, but not his own.
The body shifted beneath him. Muscles tensed. A groan slipped from his throat.
"I'm coming..."
Again, not his voice or will. His eyes finally opened. Light flooded in, blurry at first, then shapes, a rough wood ceiling, a room he had never seen.
Move.
Leo tried moving, but nothing happened. A moment later, the body swung its leg off the bed, as if nothing was wrong.
Stop.
The body didn't listen. Panic surged, stronger now.
He wasn't just inside, he was trapped.
The body sat upright for a moment and looked at his left side. A man was getting ready and sheathing his sword.
"It's late, be quick," the man said firmly.
"Okay, I'm gonna get ready," the body said.
It stood up and started to get ready, first changing his clothes, and then taking his sword from the bedside table.
Is this part of the process of getting my memories back?
But Flora and Arthur didn't mention it.
"Let's go, Cassian. I'm prepared," Theron said.
Both of them started walking toward the training grounds.
The corridor inside the castle stretched long and quiet, lit by morning light slipping through narrow windows.
As they passed deeper into the hallway, something broke the rhythm.
A boy was sitting near the wall. Alone. His clothes were torn, his body was marked with bruises, as if he had been thrown aside and forgotten.
He didn't move as they passed, only kept his head low, staring at the floor.
They both kept going, as if they saw nothing.
What? A child like that is in front of them, why aren't they doing anything?
If only I could do something.
Leo was furious at the sight before him. If he was in control of the body, he would definitely help the boy.
Growl.
A deep growl echoed from the boy's stomach.
The knights stopped for a moment.
"They are crazy, how can they do this to a child!" Theron said, and Cassian halted for a moment in acknowledgment. "Don't speak like that, what if they hear us?" he said.
"That's right, and you guys are more crazy to abandon a child," Leo thought.
Theron clenched his fists and turned around.
"I'm gonna bring the child some food from the kitchen," he said and started walking toward the kitchen, which was near their room.
Leo was cheering for him from inside. "As expected of the body I possessed."
*********
A few minutes later.
"Here, it's some bread and milk," Theron placed them in front of the boy.
"Eat," he said shortly. But the boy didn't respond.
Theron paused for a moment, then added, "Come to dinner later. But don't let anyone find out."
After that, he turned away and froze. The captain was at the end of the hallway, watching him.
"Both of you are late!" the captain said angrily and started to get closer. With each step, both of them were trembling with fear. After all, it was their strict captain who caught them.
"The Duke and Duchess ordered everyone not to get close to the child," he said and started getting closer to them, and added, "Going against the order of your master, you both have tarnished the honor of all knights. Only death can pay the price of your sins."
What? Putting your master's order above a child's life?!
And killing the knights because they helped a starved child?!
Leo was getting more angry, and he wished he was in control. He would have given the captain a slap to his face.
Both of the knights were trembling with fear and put their heads down.
"Captain, the child was starving and we can't just pretend we saw nothing. Please forgive us for the grave mistake we committed!" Cassian said, with fear in his voice.
And Theron added, "Captain, it's my fault. It was my idea to bring him food. Please don't punish Cassian," he said, with his voice trembling.
The captain opened his mouth to speak.
"Stop."
The boy near the wall, who had been staring down at the floor, finally spoke, his voice was low but firm.
"Stop."
The boy lifted his head for the first time. His deep black eyes locked onto the captain.
And the captain froze.