Tenebris Renasci: A World of Magic and Gunpowder

Ben turned around as Antoinette hurriedly rose out of Ben's lap.

"Lieutenant!" A pathfinder shouted as he ran up the hill that Antoinette and Ben sat on, "Lieutenant, your presence is required by Lady béatrice, it's important!"

Antoinette raised an eyebrow as she dusted her butt off. "Soldier, what's the situation?" She asked firmly, her expression becoming instantly stern.

The pathfinder's expression turned slightly concerned as he glanced over at Ben, who was awkwardly punching his inner thigh.

"I…" the pathfinder raised his arms as he shook his head, "it… it involves lord Alexander, he's… he's missing."

Ben froze instantly, his expression turning cold as he slowly looked at the pathfinder with narrowed eyes. "What did you say?" He asked, his voice eerily threatening.

The pathfinder took a nervous step back, "L-Lord Alexander… he's missing," the pathfinder then glanced over at Antoinette, who held an unreadable expression, "O-on the demon continent."

"What?!" Ben shouted as he straightened up, "How fuck did he get on the demon continent!?!?" She shouted in anger and disbelief.

Antoinette reached a hand out towards Ben, "Relax soldier, right now our presence is required by Lady Béatrice." 

"No fuck that!" Ben shouted, storming down the hill towards the Pathfinder, "How the fuck did Alexander go missing on the demon continent?!"

The pathfinder gulped audibly as beads of sweat trickled down his forehead. "Listen, Ben, I had nothing to do with what happened."

Ben gritted his teeth as he pointed a finger at the Pathfinder, "I didn't ask what you had to do with it, I asked how?!?"

"I. I don't, I don't know." The Pathfinder answered, "Honest."

"Soldier, that's enough!" Antoinette shouted as she stomped her foot down. 

Ben turned his head as his eyes glistened with frustration. "What?!" He shouted.

Antoinette gave Ben a telling look, "calm yourself." She said sternly, her hands were n her hips. "Panicking solves nothing."

Ben frowned as he moved to confront Antoinette, but paused, a conflicted expression crossing his face. 

There was a brief moment of tension, where Ben debated whether he should confront Antoinette or bite his tongue. 

He clenched his fist tightly, looking as if he was about to go forward with a confrontation.

But he instead sighed deeply, opening his hands as he closed his eyes. "Tch- fine, but I'm going to find out what happened," he said, opening his eyes as his expression became determined, "and when I do…"

"You'll do as you're told." Antoinette replied, "Now fall in line."

Ben frowned but remained silent. He knew Antoinette put being a soldier over everything else, including himself. 

There was no convincing Antoinette of his side, no matter how much she cuddled up to him.

"Soldier," Antoinette said, turning her gaze towards the now visibly relaxed pathfinder, "lead the way." She commanded.

The pathfinder nodded, before turning around to descend the hill and head back towards the secondary port.

(It's near the Nova mansion, on the opposite side of the main port.)

As the trio descended down the hill, Ben couldn't help but feel as if a heavy weight had just dropped onto his shoulders. 

To learn that Alexander was missing and on the demon's continent of all places. 

How couldn't help but wonder how it had happened, because he knew there was no way Alexander could have gotten there on his own.

The boy was intelligent, not reckless.

Not to mention Ben saw how Alexander handles stress, so he knew for a fact that Alexander wouldn't put himself in such a situation where stress was guaranteed.

That, plus the fact that he was six.

It just didn't make sense.

As the trio reached the secondary port, they were greeted by almost a hundred pathfinders who were all moving about a busy port.

Along with béatrice, who stood near the end of the docks, in front of a large frigate.

The frigate was a massive naval vessel, with its sails large that were unfurled and white.

It was clear from the sight that Béatrice was taking Alexander's situation seriously and was putting forward a lot of resources to find him.

The trio walked through the unorganized groups of pathfinders and toward Béatrice, who turned her attention to them with narrowed eyes and a cold expression.  "Lieutenant, you're late," Béatrice said sternly.

Antoinette placed a hand over her chest and slightly bowed. "My apologies lady Béatrice, I was under the impression that my day was cleared of duties."

Béatrice sighed as she glanced over at Ben, "mhmm," she muttered softly, "I suppose I cannot fault you for that." She said, before turning her attention back towards Antoinette. "Anyway, I'm sure you've been informed of the current situation, so I'll make this quick."

Antoinette nodded. "Of course ma'am."

"Alexander has been lost on the demon continent via smugglers, I just received that confirmation a few hours ago." She said, "In response to this unprecedented situation, I have formed a search party filled with the best trackers the Nova house has to offer."

Antoinette nodded. "Understood, my lady." She replied, her posture rigid as her arms remained at her sides. "What is my role on this mission?"

Béatrice sighed as she crossed her arms, "You are to lead one of the three platoons that are to be deployed in search of Alexander," she then gestured towards the pathfinder who all stood in formation as the frigate was loaded with supplies by the sailors and pathfinders. "I'll allow you to make the finalizations on the ship, in the meantime, you'll join your fellow pathfinders and make use of yourself."

Antoinette quickly saluted, "Yes ma'am!"

Béatrice nodded, giving a quick glance at Ben before leaving and heading back towards a carriage that was parked further upland.

As she left, Antoinette quickly turned to Ben. "You're under my command now, and you will listen to my orders, do you understand… soldier?"

Ben narrowed his eyes as he raised an eyebrow. "I was coming with you anyway."

Antoinette frowned. "No, I need you to listen closely, you are under my command, which means you listen to orders when given, understand?" 

Ben hesitantly nodded. "Yes…"