After persuading the villagers to bring the children trapped in the "white dream" to Viscount Calos's manor, a procession slowly made its way there. Carts, the rudimentary vehicles usually used to transport goods, pulled by oxen, donkeys, or mules, lumbered along the uneven dirt road. No horses were used to pull the carts, perhaps because they were too valuable to the poor villagers.
The children, still in a deep sleep, were laid on the carts, cushioned with straw and old cloths. Their parents walked alongside, worriedly watching over their children, trying to shield them from the sun with cloths or hats. From time to time, they would stop, massage the children's limbs, and drip drops of water or thin soup into their mouths, to prevent dehydration.
Rober, throughout the journey, didn't take his eyes off the children. He used magic to maintain his special vision, observing the fragile soul threads connecting the children to a distant place. He wanted to ensure that nothing bad happened to those threads during the move.
Viscount Calos's "Chronos" at Kalis Marry's request, moved slowly in front, leading the procession. Kalis wanted to ensure that no one was left behind and that everyone could reach the manor safely.
Finally, after a long and stressful journey, they arrived at Viscount Calos's manor. It was a large estate, surrounded by a high stone wall and a sturdy iron gate. Inside was a meticulously designed garden, with lush green lawns, carefully trimmed, winding stone paths, colorful flower beds, meticulously pruned shrubs, and tall, ancient trees providing shade.
The main manor, located in the center of the estate, was a grand structure, built of white limestone with many characteristic classical elements. The building stood out with tall, pointed towers, arched windows, decorated with intricate floral patterns.
As the procession reached the gate, a middle aged man, dressed smartly, with a quick and respectful demeanor, came out to greet them. He was Viscount Calos's butler.
Viscount Calos, with a tired and worried expression, got out of the car. He said nothing, only gestured to the butler, and then hurried towards the main building.
"Kalis Marry! Rober!" he called, his voice full of impatience.
"Hurry! We must save my son first!"
Kalis Marry, still maintaining her calm and composed demeanor, slowly got out of the car. She turned to Rober, who was sitting on one of the villagers' carts to better observe the children, and asked:
"Rober, is everything alright?"
Rober smiled and replied, "Yes, Madam Marry. Everything is fine."
He jumped down from the cart and said to Kalis:
"Let's go, madam. We should check on the Viscount's son now."
He turned to Viscount Calos and said.
"My Lord Viscount, please have your servants arrange a spacious and airy place for the children and their families to rest. They need rest and care after the journey."
Viscount Calos, although very impatient, nodded in agreement. He turned to the butler and ordered:
"Do as he says. Arrange for them to stay in the east guest house. Make sure they have enough food and water."
Having said that, he turned to Rober and Kalis, saying, "Please follow me."
Then, he led Rober and Kalis into the manor.
Inside the manor, the space was even more luxurious and magnificent than Rober could have imagined. The large rooms were decorated with antique, expensive furniture. Portraits of the Viscount's family members, painted by famous artists, and seemingly valuable artworks, collected from all over, were present.
They passed through the living room, a large room with a high ceiling, decorated with elaborate murals. In the center of the room, a marble fireplace, intricately carved, was burning brightly, radiating warmth. A large, glossy black grand piano was placed in a corner of the room, and sets of sofas, upholstered in red velvet, were arranged around a wooden coffee table.
The Viscount's son, a boy of about ten years old, with a pale face and pale lips, was lying on the bed, deep in sleep. Around him were servants, attentively taking care of him.
Viscount Calos, as soon as he saw his son, rushed to the bedside, grasped the boy's hand, his voice trembling:
"My son... My son... He still hasn't woken up..."
He turned to Rober and Kalis, saying:
"Please... please save my son... I beg you..."
Rober signaled for Viscount Calos to be quiet, and then said to the servants:
"Please everyone, leave the room, so we can examine the boy."
The servants, after receiving Viscount Calos's consent, quietly left the room, leaving Rober, Kalis, the Viscount, and his butler behind.
Rober glanced at Kalis, as if to ask for her opinion. Kalis smiled, shrugged, and said, "As before, Rober. If you need my strength, I will help. For now, just show your talent."
Rober nodded, and then focused on his task. This time, he didn't need to draw complicated symbols in the air. Instead, he simply rubbed his left eye gently, with a quick and decisive movement.
Immediately, his vision changed. The world around him was plunged into darkness, and the faint, shadowy figures, emitting a light green glow of the people present in the room, appeared before his eyes.
Rober turned his gaze towards the bed, where Viscount Calos's son lay. And, he immediately realized, the boy's condition was exactly the same as the other children in the village. The boy's soul had left his body, and only a faint connecting thread remained.
But, there was something strange that caught Rober's attention. The connecting thread of the boy's soul was not like the thin threads of the other children. It was thicker, clearer, and seemed... stronger.
Rober approached the boy, reached out, and gently touched the connecting thread. And, he immediately realized what he had suspected before. This thread was not a single thread, but a thread braided from hundreds, thousands of smaller soul threads.
Rober frowned, trying to recall what he had learned about souls. And he remembered a piece of information, about people with "strong souls."
Some people, he recalled, possessed a strong, resilient soul, and it could radiate a rather special, attracting aura. These people often had a special charm from this aura, causing others to respect and want to obey them. But, it also meant that they were easy targets for spiritual rituals, dark magic, aimed at seizing or manipulating their souls.
Rober realized that perhaps Viscount Calos's son was one of those people with a strong soul. And it was highly likely that the "white dream" he was suffering from might be a conspiracy, a plan by someone targeting the boy.
Rober sighed, feeling that this issue was much more complex than he had initially anticipated.
Viscount Calos, seeing Rober's silence and his not so good expression, worriedly asked.
"Mr. Rober... Mr. Rober... What's wrong? My son... is he alright?"
He trembled, unable to stand steadily, almost collapsing. The butler, standing beside him, quickly supported him.
"Mr. Rober" the butler said, his voice full of respect.
"Please... please tell us... Can this... be solved?"
Kalis Marry, who had been silently observing until now, also spoke up:
"Rober, it seems that this is not as simple as we thought, is it?"