A.N.: Im sorry I didn't update sooner, but this time I have a real good reason. My father got into an accident while he was driving to work, because some real f***ing son-of-a-b**** crashed from behind into him and some part of his shoulder got smashed along with a ruptured sinew, and the most f***ing part is, this down-right stupid idiot had the decensy to not care and just drive away. My father needed an operation and I was really worried, so I couldn't update as I promised.

But, the good news are that I finished school (FINALLY!) and now I have my longest holidays ever, so I can update much more frequently and often. And I got 15 reviews, I love you all so much! hundredthousend thanks to you all! :)

And as always, yep, you all figured it out, I'm not an english speaking being, so there have to be some errors. I really try to put them to a minimum, but apparently I'm not good at correcting myself, I think I have to look out for a beta-reader... Thanks to everyone who is watching me or my story, and I'm sorry if this chapter is not good, in fact, I totally think it's crap.

Last time:

"Listen, I think I should start from the beginning. It all started while I was still at the Mage School and had this dream about a starry-haired maiden…"

Chapter Five: Truth

"In my dream I saw a young woman with starry hair, though I couldn't see her face. She stood halfway in shadows and light. But nonetheless I could practically see great sorrow and pain on her face... hm… I felt it more than I could see it. And all of a sudden I just wanted to hold her, comfort her and protect her from the cause of her pain and sorrow. I just… wanted to make her happy. And then there was a sudden change in the dream. I was in some place and it was … horrific. It was night and there were ruins, burning. Everywhere you would see nothing but flames. And right before me I saw a person standing with its back to me standing over something. Then there was a shot and some maniac, evil laughter. The figure was now facing me, but I could just see his silhouette due to the fire. And at the sight of me the laughter became more and this figure said something that made my blood run ice cold. And then this figure just disappeared and I could see this something."

"But it wasn't something, right Howl?" asked Calcifer calculating.

"No it wasn't. It was someone. I had so much fear for the sight that would await me as soon as I would walk over, but I needed to know who this person on the ground was. I slowly walked over and my fear became worse with each step. And when I was finally there, I saw the girl from before, curled into a foetal position, not breathing at all, dead. Her hair was hanging over her face so I couldn't make out her face again, but I didn't dare to remove it. Her arms were near her chest as if she had been clutching it. And her hands were tinted blood red from her own blood. And there was so much more blood, so much more. She was lying in a lake of her own blood. I looked closer and found a gunshot wound in the middle of her chest. My whole world went black and my knees gave in. I held onto her so desperately and I screamed over and over again that that couldn't be true, that she hat to live, but it was all…in vain. And then I stood once again in front of her, while she stood halfway in shadows and light. I reached out for her but everything faded and just before I woke up I heard her whispered words to find and help her, while the wind blew her words to me." Throughout the whole time Howls voice was dead and broken.

"What were those words the second person spoke, Howl?" Calcifer whispered almost unhearable.

"He said: I promised you, didn't I, Howl? I promised you I would find her and make her suffer. "

"It's Sophie, or not? She is the young woman from your dream, right?" Martha stated, tears glistening in her eyes. Michael silently hugged her and held her close to him. They needn't to be told the truth, since it was obvious. Who else apart from Sophie was also starry haired?

There was a long silence until Calcifer decided to end it.

"What happened next, Howl?"

"Well as you all can imagine, I swore to myself that I would find my starry haired maiden and protect her with all cost. But she didn't tell me her name and I haven't seen her face the entire time, so I had no clue were to search for her. Well, I decided to become a wizard first and then search for her, because I would be able to protect her better if I was fully trained. Of course I did search for her before by … erm… investigating the female students at the mage school."

"You can't fool us Howl, you investigated, as you put it so harmless, them only for your own fun. I can't remember a time were you were NOT a Casanova." Michael scowled, while Calcifer rolled his eyes. It was clear that Howl didn't like to talk about his love life before Sophie, even though everyone knew what it was like.

"Well, hm, yes, I was quite popular as I can say among them. But there was one person who didn't like me. Somehow it had slipped that I had this dream and one day I got into a fight with this student. I beat the hell out of him. And when I was going to leave he swore loudly that he would make me pay by hurting the woman from my dream. I didn't really take him serious since he was so much weaker than I. I thought he would always be a third-class mage. And some years after that fight there were rumours that he got himself killed in some way. So I didn't think about him and his threat anymore. I thought there would be no more harm for the woman from my dream. I completely forgot about him. I just remembered him after I was attacked in the palace."

"Speaking of the palace, what happened there? You didn't tell me earlier, Howl"

"Basically, there was a trap for me. They thought I would go without resistance into jail; apparently they accused me of being a traitor against the crown and his majesty. His secretary is someone named Smith, I think it slipped him when he told me that he is Martha's and Sophie's stepfather. He screamed that he finally found a way to get Sophie away from me. And that's why I hurried back to save Sophie, but they got her."

Martha had been unusually quiet throughout the whole explanation, but now her head, which had been resting against Michael's chest, shot up.

"Howl, who is the person who kidnapped my sister? Please, tell me! Was it my stepfather?"

Tears were glistening in her eyes. She looked so broken and lost, Howl didn't have the heart to not tell her the truth.

"No, Martha. He may be the cause, but the person behind all this is someone other. But I don't think it is necessary that you know. I and Calcifer are going to find her at any cost. I would give my life for her."

"Tell me already! Don't shut me out just because of nothing! I want to know what happened to my sister! I want to save her too!" she shouted.

Howl took a deep. That was a Hatter for you. Never think of yourself if someone needs help.

"His name is Keyl Smith."

Last A.N.: Thanks to reading this chapter, even if you hate it, I'm really grateful you read it nonetheless. Also, I like every kind of review, good or bad. I will try to update soon again, at least once per weak. I'm sorry if I disappointed any of my readers, but I do hope I will see ya' all next time, so 'till laters, fantasyfreak17