His voice echoed across the hall, his fists balled with a defiant stare, his declaration etched into his very soul, and laid his heart bare.

Emotions filled each syllable, unsaid thoughts and repressed memories fought amongst themselves, vying for a means to escape through his words. Arnos stood there, a testament to his will, proving his very existence to the clan that shunned him.

"I thought he was just from a minor branch…"

Seira sat at the table bewildered, her eyes wide in shock from the declaration "Sicarian…? Sicarius?" she gasped. Glancing around to gauge the reaction of her fellow clansmen. "The Sicarian Family is no more… This is impossible" she stuttered.

The silence in the hall was deafening, with the servants who had been setting tables and serving food now watching the young boy in awe

Each table within the hall sat in shock, processing the situation, unable to speak due to the revelation that was brought before them, that the Sicarians live on.

A dark-haired boy wearing robes identical to Seira's smiled among the masses. His robes with beautiful red inscriptions, and matching amulets, embedded with red rubies marked him as a member of the Saphira Family.

"Now that, was an entrance befitting a Sicarian" he chuckled to himself.

Opposite his table, a girl with electrifying blonde hair and golden eyes, wearing gold and white ceremonial robes embellished with golden inscriptions, also smiled.

"Azurians never fail to cause trouble" she giggled to herself.

The news was entertaining to some, however enraging to others, the scene would seemingly make no sense to those not privy to clan affairs.

A boy in Beryl Family robes adorned with black inscriptions broke the silence, raising his fist. "DEATH TO THE SICARIANS!" he chanted. More voices joined in until a majority of the Beryl family were chanting in unison.

"THE AZURE FAMILY, HARBORING TRAITORS! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT!" Cackled Bakal from a nearby table.

Arnos felt the knot within his stomach tighten, his resolve tested, but knees unbowed.

A boy with ashen grey hair, no older than Ceru, stood up. His white and grey ceremonial robes, decorated with silver inscriptions and a silver sash, marked him as part of the Meras Family. His fierce eyes and scarred face were burdened by the news.

"CERU... HOW COULD YOU!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with pained rage. He leapt from table to table, his grey inscriptions glowing as he unsheathed two short swords from his sash.

"They have paid the price already," Ceru replied, pulling out two talismans from his robes. "How many more lives must be lost to satisfy you, Melivora?"

"Just one," Melivora whispered, appearing behind Arnos with frightening speed. The silver inscriptions on his blade glowed as he swung one towards Arnos's neck and threw the other at Ceru.

"Let's see you use your spatial talisman now," he growled, watching the blade hurtling towards Ceru.

"Who said I have to switch places with him?" Ceru laughed, activating the talisman and switching places with Wendall instead.

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"WHY ME?" Wendall screamed, clapping his hands together to catch the blade that now targeted him.

"There's a reason why I never attacked Wendall," Melivora smirked, holding out a talisman. His swinging blade now inches from Arnos's neck, he activated a talisman that produced a silver chain, which flew towards Wendall's original location at a frightening speed.

"Sorry about this, Arnos," Ceru shouted, activating his second talisman. He raised his hand, blue inscriptions glowing on his sleeve and seeping into the talisman.

Arnos felt a mountain of pressure above him, his body burdened by a new weight that slammed him face-first into the table, causing the swinging blade to miss by inches. Ceru then redirected the gravity change to the chains speeding towards him, slamming them onto the table.

"Using spatial inscriptions on Arnos is crazy!" Wendall shouted, rushing towards Arnos and Melivora, dropping the blade.

"It's not like I had much of a choice," Ceru retorted, glancing at Melivora for his reaction.

"Where's your weapon, Ceru? I know this isn't all you've got," Melivora said, approaching his discarded blade that Wendall had blocked earlier.

"My weapon was sealed. The elders thought it was overkill for me to use it at my age," Ceru smirked. "I don't even need one against you." The air crackled around him as the inscriptions on his robes glowed a violent blue. "Prepare yourself."

Arnos, dazed from the impact, was helped up by Wendall. He watched as Ceru prepared to fight on his behalf. Tears welled up in his eyes at the thought of his own weakness. His inability to act in the face of these powerful clan members caused him to bite his lip in frustration. The metallic taste of blood reminded him that he was just a human in a world of monsters.

More clan members stood up, particularly those from the Meras and Beryl families, all willing to join the fight, each with their own reasons and convictions.

"CERULEUS AZURAS OMARI, YOU HAVE OVERSTEPPED! YOU MUST PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES AGAINST THE OMARI!" Bakal bellowed, unsheathing his dagger. The inscriptions on it glowed a wretched black, seeping into the blade and causing it to shine a woeful obsidian shade.

The Beryl Family rallied behind Bakal, indifferent to Arnos's existence, targeting Ceru instead.

The boy from the Saphira Family stood up as well. The red amulets around his neck and arms glowed a murderous red, with crimson inscriptions seeping into the ruby gemstones. His eyes focused on those within the Beryl Family.

"Carmine, stand down!" Bakal warned, approaching the boy.

"Since when did you become the judge, jury, and executioner, Bakal?" Carmine exclaimed, causing all those within the Saphira Family to rise in unison.

Those from the Meras Family made their way towards Arnos. The blonde girl, with skin as radiant as the purest jade and eyes as golden as the sun, stepped in their way.

"The Empyrian Family has nothing to do with this. Stand down, Larissa," a girl from the Meras Family warned, pulling out a talisman from her robes.

"Is that a request or a threat?" Larissa smiled. "The Meras are the ones who uphold clan order. This is beneath you," she replied as the golden inscriptions on her robes glowed.

Arnos watched the tension escalate between the 'Five Great Families.' He gulped and looked towards Wendall for help.

"I will step in if the situation gets dangerous. Do not worry," Wendall reassured him.

Arnos bit his lip again in frustration, blood trickling down his chin, mixing with his dried tears.

Wendall placed his hand on Arnos's head, instantly reading the boy's thoughts and expression. "Do not blame yourself for being born the way you are, nor be ashamed of your own weakness. For everyone is weak; some just hide it better than others."

Arnos didn't have time to process Wendall's words as the doors to the clan hall burst open. A girl no older than he appeared, her face contorted in rage, and her ceremonial robes glowed with familiar violent blue inscriptions.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING INSIDE THE MAIN CLAN HALL?" she roared. Her anger reverberated within the hall, shaking the air as she stepped towards the sea of Omari.

Those who saw her instantly bowed. Bakal quickly sheathed his dagger and stood down, followed by those of the Meras and Beryl Families.

Wendall grabbed Arnos's head and forced him into a bow while bowing himself.

The hall went silent until Ceru, seeing the young girl, walked up and bowed.

"Ceruleus Azuras Omari humbly greets the young mistress."