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"I must stay here, I am not only a smith man but also a woodcutter, no storm can harm me." She surged forward and hugged him.

"Thank you, cousin." Noah uttered before getting out of the smithery.

Uncle Miggi picked the small beast figure up and walked outside after his cousin, the lord of Greenwood.

Lili strode beside him. Her eyes were wandering around. Her uncle was speaking the truth, the storm was heavy.

"What is that?" Ryo pointed to a blackbird that fell from the sky.

He didn't wait for them to avoid him from approaching it. He ran into the rain while the rest were almost close to the fine carts and those guards on horses.

"Captain Black, check what Ryo found."

Noah ordered through the cart's window, seeing Lili running to her cousin. She wasn't a girl that could neglect and play in the mud.

Lili grabbed her mouth with two hands. She completely forgot that the wind and rain were lashing her from every side possible.

"Don't touch it."

Before Ryo's finger could touch it, Miggi alerted him. He put Eli down. His eyes drew blank. He knelt near the bird, red ropes tied its claws. He scowled and wrinkles appeared in the middle of his eyebrows.. It was a cursed crow.

"Since when you believe in superstition?" The Captain was behind him.

The last time that Miggi saw such a bird dropped from the sky while having its legs fastened with a red rope, things went dark, his sister Vivi died. This memory was still fresh in his head, it could never shove down the sorrow that came afterward.

"Since when the alerts had become superstition? The cursed crow is an alert and I suggest you protect my nieces well, because I may not be able to spare any neglect."

With his menace, it made Lili assured that this poor bird was a sign of a troublesome occurrence.

The sky thundered. This new young captain was suggested by Elenore, therefore, Miggi didn't like this dog of hers but he was humble enough to keep his head in his own hat, not picking an argument with a wild dog. He was as if an assassin in his dark polished leather uniform. His handsome face was very different from his heart.

Miggi took out the gloves from his belt. Wearing them, he picked the bird by the roped legs. He was supposed to burn the bird but he couldn't shove the lingering thoughts away. Who had sent this alert, why here? What a wicked way they were choosing either time.

He rushed to the smithery and hastily tossed the bird inside the furnace. The flames reflected in his eyes.

"Who else they are going to kill this time?"

He was afraid because the alert was vague. He rarely could endure such kind menace.

"Father, ask them to stay for an hour until the sky soothes down this rage."

His son dragged him out of the thought which glued him to the floor, drawing him into the fire like a magnetic field. The tie between him and his cousin was already floppy and sleazy, he couldn't fight with him.

"Alright, go inform them. I prepare a bath for Eli to clean herself."

Miggi strode to the door that was connecting him to the mansion. Turning the handle, he crossed the corridor and reached the entrance hall, he went to Lili who was pausing for her younger sister. Near the sculpture of a muse, she was peering at it.

"Sweetheart, let us clean your sister. I think your father can wait for one hour more."

"Only twenty minutes is enough." Elenore who was at the doorway ordered.

Noah closed the umbrella and led her to the sofas. Their muddy shoes left prints.

The guards who had escorted them by the door stopped there watching them.

"You have a beautiful mansion, Miggi."

She noted. It was the first time that she came inside, already she was standing outside not lowering herself to enter this house of Miguel. So, Miggi did not pester to invite her personally.

"You brought this house warmth." Miggi held the ritual but the fact was just unlike what he just shot out of his mouth.

The elders always lied to each other, they were pretending and masking their faces all the time just to keep the ethics safe in position, it was what Lili had been thinking about.

"Thank you, inside the bath, I hope these kids wash down the peevishness that they illustrated in their hearts." She taunted at the woodcutter smith man who had a heart as hard as the steels that he used to hammer.

Lili shot her a glare, not hiding what her emotions were toward her.

"Marrie, are you there?" He called out for his middle-aged maiden who was cooking inside the kitchen and the warm scent of fresh bread could make every stomach groan and shiver.

A round figure with a smiling face appeared, her chocolate face was the nicest of all. Her hair was braided and wrapped above her crown. Her apron was spattered by flour cloud.

"I am here," she gazed at the lord and bowed. She didn't show any attention to Elenore but Miggi saw a tinge of crooked anger on the corner of her lips. He couldn't force his staff to respect this witch.

"Please, bring our guests some warm drinks. I am going to clean Eli."

She bowed her head and got back to the kitchen.

Miggi was hiding that he didn't want to sit by the fire and hear their nonsense stories from the court.

He drew his way to the stairs and ascended.

Lili realized that her uncle was escaping, she followed him up. Assisting him to finish the bathing faster. He didn't talk to her father and she could not remember the last time they did a discussion. She truly missed those days that were not so farther, only two years passed.

"I am helping you." She told him, grabbing his hand.

She had questions about the bird but kept it in her bowels. Eli was also a curious cat that possibly would question him.

They arrived at the second floor where a maiden was bringing Eli. The young woman was wearing a frown, approaching them.

"Liya, what is that face?"