THE HALAN army guarding the perimeter prepared themselves, knowing that the two fighters were among the strongest. They were aware that the current chieftain possessed a destructive power once he turned to his animal form. Lazir aggressively attacked the chief using his two swords, which Zuyesh effortlessly blocked. Both were swift, and ordinary human eyes could not follow their movements. Their weapons clashed and gleamed under the late afternoon sun. Despite their old age, they were so agile that they could match the young ones.After showcasing their swordsmanship, both paused and maintained a distance while preparing for another strike. They were warming up, but it was evident that Lazir was eager to win.“Why don’t you transform, Chief?” Lazir urged.“I don’t see the need. Let’s finish this quick!” Zuyesh charged toward his opponent. He moved like the wind despite his huge physique. Although Lazir was quick to catch up, the chieftain succeeded with his blade slightly slicing the

WHEN Malaika and Yulli entered their special class, they were not spared from the discrimination as soon as they got inside. All eyes were set on them, sharing bothered expressions. But everyone immediately shrugged them off, which Malaika found amusing since no one had uttered a word, and they continued to their usual chats and ignored the two of them completely.Malaika made a quick mental count of how many students belonged to the class. There were approximately twenty, including her and Yulli.“Don’t mind them. We are here to learn,” Yulli said. They were seated on the last row, and no one wanted to be acquainted with being with them.“As if I’m bothered. I’m expecting the worse, and I’m starting to like this class.” Malaika silently winked to make Yulli feel at ease.Yulli gave him a nod of approval. “I’m glad to hear that from you, princess.”Malaika thought of the positive side of the indifferent treatment towards them. It could work to their advantage since she could fully con

“WHERE is my horse?” Yulli came to them unbothered by the intimidation they were showing. He had no plan of getting into trouble, but it seemed inevitable, especially since he saw his horse a few meters away with a female tied in it.At a glance, Yulli could identify the female was not an elf. Her tangerine-colored dress matched the thick fur scarf covering her neck. She was muddy, especially her feet, which had one shoe on. These elves probably had fun chasing the poor lady. Based on her scent, she had a faint smell of being a shapeshifter. “This one is more valuable!” One of the elves shouted. Among these brigands, he had the biggest physique and blade scars on his cheeks. He might be the leader in the way he gave an order. Everyone laughed. “We can sell him at a high price! This night is indeed auspicious for hunting!” said another who could not contain his excitement.“Hey, Scarred Face! Give my horse back, and that lady or I will kill all of you without a trace,” Yulli turned

YULLI spoke to ease Malaika’s worries. “There are a lot of things you need to know outside the wall barrier, Princess. I hope you’re ready once we set foot in Eastern Axum.”“Then tell me everything! I deserve it, don’t you think?” She clenched her jaw. “It’s been a while since I was taken away from Hala, and I don’t know how to get back without facing the consequences of breaking the sacred law. Hell is an understatement of what I’ve been through, Yulli. What other secrets are you hiding away from me?”Yulli gently shrugged. “Since you ask, the world is huge outside this island. However, the way life is a lot different. I heard that there is extreme drought, and water is a precious commodity. There is information that every water mage is captured so they could provide for the needs of the royalties.”“Are you certain?” Malaika seemed to doubt Yulli, only that the wolf shifter was serious.“I can’t be sure since the information came from my adoptive father. The chief and everyone in t

CHIEF ZUYESH had an emergency council meeting because Lazir was nowhere to be found. The aerial army checked thoroughly around Hala, but there were no signs of the black wolf shifter. A whole squad of trackers was on the ground. Everyone was waiting to hear some good news, yet the search yielded an unfavorable result. It appeared that Lazir suddenly vanished out of thin air. “It’s unfortunate that our best warriors are still recuperating in the infirmary. They could easily track Lazir,” Raev said. He was seated on the first row facing Atekun, while Zuyesh was in the center. “Did you notice anything weird, Chief? Why would Lazir suddenly ask for a Hafukana and display his magic while everyone is watching? Then he is suddenly gone.” “That puzzled me, too. But I have a hunch as to why he did it.” Zuyesh looked calm. No one could notice that he was restless. “Lazir had been a member of this council for ten years, and we all know that his sharp mouth always put him in a tight spot. I won