Chapter 15
Cuvera was super upset that Kiara62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVZQUeltIx
had told him to stay behind while Vander escorted her around the castle. He had62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwToF5vqR1O
missed his chance to spend time with her because he was out with Vander, so she62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y6oXgtTGE
wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It felt uncomfortable being between62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmddDnyteo
the two of them, but he felt like he had less of a choice than the prince did,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx23tAtqvK
so he did as she had asked. Eliza had opted to stay in as well, mostly to keep62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQx3CnakJ8
an eye on Cuvera, but also so Vander and the princess could be given privacy. Whatever62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yxOXCtZVW
for, he didn’t know, but he expected it would become clear to him soon.
He took all around the castle,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHb7spqBgu
introduced her to as many servants as possible then she took the time to chat62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KM0FGCAYS
with them for a couple of minutes to get to know their names as well as what62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NYCGLFQgr
they did around the estate. As the future queen, he thought it was a good idea62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTwok7lNWg
for her to get close to those who served her because, as recent events could62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPICPr8aYu
attest, you never knew who might try to kill you. The tour of the castle ended62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDWqP1iMql
in the middle of the night and in the central garden where only a few were62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9f4Suiqe9
allowed to enter.
“We can go no further.” Vander62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiC6PONCdS
said, stopping just on the outside edge of the garden. “This is for the King62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f2fWMVfD1
and Prince only. Not even the servants are allowed to tidy up in here.”
“Must be a special place.” Kiara62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwTXqdia2c
beamed. Looking up into the sky, the moon could be seen shining just above the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJ2jMI4WZf
garden giving it a blue-ish hue.
“This was the Queen’s project62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg89YvNIBj
before she died.” Vander explained. “It’s the last thing they have from her so62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11ruL893bB
the two of them keep it close.”
“What was she like?” she turned to62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgO1OAMVckQ
look at Vander. “The Queen I mean.”
“I don’t remember much about her.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfSsoBOEVR
He admitted. “She died more than a decade ago, I was still young and didn’t get62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBm8dg4YO0
to spend a lot of time with her.” He frowned, trying to remember the last time62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1SqkyD85M
he had seen her. Kiara didn’t pressure. Instead, she just looked out into the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbypZnWATGt
garden with a slight smile on her face. “All I can remember from her is her62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNWNLmxsAf
smile. It was warm and inviting, it was as if nothing else mattered in that62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDiJXCMu2r
moment other than her smile.”
“She must have been special.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfseQKFkmVt
Kiara sighed. “I wish I could have met her.”
“She probably would have liked62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMLP5A6eAV
you.” Vander laughed. “She liked everyone.”
“Guess so.” The two of them sat in62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1fRt59On6
awkward silence for a few minutes. He didn’t want to break it mostly because he62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ6hYthKRZ
didn’t know what else to say to her. Anyone could have taken her around the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlXKLuzQKE
castle, including the prince, so why did she want his company? He got his62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dL15mna6X
answer a few moments later when she asked:
“How long have you been the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmaquy5IMp
Ma’akti Unnatun?” he must have had a confused expression on her face prompting62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUniWJyqDgk
her to laugh. “You don’t try to keep it a secret. I’m surprised more people62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCAvxBaN4f
don’t know.”
“It’s a closely guarded secret.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgEyE5ve6M
He didn’t want to tell her about Veyar’s warnings. It might freak her out, but62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFd8LxRscd
since she knew who he was, it made no sense to lie to her. “I’ve been with her62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohzQOWKyFn
for about ten years at this point.” He suddenly wished he had Shea with him.
“I’ve heard the rumors.” She62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuCWZGMdBS
explained. “I wanted to meet the man behind the myth and see if it was true or62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodYLaqHOs4
not. I had my doubts, but after meeting you in person I can feel her power62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnD5hi9pCy
radiating from inside of you.” he froze.
“Can anyone else?” he asked.
“What do you know of the Bricenian62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGd1bhyOy4a
royal family, Vander?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Not much.” He admitted.
“Our line has long held the power62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnNkWB2MsM
of sensing the power of the deities.” She explained. “Think of it like a second62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztR22uyRVW
sense. However, mine are heightened even further.” She held out her hand and a62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDllHl3z1J
small little flame appeared. She quickly snuffed it out before anyone else62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKF74HyxVCr
could notice.
“You have the blessing of Azta?”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBjb55pbnw
he asked.
“That’s something that only Eliza,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lUVIQECS1
my mother, and I know about.” She smiled sadly. “Not even the man who sired me62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xClRAtRgX
knows this secret.”
“Sired huh?” He leaned back on the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWIZoaS1DB
bench. “I guess you have no lost love for your family either huh?” She looked62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlfCGas0hq
surprised by this admission.
“You and your grandfather seem62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKQgfjDN6g
close.” She said. “You don’t like him?”
“I wasn’t talking about him.” He62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdOFJUVm8d
clenched his hands. “My father left me when I was born, after my mother died62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GJ2uJDnhU
giving birth to me. My grandfather took me in and raised me here in the palace,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14s1YxEItR
but I never got to spend time enjoying myself. I was being molded to take his62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsIrmebdTJ
place, just like Cuvera becoming King at some point.”
“That’s terrible.” She sighed. “At62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3QRJlWHkl
least the commander was there for you. And now you have Shea. How did you two62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKuUL7O4C0
meet anyway?”
“That story and the story with62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkeG9nS2mH
Unna are the one and the same.” He said. “Since you already know my secret, I62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5y873a0Ri
might as well tell you. It started ten years ago…”
∙
“Come on, move62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfjiI2Ybxr
faster!” The Blade training captain, Jeremiah, shouted. He was running ahead of62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrvm21wueN
the small group of recruits. Vander was ahead of the group, but his lungs were62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFcf1WiTNS
beginning to burn with exertion. They had been on this run through the woods62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fqtFTjHFJ
for an hour now with no sign of slowing down. Some of the recruits had stopped62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NH8kqXwDr
to rest, only to be left behind. If they stuck to the path, they would be fine,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTn2yLOTkj
but you shouldn’t be out after dark. It was dangerous. Jeremiah had stopped at62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlAwWIAEPS
the top of the hill then turned around to watch the struggling recruits.
“Take a break once you get up62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80AS9hEaQ9
here.” He commanded. “We will wait for the others to catch up.”
“Yes sir!” Those who could shouted62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj7yPuqf6p
at him. The rest just wheezed and waved their hands.
Vander was the second one up the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18Hxpf0YD8
hill. Bree was first and was already drinking heavily from her canteen. She62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDyqFPc0Y8
looked over at him, smiled, then offered him the canteen. Vander wiped his62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOJh4OiPMG
sweaty black hair off his face and fixed her with a small smile. They passed62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAWVybBzBH
the canteen back and forth while they waited.
Muun was the third one up the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVxLkfptv9
hill. He had removed his coat, wrapping it around his waist, showing off his62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLuE7rkQT7
muscular arms. He was the son of a blacksmith and had been working in the forge62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7YoJJ4w5F
from the time he was old enough to hold a hammer. He joined the Blades, but he62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7aM4RCHJj
and Vander had become quick friends, and so Muun had told him that he really62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxwXgDqLNy
wanted to have a farm out in the countryside. He just didn’t want to disappoint62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllSRUWc0GC
his father.
The fourth one on the hill was62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpbg2bpFTV
Leon. He looked over at Vander and Bree. A deep scowl traveled across his face62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNEY6yAnpK
as he stood as far away from the others as possible sipping his water. Vander62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM9DDafU1L
had no idea why Leon hated him so much and when he had tried to talk to him62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡan0TAOsMr8
about it, he just scoffed and walked away. If he had to guess it was because he62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRPhqVuYb4
was the grandson of the current Blade Commander. Not that it mattered, he62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiZAhTpU8i
didn’t get any sort of special treatment. If anything, the instructors were62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fUss5Xf4l
harder on him.
After about thirty minutes of62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndJIS7B0oO
resting, all but five of the recruits had made it up the hill and Jeremiah was62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtTUCtjx4t
getting nervous. He kept looking up at the sky as Humjir started to dip below62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSjeNDCAfn
midday. They had to make it back to camp before dark or they would be in62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVxz04tEd2
danger. Jeremiah opened his mouth to give them orders when they heard a loud62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrP14PWDpF
scream coming from the trail behind them.
“Stay here.” Jeremiah shouted. He62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3dn3ZceoE
gripped his sword before running back down the hill at full speed. Bree, Muun62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrrxmgjRHw
and Vander shared a nervous look. All of the other recruits were muttering to62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAeUtcssiU
each other with fear prevalent in their voices. Vander got up from the ground62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZtsoQTyyB
to stand next to his friend.
“What do you think is happening?”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OomXpe9On
Muun whispered, his blue eyes alite with concern. Vander knew that only two62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykASSgUsPq
things would make someone scream like that in the wood: either bandits or a62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxIZqGbBb9
shadow beast. They heard another scream, this time a man’s voice, then the iron62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRjzpHLCIJ
tang of blood filled the air. Vander recoiled, but the others didn’t notice it.
“I’m going,” Vander said, gripping62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP39xyMYoSZ
the metal sword hidden in his scabbard.
“Don’t be an idiot.” Leon snapped.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡny2GlB4dnj
“Captain Jeremiah went to deal with it, you’ll do nothing, but get in the way.”
“As opposed to just sitting here62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEMXRtp2dY
even when our companions are being hurt?” Muun shook his head, glaring at their62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemsarYnyqz
classmate. “I knew you were spineless Leon, but I didn’t think you were a62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwptzjuBdWZ
coward.”
“What did you say?” Leon snarled.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IDWWSxI39
He drew back his arm to throw a punch, but Bree stepped in.
“Enough.” She spoke. “Leon, look62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVjcqfLNvC
after the others up here, the three of us will go down after the captain and62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmRgkGSZIm
see if we could be of some help.”
“Fine,” Leon lowered his hand.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GjuSeH4cz
“But if you die don’t come complaining to me.” Vander didn’t wait for the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2dNoS818m
others. He just ran down the hill as fast as he could with the other two62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3zTWSwEJ9
following behind. The shouts and screams of fear had quieted down, but there62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4psnhkEWD
was still the unmistakable smell of blood lingering in the air. Bree and Leon62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBQsdBeLrT
must have noticed it because their faces became pale, but they stayed the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywXp28tQzc
course.
Vander followed the smell until he62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m0lEmuQci
noticed that the foliage around them was becoming darker despite the light62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoF8xJhlGt
shining through the canopy. Sounds of battle was coming from straight ahead,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO54e813Hwd
but the dark gripped everything around them.
“The Dark Forest.” Muun wheezed.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOAwjUeW2Z
He placed his hand on his knees gasping for breath. “How did any of us get lost62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKAILdyK8S
in there?”
“It’s easy to get lost in here.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXTQIKEhfq
Bree said. “They probably got off trail and got lost. We should-“ There was62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRL6uXFVoq
another scream coming from up ahead. However, this time it sounded like62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5kkQwnvQs
Jeremiah. Vander didn’t wait, he just dove through the bushes and into the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYT0IQyo6aZ
clearing. What he saw shocked him.
In the clearing was a giant Shadow62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMOaa5lZiG
Beast. Its inky black fur rippled in the setting sunlight as its teeth dripped62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCuAME2ABX
with saliva. Blood soaked the ground around it its paws covered in red. The62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTroJCydE0H
shadow beast was the most dangerous creature in the woods, but they didn’t62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vK4MfqsFY
leave the inner circle of the forest which was why they were normally safe.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7TwRcvMT3
They were the creatures of the dark, created by the Goddess Unna to kill62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvFNHPHXNX
humanity. And they did a very good job of it.
“Why are you here?” they heard a62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxptjfhPstr
man groaning from a tree next to him. Vander turned to see Jeremiah sitting on62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkz1K7pC7r
the ground holding his hand to his stomach. Blood dripped between his fingers62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXc3DWf57F
and his face had gone deathly pale. He didn’t have long to live.
“We didn’t want to stay behind62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VEcj77D2F
while you were saving the others.” Muun explained.
“There are no more others.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Mi8txbX77
Jeremiah leaned his head back against the tree. His body shook as he coughed,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7MTe6YWHP
blood dribbled down his chin. “The beast got us all and now that it has your62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJer2N3N52
scent, you’re dead as well.”
“We will have to see about that.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIE3lyiMuU4
Vander gripped his iron lump of a sword. He placed it on the ground before62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehsUCYXdkR
bending down in front of Jeremiah. “I’m going to borrow your sword, Captain.”
“I can’t let you fight that thing,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaf6Mt1GT4
Vander.” Jeremiah’s body trembled. “Your grandfather wouldn’t approve.”
“I can’t hide behind him forever62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElU531mz8n
if I’m going to be a Blade.” Vander said. “If we are going to die, I’d rather62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYiI94DDhl
do it facing the enemy and not running away.” Jeremiah thought for a moment62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvcX8nOAo0
before nodding his head. He gripped his sword and held it out towards him.
“I wish I could have lived long62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJMYJ8tyK1
enough to see what kind of Blade you would have become.” As soon as Vander took62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33ekpRORbQ
the sword, Jeremiah’s eyes dimmed as he died.
“Goodbye Captain,” Vander lowered62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95nLNYFE4F
the man’s eye lids then bowed his head. A moment later he stood up with the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdfxZTAIXq
sword.
It was lighter than he expected,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGmQHBCuQK
much lighter than their practice swords. There was an elegance to the sword, it62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DlrdE3Qn7
was a symbol of status within Eluvia, but above all it was a weapon for62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDXNwWgJXK
killing. There was no other purpose.
“You can’t go out there.” Muun62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xpBvNfiyN
grabbed his friend’s arm.
“This is something I must do.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJpi3JWsaD
Vander gave him a grim smile. Bree just watched as Vander removed himself from62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPV893wUvxW
his friend and stepped out to face the creature.
He felt light and ready to take on62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMTZ6tdH4V
the challenge. The beast was probably ten feet tall and covered with muscle. He62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCCiP534cU
could feel the animosity the beast had for him, but the feeling wasn’t mutual.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pjrnBLlIy
It was just bad luck that the two of them had to face each other like this when62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvU3wvwZGxl
normally their paths wouldn’t cross at all. But blood had been spilt and his62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9BU9SRfl7
friends must be honored.
Vander moved first. He ran towards62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8LJMsVr2b
the Shadow Beast with his sword ready to pierce the creature’s hide. It jumped62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwr517zmgv
aside at the last moment, slid on the ground, then lunged at Vander’s throat.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk3zUzIxcf
He fell backward, bringing his foot up to catch the beast’s stomach then62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh2MZTieKz
throwing it over him. It landed on its feet then lunged again forcing Vander to62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDRoGh3nAE
roll to avoid the strike. He got to his feet before jumping backwards seconds62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQ2z8SICiQ
before the Shadow Beast would have flattened him.
They circled each other warily,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBp4JKUOMg
both exhausted. For the first time since the fight began, Vander realized the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKYX9Huhyz
creature was also bleeding heavily from its side. That confused Vander because62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDQebpAP0H
when creatures are wounded, they tend to run away to tend to them, but62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5X9MrTfSa
something must be keeping it here, fighting. He didn’t have time to question it62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTd9XvcER2
as it lunged at him with its mouths opened wide.
Vander shoved his sword up into62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5rNIp0oAD
the creature’s path and there was nothing it could do as the point skewered62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhKk6w9Czn
through its throat out of the back of its head. The beast’s massive body62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jBbOKaQSG
slammed into Vander knocking him to the ground. It struggled to right itself as62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3hnIupKMa
black blood poured from the wound all over Vander. In one last ditch attempt,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTqLLlzMVL
the creature scratched Vander’s face. He screamed and kicked the beast off him.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrGD7jy7OI
Their blood mingled together then flashes of light shone in his eyes. He saw a62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkPfklVxiz
small white cub curled under a tree with her eyes hidden under her paws. He62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk0q7jfPfR
felt the beast’s last wish:
“Keep my child safe.” Before62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtk5TDWzO0
it died. Holding his bleeding face, Vander limped to where the cub was hiding.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZCThdhV5x
He pushed back the bush protecting it from outside forces. Once the cub62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoDnjrqmos
realized he was there, she jumped up baring her tiny teeth. Unlike her mother,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyUhXm3gG8
the cub was pure white. Vander held out his hand. She eyed him suspiciously but62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYtSDUWcmC
sniffed it. Deciding that he meant her no harm, she walked up to him curling up62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WCUqHR6lX
on his lap.
After that, Vander passed out62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhXJie3a8M
holding the cub in his arms.
∙
“After that, Bree was removed from62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DpFFX0uSv
the Blades.” Vander explained. “Leon held an inferiority complex due to the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AmzZvEpeZ
attention I received, while Alex stayed by my side.”
“And Muun?” A sad expression62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkF7ZTRkny
appeared on Vander’s face.
“He left three years ago after a62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHpnRKzrB3
mission that almost killed him.” Last I heard he’s living in the woods62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcEPV1LSMv
somewhere with his wife.”
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“At least some good came of a62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGeAZXFboe
tragedy.” She sighed. She clapped her hands and stood up from the bench. “Come,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVd8lRKVPx
let’s get back inside before Cuvera sends out the guards.” Vander stood up then62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdWTPH6MsD
she wrapped her arms with his. “How do you feel about Eliza joining the62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9WMnRPAmP
Blades?”
