Re:Ant Lord-Chapter 125: Lanterns, Spears

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Time passed, he estimated it had been an hour yet no one came. Suddenly the door cloth parted. In walked an elderly rabbit man with silver fur and weathered citrine eyes. Unlike soldiers he wore only a simple sky-blue mantle clasped by cedar beads. Every bunny present bowed to ninety degrees.

The elder’s gaze took Kai’s measure, as if a craftsman studying jewel fractures and though old, aura flickered borderline five-star rank. Respectable.

"I am Un’Ren, Luna’s uncle," he said in clear, common tongue. "I raised her after her parents fell to plague." The voice was kind, but lined with the leader’s steel. "Tell me, stranger, how you know my niece."

Kai inclined head. "She saved my life in desert woods. I owe her... much." Memories ghosted, starlight on Luna’s fur, shared fruit, their heated physical encounter.

Un’Ren’s eyes narrowed. "Show proof."

Kai flexed cuffed wrists and the captain freed one hand long enough for him to retrieve the note again. Elder studied the map, traced luminescent paw print signatures. When he sighed, tension eased around the room.

"Release him," elder ordered.

Captain objected: "But Master, his aura is violent." Rabbit people were sensitive to strong aura. They were hunted by every species as food (ancient evolution time). In time they become sensitive to aura that are stronger than them or might pose a threat.

"This guy can tear this hall apart if he wished. Shackles are meaningless." Elder stepped forward, unlocked cuffs. Kai massaged wrists but remained seated.

Un’Ren nodded to guards, they withdrew a respectful distance. He sank opposite Kai, cross-legged.

"My niece is not here."

The sentence landed like frost. Kai’s chest hollowed. "Where?"

"She fled two weeks past." Elder’s ears drooped. "Our clan Council arranged a matchmaking, Luna to Roddick Wolf-Fang, heir of Silvertail Wolf Clan. Alliance of territories. She refused. Night before the Moonbound ceremony she vanished."

Kai’s jaw clenched. He recalled Wolf-Fang’s savage butt thrust battle style that nearly gored him months back. "So the bastard still chased her." He murdered himself.

"I warned the council," the elder continued. "Forcing union gives birth to resentment. They didn’t listen to me, they chose commerce over heart." His fists trembled, old grief. "I am powerless against the majority vote."

Kai inhaled slowly. "Do you know the direction she took?"

Un’Ren produced small oblong stone strung on sinew. Carved with moon hare glyph, crystal embedded in centre. It pulsed faint lavender. "Tracker. Crafted from the same heart wood as Luna’s amulet. If the amulet is within five kilometres, the gem glows bright."

He offered. "Take it. Tells me you’re man enough to seek her, maybe keep her safe."

Kai accepted gently. The stone was warm. He tied it around his neck, hidden by a tunic.

"Promise me," elder said, voice cracking, "Luna sees no chains again."

"On my aura (and my future throne), I will keep her safe," Kai swore.

Un’Ren exhaled relief. He rose. "My guards will escort you to the gate. Go in peace, though now, Silvertail Wolf Clan scouts scour every valley around the area. There are many spies in our clan. I am sure they know about you, by now. If they catch you, they kill first, barter after." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Kai’s smile turned feral. "Let them try. I am not some weak person who will run away from a challenge."

As he stood, the gem necklace flickered, it was dim, meaning Luna was not close.

He paused at threshold. "Elder, if I succeed, Luna may not return soon. Danger shadows us both. Will clan retaliate?"

"Council’s pride was already broken by her escape," the elder said bitterly. "They still signed a treaty with Roddick, but without a bride. They now search to deliver her unwillingly. Bring her somewhere safe... any other place."

Kai dipped head. "One day I’ll repay your trust."

Un’Ren smiled faint. "Protect her, ant warrior. She is stubborn as a spring root, but heart is pure. That will be the best way to repay me."

Night cloaked the valley when Kai left Question-house. Guards lead him across a floating boardwalk, lanterns bobbed on black lake. Sentinels along parapet whispered as he passed on with some fearful thoughts, "I must find quickly. She might be in danger.

"She is a strong girl. She is safe." then it changed into some hopeful thoughts.

At the main gate the captain returned broken cuffs, now open as a gesture of apology. Kai tucked them away, a souvenir and nodded thanks.

Outside palisade he found Galehorn and Blueloom waiting, silhouettes in mist. He leapt atop antelope raptor. Before urging forward he turned gaze to lamplit huts.

"I’ll find you, my moon bunny. And when we meet, no wolf or council will stand between us."

He kicked lightly at the beast belly, as if it was a horse. Galehorn shot into shadows, Blue-flare gliding overhead.

Forest silence pressed heavy. Kai’s mind swirled on thought like Luna missing in hostile territory, the egg hungry, alone except Shadeclaw, his Aura reserves yet to fully recover, unallocated stats still untouched.

Unallocated 15

HP 3000 / 3000

Aura 2100 / 3300

He considered pouring into Speed for pursuit, or Stamina for extended hunts, but withheld, until he knew terrain.

Moonlit path bent south-west. The direction of the lair. He debated mentally, "Where should I look? The forest is big and the gem is dim, odds are too low. I can’t waste time looking in the wrong direction." Egg’s telepathic message still rang inside his heart. She is lonely and she might hatch soon.

He muttered, "First a kingdom, then a queen, then a princess, now a runaway bride." He chuckled bleakly. "I’m becoming a soap opera."

System chimed, voice sardonic:

[Host’s romantic flag density dangerously high. Recommend establishing base resources before courting additional dependents.]

"Shut it," Kai growled. "Any clue where Luna might flee?"

[Search quadrant too large. Suggest: question Silvertail Wolf Clan Pack. Estimate 38 % probability she aims for the central beast trade road to seek mercenary escort or join them.]

Kai spat. "Without tracker resonance, chasing roads blind." He sighed. "Egg first. I should check on her, then I will look for Luna."