Chapter 1: Ground Zero

Even in Jinx's dreams, he was unappealing. Women get a sour taste in their tongue whenever they see him. It wasn't fair at all. His master was highly charismatic with the ladies and he didn't even show his dang face. Karma was as desirable and the little shit didn't even reach adulthood yet; there was no doubt he'd be drop-dead-gorgeous once he matures. And don't get him started with Kou. The centuries old viel may have monstrous additions to his body, but he wouldn't have grown close to the king if he wasn't a knockout.

Life was so unfair!!!

Jinx scowled at his reflection. He was in the middle of nowhere. He wasn't in a room that was for sure as there were no walls, windows nor doors. Smoke surrounded him. The mirror that floated ahead of him made him question if fate wanted him to have more self-pity.

"Am I dead yet?!" he shouted, his voice echoing repeatedly as if mocking his similarity to a singing goose.

"Not yet."

His reflection glitched. Jinx screamed when a fledgeling replaced the image he complained about just a minute ago. He would prefer his face over any malformed vessel.

"I'm sick and tired of your face to be honest and I am bored. I'd kill you but that meant I'm committing suicide."

Jinx crossed his arms; he glared at Seo. "You? Tired of my face? Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror?"

Seo bared his serrated teeth. "What's wrong with what I look?"

Jinx raised his brows. "You're really asking me that?"

The vessel slammed his claw against the mirror. "Let me out of here."

Jinx scoffed. "No, stay there. You don't belong out there, you know?" He was about to turn around when Seo snickered.

"What's so funny?"

"And you do?"

"The hell do you mean by that?" Jinx queried, charging ahead and striking the mirror. He didn't know why that short sentence hit him hard.

"You don't belong there, what have you done for your friends other than being deadweight? You're a liability to your team. All you do is drag them closer to their graves each mission--"

"Shut up! You don't know what you're saying!"

Seo smiled sinisterly, sending shivers upon shivers down Jinx's spine. "I don't blame you for being lily-livered. The body you're using isn't yours to begin with."

"What are you keeping from me? Why don't I know anything about this?"

"I can't tell you anything, he won't allow me. The moment I open my mouth, a seal he placed would activate and torture the shit out of me. The only thing you can do now is to accept the fact that you'll keep dying over and over again without knowing the truth."

Jinx gritted his teeth. He slammed his fists against the mirror, hitting the glass harder with frustration. "Tell me! Tell me what I am!!!"

Seo's smile dropped. His claw shattered the mirror that once separated the two of them, seizing Jinx's neck in a tight and suffocating hold.

"You're an insect that won't die no matter how many times you're stepped on. That's how he wants you to live. That's what you are."

The vessel stepped out from his confinement, raising Jinx up with one jacked arm. Jinx flailed his legs, grabbing the claw that held him in suffocation.

"M--Master... Sa...Save m--me!"

Seo began to laugh. His voice was deep and rumbling that it could swat a fly with every soundwave.

"Drop him."

His laughter ceased from the command. His stretched arm trembled as one by one the fingers around Jinx's neck was forcibly unfurled into a resounding crack.

"Urghhh!!!" Seo snarled.

Jinx fell on his arse. His eyes hurriedly surveyed the area. The only person capable of intruding his mind was Kou and that man didn't sound like him. Seo appeared shocked and confused.

"You're awake? How?"

Red eyes glimmered in the screen of smoke before a silhouette of a man came into vision.

"My brother's power has grown weak."

...

...

...

"Hello? Hello there?" It was a voice of a sweet woman that Jinx always prayed of hearing upon waking up every morning, but this was the only time he ignored it because of what happened in his dream.

Was it even a dream? It felt like he was still working despite sleeping. Why couldn't he get a damn break?

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! GET OUT OF HERE!!!" was Jinx's response which in turn scared the young woman.

"EYAAAAAH, I'M SO SORRY, I'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE NOW!!!"

Jinx opened his eyes; he immediately regretted what his mouth blurted out when he realized that she was the girl they met in Hiraeth when they were touring around with Theo.

"Wa--Wait!" Jinx shouted.

But it was too late, the girl sprinted out of his room, leaving a tray of warm breakfast on the table beside him. There were eggs, bacon, two pieces of toasts, a glass of milk and a rejected heart.

Jinx groaned, plopping back on the soft mattress which still had the remnants of his warmth. "I'm such an idiot..."

"I guess you'll die a virgin."

Karma was leaning against the door with crossed arms.

"Shut up, you little shit." Jinx grabbed the pillow under his head, hurling it at Karma to which the younger boy caught with one hand.

"Feeling any better?"

"How long was I out?"

Karma looked up, counting on his fingers before replying nonchalantly. "About four years, eight months, and 6 days."

"What?! Why didn't you wake me up?!"

"Relax, I was just joking. If you had slept that long we would have buried you already."

Jinx wanted to strangle him now more than ever. Why did he even fall for it? Karma would have grown taller if he was out for that long.

"Oh, you're awake," a pale, white haired shortie crouched on the window. How he got there was a mystery. He was even wearing a unicorn's horn. He did look like someone Jinx was irritated with.

"Get off there, what will happen if you fall? Honestly, kids these days!"

The pale child stared blankly at him. "I'm older than you for nearly three centuries kid, who are you calling 'kid'?

Jinx grimaced distastefully, offending the child even more. "Who is this 'kid', Karma?" He emphasized the k word to mock the boy.

He liked to pick on people who appeared weaker than him.

Karma sighed, turning around. "I'll let him introduce himself. Anyway, what flowers do you want?"

"Flowers? For what?"

"For your funeral."

Basil pounced on Jinx, sinking his fangs on his arm and making sure he drew blood. Jinx screamed at the top of his lungs before falling unconscious with foam oozing out of his mouth.

Karma exited the room. "Never mind, weeds will do."

...

...

...

Kou and Boota sat on the roof, feeling the morning breeze lightly sweep their sweaty skin. With a cup of warm chocolate in their hands, they stared at the blackened and wilted plants in the farm field with the corpses of basilisks that have yet to be buried.

Gaku had came out of the forest after burying two basilisks. He was about to grab another one when Boota called him.

"Gaku, that's enough, we can continue later after breakfast."

Steam blew out of the eel's nostrils. "But master, once their corpses begin to rot, the scent will spread and endanger more lives!"

"Let me help!"

Soleil sauntered like a penguin. Some parts of her body was still in the form of stone so she remained to be stiff. She touched one corpse with her fingertips, wincing because bending pained her. She burned the basilisk completely from existence, leaving ashes to replace its spot.

"Remember to mix my elixir on your fourth bath, Soleil," Salem reminded. He was sitting on the house porch with an uncomfortable Conrad and an accommodating Cragi.

"Do you want another glass of warm milk, Master Salem?"

"Yes, please pour me another glass."

Conrad was grateful that they saved their lives but no one could blame him for the question he had to ask.

"Sir, why do you work with viels and how did you manage to make them work alongside you?"

He knew Salem's reputation of killing Cardinal Gideon Corderoy, but despite being excommunicated, Hiraeth still relied on him massively when it came to handling strong vessels and beasts. He was in a different league.

"Why shouldn't I work with viels?"

Conrad swallowed nervously. "They're dangerous, sir. They are the reason why El'Azar collapsed."

"And who made them?"

...

"Humans...sir."

"Exactly, we are a victim to our own stupidity."

Primrose came out of the house, flustered and scared. Loud crashing came after with Jinx replacing every rooster's job.

"What happened to you, Primmy?" Cragi asked, carrying another jug of fresh milk.

"Your friend is awake. He didn't seem to be too happy to see me."

Salem hummed. "Oh believe me, he adores women. He just had a bad night is all."

Kou jumped down from the roof, surprising the three humans, especially Conrad who knew him by the book.

"When shall we depart?"

"I sent Scorch to Hiraeth. I'm waiting for a response from Rorik."

A high-pitched whistling sound resonated in the skies. The messenger eagle hooked his talons over Salem's arm, dropping a piece of rolled paper in his hand. There was a circle drawn in the middle. Scorch flew down, searching for something on the ground. He bent over, picking up a rock and flying back to Salem. He then dropped the rock on the circle before letting out another sharp and flawless shriek.

"What is it trying to say?" Conrad questioned.

Salem reached over, taking the rock.

"Ground Zero," Boota said. "Mammon made us play his game to distract us from the main event. That is also the reason why no one was alerted by the gigantic demon in the forest; they were already facing a disaster themselves."

"Or it could be luring you back to Hiraeth in order to capture you," Conrad stated.

Salem stared at the rock. "Could be. The king must be desperate to decorate my head in his bedroom chambers because of what I did."

"What did you do?"

"I summoned Behemoth in the coliseum yesterday."

Conrad's eyes widened. "You...what?!"

He sounded so calm saying it that Conrad was a tad bit jealous of how strong he was. If he stayed in the academy, he could have ended up as skilful as Salem.

Wait...Theo!

"Take me with you. I need to make sure Theo's okay."

"Rorik's boy?" Salem queried.

"Yes..."

Cragi and Prim were puzzled and worried about what was going on. Whatever they were talking about, it sounded dangerous.

"Brother, who knows what's in there?! You might get hurt."

Conrad stood, facing his family with burning determination in his eyes.

"If Hiraeth is indeed in peril, they need all the help they could get."

His father lowered his head, conflicted, but he understood. He placed his hand on top of his son's shoulder and nodded.

"I knew you couldn't escape your fate. You have forfeited from your dreams to help me out in the farm."

Conrad held his father's hand and shook his head. "No, pops, I quitted because I wanted to prioritize what's truly important to me. I learned that when mom left us. But seeing that I can't protect those I love because of how weak I've become, I want to grow stronger."

The three of them pulled one another into a tight embrace. Salem glanced at Prim's pure appearance. Once they pulled away from each other and Conrad welcomed the viels' input for the first time, Primrose excused herself and went inside the house. Salem followed her, closing the door behind him.

"Excuse me, you have blood on your skirt."

Primrose froze, spinning on her heel to cover her backside. Her face reddened from shame.

"O--Oh! Thank you. This is embarrassing."

Salem smiled behind his mask. "Not at all, it is simply that time of the month."

Prim walked sideways, making sure not to show more of her menstruation to their guest.

"Well, if you excuse me..."

"I know this isn't the right time, but do you have a boyfriend?"

Prim ceased her squirming, staring at the charming man in front of him.

"We... recently broke up. Things weren't working for us. I couldn't bear his child."

"Ever tried praying to Eros?"

"I did the other day... it didn't work."

Salem closed his eyes. "I see. Do not worry, time will come and you'll be blessed with one. In the meantime, I'll ask my subordinate Jinx to massage your feet. You have been walking nonstop to accommodate us."

Prim blushed. "No, it's fine! I'm used to it."

Salem grinned. "I insist. I feel bad for your swollen ankles."