Minutes later, Malakai and Nyx crossed the forest and reached a desolate manor.
It had been assigned to him at the age of 12, just as other direct descendants had received theirs, the age he was supposed to awaken. It was meant to be his domain, but without allies or support, it felt more like exile.
His parents, who would have overseen such matters, were long gone, leaving him isolated in the clan’s deadly politics. Without any solid backing and no potential for a bright future, no one wanted to risk allying with him.
Malakai entered the quiet manor and excused Nyx before retreating to his room. The spacious quarters reflected his noble status, but they remained stark and simple.
After changing into lighter clothing, he headed to the back of the manor.
Malakai crossed the backyard gate and broke into a sprint, his movements fast and stable. He reached an open area after a few minutes.
He took a deep breath. ‘It’s time to train.’
In front of him was a self-made training course that targeted every aspect of combat: agility, endurance, strength, and reaction time. Despite its rough appearance, the sheer effort poured into its creation was evident.
He had been banned from the youth clan’s training sessions because he couldn’t evolve. But Malakai refused to stop.
So, he had turned to books and his own ingenuity to grow stronger. This course was the result of years of relentless work.
He would get stronger, no matter what.
Without wasting a moment, he began his training.
…
Malakai trained for the rest of the day. And as night descended, Nyx approached the training course and stood silently by the side.
Seated cross-legged, Malakai meditated, replaying recent fights in his mind and analyzing better strategies. This simple technique, learned from fighting manuals, had significantly improved his skills over time.
Doing this allowed him to see the gaps in his defense, the wasted movements, the inefficiencies in his strikes. He wasn’t just remembering, he was refining.
The more he relived his battles, the deeper his understanding grew, until instinct and intellect fused into one.
With each session, his reaction time was honed to the razor’s edge.
After a few minutes, Malakai opened his eyes and stared at Nyx, who had been bowing in front of him since.
“9th Vein… it’s almost time for dinner.”
“Dinner?”
“Yes, 9th Vein… it’s been three months already.”
Malakai didn’t respond, simply staring at her. However, a heavy sigh soon escaped his lips.
It was that time again.
The quarterly dinner mandated by the Blood Sovereign. Every direct descendant was required to attend.
Malakai’s figure shot up from his seated position. His gaze was calm, but he knew how much he hated sitting at that table. How it made him feel.
With a nod, he and Nyx left the training course in the forest and made their way back to the manor, where Malakai quickly freshened up and changed into the formal attire Nyx had laid out for him in the room.
After a few minutes, he made his way through the forest, reaching the main building of the Sanguine Clan.
It was massive. As Malakai neared, he couldn’t see the building’s end from either side. It was the main area of the Sanguine Clan and where the Blood Sovereign resided. Coming here was strictly for business purposes, which made the area devoid of people.
‘They’re already here.’
Malakai noted multiple carriages parked in an orderly fashion in front of the building. Their quality alone was many times greater than what he usually used for his missions. It meant his cousins, uncles, and aunts had arrived.
Regardless of the size, the dinner was a formal occasion. As a direct descendant, a carriage was supposed to be sent to accompany him, but Malakai knew better than to wait for one.
The massive double doors swung open as Malakai approached. He ignored the guards whose gazes were boring into him and walked through the door.
Making his way through the building, Malakai eventually reached a large door and simply stood.
Seconds passed, yet Malakai didn’t move. He knew what was waiting for him in that room, and it made his stomach turn.
He took a large breath, one that calmed his nerves. ‘Let’s get this over with.’
With that thought, Malakai pushed the door open and entered.
As soon as he entered, Malakai instantly felt it. It was as though the gravity of the room was many times stronger than outside, suffocating.
His figure buckled as he clenched his fists hard, trying to fight the crushing force that had acted on him. Taking a second, he stabilized himself, then sent a glance across the room.
Seated at a long mahogany table were exactly 21 individuals.
The seating arrangement was divided by importance.
At the far end, closest to the head of the table, where the seat remained empty, sat six individuals on both sides who effortlessly radiated an aura that made the air heavy.
These were the Pulses of the Sanguine family, the mid-direct descendants and Malakai’s uncles and aunts. They held important positions within the Sanguine family, in charge of cities and settlements.
Seated further down were nine youths. They were the Veins of the Sanguine Clan, the youngest direct descendants and Malakai’s cousins.
And lastly, seated after the Veins, were the wives and husbands of the Pulses.
Malakai’s calm footsteps rang out as he made his way to his seat. None of the people in the room reacted to his entrance, as though he were insignificant.
‘Good, he’s not here yet.’
Malakai was relieved he had made it in time. He couldn’t imagine the consequences if the Blood Sovereign had arrived before him.
He took his seat at the far end of the table, opposite the head. As he did, Malakai could feel an intense amount of hate directed at him from multiple people seated at the table.
Many hated the fact that he was allowed to sit with them, while others hated the fact that he was given that position at all.
While it was far from the table’s center, it directly faced the head of the table where the Blood Sovereign presided.
It was a seat meant for someone of importance, but instead, the Blood Sovereign had given it to Malakai.
As the silence stretched on, one of the wives suddenly scoffed, drawing attention to herself.
She was draped in fine silks and glittering jewels, her fingers adorned with rings that flashed as she raised her hand.
“Looks like you still failed to evolve. Honestly, I think it’s best you do everyone a favor and just disappear. Someone like you shouldn’t even be here.”