(The queen's violet eyes suddenly shifted, locking onto Soren with an intensity that felt like a blade sliding between ribs. It wasn't just the unnatural color of her irises—deep, shimmering purple like crushed amethysts—that sent a shiver down Soren's spine. No, it was the emotion swirling behind them: cold, calculating amusement. She was enjoying this—savoring their fear. Renji caught it too, his golden almond-shaped eyes narrowing slightly as he noticed the faint twitch at the corner of her regal mouth, the way she fought to suppress a smile that would betray her delight. Soren felt sweat bead at his temple, cool trails tracing down his cheeks, dripping past the small beauty mark beneath his right eye.)
(He cleared his throat, the velvet rasp in his voice cracking under pressure, ash-blond waves shifting as he forced himself to hold her gaze.) "He is not a dark elf. Nor whatever else you imagine him to be. He is a human."
(The words hung in the cavernous throne room like a challenge. Gasps rippled through the assembled nobles—men in embroidered silks and women draped in jewel-encrusted gowns—who had been whispering behind fans and gloved hands. Even the queen's perfectly sculpted eyebrows arched, violet eyes flickering with genuine intrigue. She leaned forward on her throne of carved obsidian and gold, the royal purple of her gown pooling like spilled wine around her tall frame.)
"What an extraordinarily interesting day this has become," (she said, her voice smooth as polished marble yet carrying effortlessly to every corner of the hall.) "I confess uncertainty—shall I deem it blessed or cursed? Tell me, sirrah: why does a man so clearly bearing the refined aura of nobility—your posture, your speech, the very way light favors your features—walk willingly beside a dark elf?"
(Soren met her piercing stare head-on, though his heart hammered against his ribcage like a trapped animal. Fear coiled tight—not just for himself, but for Damien, whose frame had gone rigid as stone beside him. Damien's deep brown skin gleamed with fresh sweat under the torchlight, his long dreadlocks disheveled from the guards' rough handling, amber-flecked eyes wide with animal panic. His chest heaved in rapid, shallow bursts beneath his dirtied shirt rising and falling as if each breath might be his last. Death hung tangible in the air, bitter as bile on his tongue.)
(Soren swallowed hard, his usual devastating charm shattered, voice emerging hoarse and raw.) "My friend is not a dark elf. I swear it by whatever oath you require, He is a human."
(The queen's full lips pressed into a contemplative line. She studied Soren a moment longer, then shifted her gaze to Damien, her expression unreadable. Slowly, deliberately, she rose from her throne. She stood tall—nearly 182 cm or 5'10" in her heeled boots—her movements liquid elegance masking lethal intent. Each step down the dais echoed like a death knell through the marble hall, the rustle of her purple skirts whispering promises of violence. The air seemed to thicken with her presence, heavy with the scent of rosewater and polished steel. She stopped directly before Damien, towering over his kneeling form, violet eyes boring into him like twin daggers.)
"Guards," (she commanded, voice deceptively soft.) "Examine his ears. And test his Wi."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" (The response boomed from a dozen throats, shaking dust from the rafters. The guards withdrew their stained sword tips from Damien's neck—mere millimeters from severing his jugular. Damien sucked in a ragged breath, body rippling with tension across his back… only for a calloused hand to clamp his throat like a vise. The guard yanked Damien's dreadlocks aside roughly, exposing perfectly human ears—rounded lobes, no pointed elven taper. But the second guard stepped forward, his eyes igniting with faint dark green glow. Damien recoiled as something slimy and invasive crawled into his skull, tendrils of foreign will probing his thoughts, his memories, his very soul.)
(What is Wi? In this fantastical realm of Lo'ranioa, Wi is the breath of existence itself—the divine life-force bestowed by gods and goddesses upon mortals, beasts, and the world entire. It is the invisible current governing reality: bending elements, enhancing flesh, weaving spells, shaping destinies. Every living thing possesses it, ranked at birth from X down through IX, VIII, VII, VI, V, IV, III, II, I—to Rank Nulla which is reserved solely for deities, abilities that warp continents and summon stars. X being the weakest and nulla being the strongest. Rank locks eternally at birth—no training elevates it. Mental psyche is it's key. With Wi iron wills unleash cataclysms, abilities manifest wildly—flame-summoning, telekinesis, beast-taming, body-forging superhumanity. Even the lowest ranks best Earth's peak humans. There are as well species-tailored nuances that distinguish orcish brute Wi from elven Wi, goblin cunning Wi from dwarven craft Wi.)
(What the guard is doing is, he is peering into Damien's mind not for memories but to see whether his Wi is eleven or humane and this practice is never painless.)
(The guard's mental probe wrenched a guttural bellow from Damien's depths—raw agony exploding from his guts. Tears carved hot paths down his deep brown cheeks, body wracked with hyperventilation.)
(The glow faded. The guard stared blankly, pivoted to the queen—who watched from her throne with cruel amusement curling her lips.) "Dark elf?" (she prompted.)
(Confused, he cleared his throat.) "No, Your Majesty. He is… human."
(Gasps erupted like thunderclaps. Nobles clutched pearls and goblets; the queen's violet eyes widened fractionally, shock rippling her poised facade.) "Your jests grow bold." (Nervous laughter bubbled from the crowd.)
T(he guard bowed low, eyes fixed on cracked marble.) "I dare not jest with Your Majesty."
(Laughter choked dead. Stares burned into Damien as the guard added:) "Though… possible corruption. Cleansing would reveal truth."
(Jiwon, Renji, and Soren watched Damien with gut-wrenching pity and helpless shame—knees ground into stone, unable to rise, fists clenched uselessly.)
"Very well," (the queen snapped, confidence fracturing into rare panic. She cleared her throat sharply.) "Cleanse him. Now."
(The guard bolted hallward, boots pounding. Minutes stretched eternal before he returned, dragging a pale woman in flowing white robes emblazoned with golden Wi sigils—face veiled in translucent silk, only slender hands visible. She glided beside him, eyes flicking Damien-ward briefly before bowing to the queen.) "You summoned me, Your Majesty?"
"Cleanse the dark elf." (The woman tilted her head; the guard whispered frantic context. Understanding dawned; she approached Damien.)
(Her veiled eyes blazed blinding white-hot. Ancient chants poured forth in a tongue like rolling thunder and silk—syllables twisting air, Wi crackling visible as blue-white arcs. The ritual dragged nearly an hour, her voice unwavering yet body trembling with expenditure. Abruptly, she ceased—collapsing to knees, gasping raggedly, sweat soaking robes.) "Your Majesty… there is nothing to cleanse. He is pure."
(The queen shot upright, violet eyes wild with confusion.) "You! Were you born with skin so tainted?"
(Damien—breath steadying, chest still heaving—lifted his head, meeting her stare. Slow nod. Whispers exploded among nobles like dry grass igniting.)
"Despicable creature," (she thundered, rising to full height, gown billowing.) "How dare a human bear the flesh-mark of shadow-kin? I should have your head mounted as warning!"
(Damien's amber-flecked eyes bulged; frantic head-shake, full lips parting in silent plea—)
"GUARDS!"
(The hall surged to alertness—but in that split-second lag, Damien exploded upright, his frame uncoiling like a spring. He sprinted hallward, long athletic legs devouring marble, dreads whipping. Jiwon, Soren, Renji surged after—nobles gaping, guards momentarily stunned.)
"FOOLS! SEIZE AND EXECUTE THEM!"
(They burst from the throne room into labyrinthine corridors—torchlit shadows blurring, boots thundering. Castle doors flung wide past slack-jawed sentries. Shouts erupted behind: "Capture that filth and his confederates!" The chase ignited proper—adrenaline tsunami crashing through veins, hearts jackhammers pumping oxygenated blood to every sculpted fiber. Streets parted in panic; cries roused citizens—men snatching broadswords, women drawing daggers—joining the hunt.)
(Gates loomed ahead—massive iron slabs slamming shut under guard orders. Damien led, witnessing barred death and unsheathing steel. Something snapped within: terror of meaningless slaughter fusing rage at injustice. Eyes ignited blazing crimson; jaw clenched granite-hard beneath bold cheekbones. One earth-shattering stomp—cobblestone cracked spiderwebbing outward; dreads froze mid-snap, time dilating.)
(Renji's golden eyes widened fractionally—he immediately noticed it. Jiwon glanced panicked rearward; Soren fixated gates, mouth opening:) "Damien, the alley—"
(Chilling aura pulsed outward—menace washing over Soren and Renji like arctic gale. Jiwon whipped forward; primal chills prickled pale skin.)
"Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My. WAY!" (Damien's roar shattered air—fiery red eyes supernova-bright. BOOM—explosive force propelled him bullet-fast. Guards dove aside in shock as Damien smashed gates inward, iron hinges shrieking airborne. The trio froze slack-jawed a beat, then bolted after—footprints gouged deep in earth marking his trail.)
(Damien vanished ahead; they chased grass-scorched furrows into enveloping forest—branches clawing, lungs burning, over an hour of relentless pursuit before legs gave out to staggering walk.)
(Finally they saw him, Damien slumped against ancient oak, eyes shut, chest heaving exhaustion. Sweat gleamed radiant on deep brown skin, dreads matted. Jiwon sprinted last legs, crouching—palm meeting Damien's cheek with a sharp sound.)
"Ahh! Who the fu—" (Damien's eyes snapped open, amber-flecks softening on Jiwon.) "Oh. You." (Tired smile cracked full lips, voice gravelly-hoarse from exertion.)
"What in blazes was that?" (Renji demanded, striding up, hair swaying mid-back, golden gaze drilling unreadable intensity as he sat crosslegged nearby.)
"Give him space," (Soren interjected softly, velvet rasp strained, lowering gracefully beside them—ash-blond tousled by wind.)
(Damien rolled thick neck, traps rippling.) "Hell if I know, man. Just… had to."
"Survive," (Renji echoed with heavy sigh, silvery hair framing razor cheekbones.) "No point dissecting. You're breathing—not that woman's 'filthy creature' trophy."
(Damien rolled eyes, biceps peaking as he stretched.) "I'm shocked no 'isekai heroes summoned to save world' spiel for you."
(Renji's precise brow arched.) "Why me specifically?"
"You're built like every anime protagonist ever," (Jiwon quipped, slumping tree-against—blue eyes crinkling fatigue, tousled waves damp.)
(Renji clicked tongue sharp annoyance; yawn betrayed him. Chain-reaction: Soren yawned velvet-deep; Damien followed rumbling; Jiwon stifled; Damien again; Renji battled; Soren cascaded; Renji lost.) "Damn you contagious mouths—quit sparking mine!" (Golden eyes flashed irritation.)
"Why are you blaming us for your chain?" (Jiwon retorted, head lolling onto Damien's muscled thigh—light blue eyes fluttering shut.)
"Jiwon—off my lap."
(Obnoxious snoring erupted instantly. The trio stared down.) "Like the little brother I never wanted," (Damien chuckled wearily. Soren nodded slow agreement; Renji's piercing gaze warmed imperceptibly—faint golden thaw.)
(Damien's lids drooped heavy. Soren succumbed, collapsing shoulder-heavy onto Renji—porcelain cheek against silvery ponytail.) "The—" (Renji cut off with resigned sigh, easing Soren down gently, then reclining himself atop Damien's lap. Sleep enveloped—bodies clustered intimate-tight: limbs tangled, breaths syncing, breaths warm. Serene brotherhood tableau, unmolested by forest beasts—unnatural peace blanketing them through night.)
(Dawn's golden fingers pierced canopy. A young woman's frustrated curses shattered quiet—short chin-length cut tousled wild, emerald-green eyes flashing irritation, standing 172 cm or 5'6" with freckles dusting nose/cheeks, pale skin flushed exertion. Brown jumpsuit filth-blackened from labor, thick gloves scarred.) "This is the absolute last time I take this cursed shortcut."
(She froze dead—at the four sleeping men piled intimately like exhausted puppies. Alto voice dripped disbelief:) "What is with my luck? Homosexuals at every goddamn turn."
(Closer steps crunched leaves, her emerald eyes lingered on Renji's serene, otherworldly beauty—pale flawless skin luminous dawn-gold, full rose-tinted lips parted repose, long pale lashes fanning golden eyes shut. Silvery-white hair fanned mid-back cascade.) "Absolute damn shame he swings that way."
(Renji's golden eyes snapped open—almond-shaped depths piercing straight to her soul. Locked stares stretched eternal, air thickening electric—wuth a mutual gravitational pull, an unspoken challenge. Jiwon stirred groggily, sensing the weird tension and stared at two as he elbowed Damien awake while clamping hand over Damien's. Damien blinked amber confusion, tracked Jiwon's stare before he pushed down Jiwon's hand as a slow smirk bloomed even white teeth.) "Well damn, Renji… love at first sight already?"
(Soren stirred awake before his gaze fell onto Renji and the woman immediately, eyes widened in amusement.)
(Renji's pale cheeks deepened rosy—snapping trance, mouth agape wordless sputter. The woman retreated step, ears flaming scarlet, throat-clearing sharp—shifting target to Damien:) "You—definitely a dark elf, right?"
(Damien tensed instantly before Soren cut smooth:) "No. Human. Skin condition, that's all."
(She nodded skepticism-pinched.) "Right. So what're you… fruity monkeys doing crashed out here?"
"Fruity?" (Jiwon echoed, blue eyes narrowing playful offense.)
"Monkeys?" (Damien added, his eyebrows furrowing.)
(Jiwon cleared his throat.) "We're not fruity.
(She had an unimpressed stare.) "No straight man sleeps piled that damn close to another."
(Renji held a silent golden stare; Damien countered firmly.) "You just met four who do."
"Sure." (She crouched fluid before Renji who was now seated upright, elongated posture relaxed, his golden eyes unreadable yet magnetic. Her emeralds pierced back.) "Hey. You're exactly my type. Marry me."
"HUH?!" (Damien and Jiwon thundered in unison, Soren gaped in silent shock. Renji's pale blazed a full scarlet, from his forehead to his jaw, he was completely flushed. His golden eyes slightly shaky.)
(Her full lips curled devastating smile—slow, knowing, utterly disarming which was not helping Renji whatsoever, he just stared helplessly, mind racing and heart thumping uncontrollably. Damien and Jiwon's jaws unhinged cartoon-wide.)
(Who was this bold emerald-eyed firecracker? Was this going to be a day for recollection? Would Renji become a blissfully shackled man?)
(Find out in the next chapter…)