One winter night, Nagit and Melchiorre were in front of the teahouse that Nagit's mother had previously owned. "Thanks for showing me this place, Nagit. I have to admit it looked rather peaceful, somehow." Melchiorre said, at which Nagit gave a small smile. "Thank you. It means a lot to know that I'm not the only one who can appreciate this place." he said in return. As they were making their way back to the palace, a group of men approached them. If one were to give an estimate, it would've looked to be ten, at least. "Prince Nagit and Prince Melchiorre, it'd be better for you both, if you came with us." the one in front said in a gruff voice. Immediately, Melchiorre punched at the man in the front. The punch landed on the right side of the man's face. Few minutes later, Nagit noticed that they were surrounded. "Stop! Leave him alone!" he shouted. As the man turned his attention toward Nagit, Melchiorre tried to kick the man in the head. The kick missed, and the other men had quickly subdued Melchiorre.

"It's me you're after, right? Let him go, and I'll comply." Nagit said. "Smart kid. Leave Prince Melchiorre alone. We have who we wanted." the man said, quickly landing a knockout blow on the back on Melchiorre's neck. As the men left with Nagit, Melchiorre struggled to keep his consciousness. A few minutes later, a masked warrior arrived and noticed Melchiorre laying on the cold ground. They jumped down from the top of a nearby roof and ran over to him. When the warrior knelt down in front of him, Melchiorre barely managed to point in the direction that the men had went with Nagit as their hostage. They tried to move him, but he refused. "Help my brother. His name.. is Nagit. He's also a prince. I don't know who you are, but please.. save him..." he had pleaded to the unknown person. They nodded and handed him a phone. As they took off toward the direction that was pointed out to them, Melchiorre looked at the phone. He noticed that on it was an unsent text, a message for him. It read "I'll save him. Meanwhile, get you some help."

Following the message's instructions after a quick moment of debate, he immediately called Mai's cellphone. To his surprise, the phone actually was able to call it. He thought that the stranger was trying to pull a cruel prank on him. It rang a couple times, then he heard as Mai answered. "Hello?" Melchiorre quickly responded, "Mai, it's Melchiorre. Get help. I'm near the teahouse that Nagit inherited from his mother. Nagit and I were just on our way back when we got jumped. They took him, Mai. Someone came by and gave me this phone. They wanted me to get help. I think.. they're going to try to save him." Mai was in shock. "Melchiorre, do you know who it could've been that kidnapped Nagit? Do you at least know who gave you the phone?" she asked just as Alvah overheard her asking and ran up to her. "Mai, what's going on with Nagit and Melchiorre? Are they alright?!" he asked, obviously concerned. She put the call on speaker. "Melchiorre, are you and Nagit alright?" he asked. "Alvah, is that you? I'll be fine, but Nagit was taken hostage and someone gave me this phone so I could call for help. I think they're gonna save Nagit..." Melchiorre answered.

During the time it had taken for Melchiorre to call for help, the warrior had found the men and Nagit still heading somewhere. Where that was, they didn't know, but they knew it wouldn't be good. 'Only fifteen of them? Why would there be so many just to kidnap a prince?' they thought. After deciding that the leader of the group was probably just desperate, the person quickly and quietly approached the group, knocking out five of them so fast that the others had just barely noticed, with the exception of the leader. When the fighting was more audible from the group, it was then that the leader noticed. "You must be out of your mind to think you can beat all of us by yourself. Tell me. Just who are you?" he said. There was no response, which angered the man enough to charge at them, knocking Nagit aside. Nagit stared on in shock as the leader and the unknown warrior had fought. Punches, kicks, and even blades were involved in this fight. The man had a knife while the warrior had a sword. 'If I'm not mistaken, that's a katana!' Nagit thought to himself as he watched on.

About ten minutes later, the fight was still raging on, and the man was becoming fatigued. 'How am I being bested?! I'M supposed to win! Well, there's always my so called trump card...' he thought as he threw a hidden knife at Nagit. The warrior noticed and, from where they were, went to move Nagit out of the way. However, while Nagit was saved, the warrior was given a deep gash on their left side. The man ran, only to be captured by the police a few minutes later. As the warrior removed the rope from Nagit's wrists, blood was coming out from their wound. Nagit was immediately concerned for them. "You need to let a doctor tend to you. I can get a doctor at the palace to look after you until you heal. Please. You need help." The warrior declined by shaking their head without saying a word. They gave Nagit a note then before Nagit could notice, the warrior had appeared to vanish into the night. They left no trace, except for the few drops of blood that was on the ground beside him from where they had freed him from his bindings.

He then glanced at the note in his hand. He slowly opened it as his hands were trembling. The note contained only one single word: "Live." He looked around, trying to find some trace of where his rescuer could've went, but could find nothing that could indicate which direction he should be searching. He looked up at the sky. It was beginning to snow. He was usually so happy when he saw snow falling. This time, however, he felt like crying. He didn't know if it was shock or his concern for his rescuer, but he couldn't cry, even though he wanted to do so. Few minutes later, his brothers arrived on the scene. Even their father, King Tamir, Ivan, and Alvah's wife, Mai, were there. Alvah and the others called out to him, but Nagit didn't hear them because he was so wrapped up inside his thoughts and concerns. Alvah walked up to him, placing a hand on his right shoulder. "Are you alright, Nagit?" Nagit turned around and looked at Alvah with tears in his eyes. "We need to find them." he said. Alvah was confused. "Nagit, they've already been taken into custody by the police."

Nagit shook his head and tightened his hands as they turned into fists. "I mean we need to find the person who saved me from them. I don't know who it was, or whether if they were man or woman. But, we need to find them now, Alvah! They're badly hurt from where they were trying to save me! I don't wanna leave them to die! Please.. help me find them!" he said, his tears falling at the end of his plea. Alvah was shocked by what Nagit had said, but more importantly, he was saddened at the fact that his youngest brother was upset. "Father, we must find the person who saved Nagit. It's the least we can do for them. Am I right, father?" After a quick moment of consideration, King Tamir nodded. "It may still be the holidays, but our duty can call at anytime. That's one thing you obviously haven't forgotten, Alvah. It seems your studies have been going well, after all. But, all that aside, we'll need to find them before it's too late. Nagit, you'll return to the palace with me. We'll leave the rest to you and to a small portion of the royal guard. I'll inform them of the situation. In the meantime, stay in the teahouse until they show up." After Nagit, Ivan, and King Tamir left, all of them except Chezem start heading toward the teahouse. Before any of them could've known, Chezem quietly went away from the group, feeling like they shouldn't be waiting. When he was a good distance away, Chezem started running, searching for the one who saved his youngest brother. 'Whoever you are, hold on. I'll find you, with or without their help! ..Wait.. why am I even acting impulsively like this, right now?' he thought to himself. Realizing that it was too late to turn back now, Chezem ran further and further into the cold, wintry night as he searched for Nagit's rescuer...

[To be continued.]