Around eight years ago...

"Attention!" A commanding voice echoed, sharp and unyielding. The young feline-halfling's ears sprang upright, her tail curling in response as her gaze snapped forward. She stood rigidly among her ten older siblings, all of whom towered over her like giants.

The source of the voice, their imposing mother, strode forward. Her regal figure exuded authority, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. In her grasp was a human clad in black-metal armor, limp like a ragdoll. Without ceremony, she tossed him to the ground at their feet, the heavy clang of his armor reverberating through the room.

"This human fodder managed to sneak into my quarters," she began, her piercing gaze sweeping over the group. "Pathetic, suspicious—but amusing. He will stay here as your training dummy." Her tone made it clear there was no room for argument. "I don't care if you kill him in the process."

"Yes, Mother!" the children replied in unison, their voices a chorus of obedience. The queen turned on her heel, her feline tail flicking dismissively as she walked away, leaving the siblings to assess their new "toy."

They all turned their attention to the armored figure sprawled on the floor.

"Of all things, a human dummy this time..." one of the brothers muttered, scratching his chin. "Mother usually just kills them outright. What did he do to make her spare him?"

"Maybe she thought killing him wasn't worth the effort," a sister chimed in, her gaze skeptical. The youngest sibling, Ami, peeked out from behind her elder sister's leg, her wide, curious eyes locked on the human. A faint unease stirred in her chest, but she couldn't tear her gaze away.

The human shifted, groaning as he raised his head to look at them.

"Hm." His hum startled the group, their ears twitching in unison as his voice broke the silence.

"It only makes sense that a beautiful woman would have beautiful children," he said flatly, his expression unreadable as he glanced at the siblings from the ground.

"What...?" one of the brothers blurted, tilting his head in confusion.

"Is he insane?" an older sister grimaced, taking a step back in disgust. "Did Mother take pity on him because he's lost his mind?"

Ami remained hidden, peeking at the human as he slowly sat up.

"Hey, human," one of the sisters growled, stepping forward with a sneer. "If you think you can charm your way into—"

"I'm not a pedophile. Don't worry," Van cut her off, his tone dry.

"...Pae...do...file?" one of the brothers murmured, furrowing his brow in confusion. "What the hell is that?"

"It's a slang word," Van replied casually, raising a hand and waving it dismissively. "Anyway, I'm not here for children. I came for your mother. She said if I could train you well, she'd agree to my marriage proposal."

"MAR—MARRIAGE PROPOSAL!?" one of the sisters stammered, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"Hey, you human bastard!" one of the brothers snarled, his tail lashing behind him. "Watch your tone! You don't sound a day older than me!"

"So, let me get this straight," another sister chimed in, folding her arms. "You snuck into Mother's quarters, proposed to her, and now you're here to... train us?"

"Pretty much. Greet your new father," Van said nonchalantly, earning a chorus of laughter.

"This guy's a riot!" one of the brothers bellowed, clutching his stomach as he laughed.

"...Train us, you say?" The eldest sibling stepped forward, her presence commanding the same elegance as their mother's. The room fell silent as her siblings straightened, their attention snapping to her.

Van remained seated, looking up at her calmly. "Yeah."

"Hm." She tilted her head, her sharp eyes scanning him. "Mother did say you managed to sneak into her quarters..." Her gaze dropped to his crude black armor as she lightly kicked his shin, the metal ringing under her boot. "...With this junk, no less."

The siblings exchanged brief glances, a flicker of realization passing between them. One by one, their curious gazes turned toward Van's armor, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and intrigue.

"The fact that you pulled that off might prove fruitful," she continued, her voice even. "If Mother trusts you, then I will too—despite the less-than-welcoming feeling I get from you."

A mischievous grin spread across her face, mirrored by the siblings behind her. "But... Ami-yah has to accept you. If she doesn't, we'll all try to kill you."

The eldest tapped Ami's head lightly, nudging her forward. "Come on, Ami. Greet our new instructor."

Ami hesitated, fumbling with her fingers as she slowly stepped out from behind her sister's leg. She inched closer to Van, her gaze flicking between his helmet and the ground.

"Remove your helmet," the eldest commanded, her tail flicking with anticipation. The others followed suit, their tails swishing wildly as they watched.

Van complied, lifting his helmet to reveal his face. He looked at Ami flatly, waiting.

Ami's cheeks flushed, her eyes darting downward as she appeared flustered. "Come on," Van said gently. "You don't need to worry, I'll—"

Before he could finish, her claws lashed out, slicing across his cheek.

Van blinked, his head tilting slightly as the wound began to bleed. The siblings erupted into laughter, their cackles filling the air.

"Consider that a welcome present!" one of the brothers howled, slapping his knee.

The eldest smiled smugly, her tail curling behind her. "Welcome to the family, human."

---- 6 Months Later ----

"And now... she hides a HUMAN! WITH HER CHILDREN, NO LESS!!" The booming voice of the new Feline chief thundered through the village. Every head turned toward him, their expressions grim.

"Such blasphemy must end... Humans drove us into the forests, stripping us of our homes. And while our gods have chosen peace, WE MUST NOT SHARE THIS SENTIMENT WITH A HUMAN WHO INVADED OUR TERRITORY!" His growl was met with a thunderous cheer from the gathered crowd.

Van stood at the edge of the pit, silent. The cold wind brushed against his face, carrying the tension of the moment. He glanced down at the abyss below, a faint sigh escaping his lips.

In the crowd, the elder sister's shoulders trembled as she stood stiffly, her head held high. "Ami-yah..." she murmured, her voice shaky. She clutched the younger girl tightly. "Don't... Don't look," she instructed firmly, her voice cracking. One by one, the siblings turned their heads, their faces shrouded in shadows.

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"Tsk... That human bastard didn't even get to see how I mastered my stealth techniques," one of the brothers muttered under his breath, his fists clenched tightly.

"...I should've let him sleep in my bed at least once," one of the sisters whispered, swallowing her tears. "He always complained about how uncomfortable the floors were... but I just laughed at him..."

Van's gaze flickered toward the siblings. He didn't need to hear their words to see their regret—he could feel it. '...I guess this is it,' he thought, glancing back at the pit. The emptiness yawned back at him, swallowing the faint glimmers of light from the setting sun.

'Shame... We were starting to get close, too,' he thought, his expression unchanging. 'Luckily, this ends with my death. No one else has to suffer because of me.'

A flicker of dry humor crossed his mind as he stared into the abyss. 'Maybe there's another tribe that appreciates stealth I can go to...? Orcs, maybe? They like bluntness.' He huffed internally. 'But honestly, I'm not feeling the least bit excited.'

He looked at the siblings once more. Their heads hung low, their faces etched with regret. Ami clung tightly to her sister's leg, her small frame trembling as sobs wracked her body.

"Van..." she cried, burying her face into her sister's side. Her voice, small and fragile, hit him harder than anything else.

'Ah... Goddamn it,' Van thought, a heavy sigh leaving his chest. His hands curled into loose fists as he glanced toward the new chief.

"Any last words, human?" the chief snarled, glaring down at him, his tail flicking in disdain.

Van lifted his gaze, his light smile betraying none of the emotions swirling in his chest. He took a deep breath, his voice echoing across the crowd.

"Yeah," he said, pausing for a moment before raising his voice. "HEY, PURR BUCKETS!!"

The siblings' heads snapped upward, their eyes widening in disbelief and something almost like hope. Even Ami turned her tear-streaked face toward him, her lip trembling as she clung tighter to her sister's leg.

"You've graduate—" Van began, his voice calm but warm, before the chief abruptly kicked him into the pit.

'Fuck!' Van cursed as the air rushed past him, the darkness swallowing him whole. 'That motherfucker!!'

"Hmph, filthy human," the chief hissed, glaring down at the pit with disgust. "How dare you raise your voice in my presence?"

"Van..." Ami's voice cracked, her small frame trembling as fresh tears streamed down her face. She reached out as if she could pull him back, her cries filling the silent void left behind.

------------ Present Day ------------

"How come... there's no scar on your cheek anymore?" Ami whispered, her fingers brushing against his cheek as they lay on the cold grass. The gentle breeze whirled around them, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers. "That scar... it was supposed to be our mark... our bond. Proof that we're family."

Van clasped her hand gently, his gaze soft but distant. "...A lot happened, Ami," he said, his voice low.

Her hand trembled in his grasp as tears welled up in her eyes. "And how... how... HOW are you still alive!?" she sniffled, her voice breaking. "Why didn't you come back!? Why... why didn't you come back!?" Her words came in gasping sobs, each one hitting him like a dagger.

"Shh, shh. Look at me, Ami," Van said, placing his palms gently on her cheeks, tilting her face toward his. "Would you believe me if I told you... that wasn't something I could've easily explained back then?"

She paused, her lips quivering, and gave a small, hesitant nod.

"Alright," he said, his thumb wiping away the tears streaking down her face. "Then, let's say I'm not so easily killed. I have... a skill for that. Comes with the territory of being summoned." A faint smile flickered across his lips, trying to lighten the heaviness in the air.

Her sobs quieted, but her trembling didn't stop. Van's gaze softened. "Now, Ami... do you want to tell me what happened?"

She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "...The new chief. He decided your death wasn't enough. He felt threatened by Mother... by my brothers and sisters. He... killed her about a year later."

Van's hands froze for a moment before he let out a soft breath, his jaw tightening. She continued, her voice steady but hollow, like reciting a tragedy she'd relived too many times.

"As for my siblings... we scattered. All of us hiding. I heard the capital doesn't discriminate against races, so I came here. But since the chief is probably still looking for us—because of our blood and potential—I visited an alchemist..."

"He... removed my fur and altered my face to fit a human's."

Van's eyes narrowed slightly, his hand tightening around hers in quiet support. She continued, her voice steady but hollow, as if repeating a story she'd forced herself to accept long ago.

"I told him to do whatever it took to make me unrecognizable. My fur was the first to go. I... I still remember the smell, the way it burned when he applied the salve." She swallowed hard, her eyes flickering with the memory. "The pain wasn't unbearable, but... watching it fall away, strand by strand—it felt like I was shedding who I was. Losing the last piece of my mother."

Van stayed silent, his expression unreadable, but his eyes softened as he listened.

"The face was harder," Ami said, her voice faltering. "He used some kind of... potion, I guess. It didn't hurt, but it tingled—like my skin was crawling. When I looked in the mirror afterward..." She trailed off, her voice breaking. "I didn't recognize myself... But, I always imagined that if I looked human, like you; that was probably how I'd look..."

She laughed bitterly, the sound devoid of humor. "All I have left are these ears and my tail, which I keep hidden all the time. I couldn't bring myself to get rid of them. The alchemist offered, but... I just couldn't. It felt like... if I lost those too, I wouldn't even be me anymore."

Van's grip on her hand tightened slightly. "And your claws?" he asked gently.

Ami nodded, flexing her fingers. "Hidden. They only come out when I'm angry, or need to attack. My eyes, too. They go cat-like when I lose my temper, so... I taught myself to stay calm."

Van listened in silence, his expression unreadable.

'Looks like I wasn't the only one struggling...' he thought, glancing away. 'I see. She's dead. That bastard... I thought all he cared about was politics, but it seems he was out for blood. He didn't stop at me. He wanted them all gone.' His fist clenched briefly.

'Guess I'll be paying him a visit.'

"When you mentioned my tribe," Ami continued, her voice cracking, "I knew it had to be someone from there. And since I thought everyone died... it couldn't have been anyone good."

She exhaled deeply and looked at him, her resolve hardening. "I've been training hard. I joined the academy that starts in a few days to get even stronger. That way...!"

Her hand clenched his tightly, her nails digging into his skin as her voice rose.

"THAT WAY...!!! I COULD END THAT FUCKER'S LIFE!!!" she growled, her teeth bared as her cat-like eyes narrowed, blazing with fury.

Van said nothing, letting her snarl and clutch his hand. A solid minute passed in silence, her anger slowly ebbing away until she sat quietly, her head bowed.

"...Do you hate me, Ami?" Van asked softly, breaking the stillness.

She froze, her shoulders trembling. Then, with a sudden movement, she threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. "I hate you," she whispered, her voice muffled against his chest. "I hate you so much."

Her body shook with fresh sobs as she buried herself deeper into him. "I would've kept your secret. I wouldn't have told anyone. Why didn't you come back!? Why!?" she cried. "We all needed you..." Her voice cracked as Van rested his chin on her head, his hand gently stroking her hair.

He sighed deeply, his voice soft. "...Leaving you like that was on me. I won't deny it."

He pushed her back gently, his hands on her shoulders, making her look into his eyes. "But remember what I told you?" he said, his voice steady.

"I don't make the same mistake twice. I won't leave you again. Not until you're sorted out."

"Forever," she said immediately, cutting him off.

"Sorted out," Van repeated firmly.

"FOREVER," Ami insisted with a hiss, her tail flicking behind her.

Van sighed, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Fine. Come with me to the Demonic Realm, then."

Her eyes widened. "What...?"

"It's a little complicated, but I have a home there. I'll explain later. First, we deal with your new chief. How does that sound?"

Ami hesitated, her ears twitching slightly. "I don't know... The Demon Realm is dangerous. It's full of beings stronger than us... But if it's with you..." She looked up at him, her expression softening. "Then I'm alright with it."

"Very well," Van said, nodding.

As Van gazed at the stars above, a new thought crossed his mind. 'Guess I'll have to find her siblings too,' he resolved silently as another silent minute went by.

Ami broke the silence, her voice soft but trembling. "He's strong, you know?" Her gaze dropped to his chestplate, her fingers brushing lightly against the cold metal. "You said we'd 'deal with him' so lightly... Did... did you not hear? He killed mother—"

"Yeah, I know." Van cut her off gently, his tone steady.

Her words faltered as his eyes met hers. There wasn't a trace of arrogance in his gaze, no fiery confidence or bravado. Yet, in his tone, there wasn't the slightest hesitation either. It wasn't a reassurance. It wasn't an opinion. It was a simple truth, spoken as plainly as a fact of nature.

"But I'm worlds stronger than him now."

Ami gasped softly, her breath catching in her throat as her eyes searched his. There it was again—that unwavering certainty. Not the bravado of a warrior preparing for battle, but the calm resolve of someone stating that the sun would rise tomorrow. It was unshakable, undeniable. Like two friends casually dining, and one simply remarked that the sky was blue.

She clutched his chestplate tighter, her heart pounding in her chest. For the first time since her mother's death, she felt it—a flicker of hope.

"Now," He sighed as he gently got up, "Let's go hunt something?"