“Blu—blargh f-fur wer!”
“Huh?! Speak human, you flesh ball!” Finn barked, smacking the man lightly on the back of the head.
“Over there!” the man stammered, trembling as he pointed a shaky finger toward a tall white tower that resembled a lighthouse in the distance.
Finn squinted at the tower, then back at the man. “Out of all the towers we’ve passed, you’re telling me this is the one? You’re not lying, right?” His eyes narrowed dangerously.
The man flinched violently, shaking his head so hard it looked like it might pop off. “NO! I swear! I’m not lying!”
“Yeah, sure,” Lorien said dryly, folding his arms. “Because this guy looks real capable of lying right now.”
“Let’s go,” Kai said abruptly, his tone cold and clipped as he took the lead without waiting for further discussion. The rest followed behind in tense silence.
When they reached the tower, its simplicity was almost anticlimactic. A single metal door marked the base, and beyond it, a spiral staircase stretched upward.
The group climbed the stairs without a word, and when they reached the top, they found another door. Kai glanced back at the others, who exchanged silent nods. Kai reached for the handle, twisting it slowly.
The door creaked open to reveal a small room with two figures seated at desks. Each had a large, circular, transparent glass mirror in front of them, glowing faintly. One man appeared middle-aged, his features weathered, while the other seemed no older than his early twenties.
The middle-aged man noticed the group first, his brows furrowing deeply. “Who are you people? Don’t you know only BPS members are allowed here?”
“M-master!” The man Finn had been carrying suddenly unfurled himself, springing to life as he cried out desperately toward the older guard.
Finn raised an eyebrow, holding the man slightly away as he stared at him, then at the patrol guard. “Huh. So this guy’s your boss?”
Before Finn could make another quip, Kai strode forward, grabbing the man by the neck. Without hesitation, he hurled him to the ground at the guard’s feet.
The guard was taken aback by the gesture.
The bloodied man scrabbled forward on his knees, clutching at the guard’s thigh. “Master, save me! T-these people killed all my men and—they’re going to kill me too!”
“Hmph, look at this dipshit,” Lorien shook his head.
The guard’s face twisted in disgust as he shoved the man off with a brutal punch. “Get off me, you ugly shit!” he snapped, sneering as the man crumpled back onto the floor. Then his attention turned sharply to the group. “What’s the meaning of this?”
Kai stepped forward in a low voice simmering with anger. “What’s the meaning of this? That’s your filth, you bastard. The man groveling at your feet and the thugs under him were terrorizing the village under your protection.
“They burned homes. Beat and maimed people. Poisoned wells. Extorted the helpless for every coin they had. Kidnapped women and sold them to slavers.” Kai’s voice grew colder with each word. “We had to kill them. Every single one. Because of the hell you let them create. Do you have any idea the pain and suffering you caused? The crimes you’ve committed—by supporting this filth?”
The younger guard, who had been watching silently until now, sat up straighter, his face contorted with shock. “Wait, what? You— You seriously did all that?”
The middle-aged man scowled, his voice sharp and defensive. “What?! No! Do you seriously believe these strangers over me?” His tone softened as he turned to Kai. “Honorable Lexarchs, I hope you won’t falsely accuse an honest, hard-working man like myself of being involved in such... filth.”
Kai’s eyes burned with fury, but his voice was controlled. “Then how do you explain him calling you ‘master?’” He jabbed a finger toward the injured man, who lay trembling on the ground.
The middle-aged guard’s expression didn’t falter as he waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, that? It’s nothing. This pathetic creature must have mistaken me for someone else in his desperation to save his skin. Perhaps he thought I’d show pity. Unfortunately, I don’t tolerate liars—or ingrates.”
Kai’s jaw tightened as his anger simmered beneath the surface. “Mistaken you? That’s convenient. So, you’re saying you have no connection to him or his gang?”
“None whatsoever,” the guard replied smoothly, folding his arms across his chest. His voice was calm, almost patronizing. “I’ve seen him around the village—he’s nothing more than a pest. Hardly worth my attention.”
Kai's voice was sharp. “He said you’ve been protecting them. Letting them roam free and terrorize the village under your watch. Care to explain how they managed to operate without interference?”
The guard smirked faintly. “Ah, and now we get to the heart of the issue. The village is vast, Honorable Lexarch, and I am but one man. I can’t be everywhere at once. If these criminals have been committing atrocities, then it’s unfortunate, but it’s hardly proof of my involvement. Do you expect me to magically know the whereabouts of every thug?”
Kai’s fists clenched at the guard’s slippery responses. “And yet, this gang somehow never faced trouble from the BPS despite your patrol covering the area.”
The guard shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance. “Coincidence, perhaps. Or maybe my men are simply better at handling larger threats, like Law Beasts. I assume you wouldn’t want us to waste resources chasing petty criminals while ignoring greater dangers? And what does it matter if a few criminals run loose? They could never compare to the damage caused by a Law beast”
Kai’s teeth ground together as he struggled to contain his temper. “And what about his claims that you’ve been taking bribes—or worse, threatening Lexarchs passing through to keep them silent?”
The guard’s expression darkened as he held Kai’s gaze firmly. “I see where this is going. You’re trying to paint me as some kind of villain. But do you have any evidence? Any witnesses? All I hear are the words of this...” He gestured toward the injured man dismissively. “...criminal. Forgive me if I don’t take the word of scum over my own conscience.”
Lorien watched the exchange with a skeptical frown, crossing his arms. “Conveniently slippery, aren’t you? You’ve got an answer for everything.”
The guard turned his gaze to Lorien, smirking. “I’m simply stating the facts. If you have proof—real proof—I’d be happy to answer for any wrongdoing. But baseless accusations don’t mean much in my line of work.”
Kai’s heart raced as he tried to think of something he couldn’t refute. This man was slippery like an eel, evading every point. Kai
Then suddenly out of nowhere, Seren stepped forward, pointing an accusatory finger at the middle-aged guard. “You won’t get away with this, you hear me! Our families won’t tolerate this and will definitely come after you for what you’ve done!” His voice rang out with an intensity that made everyone, even the guard, pause for a moment.
“H-huh?” Elise blinked, visibly startled. ‘What is he doing?’ she thought, her confusion deepening as Seren’s tone struck her as... off. He sounded like one of those overzealous, overly righteous protagonists from cheap novels, the kind who stormed into fights without thinking things through.
Before anyone could process his outburst, Seren raised his fist, his face a picture of melodramatic conviction. “Even if you run, even if you hide, justice will find you! The light of righteousness always prevails over the shadow of evil!”
His friends stared at him, their jaws collectively dropping.
“...What?” Finn whispered, leaning slightly toward Lorien. “Did he hit his head during the fight or something?”
Lorien smirked as he confidently said, “Just wait for it”
The middle-aged man grinned, unfazed. “And just which families do you represent, boy? If you’re so righteous, let’s hear it.”
Seren threw his head back, laughing dramatically. “It doesn’t matter which families we come from! Even if we’re weak, even if we’re pathetic, even if we’re just lowly—” He paused, letting the word hang dramatically before continuing. “—COMMONER LESSER Rank 1 Lexarchs, how could you do something so vile?!”
The room went silent. His declaration seemed almost believable until he kept going.
“Yes, I admit it!” Seren continued, his voice swelling with emotion. “I was raised in a dirt-floored shack on the outskirts of the Chimera Vale! My father sold mud bricks, and my mother... she—we couldn’t even afford real bread! We ate grass!”
Lorien and Finn exchanged a glance, their disbelief deepening.
“And Elise!” Seren gestured dramatically toward her, ignoring her stunned expression. “She’s even worse off than me! Her parents are—are worm farmers! That’s right, they grow worms so scrawny, even the wild rabbits won’t touch them!”
Elise gasped, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “W-wait, what?!”
“And Emma!” Seren pressed on, pointing now at Lorien’s little sister. “She’s an orphan! She grew up—no, survived—on nothing but puddle water and scraps thrown out by passing traders!”
Emma, hiding behind Elise again, blinked in utter confusion. “Wha—I have a family!”
“And Finn!” Seren turned to his bewildered friend. “He’s... a jester!”
“A what?!” Finn spluttered.
“Yes! He comes from a long line of traveling jesters! That’s why he always has those ridiculous jokes, because it’s all he knows!” Seren slammed his foot down, his eyes blazing with passion. “And yet here we stand—weak, pathetic, and with absolutely no resources—still standing against you, because evil like yours must be stopped!”
As Seren finished his speech, the middle-aged guard leaned back, his smirk widening as he crossed his arms. “So, I was worried for nothing,” he said with mock relief. “You were all just a bunch of nobodies all along. No powerful families. No backing. Just weak little ants trying to play hero.”
“What?!” the young guard exclaimed, his face paling. “You... You mean it’s all true? You were working with these criminals?”
The middle-aged man let out a bark of laughter, turning to the young guard with a condescending look. “Welcome to the real world, kid. If you want to survive, this is how it’s done. You take what you can and crush anyone who gets in your way. If you don’t understand that, you’ll die just like these fools.”
Kai’s voice cut through the air, sharp with anger. “You’re disgusting! You abused your position, betrayed your duty, and let innocent people suffer—all for greed!”
The middle-aged man snorted, his smirk never faltering. “And what are you going to do about it, Commoner Lesser Rank 1 Lexarch boy?” He slowly stood, his aura growing heavier as he raised a hand.
The air instantly shifted. A wave of oppressive energy radiated from him, making the entire room feel suffocating. The mirrors on the desk rattled as a faint golden glow surrounded his body. His voice boomed with authority.
“I am a Lesser Rank 2 Lexarch!”
The group froze. The weight of his words crashed over them like a tidal wave.
Kai’s fists trembled as he stared at the guard. The oppressive energy radiating from the man was suffocating. There was no way—no way—they could fight a Rank 2 Lexarch and survive.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
On the floor, the broken man began to laugh, tears streaming from his bloodied face. “Did you hear that?! My master is invincible! You bugs are dead meat now! Dead! Hahaha!” He spat toward the group.
The middle-aged guard’s eyes scanned the group, filled with scorn. “You pathetic whelps dare to step into my domain and accuse me? You’re nothing but gnats, buzzing around powers you can’t even comprehend.”
He sneered, his tone dripping with contempt. “Commoners. Lesser Rank 1s. Is this some kind of joke? Did you honestly believe you could stand against someone of my level?”
A smirk played across his lips as he leaned slightly forward. “Let me give you a reality check—you’re outclassed. Outmatched. And out of your depth. I could wipe you out with a flick of my wrist, and no one would question it.”
Finn’s face went pale as he yelled, pointing at the young guard. “Are you seriously okay with this?! You’re fine with him terrorizing the village and ruining lives?! You’re just going to let it happen?!”
The younger guard hesitated, his gaze shifting between the older man and the group.
Before he could answer, the middle-aged guard laughed coldly. “Fine with it? Of course he is. He’s only a Superior Rank 1 Lexarch. Do you think someone like him would choose death over survival? Kid’s just smart enough to know better.”
The tension in the room grew unbearable as the middle-aged guard’s aura flared again, taking a step forward. The group braced themselves as he raised his hand. Just when it seemed like he was about to attack—
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Everyone froze as the sound of slow, deliberate clapping filled the room.
The middle-aged guard’s eyes narrowing as he turned toward the sound.
It was Seren.
He stood off to the side with a smug expression as he continued clapping.
The middle-aged guard frowned in confusion. “What are you—”
Allow me to congratulate you,” Seren interrupted. “It was a marvelous performance. You really had me going there. The power, the bravado, the sheer audacity of it all. Truly, for a second I thought you were something more than a rat.”
The guard’s unsettlement grew.
Seren’s eyes gleamed with amusement as he gestured lazily toward Lorien.
The group’s eyes followed Seren’s gesture to Lorien, who stood still, his hand raised slightly. On his finger, a ring glowed faintly, pulsing with an ominous light.
Seren chuckled, tilting his head. “Now, I wonder... what will the higher-ups of the Ashbourne family have to say about this?”
The color drained from the middle-aged man’s face. “W-what?! The... The A-A-Ashbourne family?!” he stammered.
The ring’s glow intensified as a deep, icy voice resonated through the room. It was calm but carried an edge of authority that cut like a blade.
“Terrence Hale. Born December 12th, 1468. Son of the Hale family—a minor Lexarch lineage. Lesser Rank 2 Lexarch, registered with the Borderland Protectors Society under the jurisdiction of the Valorheart family.”
The guard’s knees wobbled as the voice continued, unyielding and cold.
“Terrence Hale, for gross abuse of power, collusion with criminals, and acts unbecoming of a BPS member, you are hereby stripped of your title and membership. Your Mind Core will be destroyed. You will receive 500 lashes of Barron’s Agony and then be subjected to 300 days of torture before being sold into slavery.”
Terrence’s face twisted in horror as the weight of his sentence struck him. “No... No, wait!” He fell to his knees, his earlier confidence shattered. He reached out at the ring, desperation dripping from his voice. “This is a mistake! I was acting! Yes, acting! I was trying to draw out the real culprit, that’s all! Please, spare m–”
The icy voice cut him off. “Silence.”
The weight of that single word sent a shiver through everyone in the room. Terrence’s breath hitched as the voice spoke again, this time with finality.
“Terrence Hale, your crimes have been recorded and confirmed. No further testimony is required.”
Terrence’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. His shoulders slumped as his body trembled. The realization that his fate was sealed reflected in his wide, terrified eyes.
The ring flared faintly once more, the icy voice breaking the tense silence. “As for the young guard…”
The young guard stiffened, his posture straightening instinctively.
“You have committed no crime and will not face punishment,” the voice continued. “However, your failure to uphold the honor and duty of the BPS cannot go overlooked. As such, you will forfeit all pay for the next six months.”
The young guard’s expression tightened, but he dropped to one knee and bowed his head. “I understand. Thank you for your mercy.”
The ring’s glow flickered as the voice issued a new order. “You will be tasked with bringing this criminal back to the upper village for justice.”
“Yes, sir!” the young guard replied sharply, rising to his feet.
The ring pulsed again, its attention seemingly returning to the middle-aged guard. Terrence flinched, his body trembling as he tried to back away. Suddenly, the ring erupted with a burst of energy, an icy aura sweeping through the room.
Everyone froze as a bone-deep chill settled over them. The oppressive force made it hard to breathe, and Terrence stumbled backward, his legs giving out beneath him.
The voice grew even colder and this time, its tone was filled with malice. “Terrence Hale. If you so much as touch a single hair on Master Lorien, young Emma, or their friends, I will ensure your punishment surpasses even the depths of Barron’s Agony. You will wish for death but find none. You will be erased from existence with your family and friends following right behind you”
The room felt frozen in time, the ominous energy pressing down on everyone until it suddenly vanished. The ring dimmed and returned to its ordinary state, leaving behind an eerie silence.
For a moment, no one spoke, the weight of the warning lingering in the air. Then—
“Wooooah!” Emma’s voice shattered the quiet, her wide eyes sparkling with awe as she practically skipped over to Lorien. “Big brother! Where did you get this amazing ring?! That was the coolest thing ever!”
Lorien gave her a small, amused smile, ruffling her hair. “Every heir of the Ashbourne family is given one of these rings. We’re required to carry it at all times. You’ll get one too when you’re older.”
Emma gasped. “Really?!” She clutched her hands together, practically glowing with excitement.
Nearby, Elise folded her arms, looking directly at Seren. “Was this all part of your plan?”
Seren didn’t answer immediately. He simply grinned, his expression annoyingly smug.
Kai walked up and slapped Seren hard on the back, the force jerking him forward. “You could’ve given us a heads-up! Good job, though. But still, I feel betrayed and used.”
Seren laughed awkwardly, rubbing his shoulder. “Ah… yeah. My bad. I’ll treat you to food to make up for it.”
Emma immediately jumped in front of him, pointing accusingly. “Hey! I was fooled too! You need to treat me to dinner as well!”
Seren chuckled, holding up his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. Dinner’s on me.”
The young guard cleared his throat, clapping his hands once to get everyone’s attention. “Now that everything is settled, we should be heading out. I’ll ensure Terrence is brought to the upper village and justice is served.”
As he finished, Finn raised his hand. “Wait! What about that guy?” He gestured to the broken man still crumpled on the floor.
The young guard, having regained his composure, straightened. “He’ll face justice as well. He won’t be executed, but he’ll rot in prison for the rest of his life.”
“Hmph!” Emma huffed, crossing her arms. “Serves him right!”
Finn nodded in agreement. “Yeah, sounds about—”
A blur of motion cut Finn off mid-sentence.
“Wait!” Elise cried, her voice panicked.
The room seemed to stop as everyone turned in shock.
Seren was already there, gripping the broken man by his collar. In one brutal motion, he slammed him into the cracked window.
Crash!
The glass shattered with an ear-splitting crash as Seren forced the man through the jagged frame.
Now standing outside on the narrow edge of the balcony, Seren held the man by the neck with one hand, his body dangling precariously over the drop.
The group froze, stunned into silence. This wasn’t the calm, calculating Seren they knew. His expression was dark and vicious, his eyes burning with a chilling fury they’d never seen before.
The man struggled weakly, choking as Seren’s grip tightened around his neck.
“I’m supposed to just let you rot in a cell?” Seren said, his voice low and filled with venom. “I won’t be able to sleep, not with you still alive”
The man gasped and sputtered, his body trembling as he tried to plead. “P-p-please! D-don’t…”
“Seren! What the hell are you doing?!” Finn was the first one to shout, his voice cracking. “Put him down! You don’t need to do this!”
Elise’s heart pounded as she stepped forward, her voice trembling but firm. “Seren, enough! He’s already lost! Don’t do this!”
Lorien’s usual calm was shattered, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Seren, stop! He’s done! He’s beaten! What’s the point of killing him now?!”
Kai’s fists clenched, his voice low but urgent. “This isn’t right, Seren. Let him go.”
The young guard stepped forward cautiously, his hands raised as if approaching a wild animal. “Calm down,” His voice was steady but laced with tension. “Don’t do anything rash. I promise, I’ll make sure this man rots in jail for the rest of his miserable life. I’ll make him suffer for what he’s done. You don’t need to go through with this. Just step back. Please.”
The broken man in Seren’s hand thrashed weakly, his voice hoarse as he sobbed. “I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please! I won’t do anything bad again! I’ll change—I swear!” Tears streamed down his face, mixing with the blood already staining it.
The young guard edged closer, speaking gently. “You’ve already won. Be the wise one here. Just... step away from the edge, and let me handle this.”
Seren turned his head slightly, meeting the guard’s eyes. For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
Then Seren spoke, his voice calm and detached. “You’ll make him suffer?”
The guard nodded quickly, his expression earnest. “Yes. I swear it. Just let him go, and I’ll make sure he never sees the light of day.”
Seren was silent for a bit. “Good.” Then he looked back at the man dangling in his grip, his expression hardening. “But I don’t care”.
And then he let go.
The man’s scream tore through the air, sharp and desperate, before ending abruptly with a muffled splat.
Everyone froze.
The young guard rushed to the balcony, leaning over the edge. His face paled as he looked down. Below, the broken man’s twisted body lay lifeless, his blood pooling around him, his face frozen in a horrifying mix of fear and despair.
Seren turned away from the edge, his expression unreadable. As he passed the guard, he said softly, “It’s done. Don’t waste time mourning for a scum.”
The young guard turned, his mouth opening as if to argue, but the words caught in his throat.
Kai was the first of the group to break the silence. “Seren.” His voice was tight, laced with disbelief. “What was that? What are you doing?”
Lorien frowned, his jaw tightening. “You didn’t need to kill him. He was finished. He couldn’t have hurt anyone anymore.”
Finn’s face was pale, his usual humor absent. “You... you just threw him like he was nothing. I mean, sure we killed a lot of people back there but they were…” He stopped, running a hand through his hair as he glanced at Seren uneasily.
Elise stood back, her lips pressed tightly together. Her gaze flicked between Seren and the broken window, but she didn’t speak.
It wasn’t the man’s death that left them shaken—it was the cold, ruthless way Seren had acted.
Lorien stepped in front of Seren, his tone growing sharper. “Why, Seren? Why did you do that?”
Seren stopped, meeting Lorien’s gaze. His voice was calm but laced with something colder. “Because I couldn’t let him live.”
Lorien frowned, his frustration mounting. “That’s not an answer. He was beaten, begging, crying. He would’ve rotted in prison for the rest of his life. Why was that not enough for you?”
Seren didn’t answer right away. He studied Lorien for a long moment, then his tone dropped as he asked, “Do you understand what I feel right now?”
Lorien’s frown deepened, confusion flickering across his face. “What you feel? Seren, I don’t—”
Seren interrupted, “The anger. The hatred. The contempt I feel toward that man. Do you understand it?”
Lorien opened his mouth to respond, but Seren’s words came faster, colder. “You don’t understand what it’s like to see something so sickening that it twists your stomach. To know that every breath someone took was one too many.”
Then Seren’s gaze shifted briefly—too briefly—toward Susie, who stood frozen in the corner of the room, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She stiffened as their eyes met, and for a moment, something unspoken passed between them.
Seren’s gaze returned to Lorien, his expression serious. “You wouldn’t understand. Not you.”
Lorien’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. His voice lowered, trembling with frustration. “Then explain it to me.”
Seren’s lips curled faintly into a bitter smile. “I could explain, but it wouldn’t change anything. You wouldn’t feel it. You can’t.”
The room fell into tense silence as Seren took a step closer to Lorien, his tone turning slightly gentle. “Not everyone feels the same way about certain people. Some things, Lorien, you don’t have the right to question.”
Lorien’s breath caught, his confusion shifting into realization about why Seren was acting the way he was. His fists unclenched slightly, but his frustration remained.
Seren turned away, his tone cooling further. “Don’t try to understand me, Lorien. Just stay the way you are.”
With that, Seren walked ahead, his footsteps echoing in the silence. From behind, Elise watched him go, her gaze fixed on his back. Her chest tightened painfully, an ache that seemed to grow with every passing second. ‘Seren…’
Her eyes shifted to Susie, standing off to the side. Susie’s gaze was also locked on Seren, her expression was a blend of emotions—concern, guilt, relief, and a warmth Elise recognized all too well.
‘Love.’
Elise’s breath caught, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. ‘Seren, do you really see her that way?’ she thought bitterly. ‘Am I just your friend?’
‘Is that why you killed him?’ she wondered, her thoughts turning toward the man Seren had just thrown to his death. ‘Was it because of her? Because of what he did to her?’
The realization struck like a knife. Seren had done something cruel, something ruthless, for someone he clearly cared about. But that someone wasn’t her.
Her lips trembled as she struggled to hold herself together. ‘If I were in her place, would you have done the same for me?’
The questions she tried to suppress surged forward, refusing to be silenced. ‘Would you protect me? Would you fight for me? Would you look at me with those same eyes?’
She inhaled sharply, the ache in her heart threatening to overwhelm her.
‘Would you…’ Her thoughts twisted with a bitter longing she couldn’t deny.
‘…kill for me?’