The hours went by, and evening soon came.
Within a desolate manor located at the top of a small hill surrounded by a thick forest, Malakai sat alone inside his room, deep in thought.
‘This is going to be tricky.’
He tapped his foot against the ground repeatedly, a troubled expression plastered on his face.
Since Malakai punished and sent those two maids away, he hadn’t once left this spot. His mind swirled as he tried to figure out a way to escape his current predicament.
‘If she doesn’t come back… I might not survive the night.’
Drennos wasn’t the only one with good insight. As the one caught in the center of everything, Malakai had a clear grasp of the situation. After all the stunts he pulled during the meeting, he had zero doubts about what was going to happen next.
‘I’ll be targeted tonight.’
He was completely sure of it. Some Highbloods, and even a few of the Pulses, would send assassins after him.
They had seen his strength. They knew what he was capable of.
Which meant… they’d send someone stronger.
Suddenly, Valentine spoke up.
“Um, Malakai. I know you told me to shut up, but why don’t you just answer my question? We can talk through it together. Two minds are better than one, right?”
Malakai sighed heavily.
For what felt like the umpteenth time, Valentine was asking the same thing again.
He was trying to focus, to form a plan of action, but Valentine seemed hellbent on foiling that attempt.
Malakai finally shook his head and said, “What was your question?”
Valentine beamed.
“I know the answer already, but I need to confirm it from you. Your clan head gave the order to treat you like any other Vein, right? And said any disrespect towards you would be treated as disrespect towards him? So then… why would they attack you now? Especially this soon? Wouldn’t that risk angering your leader?”
“I thought you were good with political intrigue. It’s very obvious.”
“I am,” Valentine said, “but this is a bit different. I’m missing a lot of information. For example, how does your clan actually function? How powerful are the Pulses? The Veins? And those other people at the meeting… who were they? Plus, like I said, I’m trying to confirm something.”
Malakai exhaled. “The other people are the Highbloods. They’re the top hundred in the clan rankings.”
“The clan rankings?” Valentine asked. “Is that the one the Sovereign asked you to reach first place in?”
Malakai shook his head. “No. That one is different. I’ll explain later. To answer your question, yes, the clan head gave the order, and yes, no one can afford to disobey it.”
“Then… why?” Valentine asked again.
“Because none of it will ever get back to them,” Malakai said simply. “Yes, they’re the ones sending them. But without proof, how will anyone prove it?”
Valentine frowned. “But… isn’t the Sovereign really powerful? I don’t know the full scale of his power, but the distance between here and the meeting hall isn’t far. Shouldn’t he be able to sense if something’s happening?”
“He probably knows everything going on inside the fortress,” Malakai admitted. “But he won’t do anything.”
“…Why?”
“Because he doesn’t believe in spoon-feeding,” Malakai said in a low voice. “Once we Veins turn ten and receive our manors, any protection he offers us disappears. You live or die on your own from that point. They can send assassins after you, they can try anything, and he won’t interfere. Ever.”
Valentine fell silent.
“But wait… I thought you said the Sovereign treasures his direct descendants?”
Malakai nodded. “He does. But he also believes that for us to grow, we must experience and overcome challenges ourselves.”
Valentine frowned. “And this is the same for all the other Veins? No protection at all? Then how the hell are all of you still alive?”
Malakai didn’t answer right away. He understood exactly what Valentine meant.
The Sanguine Clan was the strongest clan in the Western Region of the dome. Respected, feared, revered. But also, well hated.
If the Veins weren’t being actively protected… then why weren’t they all dead?
After a few seconds of silence, Malakai finally responded.
“There are two reasons for that. First, most people don’t believe it’s worth it, considering the consequences.”
“What consequences?” Valentine asked.
“If any Sanguine direct descendant is killed, the Sovereign will turn the entire dome upside down until the killers are found,” Malakai explained. “And I know what you’ll ask next—’Then why are they still trying to kill you?’ I already told you. Because it’ll never trace back to them.”
He paused, then continued. “Second… although the Sovereign feels that way, the Pulses are different. They make sure their Veins are protected. Watched over and guarded.”
Valentine nodded slowly. “Ah, that’s why—”
But he stopped. And he didn’t continue.
Malakai didn’t say anything either. He already knew what Valentine had been about to say.
His parents were dead. So the second reason didn’t apply to him.
Silence filled the room for a moment.
“…I understand perfectly now,” Valentine finally said.
“Good,” Malakai replied. “Now shut up and let me think.”
Valentine grinned in his mind. “I might have an idea.”
Malakai’s eyes sharpened. “Are you sure?”
If Valentine truly had a way for him to survive the night—and the nights that would follow—he wanted to hear it. Desperately.
Because if Nyx didn’t come back by sunset… he was dead.
“Hu hu! I told you I’m awesome,” Valentine said, smug.
Malakai glared. “Stop wasting time and speak.”
Valentine cleared his throat. “How well do you know all the Pulses?”
Malakai’s eyes narrowed slightly. He thought for a second, and just as he was about to respond, a sudden knock came at the door.
His hand snapped to his scythe, gripping it tight as he rose from the bed and entered a battle stance.
“W-what? What?! What!?” Valentine panicked. “Are they here already?”
But Malakai didn’t answer. He ignored him completely, his entire being braced for battle.
If this was an assassin, then he was ready for his last battle.
As the tension reached its peak, a voice came from behind the door:
“Ninth Vein, it’s me… Nyx.”
Malakai froze.
‘She came?’
His grip around the scythe loosened instantly. He straightened.