BXBX NOVEL Chapter 78: Kidnapping.
Being the strongest was one goal, enjoying life with his wives was another, and in between? The chaos of this damned family he had.
At the moment, everyone was on edge and honestly, why? That was the question in Strax's mind. Why does the idea of him coming back generate so much hatred? I mean, is it about power? He was trained by Xenovia; that should be enough to prove he at least has potential. Is it about greed?
What does it matter? He doesn't even want to be in this family; he's forced to be here. That's why he's still around, otherwise, he wouldn't even use Vorah in his name.
Strax doesn't care about being a Vorah, he never did. So again, why do his siblings want to destroy him so much?
The conclusion he came to is that they want to eliminate him to reduce competition for becoming the Patriarch.
But that clashes with his own ideals; he doesn't want to be the Patriarch. He'd probably just use that position to destroy the family that threw him away just because he wasn't like them.
"You're overthinking again." He got distracted and took a blow that sent him flying, crashing back against a pillar.
"Urgh! Damn it, take it easy! I thought you wanted to be my wife!" he shouted at Xenovia, who was clad in black armor and wielding her sword containing Xyn. The training had intensified much more than it should have, pushing him to his limits. He was actually hurt now, with his arm bleeding through the kind of armor he wore.
Xenovia, with a slight smile, lowered her sword for a moment, but her gaze remained sharp. "You're daydreaming again, Strax. Your thoughts are a distraction. And a distraction on the battlefield is the difference between life and death," she said, approaching slowly but with firm steps.
Strax tried to get up, rubbing his sore shoulder. "Daydreaming? I'm trying to understand what I'm doing here. This family is driving me crazy, and these relentless training sessions... it feels like there's no purpose other than pain," he said, a mix of frustration and exhaustion in his voice.
[Return the Missions]
This message had appeared several times, but Strax no longer knew what missions he could continue. The System seemed broken!
"This garbage..." he murmured and managed to stand. But suddenly, a shadow swiftly invaded the place, stopping in front of Strax and bowing, kneeling on the ground.
"We have a problem, a big problem." Cristine said, and Strax looked at Xenovia, who nodded. "Speak, you were told not to invade this place," he said seriously. He had really asked her not to approach Xenovia's mansion, but she seemed desperate, sweating coldly.
"No... we found your wife... Beatrice... she's missing." Cristine said, and part of Strax's body trembled with fury. His whole body burned with rage, his eyes turned red, and his hands caught fire slightly, releasing some flames.
"Who," he said, his eyes seemed to devour Cristine, a feeling... of death hung in the air. "I-I don't know yet." Cristine stammered, she was scared, much more than she had ever been, it was as if... "What happened," he said, his tone firm and calm, not seeming like the man who would destroy everything.
"As you asked, we had tried to keep an eye on them. After breakfast, we knew Beatrice was going shopping, but... she disappeared. When I arrived at the place... the attendants were killed, and Beatrice disappeared," Cristine explained, Strax clenched his fists tightly. "And Samira and Monica?" he questioned, "I placed them under the guild's supervision.
The whole house is surrounded, and the women are being protected by the best of the guild."
"Xenovia," Strax said, turning to the woman. "I'm going to kill whoever did this, even if it's one of our brothers." His eyes... were being consumed by a darkness that even her black flames couldn't reach. Strax looked like a demon, an irrational man ready to destroy everything.
"Do as you please. I will use my last request to expedite the opening of the Sword Garden. You, assassin, start looking for Beatrice everywhere. I will ask some of my subordinates to do the same," Xenovia said seriously. She had never seen her brother like this; it seemed like he... wanted to destroy the world, even without enough power, she felt he could do it.
The air seemed heavy around Strax as he absorbed Cristine's words. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions, a volatile mix of fury and fear; he wanted to erase the world if anything happened to any of them. The training, the family, the relentless internal conflicts—all seemed insignificant compared to the idea of losing Beatrice.
"Cristine," he said, his voice almost a whisper but laden with unbreakable intensity. "Go. Find clues. Do whatever it takes. I want answers within two hours."
Cristine quickly nodded, rising and hurrying away into the shadows. Strax turned his attention to Xenovia, whose eyes coldly calculated the situation. "The Sword Garden, why open it like this? Using one of the rewards you have is risky," he repeated. "Will this be enough?"
Xenovia lifted her head, eyes narrowed. "It will be a distraction. If any of those idiots are behind this, they have subordinates listening to their orders. For the garden's opening, everyone must be present. This would create a communication gap, and we would catch the culprit off guard during the event. It's a risk worth taking.
With the Garden open, we will have access to another sword that can strengthen your position and destabilize any ongoing plans against you."
Strax took a deep breath, trying to calm the fire within him. "Very well," he said finally, his voice laden with determination. "Let's prepare. We can't waste any time."
Xenovia nodded, grabbing her sword and walking towards the exit of the training hall. "I'll coordinate with my subordinates. They will be ready to locate your wife." For some reason, Xenovia's tone had changed, but Strax didn't have time for that; first, he would go home to see Samira and Monica. "Alright," he nodded.
As she left, Strax allowed himself a moment of vulnerability. He leaned against the pillar, his head tilting back, eyes closed. Every muscle in his body was tense, the weight of responsibilities and fear threatening to crush him. He couldn't fail, not now. Beatrice was someone important to him, and especially to his old self.
But he couldn't falter now. He quickly stood up and left her mansion, "Girl, full speed ahead." He said to Apocalypse, not bothering to caress or speak beautiful words, but this horse... He knew exactly how Strax felt and neighed furiously; his hooves began to move with loud, strong sounds of galloping, the speed the horse reached was something Strax had never seen, yet he wasn't impressed.
He knew his horse was special, and he knew he cultivated it, so he didn't care about its speed.
Strax managed to reach his house quickly, the sound of his fast footsteps echoing in the hall. Strax opened his eyes to see Samira and Monica sitting on the couch, worry evident on their faces. "Strax!" Samira cried out, her big, bright eyes staring at him. "We heard what happened through your subordinate."
Monica, sounding somewhat desperate, maintained the expression of concern, after all... it was her daughter they were talking about. "We heard that something happened. Please, tell us everything will be alright. Where is Beatrice? Have they found my daughter yet?," she pleaded, holding his hand.
"Daughter?!?" Samira said, startled, but she saw that Strax didn't show that reaction. "You knew..." "Not long ago." He commented, forcing a smile, trying to reassure them. "I'll bring her back, okay?" he said firmly. "No one will hurt Beatrice and get away with it. I promise you, darling." He said, hugging Monica.
"Wait... so you're her husband and stepfather? I mean" Samira continued lost in her own thoughts, "Get back to normal, idiot!" Strax said, giving her cheeks a pinch. "L-let go!" Samira said, but he didn't and pinched harder, "That doesn't matter now!" Strax shouted at her, releasing her. "Alright alright! Calm down!" She said.
Suddenly, a metallic noise caught Strax's attention. He turned to see a hooded figure emerging from the shadows. It was one of the guild's informants, a small woman with sharp eyes who always seemed to be where least expected.
"Lord Strax," she said, her voice calm and professional. "I have information. I found traces of unusual activity on the outskirts of the city. Movement of forces we haven't identified yet, but it seems coordinated and recent."
Strax took a step forward, hope reigniting in his eyes. "Take me there," he said. "I need to see this with my own eyes."