Instead of sympathy, murmurs of disdain rose from the onlookers. So turned their heads, so whispered behind their hands, and then—
"Ha! How disgusting," soone sneered, their voice sharp and filled with loathing.
Kaya’s brows knit together. She turned, slowly, to see who had spoken.
It was a man. A beastman. Just like the boy who had cried out in pain.
He stood among the crowd like any other, but his eyes... they were cold. Unfeeling.
She couldn’t believe it.
They were the sa kind.
And yet the hatred in his voice was more venomous than even the humans she rembered from her past life.
Her eyes flicked back to the boy.
He couldn’t be more than fifteen or sixteen. A teenager. Just a child.
Blood oozed from deep wounds slashed across his back—black blood, thick and heavy, almost unnaturally dark. The kind of black that told of poison, of pain, of sothing far more sinister than a re whip mark.
His skin had split open, revealing pale bone beneath, like soone had used a knife instead of a whip.
Before Kaya could even fully process what she was seeing, the whip was raised again.
The bull-like beastman shouted, aiming to strike once more.
But just as it ca down—
Another boy, eyes wide with fear, darted forward and threw his arms around the injured one, trying to shield him.
And then—Kaya moved.
Not out of reason.
Not out of logic.
But instinct.
Before her mind had caught up, her body had already stepped forward.
Snap!
She grabbed the whip mid-air, catching it in her bare hand, and clenched it tightly in her fist.
The crackling tension vanished.
Silence fell.
Heavy. Sudden. Absolute.
The crowd froze, like ti had halted for a breath too long.
Gasps echoed faintly in the background.
And behind her, two small figures stood frozen—Vayu and Cutie.
But it wasn’t just shock in their eyes.
It was terror.
Vayu’s expression was split between disbelief and fear, while Cutie looked as if soone had poured ice down his spine.
They weren’t just shocked.
They were 2 parts stunned, 3 parts terrified, and 5 parts full of raw fear.
As soon as Kaya ca back to herself, a sinking certainty settled in her chest—she was done for.
She took a deep breath, steadying the whirlwind of thoughts racing through her mind.
Her eyes shifted back to the boy, still trembling but now looking at her with sothing new—hope.
Just by looking at him, she could guess how many tis that fragile hope had been raised... only to be shattered again and again by cruelty.
Her jaw tightened.
She had promised herself she wouldn’t get pulled into other people’s troubles anymore—not after everything she’d fought for, not after every scar she carried.
But how could she turn away when two children—barely sixteen—stood bleeding and broken before her?
She, who had spent her life fighting for civilians, making sure they had a chance at a better life, couldn’t just stand silent now.
Her teeth clenched hard.
And besides... she’d already grabbed the whip.
By doing that, she had already thrown down the gauntlet to this bull-headed brute.
So why hesitate?
She inhaled deeply, the cold air filling her lungs like a quiet promise.
Then, her voice slicing through the charged silence, cold and icy, she said,
"Stop it."
The bull—no, the bull beastman’s face flushed deep red with rage.
No one dared challenge him. No one.
And here was this woman, this seemingly weak female, who had the audacity to grab his whip—and in front of the entire market, no less.
It was an insult to his pride. To his very heart.
His eyes narrowed as he locked onto Kaya.
He tightened his grip on the whip, the muscles in his arm flexing like coiled steel.
"You—You dare say that to ?" His voice was low, trembling with fury, like a storm barely held at bay.
Suddenly, Kaya felt a light tug at her blazer from behind.
She turned to see the boy who had shielded the injured one. His small fra trembled uncontrollably, but his eyes were steady as he shook his head.
"You should leave," he whispered, voice barely audible, but weighted with urgency.
Kaya’s gaze t his—here was a boy battered and broken, yet still worried about her safety.
How could she possibly leave?
She turned back to the bull, eyes blazing with determination.
"I’ll buy them," she said firmly. "How much? I’ll buy them all. Tell —how much?"
The bull stared, disbelief flickering in his eyes.
Then, through gritted teeth, he spat,
"I’m not selling them."
Kaya locked eyes with the bull, unshaken.
"But wait," she said slowly, a spark of challenge in her voice, "weren’t you selling them just a mont ago?"
The bull’s gaze darkened. He smirked, stepping closer with a swagger that scread arrogance.
"Listen here, pretty girl," he growled, voice rough like gravel.
"How about this—I won’t sell them. I’ll give them to you. But only if your buddies," he sneered, nodding toward Vayu and Cutie, who stood frozen behind her, faces pale and trembling, "can beat in a fight."
Kaya didn’t hesitate for a second. She turned toward the two, eyes calm but firm.
"They’re not my mates."
The bull burst out laughing—loud, mocking, cruel.
"Ha! What’s this? Cowardice? Afraid you’ll lose your ’mates’ you just disowned? Then you don’t have to lift a finger."
Kaya’s lips curled into a cold smile. She stepped closer, voice low but sharp as a blade.
"Forget them. They don’t matter to ."
She paused, then added, "If you want to fight, fine. But here’s the deal—if I win, you hand over all these n... and throw in five white crystals on top."
The bull’s laughter died down, replaced by a dark, calculating look.
"Didn’t you just say they’re not your mates?"
Kaya’s eyes glead with quiet fire.
"Who said they’re the ones fighting?"
She pointed at herself, voice steady and unyielding.
"I am."
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