Liliya managed to stand up, shaken. She hadn’t felt such hatred in a long time, not since she and her mother were cast out of their family.

  The Eldari despised imperfection, and Liliya, born of a human father, was considered a disgrace. They were mocked, treated as lesser beings, and eventually forced to flee to Eastsun.

  She never met her father; he was executed for having an affair with a high-ranking Eldari woman. Her mother never forgave herself for being too weak to save him.

  Once they found their way to Eastsun, Liliya threw herself into studying magic, determined to help them survive. That’s when they discovered her extraordinary gift: a genius-level talent in nearly every form of magic. She had an affinity for almost all elements, except darkness.

  The Seven Towers took them in and gave them a life far better than they had ever hoped for. Her mother, once disgraced, even earned a position teaching light magic at the Tower, thanks to her high Eldari rank.

  Liliya had hoped to leave behind the pain of being hated, of being seen as a monster. But this human had awakened those old wounds. The hatred in his reptilian eyes still echoed in her mind. Eldari scum…

  “Are you hurt?” Nerva asked. He knew her history all too well; they had been friends for decades.

  “Just shaken. You stepped in at the right time. Thank you,” she replied with a faint smile.

  “You weren’t paying attention. You’re stronger than this. Never let your guard down,” he scolded gently.

  “You’re one to talk. The boy pushed you and teleported,” Zara cut in, silencing him.

  “He’s got a few tricks up his sleeve, I’ll give him that,” Nerva admitted. He had made the mistake of underestimating the boy.

  Lucius approached slowly, still aching from the encounter.

  “You’re getting double the training when we get back!” Nerva barked.

  Lucius paled. “Yes, Master!” he said, not daring to complain.

  Zara kicked him lightly in the ribs, making him wince. “You almost died, you silly boy.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.” Lucius hated himself more than anyone else could in that moment. This had been his chance to prove himself, and he had failed. Badly.

  ***

  Xarion led Umbra and Kai toward the group.

  Nerva stepped forward, instinctively positioning himself between Liliya and Kai.

  “Don’t even think about it,” he growled.

  Kai suppressed his mana, making his presence feel less threatening, but his eyes were still cold as ice. “Don’t worry... Xarion explained everything.” He locked eyes with Nerva. “But don’t think I’ve forgiven your actions.”

  “We were in the wrong,” Nerva admitted, “but you didn’t listen either.”

  “Would you?” Kai shot back. “If someone whose life you saved was suddenly lying and near death for no reason?”

  “He almost killed the boy,” Nerva shouted, glancing at Lucius, whose face darkened with guilt. This was all his fault.

  “Start from the beginning,” Kai said coldly. “What are you doing here, and why did you attack us?”

  Nerva sighed, his anger fading just a bit. “You’re right. Let me explain.”

  He recounted the situation with the beast hordes and how their group was investigating what was driving the creatures northward. He also mentioned the remnants they found from Kai’s battle with the mage.

  “So, magic like that exists? Interesting,” Kai mused. “Yes, I fought the mage. What he did to those men was unforgivable.”

  He then told them how he had found Mantis, Bjorn, and their men, and how Florian had led an army to kill him, forcing him to fight back.

  Nerva listened, his thoughts swirling. He fights for justice, for those he cares about, for the weak… This was the kind of soldier he aspired to train, an idealist with strength and conviction.

  “Wait, you said you’re from Fallhaven?” Kai suddenly asked.

  Zara perked up. “We are. Why?”

  Kai turned and whispered, “Scry, bring Lisa and Eira out.”

  A red-striped, winged tiger emerged from Kai’s chest like a ghost.

  “Hello, old enemies,” it said with a sly smile.

  Zara screamed. “Ghost!”

  “Ghost, my ass. Haven’t you ever seen a High Spirit, child?” the tiger mocked, striding toward the Arcanum.

  Liliya flinched behind Nerva. He’s contracted a High Spirit? That was nearly impossible. High Spirits were proud and powerful beings who rarely formed contracts, and only with Arch Mages or the truly blessed ones.

  Umbra silently stared at Liliya from behind Kai.

  Liliya twitched again, but still wanted to observe the beast.

  Nerva noticed the shift in her mood and wanted to help.

  “What’s your name, boy?”

  Kai chuckled. “I’m Kai. And don’t call me ‘boy.’” He shot him an icy look, his eyes flickering into draconic form for a moment.

  Xarion approached. “Brother Nerva, show some respect to the Dragon Prince.”

  “I told you to stop calling me that,” Kai muttered. He was not a prince or a dragon. He was just Kai.

  Nerva chuckled. He was beginning to see that Kai wasn’t the rage-filled warrior he had first assumed.

  “Tell me, why do you hate the Eldari? You should know that Liliya hates them too, probably more than you,” Nerva said, trying to ease the tension between them for Liliya’s sake.

  “They killed my old master’s family. Burned children, women, the old, and the young… all in the name of their god.” Kai’s voice was cold. He said no more.

  Nerva stood silent.

  Liliya peeked from behind him. “I understand. They tend to do that if they see someone as an enemy of the Court. I can’t apologize in their name, but I hope you’ll give me a chance to show that we’re not all the same.”

  She was still curious about his spirit and the beast.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  “Since we might be working together for now, I’ll try to get to know you, but don't think I've forgiven you or any of you just yet,” Kai said coldly.

  He noticed she was actually quite pretty when not trying to kill his friends, but put that aside.

  Nerva laughed loudly. “Good, good. Wait, what did you say? Work together? ”

  Xarion stepped in. “Lord Kai also wants to hunt the Soul Forger. I asked him to join forces to track him down.”

  “Actually, I have a way to find him,” Kai said, glancing back at Hansen’s and Bjorn’s group. “But first, I need to guide these people to safety.”

  Nerva sighed. “Fine. At least you won’t be a burden. You fight like a beast; I’ll give you that.”

  Zara grinned. “He’s not wrong. Who taught you swordsmanship? Your moves are simple, but your body and that strange aura carried you through.”

  “No one taught me much. My teacher showed me a few skills, but I never had a real sword master,” Kai replied.

  “What?” Nerva and Zara shouted in unison.

  “You fought like that, self-taught?” Nerva shivered. Greed gleamed in his eyes. “Kai, was it? How old are you?”

  “I’m eighteen.”

  “Damn, you’re a monster. I’ll teach you what I can, and I’ll find you a proper sword master, if you’re willing to come under the wing of Fallhaven and the Sorgaz family.”

  “I refuse,” Kai said firmly. “I won’t be bound to any nation. I just want to live freely.”

  “Don’t be so rash. We can talk to the king once this is over,” Nerva offered.

  “Speaking of which… have you heard of a girl named Lisa? She says her last name is Sorgaz. I saved her from the monsters’ prison; they were going to use her for parts.” Kai tried to change the topic.

  Nerva’s eyes widened. “Lisa Sorgaz? That’s impossible. She left with her family months ago for the Southern Continent of Ilun.”

  “Come with me. You can meet her and see if she’s the one you’re thinking of,” Kai said, leading them toward the Arcanum.

  The men moved to guard Bjorn, but their eyes were still full of hatred.

  “They won’t attack again,” Kai said. “Everyone was rash before. Luckily, no one died.”

  “We apologize,” Nerva said, bowing. “It wasn’t supposed to come to that. As the leader of this mission, I failed.”

  Bjorn, now almost fully recovered, stood. “I’m sorry as well. I was eager to fight, and the boy struck a nerve. I lost my composure.”

  Lucius twitched.

  “Let bygones be bygones, shall we?” Nerva said, extending his hand.

  Bjorn sighed and shook it. This blond man… he’s stronger than anything I’ve ever faced, even stronger than master Kai.

  At that moment, Scry led Eira and Lisa out of the Arcanum.

  “Wow, another Arcanum!” Liliya exclaimed, running her fingers over the runes and glyphs in awe.

  Scry flew toward her. “Hey, crazy girl! Leave my house alone!”

  “Wow, so it belongs to a High Spirit? I’ve never heard of that before,” she said, still scanning the structure and Scry himself, with fascination.

  Xarion was equally amazed by the second Arcanum and was about to speak when Eira and Lisa stepped forward behind the spirit.

  He sensed a frigid, cold aura from Eira, and then he recognized that hair, that face. Lisa looked just like her mother when she was younger.

  Lisa’s eyes lit up. “Uncle Nerva! What are you doing here? Did you come to find me?” She ran toward him.

  Nerva froze. This can’t be true… But if she is here, realization struck him like a hammer.

  “Lisa, my dear… I haven’t seen you in so long. Didn’t your family take you to Ilun to meet your mother’s kin?” he asked, dreading the answer.

  Lisa’s face paled as she recounted what had happened on their journey to Ilun: the attack by masked men, her father’s sacrifice to save her, and her eventual capture by monsters.

  Nerva trembled with rage, his mana leaking out and distorting the space around him.

  “Do you know where your father is now?” he asked, fearing the worst.

  “I don’t,” she said softly. “I woke up in a dark room. I didn’t see another human until Brother Kai saved me.” She ran to Kai and jumped into his arms.

  Nerva watched the bond between them and understood they had been the ones in the wrong all along . If Kai had died, they might never have found Lisa… or worse, they could’ve killed her by mistake.

  His heart clenched.

  “Kai,” Nerva said, bowing deeply, “I owe you another apology. But more than anything…” he looked up, voice steady, “thank you for saving the niece of King Sorgaz. She’s his only remaining family now.”

  “I didn’t do it for thanks or rewards,” Kai replied honestly. “I saved her because it was the right thing to do.”

  Liliya stared at him, stunned. How can someone be so terrifying… yet so kind and honest? She was intrigued by this wild human.

  “I’d like to hear your story, Kai. Would that be possible?” Nerva asked.

  Zara and Xarion leaned in, equally curious.

  “There’s not much to tell,” Kai said, “but we can talk, I guess.”

  “Say, Lord Kai,” Liliya interjected, gathering her courage, “could I speak with your beast later? And your spirit as well?”

  “They’re my family,” Kai said. “You’ll have to ask them directly. I don’t control them.”

  “Yes, girl. Ask me directly, and beg,” Umbra said with a smirk, still upset that she lost.

  “If you kiss my paw, I’ll allow it,” Scry mocked.

  Liliya twitched. What kind of crazy family is this? A draconic human, a mutated beast, and a High Spirit… She didn’t know how to react.

  “Alright, it’s almost sundown. Everyone inside, we’ll rest, and I’ll make dinner. Let's bury the hatchet over some good food,” Kai announced. Seeing that both sides were in the wrong, he let the hate go. He wasn't some unreasonable monster. And they were Lisa's family as well.

  Bjorn knelt. “Master Kai, I cannot allow you to cook.”

  Scry floated over and slapped him. “Shut your mouth! You will not deprive me of his cooking. Now go inside and be silent.” The spirit was clearly on edge after everything that had happened.

  Kai chuckled. “By the way, what are your names?”

  Nerva smiled. “I’m Nerva. This is my daughter Zara. That silly, pretty boy is my student, Lucius. You’ve met Xarion, and this half-human magic maniac is Liliya.” He made sure to emphasize half-human, not half-Eldari.

  “You’ve met Umbra; she’s my soulbound partner. That’s Scry, the spirit. And the girl hiding behind me is Eira. You’ll learn more about her later,” Kai said.

  “Now let’s go in. It’s been a long and bloody day,” Kai said, his voice steady but weary.

  He led everyone into the Arcanum, the heavy doors closing behind them with a soft thud that seemed to seal the chaos of the day outside. The halls, once cold and silent, now echoed with footsteps and quiet conversation, the presence of life slowly warming the ancient stone.

  Outside, the valley still bore the marks of battle. The scent of scorched earth and spent mana drifted on the breeze like a fading memory, clinging to the air as the last light of day slipped away.

  But as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting golden hues across the wounded land, a gentle calm began to take hold.

  The clash of steel gave way to soft murmurs and the rustle of healing winds. The storm had passed, and in its wake came something rare: peace, fragile but real.?

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