Ipinikit ni Zenlhoir ang kaniyang mga mata at pagdilat ng mga ito ay bumalik na ang madalas nitong ekspresyon. Nakatutok pa rin ang kaniyang baril sa ulo ng dalaga at ganon din si Zai. "Let's talk about that matter somewhere else. For now, I can't let you expose Northernium's top secret to anyone. Especially in your current status, the kingdom can't fully trust you."

"I wasn't asking for permission. Have you seen a criminal asks for permission before?" Zai rolled her eyes at mukhang hindi naman nagustuhan ni Zenlhoir ang nakitang ginawa nito.

"Stop that Zai."

Zai's sharp eyes glared at him, "You have to step aside for a while, Zen."

Sa isang iglap ay bigla na lamang may tumubong mga bakal sa sahig at mabilis itong pumalibot sa katawan ng lalaki. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Zenlhoir dahil sa nasaksihan at tumingin sa dalaga. He glared at her. He's sure that she was the one doing it and he's wondering how the girl can use an excelium.

"Zai, stop using it. You're abusing your body too much." sermon rito ni Ero ngunit hindi naman siya pinakinggan ng dalaga at tumitig lamang sa kanila.

"I'll get to the point," sabi ng dalaga na lalong kumuha sa kanilang atensyon, "The people here have Hevrion's genes mixed in them."

Their expressions never changed. They knew that the people here somehow resembles Zai's vibe but their's were weaker. They had a hunch that there is a possibility that it got something to do with Hevrions and stuffs.

Zenlhoir gritted his teeth, "Goddammit Zai.."

Zai continued speaking, "This guy is the source. Zenlhoir is a half-blooded Hevrion and that could only mean that the people who got injected with substances that have his blood mixed in it only have a small percentage of a demon's blood in their system but that is enough for them to have exceptional physical abilities and instincts."

Ero hummed as he hold his chin with his thumb and index finger, "Is that even safe?"

Zai's eyes turned colder, "I don't know," their eyes turned even more serious because of what they heard. Ipinagpatuloy naman ni Zai ang kaniyang mga sasabihin. "Zenlhoir is not originally a person who was born with a Hevrion's genes. Just like the residents of this kingdom, he was just injected with it."

"Then that it means it's safe right? He's okay even if he got injected by a pure--"

Mabilis namang pinutol ni Zai ang sasabihin ni Asta, "Many specimen died before him. Zenlhoir's genes and body was just compatible with the blood that's why he survived."

Muli namang nagsalita si Ero, "Kung gano'n, then there is a big possibility that Zenlhoir's genes are not harmful at all. He's not a pure-blood. The Hevrion's blood might've been weakened enough for the residents' body to coincide with it."

Zai's eyes sharpened, "Don't underestimate a Hevrion's DNA. I'm certain that there were some residents who died in the process. Right? Zen?" ngunit hindi naman nagsalita si Zen at nanatili lamang na tahimik. He just stared directly at Zai's eyes.

Muling ibinalik ni Zai ang paningin sa iba, "There are benefits if your body became compatible with a Hevrion's blood even if it's just a small amount. Your reflexes, physical abilities, and instincts will be enhanced. But there's no such thing as 'successful' or 'perfect' when we're talking about alteration of human genes."

Tumingin ng direkta si Ero sa mga mata ng dalaga, "What's the side effects?"

Zai closed her eyes for a while and opened them again, "Before we discuss about that, I want you to know some things about the Hevrions," naramdaman naman nila ang biglang pagbabago ng atmospera sa mga pagitan nila. Zai's stares were cold and it feels like they can feel their death coming if they dare to avert their eyes away. "I'll kill any of you if you spout this to anyone. So you better keep your tongues to yourselves."

Napuno ng katahimikan ang kwarto pagkatapos niyang sabihin 'yon. Zenlhoir stared at Zai's face. He can feel how intimidating she has become for the last years that he hasn't seen her and it seems that her choice of words is quite messed up. That's what you do not normally say to those people who are in the same team as you. Napatingin naman siya sa babaeng kasama ng mga ito when she suddenly let out a laughter. The others also started to chuckle that made Zenlhoir confused.

Asta looked at Zai as her laughter subside, "You're telling that to us now? Zai, we've been traveling for some time now, we already know that you're capable of doing such thing since the very beginning. We came along with you despite that. And don't worry, Sir Arnock probably already know everything about your kind. He didn't tell me anything about your bloodline but I'm certain that he's more interested about the gods and that's what I'm after."

Sinbad chuckled, "And don't worry. We won't lose to someone who has a soft spot towards brats."

"So you're calling me a brat now?" they chuckled at Rui's remark.

Zenlhoir had a slightly shocked expression because of the others' reaction. Tumingin naman siya kay Zai at nakitang nakatitig lamang din ito sa mga ito. Ilang saglit lamang ay nakita niya ang bahagyang pagtaas ng gilid ng labi nito. Zenlhoir sighed and a small smile appeared on his face after that.

"That's enough. Let's continue," pagkuha ng pansin ni Zai sa mga ito. "Hevrions were punished by the gods by banishment from this world and the incapability of using their gifts which is the Exceliums. But that doesn't end there."

Zai's eyes slightly softened, "Hevrions can only give birth to one child," she blinked and in an instant, the softness was replaced with sharpness. "There are also some cases that a Hevrion can't produce at all. You are fortunate enough if an offspring is born but a second child is impossible. That second child will die in the mother's womb because the unborn child's cells will be destroyed by a Hevrion's strong DNA. It is only safe for the first child, that's one of the punishments of the gods in order to slowly vanish the Hevrion clan from the surface of the world. What's fortunate about that is, the child is a pure-blooded Hevrion even if its mother or father is not a Hevrion. As long as the other is a pure-blood."

Asta shook her head, "That's messed up."

"It doesn't end there." Zenlhoir spoke.

Tumingin muna rito si Zai bago ipinagpatuloy ang sasabihin, "There's also risks in having the ancient demon's blood in your veins," tiningnan naman niya ang kaniyang kamay, "This current condition of mine is normal for Hevrions. The blood undergoes an 'awakening' and it lasts for weeks."

"It also happen once a year," singit ni Zenlhoir habang nakatingin kay Zai. "You weren't suppose to come here before your blood--"

"I'm not talking to you right now, Zen." bumuntong hininga naman si Zenlhoir dahil sa pagputol nito sa kaniyang mga salita.

Pinagpatuloy naman ni Zai ang pagpapaliwanag, "After that season, a Hevrion's ability is fully awakened and enhanced but that's not what we're talking about right now," habang nagsasalita iyo ay maigi naman itong pinakikinggan ng iba, "What we are talking about is what happens if a Hevrion's blood do not undergo changes."

Sinbad spoke up, "Won't they just stay in that kind of state?"

Zai shook her head, "If you won't awaken, your life span is shorter than an average human. Although Hevrions don't really care about such things."

"How many years?" tanong ni Ero.

Zai stared at his eyes, "For the residents here, 15 years maximum. For pure-blooded Hevrions, if they already reach the age when their blood should be awaken, they can start counting their years and I guess that would be 10 years. A decade is all they have."

"What? That short?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Asta.

"You wouldn't call it a punishment if it's on the sinner's favor, Asta." saad ni Zai.

Asta cringed, "Isn't it too much? Banishment, incapability, less production, and even a risk in life! Just what the hell your ancestors did?"

Zai and Zenlhoir didn't answer because they didn't know as well. Alexander told Zenlhoir what he have to know but he didn't tell him anything about their ancestors' sin.

"There's also that thing about Terry's healing ability. A sacred gift like a healing ability can't be used on your kind as well. A demon's blood and a god's power is obviously not compatible." saad naman ni Ero. Tumingin siya sa dalawang pinagmamasdan lamang din sila, "Then those punishments apply to the residents as well?"

Nanahimik naman ang dalawa until Zai nodded, "Yes. But it seems that Terry's sacred power work on the others. It just doesn't work on a pure-blood like me." lumingon naman si Zai kay Zenlhoir at binigyan ito ng masamang tingin, "It's your time to talk."

Zenlhoir stared at Zai's eyes but he eventually sighed in defeat, "I have nothing to explain. You already said it all. Aren't you suppose to tell me how you knew about it?"

"A hunch. Should I thank you for confirming it?"

Zenlhoir shook his head because of amusement. The girl tricked him in confirming a wild guess? So it's like he also told them the country's secret on purpose. "You and Father are really alike. Are pure-bloods really like that?"

"Would you look at that? I knew there was something suspicious."

Their eyes sharpened when they heard a different voice. A man is crouching down on the windowsill with an amused smirk on his lips. Akmang kikilos na sina Sinbad ngunit sa isang iglap ay nabalutan ng yelo ang kanilang mga katawan. Leaving only their heads out. Ganon din ang nangyari kay Zenlhoir.

Zenlhoir glared at the familiar man. "So you were still here?"

Zai squinted her eyes at Xhen. None of them felt his presence even though it looks like he was there since the very beginning.

Zai gritted her teeth when she felt her body got covered by ice in an instant as well. She couldn't move at all. Xhen walked to her, "Couldn't believe that the one we're chasing is a Hevrion as well. A pure-blood at that. How lucky can we be?"

Zai glared at Xhen even though he suddenly thrust a device with a needle in her neck. He pulled out the device and Zai saw her blood in it. Zai smirked, "So Shaera is planning to revive some of my ancestors from the dead? I wish her good luck."

Xhen chuckled, "We don't need that luck." tumitig naman ito sa mga mata ng babae, "Now that I'm here anyway. I should also bring you back to the--" ngunit dumaing ito noong biglang makaramdam ng sakit sa kaniyang tagiliran. He touched his side and saw blood.

Tumingin siya sa pinto at doon ay nakita si Shane na may hawak na hindi kilalang bagay. He was shaking but he stood firm. Zai glared at Xhen, "Touch the boy or I'll make sure you won't get to live again."

But Xhen just smirked and disappeared in front of her. Mabilis itong umatake sa binata ngunit bigla namang humarang si Ero dito habang nakasangga ang espada nito sa armas ng lalaki. The ice that was supposed to be locking him in place is already scattered on the floor. Xhen smirked at Ero, "You must be skilled."

Ero grinned, "I don't like hearing that from an enemy."

Xhen grinned and jumped away, landing on the windowsill. He smirked before disappearing. A long silence filled the room until they heard Zai's small laugh, "It looks like I'll soon get a chance to meet an ancestor. How exciting."

She then smirked, "The actors are about to come up the stage."