My Daughter Will Kill Me-Chapter 21: The Journey Begins

"I am not sure if she thinks of me like Arzoth, or just someone with his face. Either way, I have to be careful and make sure she doesn't go against me."

"The fact that she said that she will listen to me raised so many questions in my mind, but for now, I need to focus only on one thing at a time."

"I need to stop her from growing up, no matter the cost."

"Don't be so upset now, I am sure she is just eager to go to the cave," Skor said, his expression knowing and understanding rather than reassuring.

He looked ahead in the direction in which Arisa had left before moving his gaze back to Arozth. His lips curled into a pleasant smile.

"So, you want to stop her growth. Is that right?"

Arzoth's eyes widen, he looked at the dragon with surprise flash on his features.

"How did you know?"

Skor's smile only widened. "I can see that you are not so pleased with her growing up so fast. And I get it, in a way. Parents, especially humans are rather very sensitive to these things."

"You don't get it, Skor."

The dragon chuckled; his eyes closed in the attempt before opening up again to meet Arozth's as if reading his thoughts.

Arzoth mentally shacked his head and asked, "Can you help me in it?"

The dragon studied the prince for a moment before saying, "I can." After a thoughtful pause, he continued, "But-" his expression grew hesitant and so did his voice.

"But?" Arzoth pressed.

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Before Skor could say anything, a loud thud echoed across the region, gathering their attention in its way. The same direction in which Arisa walked. A growing sense of unease washed over Arzoth, he made no time in rushing towards the direction followed by Skor.

He paused at every hideous spot. No sign of Arisa. He looked around before running towards the deeper part of the region, only to reach the tree line of an odd forest containing dry trees with no leaves on them. The moonlight was the only source of light. The ground was no longer unsteady but flat and filled with dry, fallen leaves. Skor followed shortly after him. The prince was about to step into the dry forest, but Skor's hands on his shoulder gave him pause. He looked over his shoulder with a questioning look.

"You can't go in there."

Arzoth's brows frowned, his eyes flushed with rage and fury. "What are you talking about?!" What if she is in some danger? We need to go-"

"Arzoth! We can't go there. If we enter this forest, we can't come back! It's Vyrmire's forest!" Skor sighed. "Even if Arisa is inside, she will be able to come out safe and sound. She is strong, you know that."

Arzoth yanked his hand off his shoulder as he said, "I don't care what forest it is, I need to go; she needs me!" Arzoth turned to face the forest and walked past the tree line of the dry forest.

Skor watched the prince take his first few steps inside, he said in a raised voice, "She needs 'You'?! you can't even protect yourself, Arzoth!"

Arzoth gritted his teeth. "Shut up!"

Soon his steps grew impatient and anxious. His breathing heavied, and heartbeat increased. He looked around himself, desperately tried to finding any sign of Arisa, any hint that she was here, that she was safe. There was none.

"Arisa!" He called out, only to be responded by the deafening silence of the trees around him.

"ARISA!" he called out again, but this time, instead of the silent breeze, he heard another thud behind him like the one he first heard. He turned around sharply. The blue aura illuminated the land far ahead, which was clearly visible as the impact of the aura was so giant that almost half the forest got illuminated blue.

"That's Arisa! I know it's her!"

Arzoth ran towards the blue aura which was still lingering in the air. He ran deeper and deeper into the unknown forest. He knew he was making a mistake, should have listened to Skor and stayed back and waited. But it was also true a nagging voice behind his back screamed at him to go inside the forest, to find her before it's too late. Something told him that Arisa won't come back.

As Arzoth approached the grounds from which the blue aura came from, his system flashed a glowing screen in front of his face.

[System Warning]

[Vampires Detected]

[Resolve: Find escape route]

"What?!"