When Han slid the black key into the keyhole, a blinding light engulfed everyone. As the maids opened their eyes, Han and Xena were gone. Neither showed any worry or concern. They knew this was the Head’s artifact and a trial their young master had to go through.
"I hope Young Master Han uses the pet a lot."
"Just hope she returns with lots of wounds. We will gladly take care of them."
"Indeed."
All the maids laughed like old devils from Earth’s folklore before parting to tend the mansion. As usual, two were left behind by Han’s order, which ant the lucky pair now got to enjoy the sofa’s soft cushions and the fireplace’s warmth.
They picked oversized newspapers so wide and tall they could cover their bodies. Articles on those papers were updated regularly through the Underworld Network. Anyone could publish articles, information, or even bounties there. It was a precious source of information, even though most of it was under the strict control of the Dark Families.
The maids were old enough to take everything there with a grain of salt.
"Ah, there’s finally an article about Red Mistress defeating the pet!" one maid bead, tapping the paper a few tis with her aged finger, pointing at the animated picture of their Red Mistress.
The second maid smiled as well. "I’ve seen this particular picture so many tis, but her fierce stare always excites . Strength, beauty, and aura. Our Mistress has it all."
"I rember the day I got to comb her hair..." the first maid murmured, slipping into a daydream. Her hands grew weaker, and the newspaper tilted.
Her friend coughed, eyebrows knitting. She definitely didn’t have the pleasure of combing the Red Mistress’s hair.
"What does the article say about the pet?" she asked.
"Nothing new. Ender Cult is angry and ranting as always. They sent threats to Tenaxis and the Red Dragons, but both families ignored them as they always do."
"They’re best at loud talk. It took only three days for the pet to fold, though."
"We always argued with her after Young Master Han extracted mana and essences from her. She was spent, in agony, and Obsidian Cauldron’s cramps were wracking her body. Despite all of that, this bitch yelled at us for three days straight. Yes, Ender Cult is all talk."
"And she didn’t sound sore today."
"Her throat is fine. Our Mistress knew exactly who to pick for her son." The maid laughed, and her friend laughed as well.
The next page featured a topic the maids knew well.
"The Underworld’s academies have a brawl again."
"Not really interested in them anymore."
"Sa. Young Master Han has awakened, and his prospects eclipse all others."
What used to be a fun read about the prospects of other Dark Families, back when their Master was a useless alcoholic who drowned his sorrows, was now irrelevant. Han had awakened and begun asserting his authority over them.
—
In a black space where even air seed not to exist, yet Han and Xena could breathe, they stood still, unsure what to do. Only after a voice resounded from all directions did anything begin to happen.
[Han.]
A man’s soft voice swept through Han, triggering his mana and an instinctive sense of recognition. He couldn’t rember his Father’s voice or ever hearing him call his na. Yet a single word from him was enough for Han to accept that this was his Father.
[Babies sleep for a long ti, but you slept for way too long.]
Xena stifled a laugh.
Han elbowed her and made her stumble a few steps to the side. She regained her balance and returned to his side, glaring daggers at him.
[I should have used ’hatchling’ since you’re also a dragon. Here’s a fact you will hate. In the history of dragons, there used to be eggs that never hatched. The reason is unknown. One by one, dragons swallowed their pride and began reproducing in human form, giving birth to children in human form first. The Red Dragons were among the last to swallow their pride.]
Han’s bloodline boiled. His Dragon’s Pride bristled at those words and wanted to howl at his Father. The old man knew exactly what he was doing.
[Knowing this, I wondered if you were ant never to hatch. You’re an anomaly, a half-breed that should never have been conceived.]
Han clenched his hands.
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