Remnya

Remnya and Brisa arrived at Debrin's hideout by sunrise. A symphony of birds welcomed them as the truck crossed the gates that led to the citrus garden, where the army had spent their last dinner together. The smoke of dying campfires lingered in the air like a gray mist, along with the smell of burnt wood and incense.

They parked under a lemon tree and stepped out of the vehicle. Brisa admired her surroundings, her mouth wide open as hummingbirds flapped their wings near her hair. Remnya rushed to help Joan stand up, but the man declined her aid with a polite shake of his head.

"I guess your mission was a success," a soothing voice said from behind.

Remnya turned and saw Ozura walking in her direction. Her purple pupils scanned Brisa from head to toe. "Is this your friend?"

"Yes, miss," Remnya replied and grabbed her sister's hand. "She is Brisa."

Brisa gasped and bowed to Ozura. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Ozura twisted her lips, staring at Brisa's abdomen for long seconds, and then looked into her eyes coldly. "These are sorrowful times to bring a child to the world," she said.

Brisa lowered her gaze and said nothing. However, Remnya scowled and opened her mouth, but words didn't dare to leave the depths of her thoughts. She didn't choose to!

Silence.

Ozura's expression softened as she observed Remnya's and Brisa's reactions. She brushed a strand of carmine hair out of her face and spoke, "Anyway, you two must be tired. Please come in, I was making breakfast."

"Don't worry about me, miss." Remnya pointed at Joan. "I think he needs breakfast more than me."

Ozura chuckled, displaying two perfect Nephilim fangs. "He'll be fine. Plus Joan hates my food."

Joan nodded. "She's right. Don't worry about me, young Remnya. I have all I need in my tent." He bowed to them and walked away, fading behind the trees.

Remnya blinked in confusion and then shrugged. "Alright then." She rushed to unload their bags from the truck bed, and together, they entered Debrin's home.

The interior looked different. Someone had cleaned the mess Debrin and Merle had left, turning the kitchen into a tidy and welcoming environment. Remnya barely recognized it without the dozen boxes scattered everywhere. Even the smell had changed; a sweet scent of peach floated in the air.

Ozura's breakfast was a cup of red tea with orange and lemon. Next to it, there was a plate with tangerine jam and bread sliced neatly. Remnya and Brisa sat across from each other while Ozura sat at the end of the table, smiling at them. Remnya had a hard time recognizing that lady without her combat uniform. She wore a long dress and an apron that made her look like a caring mom, unlike the fearsome and ruthless warrior everyone claimed she was.

Driven by hunger, Remnya rushed to eat and finished before Brisa even took the first sip of tea. Ozura offered her another cup and more bread, which Remnya happily accepted.

"So. . ." Ozura looked at Brisa. "What will his name be?"

"His name?" Surprised, Brisa swallowed her food and thought for a moment. "I am bad at names, so I agreed to let Remnya choose one for me. Maybe two."

Ozura turned to Remnya, expecting an answer. A smile spread across Remnya's face. "I wanted to name him Amy, but since he'll be a boy, I was thinking of. . . uh. . ." She stayed pensive for a moment. "How about Zaoly? Like the kid from that story Zeo read me."

"Zaoly?" Brisa tilted her head. "Who was Zaoly?"

"Zaoly was a kid who wanted to ride clouds and travel the world. He was strong too, and kind to animals, so one day, the birds decided to help him fulfill his dream. They built a giant nest like thingy to carry him through the skies, but the evil kids from his village didn't want him to be happy, so they burned the forest." Remnya lowered her gaze. "I guess it's not the happiest story, but Zaoly was brave and never gave up trying to protect those who were important to him. Even if they were as small as a hummingbird."

"I like that name," Ozura said, sipping her tea elegantly. "It's different and would suit a child born in the forest." She twisted her lips into a slight smile.

"I agree." Brisa nodded and smirked at Remnya. "Your head can be as dense as a rock sometimes, but I can't deny your creativity."

"Shush!" Remnya stuck her tongue out at her and threatened her with a spoon.

"I believe there's still hope," Ozura trailed off, staring through the window into the horizon. Sunbeams reflected on her pupils, sparkling. "Once this war is over, people will be able to rebuild their future, without fear. Perhaps, the children of tomorrow will see a better world than the one their parents left behind."

Remnya and Brisa looked at her in silence. Her words seemed like a distant dream, yet Remnya wanted to believe in and live by them too.

"I do not expect to see it myself, but I know you can." Ozura locked her eyes on Remnya.

Remnya furrowed her eyebrows and nodded. "You will too! Debrin, Merle, Vlad, you, and this whole army. You all can do it!" A spark flashed in her heart, making it beat faster. "Brisa, Zeo, and I will do it too."

Brisa beamed at Remnya and bobbed her head, hope flickering in her pupils.

"I guess I have no choice but to believe those crimson eyes," Ozura said, her words soothing but powerful enough to feed the hope burning in Remnya's chest.

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The door burst open.

Joan bolted inside, his face pale with a sorrowful expression.

"What's the matter?" Ozura asked, sipping her tea.

"News from Crysalton." Joan took a deep breath and remained silent. His lips trembled as if refusing to reveal a secret.

"Speak." Ozura's sharp voice resounded through the room, her soft demeanor changing into a deep scowl.

He clenched his fists and nodded hesitantly. "I'm afraid our Great Leader and Captain Merle didn't make it in time. . . Vladimore's army has been defeated."

*°*°*

Zeo

The Hunters' Headquarters was amid one of the highest plateaus of the Republic of Razdef. Its strategic location between the capital city of Crysalton and the prosperous Kingdom of Nebran allowed them to pull the strings of society at will.

At 5000 meters above sea level, the place also provided a challenging environment for training due to the low oxygen levels and extreme cold. Rumors even claimed monstrous creatures lurked in the highlands, turning any escape attempt into a death sentence.

Zeo stood still, staring at the bottom of a precipice. A gelid breeze brushed his long hair, now grown past his shoulders. He lifted his bangs with a headband and took a deep breath before jumping into the abyss.

Using his vectors, he slowed his body as it neared the sharp edges of rocks. His spectral arms gripped the mountain and stopped him vertically above a mountain river of violent icy waters.

The call of an eagle echoed through the gorge.

Zeo used his vectors as his own arms and grabbed the rocks sticking out to climb. However, the low grip made the task extremely difficult. The veins of his forehead bulged as he struggled not to let go of his only lifeline.

The vertical ascent took him half an hour, but he finally made it to the training grounds atop the mountain. Arkor waited for him on the other side. He offered his hand to help Zeo stand up, but he refused and stood on his own under the attentive stare of his companions who gathered near the cliff.

"That took you forever, crossbreed," Pyon said, folding his arms. He directed the training that day.

Zeo said nothing; words weren't worth it anymore. He knew he was better than them. Even though his fighting skills were inferior, his vectors could kill everyone there in seconds, except for Pyon. Zeo stood alone, far from the group, and cracked his knuckles, feeling cold sweat prickling at his skin.

"Listen here, pathetic crossbreeds," Pyon shouted. "I know you were all bred to live a meaningless existence and die for your masters, but I want you to try and give me more than that." He circled the group, shooting contemptuous glances at his subordinates. Everyone lowered their gazes except for Arkor and Zeo, who locked their pupils on him. "A great battle against Karx is coming, and I need you all to be ready. We have a unique opportunity to seize one of their greatest aces on the battlefield, Debrin Kavram."

Zeo tightened his lips.

"However, his army is fierce and totally different from anything you've faced before. You'll need to fight with everything you got and more." He chuckled. "Many of you will die, I hope you know that. But, I don't want your deaths to be as meaningless as your lives. Make it worth it!" he roared, raising his fist. "When you go out there to die, I want you to show Karx why we, Hunters, are the most fearsome army in the world. Fight until your whole body is destroyed, show them you're more than just pathetic mistakes of nature!"

"YES, SIR!" everyone shouted in unison, except for Zeo, who spat on the ground with disgust.

Pyon glared at him but said nothing and continued his speech, "Now, with this said, I'd like to make an announcement." The group exchanged confused looks. "Our dear Captain Marakudra has informed me that the army of Karx we ambushed last night has retreated into Lacacia Forest. Our ranks took advantage of it to lay siege to the remaining troops, and soon, they'll march forward to finish the hunt." A crooked smile spread across his face. "As you can guess, she has requested our presence there to keep Debrin Kavram's army under attack and crush their spirit for once and for all." Impulsed by a sudden rush of anger, Zeo raised his hand. "What do you want, one-eyed crossbreed?"

"Why do they need us there? Aren't they strong enough to defeat the remnants of Kavram's army?"

"Good question." Pyon smirked sarcastically. "You see, we could easily obliterate those pathetic deviants from Karx. However, our main goal is to lure their leaders there. Debrin Kavram would never abandon his people to their luck. If not himself, his Captain Merle or the fearsome Vladimore will show up to rescue them. That's when our primary plan will unfold." He giggled. "But you crossbreeds do not need to worry about that. Your only mission there is to spread as much terror as possible."

An eerie breeze whistled through the mountains, and silence lingered among the soldiers, who murmured nervously. Zeo locked his eyes on the ground, chewing Pyon's words, and wondered if Remnya could be among the defeated Karx army.

It didn't matter. The Hunters weren't the only ones with a plan. Zeo had decided to hold the reigns of his destiny.

"Anyhow!" Pyon cracked his neck and gave a wicked look at his subordinates. "Before sunset, we'll have a sparring session, but there's twist." He smirked, and his lifeless wine-red pupils displayed the joy of a monster. "You all will have to show me you're ready to die for our great leader, Marakudra. Today, the matches will be to the death."

The faces of several warriors changed, turning pale, and whispers, with a hint of fear, could be heard. Unfazed, Zeo scanned his companions, wondering who would be his victim. His heart was calm, and that sent a shiver down his spine.

"The rules are simple," Pyon said, grabbing his tablet. "You will be paired randomly on one versus one matches of ten minutes. In those ten minutes, I want you to fight to the death. All weapons, skills, and dirty tricks are allowed. You can't give up nor receive help. Keep in mind, you might not be able to kill your opponent by the end of the match, that's okay. However. . ." He swept the group with a cold glare. "If I see any of you not giving it all during those ten minutes, I'll send both contenders to die in the Devil's Mouth."

Zeo had learned that word from his companions. The Devil's Mouth was the name given to the only active volcano in the country. Prisoners sentenced to death had their limbs chopped and lowered into the volcano pit, slowly cooking their bodies with the heat of the lava. Furthermore, they made sure their deaths weren't quick by pulling the prisoners out of the volcano before they died, only to repeat the process over and over again.

It could last days or weeks.

"Are we clear?" Pyon asked.

"YES, SIR!" they boomed in unison while Zeo folded his arms in silence.

"Very well." He began arranging the matches on his tablet screen.

Zeo doubted the pairing would be random because that jerk hated him, but he was ready for anything. He had decided to live.

Pyon announced the first pairing. Kristina and Myrian, two girls who were friends and something else. Their faces displayed terror. Zeo assumed he didn't want any relationship among his disposable army, so that was an excellent opportunity to get rid of one of them.

The next pairing surprised Zeo. Arkor wasn't paired with him as he had predicted. Instead, when Pyon mentioned Zeo's name, he understood his true intentions.

His opponent was a young girl called Stella. She was around his age and had recently joined. Stella rarely spoke and always hid her face from others. According to Arkor, her parents had been killed by The Hunters, but she was spared due to her skills and forced to join.

As Zeo took a moment to assimilate his new challenge, his cold heart came back to life and kicked against his chest. Though, he feared it was more than adrenaline running through his veins.

Nonetheless, his emotions had to die, for once and forever.

There's no turning back now.

Zeo walked forward and stared the young girl straight in the eyes. Stella averted her gaze, trembling, and Zeo understood that no matter the outcome, his endeavor would haunt him for the rest of his days.

He bowed to her and smiled, knowing it was the least he could do for her. "Stella. . . Let's do our best."

*°*°*

Next Chapter: December 17 (Updating weekly from now on)