Guardian Of Midgard

Chapter 2 Call Your Father

“Don’t you dare hide that.” Mitchel grinned. 

The little girl’s face turned pale. She immediately tried to leave, but Mitchel and the group of older children gathered around her. 

“Brother Mitchel, what did you see?” One of the taller children asked. 

“If I am not mistaken, she was holding a Jade pendant a few seconds ago.” Mitchel’s lips curved into a mischievous smile. 

“Save me the stress and bring it out.” Mitchel turned to look at her with a fiery gaze. 

She instinctively retreated, fear flashing across her face.

Mitchel closed the distance in two quick strides. With one hand, he seized her by the throat, lifting her just enough to leave her struggling for breath. His other hand shot toward the jade pendant hanging around her neck.

She clutched it tightly, refusing to let go. That infuriated Mitchel his expression darkened. With a sharp tug, the cord snapped, and he ripped the pendant from her grasp.

His eyes lit up.

The Jade pendant was clear and beautiful. 

His eyes flashed with greed. He was no appraiser, but he knew this was worth a lot.  

The children immediately crowded around to get a closer look.

Their eyes lit up when they saw the jade pendant. "It's beautiful. Did she find it somewhere?" one of them asked.

Mitchel sneered. "Use your brains. Do you really think someone like her could just stumble upon something that valuable?"

He folded his arms and looked down at her with contempt. "She obviously stole it."

The children exchanged glances before nodding in agreement. "She definitely stole it."

"That makes sense. There's no way a servant like her would have something so valuable?"

"Where did you get this?" Mitchel grabbed her arm.

The little girl instinctively snatched it back and covered the pendant with both hands. "It belongs to me. I didn't steal it." Her eyes reddened. "

Mitchel stepped closer. "Give that to me, you little thief.” He knocked her to the ground, but she held onto the Jade pendant. 

“Let me go, Mitchel.” She yelled at him. "It was given to me by my mother."

She didn’t care what happened, but she wasn’t letting him have this. She got on her feet and backed away, clutching the pendant tightly.

"Mother?" Mitchel sneered as he kept punching her. 

“Your mother can only afford to stay here as a mistress. She wouldn’t have a use for that, Jade. It doesn’t even look good with your ragged appearance. Just give it to me.”

Mitchel snorted. "A piece of jade like that only looks ridiculous hanging around the neck of a beggar."

He folded his arms. "My sister has some old dresses she doesn't wear anymore. They're still better than the rags you're wearing."

The children burst into laughter.

Mitchel continued with a generous smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Also, if you hand over the pendant and don't say a word about it, then I'll even ask the kitchen to give you a chicken wing during dinner."

He spread his hands. "See? I'm being nice. Now hand it over." 

She shook her head. “No. I have to hold onto this. My father will come back one day.”

"Father?" Mitchel laughed. "The one who disappeared years ago?"

"Everyone knows he's dead."

"He isn't!" she shouted, clutching the jade pendant tightly against her chest.

"My father is strong. No matter where he is, he'll come back for Mother and me." 

"Then why hasn't he come back?" He scoffed.

The little girl bit her lip.

Mitchel reached for the pendant. She slapped his hand away. His eyes widened. Then anger exploded across his face.

"You little—"

He lunged forward and pushed her down again. She yelped as she curled around the pendant protectively. 

"Call your father to save you!" Mitchel sneered as he grabbed her wrist and tried to pry the jade pendant from her fingers.

The little girl's eyes turned red and as Mitchel lunged forward again, she instinctively kicked out with all her strength.

Thud!

The kick landed squarely on his knee and he crashed heavily onto the stone pavement.

Blood trickled from his knee and the laughter vanished.

Even the little girl froze. She hadn't expected to knock him down.

Mitchel stared at the blood on his knee for a moment.

Then his face twisted in pain and humiliation.

"MOTHER!"

His shrill scream echoed throughout the courtyard and immediately hurried footsteps approached.

A beautiful woman dressed in luxurious robes arrived surrounded by servants.

The moment she saw Mitchel on the ground, her expression changed.

"Mitchel!" She hurried over and pulled him into her arms. "My son! What happened?"

Mitchel immediately pointed at the little girl and his tears flowed even harder.

"Mother! I was only trying to be nice to her!" Mitchel cried.

"I even offered her clothes and food, but she cursed at me!"

His voice became more aggrieved. "She said she hated me because I still have a father and wished I was fatherless too!"

The little girl's eyes widened. "That's not true!" She looked at the other children to help her but they all nodded.

The other children immediately nodded.

"It's true."

They sided with Mitchel. Of course what was she expecting. 

"I never said that! He has the one that hit me. I didn’t mean to have him injured.” The little girl protested.

But that was enough for Amelia. Her expression became frighteningly cold. 

In one move she stepped forward and slapped the little girl who was sent sprawling onto the ground.

A bright red handprint bloomed across her cheek. Amelia looked down at her like filth.

"You ungrateful little thing. My son showed you kindness and you repaid him with violence?"

She sneered.

"Just because you carry the Ravenhart name doesn't make you one of us. Know your place. You're no different from a dog."

"No... no...I didn’t” The little girl tried to protest.

 Amelia turned toward her son, who was being nursed by a servant already. "Didn't you just receive a hunting hound?"

Mitchel nodded between sobs. "Yes, Mother!"

Amelia waved her hand casually. "Guards.” 

Two armored guards stepped forward.

"A hunting hound requires training. "Why don't we let it play with her?" An evil smile formed on Amelia’s face. 

The little girl's face lost all color. "No..! No!” She crawled forward and grabbed the woman's sleeve. "Please! It'll bite me! Please don't!" She cried. 

Amelia shook the little girl away with a flick of her arm. “Take her there.”

Mitchel's grin widened.“If you're scared, then call your father." "Go on. Call him. He is very strong, you say?" He jeered.

"Isn't he supposed to protect you?" 

The children around him laughed and the little girl's shoulders trembled.

"Please let me go!" She yelled but her voice grew hoarse from crying.

Mitchel watched with a smug smile. 

The guards ignored her cries and dragged her away and the jade pendant bounced against her chest as she fought desperately.

Just then a ripple appeared in the air outside the estate gates and silver runes spread across the ground.

The surrounding guards immediately turned and a tall figure stepped out from the center of the magic circle.

He had golden eyes and wore a black cloak and a faded silk girdle tied around his sleeve.

Kael slowly raised his head.

Before him stood the massive gates of House Ravenhart.

After five long years, he had finally returned. His gaze swept across the estate.

Was Lucy here? Has she been safe all these years? 

Suddenly he heard a shrill cry. Approaching him was a little girl in ragged clothing being pushed forward by two guards.

The struggling little girl's tear-filled eyes locked onto the faded silk tied around his sleeve. 

Her breathing quickened.

The weave, the color matched the fragment hidden beneath her clothes as though the two pieces had once been one.

Mother had told her about it countless times. There was no way she could be wrong.

Her eyes widened. 

"Father!" The little girl broke free from the guards and sprinted toward the gates.

"Father! Father, you’re finally here!" 

Before Kael could react, the little girl had already thrown herself into his arms.

She clung to him tightly.

"Father..." Her small body shook violently. "You finally came back..."

Her tears soaked his cloak but Kael stood frozen.

His brows furrowed. After a brief pause, he gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Little girl. I think you've mistaken me for someone else." His voice was calm.

Kael remained patient. "I am not your father."

The little one grabbed his sleeve tightly. "You are! Mother told me!” She spoke so fast that she tried to catch her breath. 

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Her trembling finger pointed toward the faded silk tied around his arm. 

The family keepsake that he had given half to Lucy. "Mother and I waited for you every day and she said you would return one day, but you never came." She sobbed. 

"Father…” Her voice broke. 

“Why didn't you come back or contact us after all these years?" The little girl continued sobbing. 

Kael fell silent, and uncertainty appeared in Kael's eyes. His gaze swept over her torn clothes and swollen cheek.

A cold light flashed through his eyes.

Even servants were treated better than this. A faint crease appeared between his brows. 

Who would abuse a child like this?

Suddenly the little girl’s eyes lit up.

"Ah!" She hurriedly wiped away her tears. She had just remembered something important.

“I’m sorry, mister. I forgot Mother told me you have not seen me yet but "Mother said this might happen." She continued.

Kael looked down. "What do you mean?"

The little girl quickly reached beneath her clothing. Her small hands fumbled nervously. Then she pulled out the Jade pendant carefully and held it up.

Kael's pupils contracted. He recognized it instantly. He had carved it himself.

"Mother said if you didn't recognize me. I should show you this." She said confidently in her little voice.

Suddenly the air exploded and a terrifying aura erupted from Kael.