Karla was at her father's desk, chills spreading down her neck.

She used her father's study after his disappearance, as it always made her feel more professional. Plus, she could hide better from all the questions and jobs that needed to be done. ‘Running a city was tiring,’ she thought with a sigh.

So many people relied on her that sometimes it felt like she would collapse from all the worry and doubt—not in the world, but in herself. Who was she to be a leader? She was barely more than a child.

Dismissing her wondering thoughts, she looked back at the box on the desk. Nestled inside was the most precious thing she had ever seen. It was a Beast Core, so rare and unique that it seemed like a gift to the world.

It was the Great Beast Core from Aaron’s Nest.

From his Mother.

[Sovereign Beast Core] “A Mother’s Core”

Something had been bothering her since returning from the Labrinth. She kept hearing bells twinkling as if hearing an echo through the walls. At first, she thought it was nothing and shrugged it off, but she noticed it was always more pronounced around her father’s study.

Fearing it was the Crown acting up had led her to the box now on the desk. When going near the Core, she felt a tug that wasn’t there before. When inspecting it, she noticed she wasn’t hearing bells.

She was feeling it.

The core was pulsing, and her core was responding.

The Core was calling to her!

That thought caused her face to blanch and chills to run down her back. Thinking of the Crown and the horrors that treasure like this usually carried, brought terror to her heart. The Core was no more than a monster in her eyes, and she closed the lid in denial.

It was surprising to have something like this occur, as she wasn’t born like all the others. When a person aged, their core would form, allowing access to one’s Gift, but she had been born…. defective.

Her Core was empty.

She had formed her core like everyone else, but cultivating it hadn’t produced any results. She had access to her Gift and could cast a minor spell, but only with the mana that ran through her body; her core refused to function. She had gained an Insight but could barely use it and mostly relied on Runic Magic.

She summoned her Gift, face scrunched in concentration, as she looked over the Runes again.

Name: Karla Race: Human Class: Healer Core: Blank Blessings: Clear Blue Titles: Daughter of Hope

Her insight came from when she had just turned of age.

After forming her core and receiving access to her Gift, she was elated. She ran through the Stronghold, shouting joyfully and rushing to her father in excitement. He reciprocated her feelings and was jovial, throwing a celebration. But everything had come crashing down with the stark realization that her core was defective.

Unable to process mana.

She ended up in a field, crying her heart out, as her hopes and dreams were dashed. Feeling like a failure, tears were drying on her face, and her father had come to her rescue. He told her that it didn't matter how powerful she became, if she was happy, everything else would work out.

That made her cry even harder, but after venting, she couldn’t help but look up at the sky and understand. Everything would be the same and nothing would change, her life was still the same, and her friends were still her friends.

Everything would be well under a clear blue sky.

And her first Insight was born.

Looking over her Runes she couldn’t help but be reminded.

[Clear Blue] “All will be well under a Clear Blue Sky.” “Clarity brings Healing.”

She dismissed the runes and reflected on more recent happenings. Duncan and warned her that a storm was brewing. The slums were overrun, tempers were flaring, and even some in the military were grumbling.

If they don’t do something fast, nothing they do will matter. If the masses rise, they will come in such great numbers that nothing will stop them. It’ll be a slaughter pitting the army against over a million refugees.

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She ordered Duncan to release more supplies from the hold, which caused the man to frown, but he obeyed. They had already cleaned out most of their supplies, and the rations in the castle were already spread too thin. Their meager meals wouldn’t even feed their own bellies, and the gaunt appearances of those within the Stronghold walls showed the outcome.

She sighed again, as if it were the only thing she ever did anymore. Thinking of Bently and his mission, she had some grand ideas. Aaron and his siblings were wild, but she saw their graceful movements and human-like nature. The Beast-folk were their greatest asset in their current predicament.

They were the best hunters in the City.

If Aaron and his Siblings, could be even greater hunters, it would be a win-win for them both. She feared for them in the tunnels of the Labrinth, as darker things lurked there, and without their Mother’s power to protect them, she didn’t think they could survive. She saw their curious expressions and hunger for knowledge, and according to Aaron’s descriptions, they were merely children.

The thought of scared children lost in the dark chilled her to the bone. Thinking of Aaron’s sobs in the prison cut her even more, and she felt like her people were the monsters while the innocents were swept up in someone else's plight. She hated being firm with the boy, but so many people relied on her.

There were too many lives to protect, mistakes weren’t allowed.

She sighed again, but this time, she swore she saw part of her soul leak out. Rising from the desk, she heard a shout from outside the open window and some commotion in the hall. She walked to the door to see what was happening when a shrill scream rang out, causing her to jump in alarm.

The study door flew open as Duncan ran in, eyes wide, with a bloody dagger in hand, and slammed the door, locking it.

“They broke into the Stronghold!” He roared.

“How is that possible!” She shrieked in horror, running to Duncan to check for wounds.

“Victor!” He spat with venom. “The bastard teamed up with some of the Ruffians from the slums and anyone in the military he could get to join.”

“Victor…. What the hell is he thinking!” Karla exclaimed, rage building at the mans stupidity.

Victor was a man her age who had become a shining star in the City, rising through the ranks of the military with passion. Her father had once proposed marriage until Karla firmly shut it down. He had become more brazen over the years as the situation in the City became more dire.

“He’s been making a fuss ever since the crown was returned. The man is crazy with ambition.” Duncan explained, shaking of his head.

“The Cro…,” She choked as realization struck her. They knew the location of her office and would come.

“Let's go; we have to leave immediately!” She hissed as she quickly began cramming things into her travel pack.

“They were in the storage rooms last I saw. I had to stab one of the bastards who tried to attack me on the way here.” He grunted with a pale, worried look on his face as he helped her.

She finished locking everything in her father's safe and got anything she could grab, pulling Duncan to the exit, but paused when she saw the smoke billowing under the door.

Fire?

Before she could have another thought, the door exploded from its hinges, knocking her and Duncan through the room. They hit the ground hard, gasping for breath, as a man with flames dancing in his eye stepped through.

“Karla, my dear!” Victor snickered arrogantly. “This farce is over.”

“Victor, you bastard! What have you done?” She growled, choking on the smoke billowing into the small room.

“You and your goons will never succeed with this farce!” Duncan shouted in rage, rising from the floor. “General Bria —."

“Shut up, old hag!” Victor sneered, pulling the sword from his waist.

Duncan brandished his dagger with an iron will and murder in his eyes. “I will not let you harm Karla!”

"Duncan, don’t,” She warned, trying to stop the man.

Victor laughed with glee as Duncan lunged forward. The man was skilled, but his dagger was small, and Victor was a born-and-bred warrior. He easily deflected the strike and swiftly responded.

Duncan grunted in pain from the sword now lodged in his chest, life leaving his eyes, as he fell to the floor. Victor stood tall, with a look of satisfaction and blood on his smiling face.

Karla screamed in horror and rage, staring at the body of the man, who was like an Uncle and had been there her entire life.

Now dead and lifeless.

Victor laughed as he stepped forward, “The Crown will be mine, Karla. The old powers have no place here anymore.”

“The Crown will never accept you!” Karla roared, looking at the floor, choking back sobs of loss and fury. As she fought off the feeling of despair and was about to rise in defiance, she heard a faint gurgle and looked up.

To see Victor with a glossy look in his eyes...

And a dagger in his neck!

Victor fell over, blood pooling on the floor, as Karla looked up at her savior, standing straight with a devilish smile beaming across his face.

Staring at her with golden eyes, he winked.

“Miss me?” He growled.

“Aaron!” She gasped, her throat raw from sobs and smoke. “How…. Wha...?”

“Don’t worry, Princess,” he laughed fiendishly, taking her hand and helping her rise from the floor. “Bently and Ciel are taking care of the others.”

“When did you return, and how did you get in here?” She exclaimed, confused as to how he was the one to come to her aid. ‘And who was Ciel?’

“Window,” He grunted, pointing behind him.

Karla turned to see the open window and was even more confused. ‘They were three floors up?’ She thought, looking for any rope or, well, anything.

“We need to go!” Aaron shot back, peeking into the hall.

She was still sluggish, too stunned by what she was witnessing. It had only been a week since they left, and he already looked older than before. He was slightly taller, speaking more naturally, and his demeanor…. was unique.

A faint song began to spread through the air, echoing in the halls, causing Aaron to perk up excitedly, “Sister Ciel!” He exclaimed with a hoot. “Show them whose boss, Sis!”

“Whats—” A longing gripped her heart, and she felt a tug on her soul. Eyes glazing over, she stepped through the doorway and into the hall as everyone gathered around her. She had to make it to the source of that call, no matter what! With unsteady feet, she continued, entranced by the alluring sound.

Crowding together, they walked through the hall, all with the same look of longing in their eyes, as the call summoned them. She ended up in the large square, at the center of the inner compound, with countless people standing around her.

All fighting had stopped as the same alluring sound hit the ears and hearts of everyone present. They gathered, with tears in their eyes, to listen to the most beautiful song they had ever heard. Emotions welled in their hearts as their souls trembled from the ever-present song of a Siren.

Karla stood before the most beautiful creature she had ever laid eyes on. Standing tall with raven black hair billowing around her slender frame and ebony-hued skin, she appeared to be sculpted from divinity. Her hazel eyes held a look of sadness and longing as her song reached the heavens.

And the heavens answered.

The sorrow in the song seemed to make the sky weep as rain began to pour from the dark clouds spread over the City. Karla couldn’t believe what she was seeing and woke from her daze when she saw the man next to the woman.

“Bently?” She exclaimed with wide eyes, looking at Aaron questioningly.

He smiled savagely.

And gave her a thumbs up, nodding stupidly.