NOVPUBRenlo was the type who looked for any reason to cook, breakfast, brunch, lunch, late lunch, and so on. It was insane. The kitchen hadn't seen that much use in months, not until Renlo arrived.
And it didn't help that he always called Malakai every single time he cooked. Malakai had shot him his usual glare, but it was slowly losing its effect. Renlo was getting comfortable.
Malakai shook his head. "Just a few minutes."
"Yes! Come with me, Ninth Vein. You won't regret it!"
Malakai followed Renlo to the kitchen, which was large enough to have a center table big enough for several people to sit around.
He glanced around and frowned. "You're cleaning this up."
The place was a mess, open spice jars littered the counters, flour dusted the floor, pots stacked on each other in the sink, and oil-stained towels were hanging over the chairs.
Renlo scratched his head and cleared his throat. "I was just about to get to it. Don't worry, I'll make it spotless."
Malakai sent him a look, then finally settled into one of the seats. He faced the table.
'That's a lot of food.'
There were thick slices of roasted yam drizzled with pepper sauce, sausage and egg sandwiches stacked neatly beside them, a bowl of steaming oats with chopped fruits, crunchy granola parfaits layered in clear cups, and a pitcher of warm milk and dates.
"Ninth Vein, try this first!" Renlo beamed.
Malakai looked down at the sausage and egg sandwich.
'It can't be poisoned,' he reminded himself. His kind of life made it hard to trust anyone fully, at least, not yet.
He'd asked Nyx to monitor Renlo while he cooked, and she'd confirmed more than once that he hadn't done anything suspicious. Only that he was… too passionate. Malakai hadn't objected.
He took a bite, and his eyes widened slightly. 'Not bad.'
Coming from Malakai, not bad would be absolutely delicious for most people.
"Well?" Renlo leaned in. "How is it?"
"It's not bad."
Renlo's eyes lit up. 'He likes it!'
Malakai was only ever blunt with him. It was either he liked something or he didn't. No middle ground.
With renewed excitement, Renlo pushed more food his way, and Malakai, without hesitation, dug in.
Breakfast ended quickly, and Renlo let out a relieved breath, slumping down into his chair with a heavy thud, his large, bulging tummy sticking out like it had devoured more than just food.
Malakai stared silently at Renlo's carefree posture, then asked, "Are you ready for the Hunt?"
Renlo flinched the moment he heard it. "Y-yes, Ninth Vein."
"Are you scared?"
Renlo hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Yeah… I am."
Malakai's eyes narrowed slightly. "What is your goal?"
"Huh?" Renlo blinked.
"All this effort, all the things you're doing, why? What are you trying to accomplish?"
Renlo suddenly clenched his fists as memories surged through his head…
The moment his family branded him useless and cast him out.
The moment Kamin and the others had nearly killed him.
And then, the memory of Malakai, his overwhelming strength, his unshakable presence.
Renlo wanted that.
He inhaled deeply, then turned to Malakai, his eyes more focused than before. "Power," he said.
"I want to be powerful."
"What can you do to make that come to pass?"
"Anything!"
Malakai met his gaze and saw the seriousness behind those words. He gave a small nod. "That's a good goal. Then, are you ready for today?"
Renlo paused for a moment, then it hit him.
'He's just relieving the tension,' Renlo thought with a small smile. 𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
"Yes, Ninth Vein."
"Good. Let's warm up outside for a bit."
Renlo blinked, unsure of what was happening.
Moments later, he found himself standing face to face with Malakai under the fading moonlight.
"We're going to spar until it's time for the Hunt."
Renlo's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. "W-what?"
If he sparred with this monster, he might not even make it to the Hunt with a single unbroken bone.
But before he could protest, Malakai moved, and just like that, the quiet outside the manor was shattered by the sound of a young boy screaming as he was hurled through the air, slamming hard into the ground.
Time went by quickly, and by the time the sun had fully risen, Malakai finally stopped.
Renlo lay sprawled on the ground, huffing and breathing heavily as he tried to regain his composure.
'Thank goodness he went easy.'
Malakai had deliberately held back, avoiding any blows that would break bones or impact Renlo's performance in the Hunt.
As Renlo struggled to catch his breath, Malakai's gaze drifted to the sky, where a small dot high above was steadily growing larger.
'It's time.'
With that thought, Nyx suddenly appeared beside him.
"Ninth Vein."
He turned toward her, and their eyes met.
"I'll be fine."
Nyx didn't reply, but her worry was clear on her face.
"I'll escort you from behind," she said quietly.
'She's really persistent,' Malakai thought.
Guards and maids weren't allowed in the Hunt, for obvious reasons. But their safety had been assured by the Sovereign himself. Malakai could easily order her not to follow, but he didn't.
"Alright," he nodded, then turned to Renlo. "Get up. It's time."
Renlo groaned loudly, but eventually dragged himself to his feet.
Moments later, the growing dot in the sky became clear, it was a small carriage being pulled through the air by two Equiladors.
They landed just outside the manor, in front of the gates. The two riders dismounted and bowed deeply to Malakai.
"Blood flows where you walk. May your blood burn brighter than the sun."
"As it should be," Malakai responded, taking in their light red armor.
'Bloodguards.'
One of them stepped forward. "Ninth Vein, we're here to escort you to the main building."
Malakai nodded calmly.
If it had been in the past, he would have had to walk. But things were different now.
He gestured to Renlo, who hesitantly followed after grabbing and equipping his things. Malakai, as usual, had been ready since he woke, weapon in place.
With one final nod toward Nyx, Malakai stepped into the carriage.
The Equiladors took off into the skies, heading straight for the main building.
