“That’s your homeland?” Fuxiao stood next to Topan.

The crawling black stripes visualised the tiger’s anger and resentment. Fists clenched by his sides, Topan muttered, “Yeah.”

Just then, the air shuddered and an intense pressure weighed down on them. Fuxiao gripped onto Topan as his Blood turned cold in fear and panic, a similar feeling he had when facing the hudoqs for the first time, but much more suffocating. Slowly, he turned his head.

Two people on horsebacks stopped a few distances away while the silhouette of a small escort group stood in the horizon.

From his posture and atmosphere, Fuxiao deduced that the leading person was someone of power, an important figure, a strong Bloodline. Black hair with royal blue shine. Crystal clear azure blue eyes which sparkled like precious gemstones. His cloak fluttered in the breeze; clean off any dirt and dust–a picture perfect enigma in this vast desert of nothingness.

The second person got off his horse. A well-built knight with slicked back brown hair, rugged features, and a trimmed beard. He drew the broadsword from his back. “Lord Senjahari, please allow me to slice off his legs.”

“At ease, Captain Taring.” Lord Senjahari said. His voice was a rendition of his ice-cold expression directed at Topan. “Why have you returned here?”

“What does that matter to you?” Topan spat back.

“Of course it matters. You are a prisoner of the Cahayaranga Kingdom, under my jurisdiction. The prisoner who massacred our Bustard Royal Troop. Do you think you are free to roam the lands?”

Topan let out a sharp laugh. “And who is it that spared my life? You should have killed me that day! If you truly wanted to avenge your comrades, you should have cut my head off!”

“Enough!” Captain Taring stepped forward and pointed his broadsword at Topan. “Lord Senjahari! I will kill this beast right here!”

“Can you? You couldn’t kill me when I was at my weakest! What makes you think you can kill me now?!” 

Topan’s Bloodline rushed and dark energy swarmed around him, creating the illusion of a tiger. And as if responding to a fight for territory, Captain Taring burst forth with his own Lion Bloodline. Their swords clashed quickly. Black against gold. A fight between the king of jungles and the king of savannahs.

With nowhere to hide, Topan found himself being charged head-on by Captain Taring, and in the open space, the Lion Bloodline raged through. A swing of the broadsword sent Topan into defence.

Unlike the hudoqs, Captain Taring was nimble, tactical, and powerful. The vast wilderness was his advantage ground.

But Topan refused to back down no matter how much he was overpowered.

He couldn’t falter here.

He’s so close to his homeland, to Lekasi.

If he was captured by Lord Senjahari again, they wouldn’t kill him just yet. They would cage him and cut his body into pieces but that wouldn’t be the same for Fuxiao.

Through the short moment they had travelled together, Topan found himself wanting to hold onto Fuxiao–a fragile person lost in the desert without any memories. He thought fighting and losing himself as a monster for ten years had numbed his emotions and humanity but holding Fuxiao’s delicate hand awoken another instinct inside him.

A protective instinct.

Fuxiao got off the ground to run but before he could take a step, the air slammed down on him. Cold sweat broke out. His body couldn’t move under the overwhelming pressure. All he could see from the corner of his eyes was Lord Senjahari approaching him slowly, dark shadows covering his features. Royal blue feathers adorned his face, shimmering against the cerulean energy dancing around him. With every step he took, Fuxiao felt the air rush out of him.

It was a long time ago. So long that he almost forgot.

The familiar sense of fear bubbling inside as he hid in the bushes, watching the man standing over the unmoving body rotting underneath a tree. He was only a child.

He was no match against this person.

He was far too weak.

He couldn’t win.

Not now.

“Who are you?” Lord Senjahari asked.

Fuxiao gripped onto his robe tighter, hoping that it would protect him against the immense energy weighing down on him. “No one important.”

“A survivor out here, alone with the prisoner. An oddity.” Lord Senjahari drew his sword. A gust of whirlwind exploded around them, sweeping sand and dust into the air.

Fuxiao couldn’t breathe. Not from the smokescreen, but from the intense pressure suffocating him. It took all of his willpower just to keep his head up. Through narrow eyes, he barely registered the shine of the silver sword being raised.

But before the sword could strike him, Topan grabbed him and tumbled away from the Lord.

“Run! I’ll hold them back!”

Fuxiao caught his breath.

Even with Topan shielding him, he shuddered under the calculating shining blue eyes.

“Oh? Now this is a sight I thought I’d never see. The monster who mercilessly killed my comrades protecting someone out here alone. Who exactly is this person for you to bare your fangs against me–your benefactor.”

“Benefactor? Don’t fuck with me.” Topan spat.

“If I hadn’t taken you down, you would have continued to live as a monster. Be thankful that you are now a human.”

“And the mighty Lord here allows a human to be imprisoned, cut up, and used as a study experiment? Even I know a dog has a better life.”

“Enough of this slander!” Captain Taring roared, “If it wasn’t for Lord Senjahari, I wouldn’t have to hold back. I want nothing more than to slice you up and feed you to the crocodiles!”

“Don’t be hasty, Captain. We still have many uses for him.”

At that, royal blue energy exploded around Lord Senjahari, enveloping his sword with its shimmering aura.

“Topan–that guy’s dangerous.” Fuxiao struggled to breathe.

“No shit.” Topan gripped his sword tighter. “But I can’t back away here. My home is just over the cliff but more than that…” He glanced at Fuxiao’s trembling figure. “I’m not going to leave you alone. We made a deal. I am a knight of Lekasi, a royal knight who directly served King Aranjaya. And I will keep my word to protect my people.”

If only willpower could overcome the sheer difference of strength, Topan would have won. But Lord Senjahari’s Royal Cendrawasih Bloodline ruled the entire Cahayaranga Kingdom–a Bloodline so powerful that its light could eat away darkness.

Everyone in the Cahayaranga Kingdom knew the absolute power of the Royal Cendrawasih Bloodline. Piercing strength that could slice mountains. Lightning speed that broke away rainy clouds. Charismatic leadership that took the burdens of the people and turned them into a united force. The Royal Cendrawasih Bloodline stood above every living being in the Cahayaranga Kingdom and no one questioned or dared to go against them. Animal instincts knew how it should be.

It was the laws of nature.

One strike was all it took to shatter Topan’s sword and slice his body across, spilling crimson blood onto the dry lands.

The sight of Topan’s body crumbling jolted Fuxiao. Noises went silent. Shadow cast over his eyes. Red pooled around his knees and as he reached out rigid hands to hold his beast, a flurry of emotions flooded into him.

Anger.

Resentment.

Fear.

Desperation.

But his vision began to blur with exhaustion. The air slowly flowed out of his chest and the world as he knew it spun in place. Blank spots in his memories sparkled. A river of emptiness washed over him. He stood in the void alone, waiting for something, waiting for nothing, and all he could hear was the silence on his lips.

Darkness fell.

-

“Wake up.”

Cold water splashed onto his face.

Fuxiao coughed and spluttered, senses suddenly alerted by the frigid atmosphere surrounding him.

He was in a prison cell. A small enclosement for temporary isolation of petty crimes. There were no windows but a single torch hung on the wall and the dim light illuminated the three men on the other side of the iron bars, two of which fanned the flames of disgust in him.

“My Lord, do we really need a prison for this?”

“You are much too impatient, Captain.”

“My Lord! This is merely a Dormant vagrant! Is there anything we need to question him for?”

“You’re truly all brawn and no brain,” the third man fixed his glasses as turquoise eyes flashed at the Captain. His long pale blue hair was neatly tied into a low ponytail, framing his slender face and pink lips. He placed the wooden bucket on the stone floor, “Every suspicious activity must be dealt with according to the rules and orders. That’s why we have them in the first place. We can’t just start swinging swords everytime. You ought to spend some time reviewing the policies, Captain.”

“You looking for a fight, now, Setia?!” Captain Taring roared in agitation.

While Captain Taring and Setia squabbled, Lord Senjahari stepped closer to the prison cell. Slender hand reached between the iron bars and ignoring Fuxiao’s flinch, grabbed the metal identity tag.

“Fuxiao, a combat medic.” Lord Senjahari flipped the tag around. “That’s a name from Shewei. How did you end up with that monster?”

Even though the Lord’s Bloodline wasn’t active, Fuxiao couldn’t stop the churning in his stomach. It was a stark contrast to the sense of safety he had with Topan.

It was as though he was a prey, meeting its natural predator.