Karma lays the small rabbits on the ground next to Million. “That was fast, you’re quite the little huntress.” Karma withholds her quip, as she knows that she’s a little nothing. She is just as tall as he is. It’s true that her muscle definition is nothing compared to his, but she definitely does not look small when standing next to either of the men. That’s something she will have to blame on her father’s genes.

The Rinafi men have always been described as giants. Some have even claimed that they are the closest line of descendants from Mal and Mil due to their sizes alone. Their wives aren’t always larger women, but it seems that no matter what happens, the next generation always carries that height and power with them.

Until Trilana that is.

She is what happens when you muddy a pure sourcer line with mortal blood. As beautiful as she is, poor Trilana will always be one of the forgotten. She’s just lucky she was born into this family. She will never have to work as hard as the other lowborn nameless ones, but it is still sad to see her so powerless.

It’s not as if no king before Karmic had laid with a human. They had just never allowed any of the women to birth their heirs. And there was a good reason for that. Female sourcers can birth sourcers after laying with human males. The same cannot be said for female humans.

They will always produce powerless children. It is just the nature of how sourcers are formed.

Karma sits the farthest from the fire, her hood upturned. Night has fallen once again, and it is nothing but a reminder that she is behind schedule. It isn’t just that she has made no progress, but she has in fact traveled further into Hillanta. Her progress was in the negatives.

And if she doesn’t move fast, Trilana will be the one to suffer. Karmic will expect a letter of progress soon enough. It’s just a matter of time before one of his messages materializes in her pocket or hand or bag. “What’s got you so torn up?” Karma looks up.

“What makes you think I’m torn up?” She questions the girl.

Mallie cautiously slides next to Karma, her fingers fiddling with each other. She’s nervous. Why would she be nervous? Karma’s guard slides up, tendrils of her chi begin creeping up her leg. “Um, you’re frowning pretty hard there.” The woman points to Karma’s face before realizing that it’s probably rude to do so.

Karma releases the tension in her face. She hadn’t realized she was scowling. That was a silly mistake. “I haven’t eaten all day. I’m just eager for your brother to stop talking and start cooking.” That was a lie. Karma ate small bits of her rations when she stepped away to have a little privacy, or as Million liked to say, ‘take a piss’.

The young woman stares at Karma as if she’s waiting for something, and all Karma can do is raise a brow. “Did you need something, Mallie?” The girl’s brows fall, some form of sorrow weighing on them.

“Oh. U-uh, I guess not. I’ll go check on how Million is doing with the hare.” Karma nods and watches as the blond girl walks away, a little slump in her shoulders.

“Will you stop lurking in the shadows?” She had sensed him the moment he walked up behind them. Why he just watched that strange encounter, Karma doesn’t know. But what she does know, is that she doesn’t enjoy being watched. It’s weird. And it’s disrespectful.

Hunts falls into the spot that Mallie was just occupying, his eyes roving over the lady next to him. “Are you truly that socially ignorant?” This catches her off guard.

“Pardon me?” She hopes, for his sake, that he chooses his next words very carefully. Not only is she extremely irritated right now, but she is also beginning to feel the effects of their travels weighing on her. There is no telling how her patience will hold up with these other factors contributing.

Hunts rests his elbows on his knees, his head cocking as he puts the weight of his upper body on his arms. “I’m trying to figure out if you were intentionally being rude, or if you yourself don’t understand that she just wanted to talk to you.” Karma doesn’t understand.

“If she wanted to speak with me, she should have said something. I asked if she needed anything. What more can I do?” She really isn’t seeing a problem.

Hunts lets out a laugh, his hands clapping. “You don’t have any friends, do you?” No. Karma doesn’t have any friends. She hasn’t had any since-

She stands, any small amount of appetite that she had been building up, fizzing out. Her stomach rolls as she walks towards the edges of their small camp. She sits with her back to the fire and the group, her shadow and her back blocking the light from her sight. Karma takes a deep breath as she drags her fingers to her arm.

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She takes another one, as she presses her nails, one by one, into her skin, the sharp pain prickling all the way up her arm. She takes another, pressing harder.

Karma does this until her mind clears. Until the heat leaves her. The fury that slithered up wraps around her throat, choking her. She scowls, knowing that it’s now here to stay. When the fire within her begins to lose strength, she finally drops her arm, her fingers instead straying to clasp onto a necklace that isn’t there.

A sigh falls from her, and her eyes stray to the sky. She drags a hand through the air, tracing a picture that no one else can see. “Yes… A Rinafi needs no friends.”

Qu didn’t intend to say anything that would put the Palacer in such a nasty mood, but he supposes that this is for the best. It doesn’t look as if she’ll be joining the group any time soon, which means they have a moment to speak with each other. He joins his companions. “What’s up with Miss Amazonian over there?”

He shoves his friend’s shoulder, his eyes momentarily landing on the woman. He watches her hand make a motion in the air. “I think I said something to upset her, but that’s not important. Mallie, did you get it?” Million hadn’t been the only thing that they needed to steal from the MAG.

Mallie’s shoulders sag even further. “I’m sorry guys. For some reason, security was enhanced. Just out of nowhere there was an import of what seemed like commanders. I overheard one of the younger guards saying that the Overseer had put a lock-down on things, but I couldn’t figure out why. I had to put all my focus into getting Million out before extra security arrived there.”

Qu nods. Perhaps it has something to do with why a royal guard is hand delivering a letter on foot. “We still have time. We’ll just have to think of a plan while we travel to Onq.” Million stops skinning one of the rabbits, his head raising.

“Why are you still taking her to Onq. Is this not more important?” This is the part of his friend’s personality that Qu could do without. A majority of the time, Million is a very easygoing lad. He rarely swings his sword and he’s not usually the first to speak out about an issue, but when he does, he goes hard.

And he doesn’t let up. There was a coldness in his friend that sometimes scared him. Qu doesn’t know if it’s the way his blue eyes reflect the light or if it’s the hint of a snarl that makes him shudder, but he knows to be careful with his words when his friend gets this way. “I gave her my word.”

Million drops the rabbit, Qu’s knife still in his dominant hand. His sister scoots away, aware of his tendencies. “But we did not.”

“A-actually brother, I advocated for the continuation of the trip.” Million’s eyes don’t stray from Qu’s, his hand tightening on the handle.

“But I did not.”

Qu opens his mouth, intent on attempting to calm down the cold and irrational rage that builds in his friend. But someone speaks before him. “Do you wish for me to leave your travel party, Million?” His eyes finally fall from Qu, and the man feels the heat return to him.

The Palacer stands, her hands on her hips, and her hood pulled down. Her face is fully visible within the light of the fire. Qu is sure that he’s never seen anyone that looks like her. It’s not that her features are strange, as many would see them as conventionally attractive. Pretty red eyes that tilt up at the corners. A small and rounded nose with nostrils that aren’t protruding. Her chin is small and pointed, her jaw nicely carved.

And Qu would definitely say that her lips are quite beautiful. It’s just… her skin. He’s never seen a person that was two contrasting skin colors. It’s as if someone attempted to erase part of her. Million stands, his solid six feet bringing him just about eye level with the mysterious guard. “Do I wish for you to leave? Why would I waste a wish on that? I’m just struggling to see how your problem involves us.”

Her eyes dart down to the knife still in his hand, and Qu watches her reach for her own. “No, you’re correct.” In that very moment, Qu sees something in her eyes. In her face. In her stance. “My problem doesn’t involve you in any way.” She scrapes the point of her knife under her nail, then pulls it up to her mouth. Her tongue darts out in a quick lick just as Qu brings himself to stand.

“Mil-”

“Bow.” Both Million and Mallie fall to their knees. “I don’t need anything from any of you, but this is the easiest way, and I will be stunted no more." As soon as Qu sees the palacer’s aura leak from her body, things begin to click.

Eyes wide and fingers trembling at the pressure, he can do nothing as her aura washes over them all. “My father would be ashamed to see me now. I’ve let this go on long enough.” The weight of who she is crushes Qu’s shoulders. He grunts.

Qu had always been exceptional. He was a rare hunter with naturalistic abilities. Anything he hunted, he caught. Anything he wanted, he took. He thought he was strong, but if this is the power of the crown, then he is truly no one. Their plans, all of them, mean nothing if this is the power that they must face.

He has to warn them. He has to tell them that they’re no match for the crown.

Though no one had ever seen the face of the eldest Rinafi heir, tales of her power had spread through the country like wildfire. The stories of what became of the troop-members that crossed her were near legends. But no matter who told the story, one thing always remained the same.

They said her aura was a purple so deep that it almost appeared black. They said that it felt like a thousand needles prickling into one’s skin. They said it was as cold as ice. And they were right. “Ple… please.” He had never begged for anything in his life, but right now feels like a good time to start.

Her attention turns from his friends, who sputter for an ounce of breath. Before he can blink, she’s swiping a finger across Qu’s cheek. He hisses. “You will take me to where I need to go, Qu Guniw, should you fail, Million and Mallie of Dreson will die.”

There are many things that he can say in this moment. Many things that he would like to say. But none of them will get him out of this. None of them will matter. So, he settles for a simple, “Yes, of course.”