"My world…" the white-haired woman bellowed, her voice cracking across the hall. She touched something at her earlobe, activating a device Kai couldn't see. He barely noticed. A hot, white pain ripped through his left arm as a mark began to burn into his skin, etching itself across his flesh. He cried out, clutching his arm as the pain spread like liquid fire. His legs gave out and he collapsed to the floor, tears flooding his eyes. Time seemed to suspend as flashes tore through his vision—the explosion, the towering god raining down its beam of light, the aftermath, the smoke, the rubble. His parents. Gone.
He gasped for breath, chest heaving, as the pain slowly settled into a deep, throbbing burn. The small dragon clung to his side, yawning as if nothing unusual was happening, its tiny claws digging lightly into his clothes. Then he heard it—booted footsteps, heavy and deliberate. As he lay there, half-curled on the floor, he saw rows of black boots closing in around him. Before he could react, strong hands grabbed him under the arms and hauled him upright.
"You are coming with us, Mr. Lannister," a deep, commanding voice said.
Kai's vision swam. Tears blurred everything into streaks of color and shadow. He blinked hard, letting them fall, forcing his eyes to focus. The shapes sharpened. The men holding him wore black tactical uniforms—military. That realization sent a cold weight into his stomach.
This wasn't good.
The military only appeared for one thing: enforcement. And in the new age of Greenthorne, enforcement meant only one thing—people disappearing.
"Where… where are you taking me?" he muttered, his voice shaky as he tried to pull himself together.
"You are to be placed under strict supervision," the deep voice replied without hesitation.
Kai shook his head aggressively, trying to snap out of their grip. His movements were clumsy, weakened by pain and shock. The dragon growled low at his shoulder, a rough, vibrating sound that buzzed through Kai's bones. He glanced at it in disbelief. What was it doing? Wasn't it supposed to protect him? Wasn't that what a contracted beast was for?
"No, you aren't CVA," Kai said, panic rising into his voice. "I haven't done anything! I want to see Meena!"
"You are making this difficult, boy," the man said calmly, tightening his grip. "Come with us. We won't harm you."
"But you will!" Kai shouted, his fear boiling over into a full panic. He had heard the stories. Everyone had. People who went with the military didn't always come back. Sometimes they didn't come back at all.
"Kai!"
The sound of Meena's voice cut through the chaos like a lifeline. She rushed into his blurred field of vision, her voice sharp with alarm. She must have heard him from the CVA containment zone.
"Meena! Meena!" Kai yelled, struggling harder now, his body thrashing uselessly as the soldiers held him firm.
"Kai!" she called again, pushing forward through the crowd. But just as she was about to reach him, a soldier stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
Red hair. Broad shoulders.
Kai recognized him instantly.
Alfonso.
Meena's older brother.
"Stay back, Meena," Alfonso said firmly, raising a hand to stop her. "He is to be brought in for examination."
"What?" Meena said, stunned. "For what reason?"
Her phoenix hovered behind her, larger than before, its wings spreading with quiet power. Its form was clearer now, its fiery feathers sharper, more defined. Kai noticed something new—the crown of feathers on its head now held four plumes instead of three. A beast evolution. An upgrade. The realization sent a strange mix of awe and unease through him.
Alfonso glanced briefly at the phoenix, then back at Meena. "He has been classified as an anomaly. For everyone's safety, he must be brought in. Leaving him unchecked puts the entire city at risk."
Meena's eyes shifted, searching the space around Kai. Then she saw it.
The small black dragon was now perched on Kai's head, its tiny claws tangled lightly in his hair.
"A dragon," she whispered, barely audible.
For a brief moment, a subtle, knowing smile tugged at her lips before she quickly masked it. Kai caught it. He didn't know why, but he found himself smiling too, despite everything.
"Now, brother," Meena said quietly, lowering her voice, "you know what military custody really means. Anyone taken in doesn't come back."
"Ha! Seal the heretic!" Billy's voice rang out from somewhere in the crowd.
Murmurs followed. Agreement. Fear. Suspicion.
People were afraid of the unknown. And fear made people cruel.
"Guess you're still a mistake, Lannister!" Billy added, his voice dripping with satisfaction.
Kai swallowed hard. Somehow, even after awakening an Ancient beast, he had become the one everyone was ready to condemn. The dragon did nothing—just perched there, calm and useless. Kai felt a surge of resentment toward it. He was fighting for his life, and it couldn't even be bothered to help.
"Shut up, Billy!" Meena snapped.
Her voice carried power now. Authority.
Kai noticed it instantly. Something about her had changed while she was gone. Her posture. Her presence. Her aura. Meena had never stood up to Billy like this before. The shift sent a ripple through the watching students. Some leaned forward, already bracing for what would happen next.
"Oh yeah?" Billy sneered, stepping closer to the summoning platform. "Make me."
Everyone knew how this would end.
Meena raised her hand, eyes burning with resolve. "Ignis."
The phoenix exploded into motion.
In a blur of fire and light, it slammed into Billy, lifting him clean off his feet and hurling him across the hall. His body struck the far wall with a sickening thud before crumpling to the floor, unconscious.
Silence fell.
No one moved.
"Badass," Kai muttered under his breath, a weak but proud smile touching his lips.
Meena glanced back at him and winked. Kai felt heat rush to his face.
"Unhand him," Meena ordered, her voice sharp, final, and impossible to ignore.
Alfonso hesitated. His jaw tightened. Then he let out a slow breath. "Release him."
Gasps rippled through the hall. Some in shock. Some in anger. Some in fear. The crowd exchanged dark, resentful looks—at Kai, at Meena, at Alfonso.
"But sir—" one of the soldiers began.
"I said release him," Alfonso snapped. "Do not make me repeat myself."
The soldiers' grips loosened.
Kai wrenched himself free, nearly stumbling as he rushed toward Meena. She caught him, steadying him, then pulled him into a brief, tight hug before guiding him toward the exit.
"We will be watching you, Mr. Lannister," Alfonso called after them.
Outside the Great Hall, Kai finally exhaled, his body trembling as the adrenaline began to fade.
"I want to visit someone," Kai said quietly.
Meena rested a hand on his back, rubbing in small, comforting circles. "Who?"
"My uncle."
She blinked. "You have an uncle? I didn't know!"
"You never asked," Kai said weakly.
"What district does he live in?"
Kai looked at her, a faint, mischievous smile forming despite everything. He leaned in slightly.
"The Undercity."
Meena gasped.