Qukula Gwo-han(POV)

  Qukula Gwo-han was going to become the head of the Gwo-han family. It was assured. He just had to make these two nameless creatures in front of him sign the damned contract.

  He glanced around. A fair number of people had gathered, their presence adding weight to the moment.

  Why do these nameless mongrels even resist? he thought angrily. But outwardly, only a winning smile remained.

  “This is not a request, boys.” He gestured for one of the Wei brothers to step forward, the contract in hand. The taller human boy looked down at them, his eyes hidden behind those ridiculously stylish glasses.

  The boy wouldn’t be a problem if a fight broke out. But his partner...

  The ashen-skinned Sitsi’an, the one Qukula truly wanted, stood slightly behind the taller boy, looking as if he’d rather be anywhere else.

  “It may seem you are rather retarded,” the tall boy said, casually flipping through the contract. “What was it you called yourself again?” He waved a dismissive hand. “Never mind. We’ll be on our—”

  “Stop right there.”

  Qukula’s anger spilled over. He wouldn’t let them ruin his plans. His foolish brothers wasted time strategizing and holding meetings about business. They hadn’t even bought a new mansion despite the family’s growing fame. But Qukula understood the way of the world. Even figures like Dante and Fusan agreed: a man needed to enjoy the pleasures of life.

  And with these boys, it would all be possible.

  “Listen to me,” he continued, regaining his composure. “This is going to be a business partnership. With your betting skills, we’ll build something truly incredible. An empire—”

  He was cut off. His forehead veins bulged, but this time it wasn’t the tall, lanky teen. It was the Sitsi’an.

  “Fuck off, boy. We made our decision. Now piss off.”

  The room went silent.

  Even Qukula’s heart skipped a beat. Then came the fury.

  Who cared what happened to these bastards?

  “Let’s teach these bottom-barrel no-names a lesson,” Qukula sneered, stepping forward. As expected, the taller boy took quick steps away.

  Such weaklings should not have unearned confidence. It should be a sin.

  But the ashen-skinned boy didn’t flinch. He simply waited.

  Qukula considered using his Leaf but resisted the urge. Instead, he reached within, touching upon another power, his Physical Operator, ready to enhance his attributes if necessary.

  He moved in.

  The Sitsi’an’s gaze flicked to his side.

  Qukula’s punch was already flying, packed with all his strength.

  What a fool, he thought, then his instincts screamed at him to enhance his body.

  The chance never came.

  Like a storm, an attack came from the side.

  A hand snaked into his blind spot, striking the inside of his elbow with pinpoint force. His arm buckled mid-swing, nerves screaming as the precise impact turned his attack into dead weight.

  Before he could process the failure of his punch, his wrist was seized. The grip was an iron vice, twisting and yanking him forward, off-balance. The next moment, a shoulder crashed into his, wrenching his body downward in a brutal rotation.

  His knees buckled. His face nearly met the floor, until a sharp, searing pain stopped him cold.

  A twisted arm lock. His limb bent backward at a sickening angle, his shoulder strained to its absolute limit. The pressure was immediate and unforgiving.

  His breath hitched. His mind caught up.

  He was already defeated.

  Teeth gritted, he reached for his Leaf.

  The grip on his wrist tightened.

  A sharp pull.

  A flash.

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  The world spun.

  Then, darkness.

  Chronifer(POV)

  Chronifer stood up from the boys back where he had used his knee to plant the boys face into the hard polished ground.

  He felt a bit wobbly as everything he had done relied strictly on momentum and anatomy. He was fast, and strong for a six year old, but if he hadn't weakened the boy's hand making his strength irrelevant and moved quickly after that he would have lost.

  He turned back to see that Nyte was almost done with the boy goons with two other boys having joined in and helped him. The fight, if it could be called that, between him and the boy was done in seconds like Albus had told Chronifer would happen.

  Before Chronifer had acted he had asked the man about his chances, the man had been detailed and clear.

  “You are not as strong as him, but you're faster. You're lucky he never hit his pre-rank limit before ascending.” Albus began. “Simply hit him fast and take him out. If not he has access to his branches and maybe even a leaf. But the real threat is his ability to manipulate his physical attributes using the physical operator. If he does that you'll be very out and embarrassed.”

  Chronifer had felt the boy's body growing more stronger at the end, hence his prompt take out.

  He watched as Nyte and the other boys dispatched of the six goons of the boy. Nyte fought like a mistake, his actions never started and ended the way it ought to, each movement hiding five different moves, each punch hiding a spin, a shift of balance and it was truly a brilliant use of misdirection that baffled Chronifer.

  The control. He marveled.

  Under a minute the battle was over. The two other boys were just as skilled if not more so than Nyte.

  And Chronifer stood loath at the fact he hadn't quite observed both of them, too focused on Nyte he had missed out on how quickly they had finished their opponents.

  One of them, he stood stood tallest among all of them, summoned a spike out of mid air, Chronifer raised an eyebrow, he had seen his parent's do similar act, although he had a bit of curiosity towards the act, he had always chucked it up to special storages, like found in novels.

  From the other boy he heard a whisper.

  “You have an auxiliary to rest your back on?” The other boy who stood at the same height as Nyte said.

  “What, I'm too cool to stand straight.”

  The other boy shook his head in amusement. Chronifer smiled as well, yet he caught something from their whisper.

  Auxiliary, is that what they are. Interesting.

  Chronifer's attention was soon snatched by the boy behind him.

  “Fuck this!” Exclaimed the boy from where Chronifer had knocked him out. He struggled to his feet, his fist turning a sickly burning green. “This ends here, plebeians.”

  Chronifer watched the boy's hands as he fell into a complete focus, ready to use the dance of mirrors. He knew he stood little chance after getting a breakdown of what the physical operator did, yet he stood. Not because he believed in his strength, no, that would have been foolish, but because he knew in his bones Nyte stood with him and maybe the other boys as well.

  He knew Oniihino had been overly complimentary about his physical abilities, but she hadn't lied. He could feel how potent his skill and instincts, it almost felt like he could exhibit almost any combat move he wanted, yet he still didn't know where he stood with the Dance of Mirrors, and at times strength just trumped skill

  “You're Right. Qukula Gwo-han. This does end here.” Albus walked in from the side and the crowd seemed to pull back in a stifled and terrified silence. The gossip seized like suddenly finding one's self in the eye of the storm.

  Chronifer was broken from his focus as the moderately tall man approached his corporate jet black and well polished shoes echoing his every step.

  “You… you are…” The boy, Qukula Gwo-han said.

  Hushed whispers gushed from the crowd answering the boys questions in hallowed awe.

  “Brother, isn't that Albus.”

  “Hush! Don't say his name.”

  “Does that mean they're here? I hear anywhere he goes the Dark Silo follows.”

  “Qukula has done it now, he has drawn attention he can't afford.”

  “But Albus Shau-rak of all people, the principality himself.”

  Chronifer shivered at the awe laced through the crowd's murmurs.

  He had known of his close proximity to people, if they could be called that anymore, that could apparently shatter him with thought alone. It scared him at times, yet it was also clear that he knew them in their relaxed states. That was why the boy's fear didn't shock him, but he still wondered about Albus. It was clear he had a reputation, a fierce one in fact, but for what and why? Oniihino had called him the law and that lingered behind Chronifers mind.

  Knowing or rather speculating about Albus and all the other adults in his life with illusive powers and reputation also pushed him forward, Chronifer wanted that level of power and he also liked the fact that his family were so powerful it was a sought of comfort on his back.

  “The humble and kind Albus Shau-rak. And you Qukula have committed several mistakes this unfortunate day, at least for you.” Albus said with a smile. “You have insulted these five boys ineptly and me in proxy.”

  The boy fell to his knees beginning.

  “Forgiveness please. I have been a fool. Please spare me, spare me.” The boy cried, his body trembling the ground seems to gulp in unison, joined by a humming that started reverberating through the building.

  “No, no, none of that now, Qukula, at the very least hear your mistakes before you grovel.” Albus came to stop besides Chronifer. “Your biggest mistake was to address Chronifer here as a… a plebeian.”

  Chronifer shifted under the sudden attention of the crowd.

  The boy's head raised up to gaze at Chronifer searching and seemingly finding nothing special about him.

  “Second was to insult these two other boys,” he gestured to the two boys that had joined Nyte. And third. You guessed it was trying to force and insult these two other young men.” Albus lectured

  “..but..”

  “Do. not. Speak.” He said an edge in his deep resonant voice. “Now for introductions. This is Chronifer. Son of Cipher and Slora. Youngest of the Montcriox-wythe clan.”

  “What.”

  “I heard that was a lie.”

  “He doesn't look like a newborn to me.”

  “You fool, didn't hear what Slora said in her announcement?”

  “Yeah, but it's just hard to believe.”

  “So it's true.”

  “I heard Slora got him off another man's seed.”

  “Yeah, she just messed with the Birthmoon.”

  “Shut up.” Chronifer said. Actually facing the crowd. “Do not, ever, talk rubbish about my mother or father. That would not end well.”

  Albus laughed. “Some people were about to lose their tongues there.” He turned from the crowd back to Qukula. “Then you called the sitsi'an and the human over there nobodies.” The man laughed. “That is Nyte, the apprentice of Dante, better known as Cowardicelore. His friend over there is sponsored by both Lord Cipher and Dante.”

  The crowd were now holding down their mouths but the gossip was strong on their faces and Chronifer found himself staring them down, his anger boiling at the insults at his mother. Chronifer shocked his head then.

  This isn't worth my anger. They really weren't important enough.

  Yes, Chronifer was infuriated by them insulting his mother, it felt like punches to him, it was illogical and Chronifer could see why, his family felt like a treasure to him, his greatest wealth, his mother and father were like a wish come true. Yet he knew he could not let his defensiveness towards them cloud his mind, his anger had been enough to show his loyalty and love, and his words had created a boundary, but now it needed to die, for anger never created anything of worth, at least if not controlled.

  “Last you just called Tehn Lefthan and Lorn Shau-rak plebeians. You see why I feel insulted.”

  Chronifer walked back a little to where the tall lanky boy and Nyte stood.

  “It's been a while Nyte. I see you've gotten quite popular.” Chronifer said in greeting. “Hello Nytes friend.”

  The other boy scoffed. “Call me Drazel, young lord.”

  “Drazel, nice to meet you.” Replied Chronifer.

  “Thanks for the assist, Chronifer.” Nyte said, “I think you grew… nevermind I was mistaken.”

  “That wasn't a bad joke, Nyte.” Chronifer was pleased with the boy's humour, which brought a smile to his face.

  “I’m just that good.” Nyte replied deadpan and matter of fact.

  “Well, thank you for the assistance as well. I needed it.” Chronifer felt a bit proud that the boy seemed to be doing things for himself, although he saw how he seemed to want out of the whole action, the attention Albus introduced had drawn to him seemed like an affront to him.

  “So do any of you know why the insult to Tehn was taken so personally by Albus. I get Lorn, that's his grandson after all.”

  “I've managed to gather the fact that Tehn Lefthan was mostly trained by Albus.” Drazel said.

  “Ah, I see.” Chronifer turned to look at the boy, he gave up. He couldn't sneakily get a good look at his face, his height was hateful.

  Chronifer shook his head feeling a bit overwhelmed by the amount of things he had to process since leaving the jade coven. From the snake tunnels, to meeting Albus, the cable striders and the cable, and now to meeting all these new People. Chronifer was happy that he was finally getting to see the world but he felt the wonder that had driven him forward crashing back down leaving him feeling dizzy.

  Yet he watched as Albus began speaking once more.

  “Here is what's going to happen.” Albus began his deep echoing voice crowing dangerously low. “You're going to write home. Tell your brothers that you're no longer interested in their challenge; they offered you to become family head.” He paused. “Then you'll be forgiven.”

  The boy fainted.