Suddenly, while Lazry walked toward the Main Hall beside Elder Grude and Winston, a heavy silence pressed on his chest. His steps felt slow, even though he tried to keep up.
His mind drifted back to the other day, when everything felt so different. Back then he was excited.
He had been proud. He had wondered how his mother and the high elders would react once they learned he had conjured a nine tailed demon fox, a creature so rare and so powerful that even ancient clans would fight for it.
He imagined their faces filled with shock and awe. He imagined the elders praising him. He imagined his mother smiling proudly.
But now, all he felt was emptiness.
He whispered to himself, his voice low. "I do not know why they called me… but I swear, once I find out who took my nine tailed demon fox, I will not walk away quietly."
His fingers curled tightly. His chest felt hot and hollow at the same time.
Suddenly, familiar voices echoed from ahead.
"Youth master, you are here!"
Jaro, Ren, old man Tomas, and young Pip rushed over. Their faces were pale from nervousness but brightened the moment they saw him. They lowered their heads in deep respect. Even Jaro, who used to be cocky, bowed like a frightened rabbit.
Lazry nodded. "You all came."
Jaro leaned closer. "Young master… we were worried. The elders are looking for people to blame again."
Ren scratched his head while clutching his mole spirit beast on his shoulder. "Young master… how is your curse beast? The small one. Not the fox. The dog with the… six eyes." His voice cracked at the last part.
Pip trembled. "Young master… is it eating well? Is it angry today? Does it need anything?"
Old Tomas coughed as if trying to hide his trembling. "We know you have been summoned. Please tell us the dog beast is in a good mood. It will not… appear suddenly, right? Just tell me it will not appear."
Lazry blinked. "Why are you all talking like that?"
Jaro gulped loudly. "We are only concerned. Your pet is… terrifying. If it is hungry, it is better to prepare early. Young master, you should tell us if it needs something. We will get it for you. Anything. Even if we must steal it."
Ren nodded rapidly. "Yes, young master, anything. Does it want a cow? Or two cows? Or a mountain goat?"
Pip whispered, "It can have me if it wants to. Just… tell it not to chew slowly."
Lazry stared, confused. He sighed. "It is fine."
Everyone let out a long breath of relief.
Then Jaro asked softly, "Young master… are you sure we really have to do this?"
Lazry looked puzzled. "Do what?"
Jaro blinked. Ren blinked. Tomas blinked. Even Pip blinked.
They leaned closer, whispering. "You know… that thing."
"What thing?" Lazry asked.
"That thing," Jaro repeated.
"What thing?" Lazry asked again, louder.
Ren whispered anxiously. "You know… chaos. Trouble. Showing the elders a lesson. That thing."
Lazry stared blankly. "I never said anything like that."
But the four saw Elder Grude walking behind him. They misunderstood instantly. All four of them straightened, eyes wide.
Jaro whispered urgently. "Young master, we understand. You do not want to say it here. We will wait until later."
Ren nodded fast. "Yes, young master. We will follow your lead. Even if you want us to cause chaos, we will do it with honor."
Pip saluted. "We will not hesitate."
Lazry opened his mouth. "What chaos? What are you—"
But he was cut off by Elder Grude's cold voice.
"So. You are using your status now."
Elder Grude walked in front of them, his expression twisted in annoyance. His voice dripped with mockery.
"Look at you. You were always alone. You walked around like a shadow, hiding behind your mother's reputation. But now, suddenly, you have your little group. How impressive. The useless child finally has followers."
Lazry's eyebrow twitched. The mockery cut deeper than he expected.
Elder Grude leaned closer, smirking. "Are you pretending to be important now? Are you enjoying this attention? Playing leader for these kids?"
Lazry clenched his jaw. He glared at the old man.
"You took my nine tailed demon fox," Lazry said. His voice was steady but cold. "What do you expect me to do? Cry?"
The hall fell silent.
Elder Grude narrowed his eyes. "I did not take your fox. We, the high elders, did. It was decided for the future of the clan."
"You think I cannot make the clan great?" Lazry said.
Elder Grude snorted loudly. "You cannot even get accepted into the Curse Conjurer Academy. Your talent is too low. Your progress is embarrassing. Giving the nine tailed demon fox to you would be the same as throwing it into a pit. It would be wasted on you. It is better used by the clan."
The words hit Lazry like a hammer.
For a moment, he felt nothing.
Then a heat rose from his stomach, burning its way up to his chest and throat. His heart pounded. His hands shook.
All he could think was:
This old bastard.
But before Lazry could respond, another voice cut in.
Gruig stepped forward.
His expression was stiff, but his voice carried fire. Even Elder Grude blinked in surprise.
"Grandfather. You took senior Lazry's curse demon beast? Do you even understand what you have done?"
Elder Grude turned sharply. "Gruig, silence."
But Gruig refused.
"Do you know who senior Lazry is? Do you know how talented he is? Do you know what he did for me? He saved my life. He destroyed an old monster from the past that tried to possess my body. Senior is stronger than you think. Stronger than all of you think."
Lazry froze. His mouth fell open slightly.
Jaro, Ren, Tomas, and Pip also stared, speechless.
Elder Grude frowned deeply. "Are you insane? What nonsense—"
Gruig glared fiercely at his own grandfather. "Old man, you do not understand anything. You took senior's beast because you thought he was useless, but you are blind. When I reach the top of the Lycannis Family, I will teach all the elders a lesson. For senior. He does not need to dirty his hands."
Lazry was stunned. He looked left. He looked right. He pointed at himself.
"Me?"
Gruig bowed. "Yes, senior."
Elder Grude watched his grandson with disbelief. Gruig was never respectful. Gruig never bowed. Gruig never showed fear. Gruig never showed loyalty.
But now, Gruig defended Lazry like a loyal soldier.
Is he telling the truth? Elder Grude wondered.
He never believed any of Gruig's claims about Lazry, but the boy's trembling eyes held sincerity that Grude had never seen before.
Just as Elder Grude opened his mouth to scold his grandson.
The ground shook.
Hard.
The entire Lycannis compound trembled as if something massive had struck the earth beneath them. People screamed. Plates and lanterns fell. Curse beasts roared.
Elder Grude spun around and shouted. "Who dares attack the Lycannis Family!"
His voice echoed like thunder.
He immediately conjured his beast. A massive furry wolf with glowing red eyes emerged beside him. Elder Grude leaped onto its back.
"Stay here! I will find the threat!"
He shot into the distance like a streak of light.
But the trembling only grew stronger.
Suddenly, beneath Lazry's feet, the ground cracked open. A black gate of swirling darkness expanded outward. The air twisted and screamed. The ground turned into liquid shadow.
"Young master!" Winston yelled.
Jaro grabbed Lazry's arm.
Ren reached forward with panic.
Tomas pushed Pip behind him.
But the black gate surged like a hungry mouth.
Winston, Gruig, Jaro, Ren, Tomas, and Pip were all swallowed whole, their bodies sucked into the darkness one by one as if pulled by an invisible force.
"Seni—!"
"Youth maste—!"
"Help—!"
Their voices vanished.
And in an instant…
They were gone.
Leaving Lazry alone, standing at the edge of the swirling darkness. The only one the black gate refused to take. The only one left behind.
The hall was silent.
The shadows pulsed below.
And Lazry stared into the darkness with wide eyes and a tightening chest, realizing that something bad was about to happen.