Aaaaaa~!
An Articanine!!!
Mimi squealed in her mind, her little body trembling against Emilia’s shoulder as she stared wide-eyed at the magnificent creature.
This wolf of frost...
Mimi just wanted to pet it! Feed it! Rub that fluffy belly until it rolled over and kicked its legs!
In the ga, Articanines always had the most adorable animations—rolling onto their backs, wagging their tails like oversized puppies, sotis even sneezing out little flurries of snow.
Her heart thumped. Would it do the sa thing in real life? Would this majestic beast really squint its eyes and smile like a silly dog if she rubbed behind its ears?
Ahhh! I wanna try!
Anyways, to summon an Articanine on their very first attempt... this guy must be incredibly talented!
And yet...
Aside from the beast, Mimi didn’t like looking at the two people beside it.
Perhaps... she noticed it.
Even though they seed respectful toward the Clan Head and the First Lady, sothing about their aura sent chills down her spine.
Am I... actually imagining it? Or am I really sensing hostility?
____________________
And Mimi was right.
That hostile gaze.
That smug smile that twisted their lips as they bowed in false respect...
Arcanis and his son didn’t even bother to hide it.
Because between Arcanis and Draco... there was a long, bitter history.
Before the Fire Dragon Emperor ever ca to Silvervein and claid the position of Clan Head, Arcanis had been the number one candidate. At that ti, he was the strongest of his generation, admired and respected, destined to lead. He and Draco had even studied together at Luminaris—and as fate would have it, they were rivals! They would compete fiercely at every test, every subject, fighting for the number one spot!
But then, everything changed.
Draco t Ariana. Love pulled him into Silvervein, and when the bloody contest for the title of Clan Head was finally held, it was Draco who stood victorious. In front of the entire clan, he defeated Arcanis and claid the seat that many had thought belonged to him by right.
From that mont, their relationship soured beyond repair.
Arcanis never hid his resentnt. He never tried to mask the contempt in his voice whenever Draco stood before him. Whenever the Clan Head made a decision, Arcanis would always find a way to criticize it, always the thorn at his side, always the one voice of bitter defiance.
And yet... Draco did not treat him as an enemy.
There were reasons for that.
For one, Arcanis was Ariana’s elder brother. Blood bound them together, no matter how much venom filled his words.
And two, unlike many others in the clan who smiled and flattered Draco in public while scheming in secret, Arcanis was at least honest in his hostility. He said what he thought, struck when he ant to strike, and made no effort to cloak his stance behind false loyalty.
For all his arrogance and wounded pride, Arcanis still placed the Clan itself above everything else. And in that one thing, Draco could rely on him.
...
Still... those smug grins... they really made her want to claw them!!!
Mimi let out a low growl on Emilia’s shoulder, the sound rumbling from her tiny chest. Even she didn’t realize how fiercely her little body was reacting, every muscle stiff, her tail bristling like a puff of smoke.
"Wait... those robes..." Arcanis suddenly remarked, his sharp gaze flickering across Draco and Emilia. "Clan Head, surely you are not... venturing toward the Forbidden Peaks?"
Even he sounded taken aback.
"Yes," Draco answered evenly, his voice calm and steady. "Lord Sialumis has summoned and Emilia."
"Ah..." Arcanis lowered his head, shoulders dipping in mock deference. But the smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth betrayed him. "So it is as I thought. Lord Sialumis herself... such a rare honor indeed."
His tone was polite, yet sothing in it made the air heavy.
"If I may..." Arcanis’s eyes narrowed, glinting with icy amusent. "Could it be on account of that puny creature?" he asked lightly, as though it were no more than idle curiosity.
A pause. Then he sighed, long and heavy, his voice tinged with a sorrow that felt rehearsed.
"Such a sha. Lady Emilia’s future once seed so bright, yet... fate can be so cruel. To place such a burden on one so young...
HISSSSS!!!
Mimi couldn’t take it anymore. She hissed, ears flat, baring her tiny fangs!
The way that man spoke of Emilia—draped in false pity, dripping with disdain—was unbearable!
"Awww! How cute!" Arcanis laughed at Mimi’s reaction. "If I were a puny rat, I’d be scared to death! Haha! Oh wait... do rats even get scared of Noctifelis?"
AAAAARGHH!
"THAT’S IT, MOTHERFUCKER! CO HERE! I’M GONNA CLAW YOU TO DEATH!!!"
Mimi exploded with rage. She launched herself from Emilia’s shoulder, claws flashing as she leapt toward him—
But Emilia reacted at once. She caught Mimi midair, clutching her tightly against her chest before she could strike!
"OWWW!"
"MREEEWOOO!!!"
Mimi shrieked and thrashed, her tiny body wriggling with all her might. Her little paws slashed at the air, desperate to shred that smug grin right off Arcanis’ face!
"That’s enough, Arcanis," Draco said, his face darkening.
"Ah... my apologies..." Arcanis gave a shallow bow, though his wicked smile lingered. "Anyway, as you can see, my son and I have just returned from our training. Valerian is such a bright boy. His bond with his Lycarion is truly magnificent!"
Valerian’s chest swelled with pride, and beside him, the Articanine straightened as though it too shared its master’s arrogance.
"Well, that’s good to hear," Draco replied, arms crossing over his chest. His expression remained calm, but a slight twitch at his brow betrayed his irritation.
"Hehe..." Arcanis chuckled, feeding off Draco’s restraint. "At this rate, the two of them will be able to solo clear a two-star dungeon with ease. The Rite of the Dragon Vein will be nothing! Hahaha!" He clapped Valerian’s back with overdone pride, the sound echoing mockingly through the hall.
"But what about young Lady Emilia?" Arcanis’s tone suddenly shifted, dripping with false sweetness. "Surely the daughter of our great Clan Head—our shining little genius—already has a plan in mind, yes? Surely she too will pass the challenge?"
"Yes," Draco replied flatly.
Arcanis’s smirk widened. "But how? Her summon is only a—"
"Thank you for your concern," Draco cut in, his tone sharp enough to silence the rest of the sentence, "but that is none of your business, Arcanis."
"Ah... of course. Forgive ." Arcanis dipped his head again, but a low chuckle slipped through, like a blade hidden in velvet. "Then I shall place my faith in you, young Lady Emilia. I sincerely wish you the best of luck on your upcoming trial..."
His words lingered like poison in the air.
Finally, he turned to Valerian. "Co. As you can see, your uncle Draco has matters of great importance to attend to. We should not intrude upon his precious audience with Lord Sialumis."
"Yes, Father." Valerian bowed politely, though the smug gleam in his eyes betrayed him. "Farewell, Uncle. Lady Ariana. Cousin Emilia. May fortune guide your steps."
With that, father, son, and the fancy dog departed, their footsteps fading down the corridor. Their laughter, however, lingered in the air long after they were gone.
...
Finally, Emilia let Mimi down. The cat spun around, fur bristling, and hissed at the retreating figures with all her fury.
Draco exhaled a long, tired breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Fucking Arcanis... and this early in the morning too."
"Co now, dear," Lady Ariana said softly. She stepped closer and laid her hand on his shoulder. With slow circles, she massaged him, her voice calm like a gentle breeze. "You know my brother. He’s always been like this. Don’t let him get under your skin."
"I don’t mind his usual tricks," Draco muttered, lowering his hand, "but today... today he really knew how to twist the knife. He makes my blood boil."
He straightened up. "Anyway. We’re running late."
"Yes, Father," Emilia nodded.
She scooped Mimi back into her arms, the little cat still seething.
Together, they stepped through the gate to the Forbidden Peaks.
The mont they crossed to the other side, the icy wind rose and howled around them. The world beyond was harsh and white. Snow blanketed the earth, the air cut sharp and thin, and above, the sky stretched clear and bright.
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