Like any normal meeting among the elders of the Mariyah Clan, Theta was given the farthest seat in the hall with the least food on her table. As usual, she stuck like a sore thumb since she was the only one wearing a shabby black dress without any hair ornament in her bun-styled ruby red hair.

A week had passed since Theta's mother's death. The days in the Mariyah Household did not stop for Theta so the day where the meeting for the planning of who would escort Axue was held today.

The two elders of the Mariyah Clan had arrived first along with their servants while the legitimate heirs were surprisingly late.

With no siblings around, Theta garnered all the attention. Though most of the gazes in the main hall were pinned on Theta, the latter remained a wallflower. With her head hanging low and her hands clasped on her lap, Theta hid the chilling calmness in her violet-colored eyes.

Disgust and disdain filled the elders' gaze.

"Stop looking at her, First Elder." Second Elder tugged First Elder's robe. He continued in a condescending voice. "Or she will jinx your luck until you run out of it and drop dead just like what happened to her pathetic mother."

The First Elder's brows raised with interest as he stared at the petite young girl. "How can someone like that wastrel jinx an elder like us?"

The elders' words were embedded in Theta's mind. It was at this moment that the list she painstakingly memorized every waking second of her life had some new names on it. A cold glint flashed in her eyes, a sight that the two great elders of the Mariyah Clan had overlooked.

The First Elder abruptly stood up from his high seat. His face was ashen as he looked around. The Second Elder followed suit. He released his sword, ready to swing it any minute now.

A servant, who did not feel the oppressive aura a few seconds ago, stepped forward. Though he did not feel a thing, his instinct was telling him to run and hide. "First Elder, should I notify General Mariyah?"

The servants, who were drenched with their cold sweat, fidgeted as they looked at each other.

First Elder remained vigilant as he looked around him. The eight-column main hall looked normal yet his years of expertise during the war were telling him that a beast was hiding. The First Elder waived his hand. "No need. He will be here any time soon for the meeting. I will report it to him personally."

The second Elder whispered behind the First Elder. "Is it the other households? I thought they seized being hostile after receiving a warning from the king?"

The middle-aged elders could only look at each other with tacit understanding. They needed to investigate whether there were spies in their midst. And if it did prove that there were snakes around them, the crystal balance between the five pillars of the Kingdom of Amina would surely shatter — that was the result that the elders hoped not to happen.

After all, internal strife among the ranks of a non-magic kingdom would be a loss to the kingdom itself.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

The elders' train of thoughts was pulled from its reverie when the aide of General Ronin Mariyah dashed to the main hall. "First Elder! Second Elder! The young masters!" His uneven breaths collided with his frantic words.

"What happened to the young masters?" First Elder held the heaving aide by his shoulders.

"Second Young Master Rufiant issued a challenge to the Third Young Master Chehin three days ago. No one thought that it was a serious matter, but! But now the two young masters are facing off in the Arena right now!"

"Quick! Take us there!" Second Elder quickly raced to the doors of the main hall with the general's aide and the First Elder hot on his trail.

The servants dashed along their masters while maintaining a good amount of distance. Though there was a worry-filled facade painted on their faces, the twinkle in their humble eyes said otherwise. The bet was on their wages and years of servitude in the line. The fear they felt a moment ago was long buried at the back of their minds.

A deafening silence engulfed the main hall, leaving a nonchalant Theta Mariyah in her seat. She remained unperturbed even after the series of commotion.

A figure immerged from the darkest corner of the splendid main hall. "The girl released her aura just now. Was it a part of the girl's grand scheme or just a heat of the moment after they deliberately poked at the girl's mother?"

Zarno, who was now clad in a set of black robes and pants minus the presence of his beard, looked like a fine middle-aged man. No one would think that he was a murderer of mages. He stood beside the pillar which was behind the sitting Theta.

Theta shrugged. She picked up the utensils before her and started eating her lunch. "Who knows?"

"The girl's brothers are fighting to the death. Is the girl sure that she wants them to kill each other? The girl's revenge will not be that satisfying without a complete set of pawns."

Theta craned her slender neck to the direction where the Arena was situated. She paused as if she was pondering over Zarno's words. "But wouldn't be fun to see my father's twisted face after knowing that his beloved children are out to kill each other? Will he show the face of disparity if he had to choose whom to save?"

The Mariyah Household took pride in its discipline and military prowess. The physical symbol of this pride was the Arena. The Arena was established by General Ronin Mariyah, the prodigious general, as a way to show off that a Mariyah Clan member would never fear death in the face of death. After all, the Arena was made to be entered by two while only one would step down from it.

"I like it. Downright wicked. I admit, the girl is the most interesting mage I encountered next to that old man," said Zarno. He was still standing behind Theta while he crossed his arms before him in a leisurely manner. He continued, "The guys are doing fine after you gave them the let-us-burn-this-wretched-world-together speech. Thank you very much."

Theta pretended that she did not hear the sarcasm in his voice. And so, she hummed before she continued eating her lunch.

Zarno's ears perked when a series of screams and gasps pierced his sensitive sense of hearing. "The girl's father arrived. Is the girl interested to watch the show with me?"

Setting down her utensils, Theta finally stood up before she glanced at the man behind her. "What is there to watch? This is not the time yet." She gave him a sweet smile with a chilling gaze. "Wait for the great show I am brewing, Zarno. By then, we will be taking the front-row seat."

"But now —"

"What is happening right now is because a hypocrite clashed with an arrogant fool. It is not worth watching." Theta started walking toward the direction where her courtyard was located. "By the way, how are things in the Hound Correctional?"

"The girl shouldn't worry. As you expected, no one noticed that the Hound Correctional is now being controlled by the prisoners right under the guards' noses."

When Theta was about to enter her courtyard, she looked back at Zarno who was stealthily following her through the shadows. He was an assassin, the best of the continent, so walking around her unnoticed by others was a simple thing.

"Did you find what I am looking for?"

Zarno grinned. His sharp fangs gleamed under the darkness of the shade he was standing from. "The girl must not worry."

A wicked smile graced Theta's emotionless face.