Naem slid open the wood and paper door and stepped out of his room. The stiff cloth robes he wore were far more formal than his training attire. Stitched from the purest black and gold thread, they signified his place among the Soren household, while the deep red Vegan crest embroidered on his left shoulder marked his allegiance to the Vegan Empire. Yet even at his young age, Naem knew that the title given at birth was merely a fa?ade that would fade with time.

  It didn’t take long for him to reach the greeting hall—not the largest room on the estate, but one of the most important. Its elongated design housed the estate's main entrance on the far left and seated the Soren family heads on the far right. Despite its significance, Naem found the room one of the least enjoyable spaces in the estate.

  Aside from its dullness, the hall was used only every few days. The family often had to sit for hours while their father conferred with officials governing Veltra. Needless to say, no one ever sought Naem’s input, nor did he desire it. All he wanted was to be doing something else—like today.

  “If only I had quit training sooner, I could be gone by now…” Naem muttered under his breath, disappointed as he stood before the hall’s doors. “Stupid humans... I’ll have to tell Sakura and the others I’m sorry tomorrow.”

  From the end of training until sunset was the only free time he allowed himself. This meeting could cut into the time he had set aside to meet his friends.

  With a sigh and hopes for a quick meeting, he slid through the doors and entered the greeting hall. He walked straight and quietly along the wall. Neither his father nor his mother spared him a glance as he shuffled over to his seat beside Vlad at the far end of the arching, bow-like seating arrangement.

  Being the youngest, he sat at the end of his father's left-hand side—followed by Vlad and then Veyra. The three seats mirroring them on his father's right were vacant, as his three oldest brothers were fulfilling their duties as generals overseeing the Vegan soldiers guarding Veltra's outer walls.

  Vlad and Veyra sat patiently on their heels, eyes closed, with wings draped gracefully behind them. Naem assumed the same position. Glancing at Vlad, he noticed his older brother sneaking a peek at him. Naem guessed Vlad was checking his posture, as his eyelids soon closed in an almost affirmative manner.

  Just then, the doors at the other end of the hall were pulled open by two Vegan guards. Naem watched as numerous human guardsmen entered the hall. Clad almost entirely in metal, except for the two at the forefront in decorated military attire, the group moved with purpose.

  Naem recognized the two men leading the group; they had come on several occasions to discuss matters with their father, but never with such a large contingent. This piqued his curiosity and made him anxious about why they were all here.

  It might actually be serious this time, he thought as the human footsteps grew louder. That could explain the odd meeting time, but why the guards?

  “Soren!” The man at the front announced, his voice growling with anger.

  “Captain Peek,” Valric Soren began. At the sound of their father, Naem and his older siblings looked up. “What matter of urgency brings you here at this hour?”

  Captain Peek and his Lieutenant stopped roughly in front of Vlad, with guards a few paces behind. “I received several reports from my men about an incident early this morning. They say screams were coming from the base of the east wall just before sunrise, then quickly faded into the sky. Later, a distressed mother of three came into my office, claiming her husband hadn’t returned from work. Further investigation revealed he never showed up, and large amounts of blood were found in the street near the reported site—close to his home.”

  Valric exhaled heavily. “That sounds very similar to reports my men have given over the past few days. Several Saiyakin and Trojan Beasts have disappeared in a similar manner, shortly before sunrise and after—”

  “Do you honestly think I care about the outcome for you beasts?” Captain Peek interrupted, his voice slow and laced with disgust.

  No matter how hard Naem tried to ignore it, his brow furrowed. You stuck-up piece of filth! Of course, you humans only care when one of your own is affected.

  “Perhaps not...” Valric murmured after a pause.

  “No,” Captain Peek replied curtly, “the only thing I care about is how you’ll take responsibility.”

  Naem was livid. He glanced at Vlad, but only received a narrow, warning look. It was clear Vlad didn’t want him to say or do anything. But how could he remain silent?

  The disrespect! Naem seethed, feeling as though he were boiling inside. Why should Father take responsibility?

  Valric narrowed his gaze, but his wife Avara, sitting beside him, spoke up before he could. “And why do you believe we should be held responsible? Do you think we commit such atrocities against our own? And against the human race at that?”

  “Name me another race of beast that can carry its victims and vanish into the sky,” Captain Peek said, his tone suggesting he already knew the answer. “The east wall is lightly guarded by my men because it’s out of the way. Yet your men atop it guard it regularly. Combine that with the well-known fact that you Vegans despise us humans—even though we give you sanctuary in our great Kingdom—and it’s proof enough to me that your men are responsible.”

  Peek’s gaze darkened as he turned toward Veyra. “I will have someone make an example out of you.”

  “There’s a chance these disappearances are linked to the demons—new dungeons have been opening up all around lately...” Valric began, but he was cut off.

  “You’d blame the demons to cover up your hideous crimes?” Captain Peek scoffed with a whimsical laugh. “The screams disappeared into the sky! The only beasts that can fly are you Vegans. If demons could fly, what good are the walls that we surround ourselves with...? Anyway, take the girl.”

  Naem watched as the human captain flicked his fingers dismissively toward Veyra.

  “W–What!?” she stammered, rising to her feet, confusion and fear on her face as two iron-clad guards advanced toward her. She fought herself on either to run or fight before looking over to her father for reassurance, but he only closed his eyes and looked away. “Father!?”

  Naem’s heart pounded in his ears. He glanced from his father to Vlad, but his brother sat quietly with his eyes closed. The painful look of regret in his sister’s voice grew. “Brother!?”

  Why? Why aren’t you doing anything? Naem thought, then looked up at his parents again. Why is no one doing anything!?

  “No! Please no!” Veyra screamed as the guards grabbed her and began dragging her toward the captain. She resisted fiercely. Using her powerful wings to push back, she struggled until a quick jab to the side of her face made her yield. Naem could take it no longer.

  “Leave her alone!” Naem screamed. He flapped his wings powerfully and shoved the closest guard holding Veyra. The man stumbled and fell as Naem moved to the other human.

  “Naem, no!” Veyra pleaded as she tried to stop him, but he ignored her cries. Gritting his teeth, he swiftly moved past his sister. Using a tactic Vlad had taught him, he struck the ball of his foot against the inside of the guard’s knee. However, the guard stood firm—as if Naem had kicked a brick wall—and the snap of bones in his foot confirmed it.

  Pain flared in Naem’s foot, and before he could react, the guard returned a powerful kick that sent him flying backward. He landed on his back near Captain Peek’s feet. With his wings flared out, he clutched his injured foot, fighting back a scream.

  “My, my…” Captain Peek remarked, glancing down at Naem. “It appears your kind is more animal than I thought.”

  Naem locked eyes with Peek. Get up! I've got to get up!

  Naem rolled onto his side, only to see the guard one pace away with his foot reared as if about to kick a ball. He tightened his core and guarded his face, but the impact was far stronger than expected. The iron boot left him breathless as he was sent flying into the rest of the guards.

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  “Naem!” Veyra exclaimed as he rolled toward the feet of the remaining guards. Naem did not even have time to cough or gasp for air before the guardsmen encircled him and began to beat and kick him while he lay on the ground. Strike after strike landed all over his body. He tried to protect his head for a moment, but his arms weakened after only a few blows.

  I won’t give in to the pain, he thought, staring past the guards above him to the ceiling. I will not give them the pride of breaking me.

  A kick to the side of his face blurred his vision, but Naem could still see through the iron-clad feet of the guardsmen. His gaze landed on Vlad, who still sat on his heels, though this time, he was glaring at Naem with anger.

  Brother... help me... Naem thought as tears rolled down his face. He looked past Vlad and saw Veyra still on the ground, one of the guards standing on top of her. He pinned her down by her wings as she tried to crawl away. Why don’t you help Sister? Why are you just sitting there?

  The pain coursing through his body seemed to drift away as Naem’s vision blurred further. He looked back up at Vlad, who now had his head hung low, eyes clamped shut.

  Ahh... I guess this is my fault... Naem thought as he looked back up toward the ceiling.

  There will be nothing any of us can do for you...

  You should keep your feelings and beliefs about the humans to yourself… always...

  The voices of his brother and sister echoed in his mind.

  I charged in without thinking again... he thought, watching as one of the guards drew a gun and pointed it between his eyes.

  He closed his eyes. Damn humans...

  BANG!

  Vlad sat unmoving with his eyes fixed onto his brother and the guardsmen around him. He watched as the guard quickly threw the gun aside and grasped his hand to try and soothe the stinging. The gun clattered across the ground and came to a stop at the end of the rug—the red-hot barrel searing the rug briefly before beginning to cool.

  All the eyes in the greeting hall were on him, but he did not care. He lowered his gaze and saw that Naem was rolling onto his side.

  Good, he’s alive at least... he thought, then looked toward Captain Peek. It had been a while since he had used his mana, and he knew his eyes had become dull in color—though that would change now, but he intended to use it to his advantage.

  “Vlad! How dare you turn your powers against the humans!” Valric announced angrily as he stood. “What manner of—”

  “Stand quiet, Father,” Vlad said, his bright golden eyes focusing intently on him, standing to his feet. “I have not turned my powers against the humans, but upon the gun that was drawn against my brother.”

  He knew his father was filled with internal rage, but submission was the only option—both knew it would be a one-sided fight if it broke out. Though Valric was the head of the Soren House, if Manacalling abilities were in the form of a spear, Vlad would be the tip and Valric the butt, even with Valric being a high-ranking A Rank Beast.

  Vlad turned and looked at the guard standing over Veyra. The guard visibly stiffened at the sight of Vlad’s golden stare but stood firm.

  “Get off of her, or you will die where you stand,” Vlad demanded. After a moment of hesitation, the guard took several steps back and allowed Veyra to gather herself.

  Vlad turned back to Peek, who was now facing him directly.

  “So, it was you all along...” Peek started, the puzzle pieces fitting together in his head. “The rumors of a Vegan who could bend fire to its will... supposedly one of the strongest Beasts alive.”

  “What of it?” Vlad demanded.

  Peek shrugged. “Nothing in particular, other than the fact that S Ranked Beasts bring quite a high bounty in other kingdoms. It is smart of you to hide in a place where they wouldn’t hang your wings on a wall... I thought it might have been the old geezer over there, but I was never sure.”

  “What was it that they called this guy, Lieutenant?” Peek asked over his shoulder to the other officer.

  “The Hand of Vuldran, Sir,” Lieutenant Maelor said.

  “Oh, yes. I guessed it had something to do with one of those spirits they worship,” Peek replied.

  “Enough of your babbling,” Vlad interjected. “You’ve made your point. As Father said, we are already gathering information about the attacks. Once we have a lead, we will present it to the Marshall. However, it would be in your best interest to leave before doing something regrettable.”

  “And what could I do that would be regrettable?” Peek asked mockingly. “Kill the boy? Maybe the young lady?”

  “Any further action will result in the legion of Vegan Soldiers guarding your walls flying back to our homeland,” Vlad affirmed. “Every manner of Demon will be clawing their way in once they see the Vegans no longer guard this land.”

  “There is no way you could make that happen,” Peek said.

  “The members of the Soren House are their Lords,” Vlad answered, stepping closer until he was eye to eye with Peek. “We rule over them, not the humans. If we decide to go back to Vega, some will come to replace us, yes, but your city will be in ashes by then, I am sure.”

  Vlad watched the anger grow in Peek’s eyes until it overtook his face. The officer bared his teeth like an animal, but Vlad paid it no mind. He turned and began walking back to his previous position, knowing what was coming next and readying himself for it.

  Six shots rang out behind him, but he felt nothing. Vlad turned to see Peek’s face riddled with confusion, just before his gun crumbled in his hand into tiny cubical pieces. The officer looked down in a mix of horror and anger, then back up at Vlad.

  “Monsters... You all are monsters!”

  “As it stands now,” Vlad said calmly, “you can walk out of here less two guns and a handful of bullets… though I will not be so careful with my aim moving forward.”

  Captain Peek clicked his tongue and bared his teeth, but before he could react further, Lieutenant Maelor placed a hand on his shoulder. “I do believe we have done enough, Sir. We didn’t come here with the intent of shedding blood.”

  Captain Peek stood for a moment, glaring at Vlad. Then he turned toward the door. “Something better must come out of this recent attack, or it will result in all your heads on stakes,” he announced as his guards cleared the sides to let the two officers pass through.

  Vlad watched the group of humans exit the room, then turned his gaze to Naem, who stood limply off to the side. His face was covered in scuffs and bruises, but it was the look of betrayal that pained Vlad the most.

  “Why...?” Naem asked, his voice raw with emotion, tears streaming down his cheeks as Veyra stepped around the back of Vlad toward him. “Why didn’t you help Sister... but you helped me?”

  Vlad watched as Veyra knelt beside their brother, looking him over. He didn’t have an answer he could give right now, so he remained silent.

  “You...” Valric snarled as he descended the few stairs toward Vlad. “You dare defy me? In my House?”

  “So says the one without a backbone,” Vlad retorted, turning to face his father. “How can you just sit there and watch your children be beaten? How can you not react when a gun is drawn to their heads!?”

  “Let’s go...” Veyra whispered to Naem, gently guiding him out of the greeting hall.

  “Do you expect me to go against the humans and risk our House’s stability?” Valric shot back. “It is because of that child that we are here in the first place and not back in Vega.”

  “Just because he was associated with that girl does not make him at fault,” Vlad argued. “That is just the excuse that everyone—”

  The slap cracked through the hall, its sharp pop echoing off the walls.

  Vlad caught his mother’s sharp glance out of the corner of his eye, but she quickly looked away, as if she had seen nothing. He let out a slow breath, then lifted his gaze back to his father, who bore down on him with a wide-eyed, furious glare. Vlad bit his tongue, refusing to say another word. He narrowed his own eyes in response, knowing full well that his father understood he was right—but was too prideful to admit it.

  “You will be punished for speaking out against my will,” Valric declared before turning and exiting through the opposite side of the hall. His wife rose silently and followed him out without a word.

  Vlad sighed before turning to check on Veyra and Naem. He walked the corridors for a while before arriving at Veyra’s room, assuming she had taken Naem there.

  Vlad knocked on the wooden and paper door. “Veyra, it’s me.”

  “Enter.”

  He slid the door open and saw only Veyra, gathering bloodied pieces of cloth from the floor. His eyes swept over the plainly decorated room, but Naem was nowhere in sight.

  “You should have just kept to yourself...” Veyra said, drawing Vlad’s attention back to her as she stood.

  “I held back for as long as I could.”

  “Still, it’s only by the hand of the Spirits that things worked out the way they did,” Veyra noted, tossing the bloody cloth into a basket in the corner. “Otherwise, we all might have—”

  “That would never happen,” Vlad interrupted, leaning his shoulder against the doorframe and crossing his arms. “Spineless and prideful—that’s all they are. None of them can do anything, not when they’re as powerless as they are.”

  Veyra narrowed her eyes at her younger brother before sitting down at the small desk in the center of her room, returning to her studies. “You may not be spineless, Brother, but you are prideful.”

  Vlad met her gaze before glancing around her room again. “I’d call it ‘confidence in my abilities’ rather than prideful... Nonetheless, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, yes.”

  “And what about Naem?”

  Veyra gestured over her shoulder toward the basket with the bloodied clothes. “I healed his foot and the deeper cuts, but he left before I was completely done. You just missed him.”

  Vlad nodded, though his mind was elsewhere.

  He probably went to find his friends... Though, it’s getting late, he thought, standing in silence for a few moments longer. Straightening up, he brushed out the wrinkles in his uniform. I’ll go find him later after I’m done…

  “Well, I’m off to receive retribution,” Vlad said, sliding the door shut behind him. “Wish me luck.”

  “Vlad...” Veyra said, turning back around to face her brother. She waited until he pulled the door back open just enough to see her. “Thank you...”

  Vlad smiled. “I only finished what Naem started.”