This revelation hit me like a ton of bricks—hard. I didn’t know how to react. But I quickly regained my composure and demanded, “Where is she? Where did she… go?”

  My arms felt weak, and I had a sinking feeling he didn’t have the answer. I dropped him to the ground and let my arms fall lifeless at my sides. “Do you know anything else?”

  He shook his head, still terrified of me.

  I looked at him for a while, but after a couple of seconds, I turned on my heel and walked away.

  Another man asked, “Is that all...?”

  I responded, “Go back to learning about Balash or whatever it is you do.”

  “You… you break in here, kill Loran, and threaten us! And you think you can just walk away?!” the man shouted, glaring at me like I was the devil.

  I didn’t blame him for thinking that way. Ignoring the mark I bore, I probably looked like the devil to them. I replied flatly, “One life for two.”

  “Two...? What? What the hell are you talking about?”

  I didn’t answer. Crusbull followed me as I stepped over the broken ceiling pieces and made my way through the doorway.

  It was incredibly dark, but through Crusbull’s eyes, everything was clear. Above us, Tarnisha sat on her Warbird, its wings still flapping.

  In the corner of my eyes, on a naked tree, void of leaves, I spotted a black cat looking at me. I ignored it.

  I touched Crusbull, turning it into black energy before absorbing it into my left hand. The dark energy blended seamlessly with the surroundings, especially in this darkness.

  The Warbird wasn’t a monster—it was an animal, and its senses weren't in sync with Tarnisha’s so she truly couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.

  I called out, “Can you come get me? Please.”

  The ride back to Sundawn was quiet.

  Tarnisha broke the silence, “You didn’t kill them all.”

  “Yeah… I learned some new things. Wouldn’t have made sense to kill them.”

  “Bad decision. They’ll recognize your face. They’ll report you.”

  I shrugged. “What was I supposed to do? Kill them even if I think they’re innocent?”

  “If they’re gonna get you killed later, they’re not innocent.”

  I shot her a look. She stared at me like I was an idiot. “Next time hide your face. Or kill all the witnesses.”

  “You’ve done a lot of killing, huh?”

  “I did what I had to survive. I don’t like it. I don’t like killing other people... but my life is more important than those who want to take it. And so is yours.”

  The Warbird let out a screech of dominance before spreading its wings wide, soaring higher.

  The wind howled against us, filling the air with harsh, biting noise.

  I nodded at her words. “So, what do we do now? Turn back and kill them?”

  I hated the idea, but it was the most logical choice.

  Tarnisha shook her head. “Don’t worry about that.”

  “How? You said it’d be a problem.”

  “I dealt with it.”

  I raised an eyebrow. Back at the temple, all she did was lower the bird for me to hop on. I hadn’t noticed anything else, so I was left utterly confused. “When? When did you do that?”

  She didn’t answer, and her silence only irritated me more. I clenched my fist in anger and turned my gaze away from her.

  POV: Abella

  I sat on the silver silk couch, my hands resting on the arms of the chair. In front of me stood a long red wooden table, made from a Tree-Eater monster I had killed when I was thirteen. The forty-three ton meat eating tree had left its monster zone and invaded the city of Shinetown(it was a town back then).

  Across from me, my mother sat on a matching silver silk couch, her legs crossed. She was rambling, as usual, her voice filling the room.

  Ferzan was paying attention, responding to her and asking questions—maybe tests, quizzes, or something else.

  I wanted to listen, but I was too tired. Too tired of hearing her talk.

  She glanced at me and her gaze settled on my forehead. “How long do you plan to keep infuriating me, Abella?”

  I looked up, confused. “What did I do?”

  She tapped her forehead, a sharp gesture. “Get rid of it. It’s disturbing.”

  Then I realized what she meant. My hand slid through the back of my hair until I felt the metallic band. I pressed it, and there was a click. The Blending Band deactivated, becoming visible. I removed it, revealing what I had been hiding.

  A golden monster seal marked my forehead, dark purple veins spreading around it like ugly roots.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  I placed the Blending Band on the couch and rested my hands on my thighs.

  My mother stared at the seal, her face tight with frustration. “I don’t get why you feel ashamed. You’re a Vlandos—a [Hero], the mother of Ferzan. Wife of a Demi Mortal God. Daughter in law of a literal Mortal God.” She shook her head in exasperation. “People would die to be in your place.”

  I didn’t respond, but inside, I could feel the words daring to slip out: People? Are those ‘people’ you?

  She wouldn't be offended, but she would question why I said something in such an offensive manner.

  Ferzan turned to look at the second floor, confused. My mother noted it. "Those two are back. Perfect timing."

  She pushed herself off the chair and stood tall. "Call them down. I want to see how strong the vlandos in your care are."

  My heart raced, and I stood up too quickly. My body punished me with sharp muscle aches, as though I were being stabbed. I groaned in pain but 'ignored' it.

  I told her, "Not Tarnisha. She doesn’t like fighting. You know that. I told you—"

  She waved away my comment. "It's not up for debate." Then she called for a servant to fetch the children.

  I frowned and threw myself onto the couch, pushing it back by an inch. She did what she wanted. Like always.

  The servant, a Punchio man with green eyes, Zec'op, looked at me for confirmation. It seemed he remembered Golbon’s instructions for obeying my mother’s orders.

  I gave him a lazy nod. He bowed deeply and headed up the stairs.

  My mother stared after him. "I don’t like that boy... ill-mannered little money goblin."

  "Please, don’t call them that."

  "What next? Don’t call a Star a Star? Hmmm?" She rolled her eyes.

  I sighed deeply and rested a hand on my forehead. A headache threatened to split my skull.

  Ferzan eyebrows furrowed. "Dad always said if humans are rude to other beings, we shouldn't be surprised when they are rude to us."

  My mother responded, "Your father is na?ve. You've done well in history, haven't you? Then you already know why he's...unrealistic."

  "My father is far from naive." Ferzan stressed the vowels on the last words.

  She eyed him.

  Katie then said, some excitement in her voice, thinking this was the prime opportunity to share her knowledge and thinking skills, "Dad always says that treaties and the like are only ever temporary. Fostering a tight relationship between the people of different nations puts pressure on the ruling parties, which results in less conflict between the two. Emermyne is a prime example of that. Before they waged war against us, against all humans, Falsker had spent many years uniting all of Emermyne's regions, A-and you know how different they were! How much they hated their own people. How many generations of civil war they ha— "

  "Enough." My mother clicked her tongue. "I don't care."

  Katie confidence broke and she slowly nodded before leaning back into the couch she shared with her brother.

  The children came downstairs with Zec'op. I whispered a thank-you, trying to conserve energy. He bowed and was dismissed.

  "My, the child has grown stronger. I like it. I love to see it," my mother said, smiling genuinely. Katie’s eyes widened in surprise, as though she couldn’t believe what she was witnessing.

  That smile.

  Her gaze shifted to Vernisha, and I saw contempt flicker in her eyes, as though Vernisha were a thief who had stolen everything she had poured her life into.

  Ah, how I dreaded this... I think I had accepted by now that I was a terrible mother. It was hard to be a decent one when thinking hurt so much. When you just wanted to shut everything out to ease the pain, even if just a little.

  Just a bit less...

  I longed for Goldbon. He made life so much easier.

  My mother approached Vernisha. "From level 17 to 19... with a full monster set. Who did you kill?"

  Vernisha blinked, confused. "Who? I-It was just monsters we came across."

  She was quick with her words, but it didn’t matter. We weren’t fools.

  My mother's smile deepened, a knowing smile that told us she saw right through Vernisha's lie. "Is that so? Keep your secrets. I don’t mind it. Sometimes, I like it."

  Vernisha reached for her hair, then stopped as if realizing it was an automatic response.

  My mother looked at the two of them and said, "Rather than just testing Ferzan, I think it’s better to test all of you. Since we’re all vlandos…" Her smile faltered slightly. "Even if we don’t all have Stars in our blood."

  She then turned toward the front doors, which opened as the Julioes man entered. She waved her hand in his direction. "My slave, Com-mera-kuk, will be your challenger."

  Vernisha raised an eyebrow. "I thought slavery was banned here, at least of other species."

  Mother shrugged. "Everything is legal when you have enough power, child."

  "I get that... but why not a human slave—a legal slave?"

  "I didn’t feel like it."

  Vernisha studied her, trying to read her mind. "I see... Can I ask you something?"

  "Sure."

  "Do you hate Terrafall and its rules?"

  My mother smiled and crouched down to be eye level with Vernisha. "Can I ask why you’re asking me that?"

  "I think you already know."

  "Indeed, I do..." There was a pause. My mother looked deeply into her eyes. "I like you. I like smart children."

  POV: Vernisha

  At the back of the mansion was a battle yard, the ground layered with black stone and shaped into a rectangle. It was about the size of three dumper trucks stuck end to end.

  I also learned the grandmother’s name: Abella. Her middle name, Emill, was used to differentiate them. Funny enough, her daughter was better known as Abella.

  Emill stood at the far end of the battle yard, the Julioes and Abella, her daughter, at her side.

  Tarnisha was beside Ferzan and me, but she looked like she was about to blow a fuse.

  Emill spoke. "Tar, come forth. Send your monster out."

  Tarnisha didn’t answer. Emill repeated herself, but got the same response—silence.

  Emill monster seal glowed white.

  Abella placed a hand in front of her mother. "She doesn’t like violence."

  "You’re aware that child has no issues with violence, so don’t try to fool me," Emill snapped, turning back to Tarnisha. "You disgrace all proud vlandos."

  Ferzan’s fists clenched.

  Abella sighed. "Move on already. You’re giving me a headache."

  "You’re letting this behavior fester in your house, Abella. Soon, she’ll be calling you a Valuzaa to your face."

  Abella’s patience snapped. "Move on, Mother."

  Tarnisha wandered over to Abella and leaned against her, clearly seeking comfort.

  Emill, clearly upset but trying to control her temper, nodded forward, directing the slave with a flick of her chin. "Fight the girl."

  The Julioes man’s eyes drifted from the stars above to me. His movements were sluggish as he stepped forward, his steps dragging with exhaustion. He came to a halt in front of a white line on their side.

  His dead eyes and lifeless movements were unnerving—there was not a single ember of life in them.

  I moved forward to stand on the white line on my side, trying to shake off the unease. Emill’s voice rang out, cold and commanding. "Fight. Don’t disappoint me, child."

  Ferzan’s lips twisted, his hands opening and closing in tight, restless motions. Then he leaned in and whispered, his voice low. "Try not to get your neck broken."

  I turned to him in surprise. He added, "It hurts a lot."

  It dawned on me then just how serious this was—another reason why Emill had chosen a Julioes.

  They were known for not having permanent scars and healing faster than humans. Among all super-sentient species(species capable of high levels of communication), they were the least likely to suffer permanent physical injuries.

  I set my eyes back on the Julioes, who lazily moved forward, as though walking through snow.

  I pulled out my dagger and black knife.

  [+4% strength]

  [+7% strength]

  Inspect.

  I couldn’t inspect. His level was above 38. Horrible news for me.

  Emill and Abella’s eyes narrowed as they noticed my weapons. Then, without warning, the Julioes kicked forward, sending a bolt of white light that soon took the form of a metallic bird, with wings clamped tightly to its side, as long as a double-cab van.

  A cold sweat ran down my back, and I barely managed to step back in time.

  My weapons' handle slid into my mouth, freeing both my hands.

  I clasped my hands in front of my face.

  The creature’s beak was inches from me. Then there was a flash of black concealed in my hands.