Shane and Trois were relieved when Zai and Sinbad managed to get out after the sudden tremor that they felt when the sacred beasts left. The saved people cried in happiness and showered them with grateful words once more.

Zai glanced at the boy who is just standing away from them. Staring blankly in thin air.

"He will surely die in a few days or so."

"It is your decision to make."

Zai squinted her eyes and turned her back then walked away. She's not obligated to save a brat's life. This soft spot that is appearing in her system is made by Avis. It is not a part of her and she'll make sure that that certain spot would not dominate her system. She despised how she acted in front of the dignified beast. She's ashamed to remember the words that came out from her own mouth. It was a sign of the soft spot that Avis planted on her and she'll make sure that that will be the last time it'll happen.

And even if she do help the boy, there is only a 30% chance that he'll survive. Why waste her blood on a losing bet? She doesn't even know the boy's name. Why involve herself to a complete stranger? This whole thing is frustrating her.

Naging malaya ang mga alipin at umuwi na sa sari-sariling pamilya. Ibinalik rin nila ang pera ng bayan sa mga mamamayan na matagal ng iniimbak ni Rocio. Although Zai and Shane was against the idea but Sinbad forced them to. Rocio was tied in the middle of the town square and he was immediately arrested by the knights that came from the capital for selling stolen weapons, capturing sacred beasts, and committing other crimes that are against the human rights of the slaved people who weren't slaves in the first place.

Bumuntong hininga si Shane habang nakaupo siya sa bubong ng isang bahay, "Sayang din oh." saad nito haban tinitingnan ang mga kayamanan na pinaghahatian ng buong bayan. Nakangiti ang mga ito at tila maiiyak sa kagalakan. He pouted, "Sinolo na lang sana natin."

"Don't be selfish. It's theirs anyway." sabi rito ni Sinbad habang nakatayo sa likod nito. Bumuntong hininga muli si Shane at inilagay ang mga pisngi sa kaniyang mga palad. Zai and Trois just kept on staring at the civilians who are rejoicing.

Sinbad and Trois' eyes suddenly turned sharp when they felt a presence behind them. Sinbad immediately pulled his sword from its sheath and turned his back. Trois glanced back, his guards are up.

A tall woman raised her hand like she was startled by their sudden movement, "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy."

Sinbad squinted his eyes at the stranger, "Who are you?"

The woman showed a formal smile, "They call me by the name Asta. I'm here to speak with Zai."

Ngunit hindi siya binigyan ng isang tingin ng dalaga. Shane was staring at Asta confusingly, "Are you a woman or a dude?"

"I'm a woman."

"Eh? Totoo--?"

"What do you want?" Zai intervened. Still keeping her eyes on the noisy crowd.

Asta smiled but her smile seemed like there's malice behind it, "Let me come with you."

The others was shocked with the stranger's words but Zai's expression didn't change a single bit. Asta continued speaking, "You said to do what I wish right? Then let me join you. You're looking for strong fighters, aren't you? ," Asta smiled maliciously, "In exchange, all the informations about the truth that you're going to acquire, you'll let me know about it."

Silence ruled between all of them. They all just looked at Zai who never gave them a glance. Tumingin si Sinbad sa babaeng mukhang pamilyar kay Zai. Unang tingin pa lang ay mapapansin na niyang may karanasan ito sa paglalaban. May mga sugat ito sa katawan ngunit nagagawa pa rin nitong tumayo at kaswal na magsalita na tila ba walang iniindang pinsala sa katawan.

Asta smiled, "So? You'll let me right?"

"Do what you wish."

Sinbad sighed. Asta chuckled then went to Sinbad and Trois to introduce herself. Even Shane joined them but Zai kept on staring at the crowd in silence. Zai saw the boy from earlier walking through the crowd absentmindedly. She pursed her lips when the boy fell down on the dusty road when some running kids bumped into him. Some people are already stepping on his hand and one adult even scolded him for being a bother in the middle of the road. The adult kept on shouting at him. Zai's eyes widen and she gritted her teeth when the adult held the boy's arm with force and kept on shaking him with violence like he's bringing the boy back to his senses. The adult kept on shouting and he raised his hand and that hand landed on the boy's cheek.

"Hey Zai-- Zai!" Zai didn't looked back and jumped off the roof. She quickly reached the boy's place and pushed the man away. She glared at him as she hold the boy in her arm as she crouch on the ground.

"Don't lay your hands on him." she warned. The man trembled upon hearing her voice. Zai carried the boy and jumped to the roof.

The boy kept on staring at her as Zai stands up and look down at him. Dumating naman ang iba at tiningnan ang bata, "Hm? Isn't he the kid from before?"

Asta lowered her head and stared at the boy's face then she smiled, "Isn't he cute? What's his name?"

"No idea." Zai said looking at their faces. "He'll eventually die because of the substances circulating in his veins so there's no reason for us to know his name."

But Zai's eyes slightly widen when a pair of small hands touched hers. She looked down and saw the boy trying to hide behind her. Sinbad looked at the boy, "He seems comfortable around you."

The boy's hand was cold and soft. He looked up to Zai's face and Zai pursed her lips when a small smile formed on the boy's lips. His gaze was warm and it looks like he's thanking her.

Asta sighed, "Illegal substances huh. Such a pity for a cute little thing to die in a young age."

Their eyes widen when the boy suddenly coughed blood and his knees landed on the concrete roof. His right hand is covering his mouth while the other is holding Zai's hand. For the first time, Zai's eyes was covered with worry and her heart began to thump loudly. She gritted her teeth. No, this isn't her. This worry that is invading her mind, Avis is the one who made it. It's not her.

She was about to shake the boy's hand away but she was covered in fear when the boy began to puke a lot of blood, "Oi Zai! Aren't we gonna do something about him?! He's--" pero bago pa matapos ni Asta ang mga salita niya ay kinarga na ni Zai ang batang lalaki at tumalon sa bintana ng kabilang bahay. Sinundan naman nila ito.

He laid the boy down on the bed. He kept on coughing blood, staining the white sheets with his red fluid. The boy clawed the fabric that's covering his chest and the sheets with his hands. He balled his body up and started groaning. Shutting his eyes tight because of the pain.

But he slightly opened them when he felt a familiar hand stroke his hair. "Kid, there's a 30% chance that you can be healed but the chances of you dying is greater. Will you take the risk?"

The boy put his hand on Zai's and held her finger, "I-It hurts..!"

Zai pursed her lips and withdrew her hand. She grabbed her dagger and cut her palm without hesitation. Shane looked away when Zai put her bleeding hand near the boy's mouth. It was a disgusting way of treatment but if that's their only choice then there's no time to be picky.

After consuming her blood, the boy kept on panting. Zai stood up, "We just have to wait for the outcome."

Zai stared at her bleeding hand. The witch that she encountered back then said that her blood hasn't fully awakened yet. She'll take the risk by the fact that her blood right now is weaker than the power that is invading inside her system.

She sat down and just stared at the boy's face. She sighed and put her hand on her forehead. Why is she doing this?

"We'll just go buy some foods." saad ni Shane at isinama si Trois sa kanya. They went down and saw that the house seemed empty. Mukhang walang nakatira sa bahay na ito. They went out and bought some food. Zai's worried expression immediately registered in Shane's mind. He have never once thought that he can see any bit of emotions from her except for anger and other scary stuffs. He glanced at Trois who are picking some apples to buy.

"What do you think?" tanong niya dito. Trois glanced at him but eventually looked back at the apple in his hand then continued picking.

"Zai is capable of showing her emotions, she just doesn't want to." sagot nito na tila ba naintindihan niya ang malabong tanong nito sa kanya. "When we were in the academy, her display of emotions gradually decreased. In order to become a great captain and a fighter, you need to lessen your emotions. That's what she did."

"Was she always affectionate towards children?"

Trois shrugged, "I don't know. But what I know about an interesting fact about her is that she's attracted to objects that are cute."

Shane stared at him confusingly.

"She loves to spoil Layn whenever she has the chance. You could say that there's still a feminine side left in her."

"Feminine?" hindi makapaniwalang saad ni Shane na tila ba may sinabi si Trois na hindi kailan man lumitaw sa mundong timitirahan nila.

Trois glared at him, "Yeah. Feminine."

"O-Okay... Feminine."

***
Hello readers, sorry to bother you but can you please comment your opinions about the story? I actually have no idea but I feel like there's something, a little something, that I should do. I feel like I disrupted something for an unknown reason. My guts are telling me that there is something wrong😟 I feel lost😦

Can you please tell me your opinion about the flow of the story? If you think there's nothing wrong, then please tell me too. Baka ako lang talaga 'tong nakakaramdam ng uneasiness sa sarili ko. Feeling ko ang bigat ng ulo ko sa kakaisip😂

Salamat!❤