Kyren’s POV
*****
"So walk down this like you’re walking a puppy."
"What sort of analogy is that?"
"One you should understand if—"
"Shh! You two will wake him up!"
Kyren, Lucian and Elian were in an infirmary within the Rogue King’s palace. All three, even Kyren, stared down at the person lying on the bed in front of them like a paralysed chicken.
Sylas.
The infirmary was lit up with dull white and red lights, its walls pulsing with runic lines that targeted health and rejuvenation. Other beds lined the walls but they were empty.
Save for this one.
The sterile sll of dications and potions lingered, three doctors working on the clock checking the Oga’s vitals and other readings on the floating holographic screen beside him.
Organised. A quick response for a servant, who apparently might be his long-lost half-cousin.
After the explosion and everything else that happened in the excavation zone outside, the Rogue king was puzzled by a lot of things. And rightfully so.
"I’m just saying, little fla." Kyren folded his arms, squinting. "It doesn’t make any sense. If Elowen’s story adds up, Amara might be responsible for kidnapping her long-lost son."
Lucian nodded, flicking a strand of his black hair from his face. "The black feather and red magic residues left behind that night seem to be telltale signs of your hag of a mother—no offence."
"None taken." Kyren shrugged. "I’d have called her sothing worse."
"Again, you guys..." Elian rubbed his forehead. "Can we focus on the elephant in the room?" He turned his head to Sylas’ still features, his own eyes softening. "The... The frail. Fragile—"
"The divine energy bursting out of him like a geyser disproves the ’fragile’ part." Kyren snorted. "I’ve always known there was sothing... Different about him. Never did I expect he’d be the latest addition to the madness that’s the Stormborn bloodline."
Lucian let out a chuckle, half amused, half exhausted. "Our family tree really is a tangled ss, isn’t it?"
The Rogue king and Alpha Prince exchanged glances. But neither said anything.
anwhile, Elian rubbed his chin with his right hand. He seed like he was in deep thought. Like he had his emotions under control... A weird sight for his little fla. Especially after all the madness they’ve faced today.
Kyren had noticed sothing... New about Elian. Before he left Lunaria.
But as always, he wasn’t going to pry unless he told him.
"I’m curious now," Elian blinked, turning to Kyren. "How did you find Sylas? He once told he’s been here since he was little. That you personally found him."
Kyren’s eyes narrowed at that.
He whipped his head to Sylas just then. His red hair rested over his face. And those lashes that hid twin blue orbs behind them.
"About six years ago. The capital was celebrating a festival. In my honour." Kyren faked a cough, beginning. "I can rember it like it was yesterday..."
.
.
— SIX YEARS AGO —
"Long live the Rogue King!"
"Lord Kyren, please say hello to my daughter!"
"Lord Kyren!"
Kyren’s expression was stoic as he walked through the tarred roads of the Dark Lands’ capital city.
People dotted the city like ants, singing praises and cheering him as if he had just co back from a decade-long war. He hadn’t had one of those in centuries.
Saying Noctreth was alive tonight would be an understatent. Yellow and white lights were strung over the buildings—large and small. Stalls were open, the fresh aroma of a variety of food wafting into the ashen sky.
His people were happy. He wasn’t—he hasn’t for as long as he could let himself rember.
"Co on, my Lord." His commander patted him on his back just then. That earned Farrell a deadpan glare, forcing him to withdraw his hand. "I’m just trying to say you should... Enjoy this festival that the people decided to throw for you. The Dark Lands don’t have holidays after all."
Kyren’s lips barely moved. "Holidays are for Lunaria and Arcadia. At least they have the luxury of living in a land that wasn’t cursed aeons ago."
"Yet we thrive, my Lord." Farrell pushed, dangling a goblet of wine in front of Kyren’s face. The latter arched a brow at the lad, gaze locked on his ashen hair and broad smile. "Under your rule, we’ve seen nothing but peace."
"You joke."
"Well, minus the conquests you made to unite the lands in the first place." Farrell grinned slyly. "But still... You deserve this, my Lord. Besides, how do you hope to find your mate one day with this—"
"Don’t you dare."
That seed to finally make Farrell give up, his hands raised in defeat. Guards trailed behind them, preventing the people from clawing at Kyren like a crazed mob.
He could feel their love. Their devotion. Which was shocking, given the reputation he had gained across the rest of the continent.
The Rogue king’s eyes scanned through the crowd at his right side. His vision tunnelled for a second, instincts making him stop abruptly.
"My Lord?" Farrell stopped as well, signalling the guards to do the sa. "What’s wrong? You seem—"
"Thief!"
"Co here, little brat!"
Piercing through the crowd, Kyren’s eyes soon spotted a commotion at one of the roasted star hawk stalls. A little boy, no older than twelve with peculiar red hair that blew into the wind.
The lad ran as fast as his little legs could carry, squeezing through the crowd. All to safeguard the at he stole, clutched close to his chest like a long-lost organ.
"The audacity," Farrell mumbled, following Kyren’s gaze and sighting the boy as well. "Where are those boys’ parents? How dare he steal when you—"
A single step was all it took for Kyren to disappear. Barely a second later, he appeared directly in front of the boy, grabbing his shoulder and forcing him to stay put.
"No!" The lad scread, trembling under the Rogue king’s detached crimson eyes.
Kyren scrutinised him closely. His clothes were tattered... but not poor. More like he’d been in the wild for days or even weeks, struggling to survive. Fleeing from sothing or soone.
The people pursuing him soon caught up—two skinny n and a burlier one he assud was the stall owner. As soon as they saw Kyren, their eyes lit up.
"M–My lord." They bowed. "Thank you for catching him." The burly one was the one who continued, voice filled with gratitude and reverence. "I looked everywhere and saw no signs of a parent or guardian. Even friends—"
"That’s because he’s here alone," Kyren noted more to himself, tearing his eyes away from them. He tilted his head at the boy curiously. "Aren’t you, little one?"
The latter swallowed hard. Even that simple motion seed like it drained most of his energy, which, from the looks of things, was already on a thin thread.
"I’m... I’m sorry." The lad finally croaked, lowering his head. "I shouldn’t have taken it. But I’m hungry. I—" his sobs cut him off, his frail form shaking like he was under the rain.
Most people around didn’t notice what was happening. Others who did stared, whispering all sorts of theories to themselves.
Kyren didn’t soften at the boy’s tears. If anything he felt like letting go of him and pretending he didn’t see any of this. But again... There was sothing about him.
Sothing that made him feel... Protective?
No. That’s not the word.
Still, he could see a little of himself in the lad. Two kindred souls born into a cruel world, struggling for survival. By ANY ans necessary.
"How much for what he stole?" Kyren asked, already twisting his wrist. Two golden tickets appeared in between his fingers, glinting under the festival lights. "Here."
He flung them at the n before they could even answer. That should easily cover it.
Turning away, he didn’t glance back at the dazed boy. He spoke calmly. "Word of advice... Only resort to ’dirty’ stuff when every other ans of survival seems futile."
With that, he continued walking, eyes glued on Farrell and the guards who were still on the spot he left them.
.
.
"So..." Elian frowned with confusion when he finished his narration. "You left him there? I thought—"
"Oh, I did." Kyren nodded. "But he was one stubborn lad. Followed back to the palace. I only sensed him when we were close to the force bubble."
It was Lucian’s turn to look confused. "And you just took him in? A boy whom you knew nothing about? You?"
The Rogue king looked away from them, shrugging. "One reason I found it... Unnerving that he’s your brother—other than the lack of resemblance—is the fact that he told his parents rejected him from Lunaria because of his latent oga status."
Elian nodded. "Yeah—he told that too."
Kyren’s eyes flitted to Sylas. Still unconscious. Still peaceful. Still full of mystery.
"Believe ... I did a quick scan of his mories back then and he wasn’t lying." He murmured. "Nothing about being kidnapped by a maniacal witch."
All three of them went silent after that.
Sothing wasn’t adding up...
"Sir." One of the doctors walked toward Kyren, handing him a holographic tablet. "We’ve run a full body diagnosis. Down to the atomic level. Those are the results."
Kyren nodded once, grabbing the tablet.
However, when his gaze skimd through the readings—his breath stuttered.
"What does it say?" Lucian craned his neck trying to see.
Kyren was left stunned.
This... This was...
"He’s your brother, alright." The Rogue king muttered. "But he’s been subjected to deep mutations. Completely altering his bloodline, DNA and apparently his mories."
"In much simpler terms?" Elian asked grimly.
Kyren’s jaw tightened, gaze fleeting between the tablet and Sylas.
"He’s an Oga. But he’s been so deeply experinted on with divine energy that now he’s essentially..." He paused, almost unable to believe the words himself. "A werewolf-witch hybrid with a mana core that only just awakened."
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