"Zai! Let us handle this and just go back to the inn!" pangungumbinsi rito ni Ero ngunit tila ba walang naririnig ang dalaga habang pinipilit ang sariling maglakad sa malamig na kalsada. Ero put his hand on his face out of frustration and sighed. "Fine. Do what you want." he sarcastically said and just decided to follow her.

Pinagtitinginan sila ng mga tao and Zai knew those looks very well. She already have a hunch on what's going on inside this country and she only needs to confirm it. If it is true, then she really needs to go to where Shane is.

Shane trembled in fear as the royal soldiers force him to kneel down on the concrete floor. Nanlalamig ito dahil sa nararamdamang pangamba. He's in front of the castle doors and there are two concrete poles on his each side. There are chains attached to each poles and Shane's nervousness increased with what he just thought of.

The double door slowly opened and Shane raised his head to see who was about to come out. A man with a blond hair wearing a royal uniform with the color of blue and white walked out of the palace doors. Sa likod nito ay may nakasunod na isang lalaking nakauniporme rin.

Shane bit his lip. There's no mistaking it. Just by his presence, even an idiot can tell that the man in front of him is the king.

The king looked down at Shane who is kneeling with his hands shackled behind him. Feniel spoke behind him, "He's too young, your majesty." he said with pity in his voice.

Ngunit hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon ng hari, "A thief is a thief. Kids should learn the harsh truth of the world they're living in," he then glared at Shane, "And pain is the best discipline there is."

May isang tauhan ang naglagay ng isang bangko sa likod ng hari. The king sat down and rested his cheek on the knuckles of his right hand.

"Where did you come from?" tanong ng hari. He squinted his eyes when the boy didn't answer, "Should I cut your tongue as well? You're not going to use it anyway."

Shane's eyes widen with his words. Seryoso ito at tila ba gagawin nga nito ang kaniyang sinabi 'pag nanatili siyang tahimik. He opened his mouth to answer, "W-Westernia.."

"And your name?"

"Shane Wault."

The king tapped his finger on the armrest of his chair. "Hmm.. Garp's grandson huh. I'm quite disappointed that his grandson turned out like this. And how old are you?"

"15."

"So young but a dirty little thief. You're well aware that you're going to be punished right? Can you stay alive after this though? Well I wish you goodluck. Tie him up--"

A sword came flying towards the king's head but Feniel appeared in front of the king to deflect it. The king squinted his eyes, "Who dares to interrupt me?"

"Let the boy go." Shane's eyes widen when he saw Zai standing in front of him. The king glared at the unfamiliar woman who just arrived. May ilan rin itong mga kasama ngunit mukhang walang balak makialam ang mga ito.

Shane can only see half of Zai's face but he can tell that Zai isn't feeling well because of her pale complexion, "What are you doing here Zai?! You're supposed to be in bed--"

Natahimik naman ito when Zai looked back at him with a glare, "And aren't you suppose to be following orders?"

Shane gritted his teeth, "Nevermind that! If you stand here under the cold, your body won't--"

Muling ibinalik ni Zai ang kaniyang paningin sa hari, "Shut the f*ck up and behave yourself."

"You can't even see clearly right?! Just let me be! This is my fault so let me handle this! Ero! Take her back!"

"I told you to shut up, didn't I?" Shane gritted his teeth and just cursed under his breath when he felt how cold Zai's voice became. Alam niyang kahit anong sabihin pa niya ay hindi makikinig si Zai sa kaniya. Zai was always like that.

"Feniel, who is this woman?" the king asked the general who is guarding him.

"It appears that she is Zaivrin Haines, your majesty."

"Hm.. General Yan's adopted daughter huh."

Zai continued staring at them with her emotionless eyes, "Let the boy go."

"He stole from one of my citizens. Do you think I'll let him go without facing the consequences of his actions? You're a dumb woman. I wonder how General Yan took care of you?"

Feniel's eyes slightly widen and his throat almost run dry when the girl's eyes turned colder. A cold foreign breeze run up his spine because of the sudden shift of the atmosphere surrounding them. The king's eyes sharpened as an amused smirk form on his lips. Interesting.

"Then I'll take his place."

Their eyes widen with what she said. Shane looked up to Zai who seemed determined and true to he words. "What are you talking about..? You're not even in a good condition! You don't even have a reason to care for--"

"Don't forget that I'm your guardian," Zai's voice was cold and firm. Shane's eyes widen with her words. "Since I took you in, you're my responsibility so shut your trap, you damn kid."

Shane didn't realize that. His only guardian died and Zai took his place. He never viewed it that way. But he gritted his teeth, "That has no connection to what's going on right now! I'm the one at fault so I should be the one who's---"

Shane's eyes widen when he felt a heavy hit on the corner of his neck. Nanlabo ang paningin nito at bumagsak na lamang ang katawan sa malamig na semento.

Zai stared at the king's eyes again, "I'm his guardian. I didn't supervise him well. I should be the one taking responsibility for my kid's actions."

"Don't be stupid Zai!" Ero shouted. "You're barely standing on your feet, aren't you?! I told you to leave this matter to us, didn't I?!"

"Shut up!" Ero stopped when Zai shouted. Her eyes sharpened. "I'm currently teaching Shane as the person who is standing as his parent, don't you dare stop me from doing my obligations," her eyes showed determination. "If he won't stop on disobeying our orders, he should know that the results of his actions doesn't just affect him. Shane is just a 15-year old kid. He's still growing and I don't want him to grow up as a burden."

Ero gritted his teeth. You're just three years older than him. You don't have to take all the responsibility..!

"Garp died because he got involved in Zai's fight with Shaera's subordinates," lumingon si Ero kay Asta noong ito ay nagsalita. She's just staring at Zai's back with a neutral expression. "You can't blame the girl if she feels responsible for what happened. She's taking responsibility for Garp's death by taking care of his grandson."

The king chuckled, "So punish the soul not the body huh? I'm amused." he smirked, "Alright. Put the chains on her."

Zai glanced at the man with a whip, "Whipping huh.."

She glanced at Rui as she holds her top. Rui was looking at her with worry as he slightly purse his lips. She averted her gaze and removed her arm from one sleeve, "Get Shane and Rui out of here." but Rui immediately shook his head.

Although Zai cannot see him, she spoke as if she did, "Are you disobeying me as well?"

Rui clenched his hand on his chest, "I want to stay!"

"You won't." Zai responsed and finally removed her other arm from the second sleeve. Her top fell and hang on her waist. Leaving only the white long bandages that she use to wrap around her chest.

Rui's eyes widen when he saw scars all over her back. There were big ones and small ones. Iniwas na lamang ni Asta ang kaniyang paningin habang si Sinbad ay nanatiling nakatitig sa likod nitong puno ng peklat. He always wondered if the girl even have a scar because a skilled fighter wouldn't have a perfect looking skin. Scars are signs of how much training a fighter have gone through. No fighter can move like she does without hardships. Zai is not a prodigy and the scars are the proof of it.

Two soldiers put her to where Shane was kneeling before. She kneeled down and her hands were binded by the chains attached to the concrete poles. Her arms are open wide as she kneels down.

Rui's eyes widen when Asta suddenly grabbed him and carried him on her shoulder as she carry Shane with her other arm. "Wha-- wait! Asta!"

"You don't have to see this kid."

"But I want to stay with Zai! Put me down!"

"At least listen to her for now. Do you want to disobey her too? You should realize by now. Zai adopted you. That makes her your guardian as well. Children should listen to the adults."

Rui gritted his teeth and just stayed quiet as Asta carry them back to the inn. Sinbad and Ero remained in the scene as they watch Zai kneel in front of the king with her hands tied in chains.

"Was she always like this?" asked Ero.

Sinbad shrugged his shoulders, "No. Zai is always collected, rational, and logical. This is the first time."

The king smirked, "Begin."

Zai shut her eyes when she felt the whip touched her skin. It stung but the pain is bearable. She has gone through every kinds of torture and she's used to it. Her father trained her well enough to bear this kind of pain.

The whipping continued and every sound that the whip makes as it touch Zai's bloody back resonated in their ears. But they never heard Zai's yells or cries. Zai squinted her eyes when her eyesight is worsening. It's bearable but it doesn't mean it's not painful. She wants to yell out her pain but she refuse to do that in front of the king who clearly wants to see her suffer. She groaned when she felt another hit on her back. There are civilians watching the scene and they started to whisper as the punishment continues.

Terry pushed herself out of the crowd and her eyes widen when she saw the scene. She immediately ran to the king, "Your highness!"

The king glanced at her direction, "What do you want Terry?"

"Please spare her. She's my patient and her condition is extremely bad! She'll die if this continue!" she begged but the king just gazed back at Zai who is just staring at the floor as she tries to keep herself awake.

"You're healing a criminal? You should be aware that you're committing a crime. Even if you are the head of the medical team, I wouldn't tolerate it."

"Yes, I'm aware, your highness. But please grant my request."

"No. I would not. This punishment lasts for an hour and it's only been 30 minutes. She has to stay alive for another 30 minutes if you really want to cure her."

"But your highness! This girl might be--"

"What's going on here?" they all stopped when they heard a cold familiar voice. The crowd made way for that person.

"It's the general..!"

"He's back."

Sinbad squinted his eyes at the man who just arrived. The king smirked, "Took you long enough."

"There have been some few complications but I already fixed it." he then glanced at the person who's back is now bleeding very badly, "I didn't know you're currently doing a punishment. I must be interrupting--" but stopped when he saw her familiar figure. He can only see her back, hair, and a bit of her face but he's certain that the person who is currently under punishment is none other than her.

He sighed then continued to walk. He pulled his sword out of its sheath as he approach Zai. Ero and Sinbad was alarmed with what he's about to do but they were confused when he cut the chains that is binding her. Zai's body fell on the concrete floor.

Her eyes are barely open but she can feel who is the man that just arrived and cut the chains on her hands. Zenlhoir stared down at her, "Never thought that you're still alive." he said.

Zai smirked, "Shouldn't I be the one saying that? Zen."

"Take her." he said. Sinbad and Ero immediately knew that he's talking to them. They took Zai and in an instant, they vanished.

The king stared at his eyes when the criminals finally were gone. "You better explain this to me, Zenlhoir."

The king clicked his tongue when the general just ignored him and disappeared in an instant. He then sighed, "He's quite a handful."