The next morning, Prime Minister Mervil walked into the Queen’s office.
She was occupied with her usual work—reviewing papers, making notes.
“How was last night’s hunt?” the Queen asked without looking up.
Mervil took a seat.
“Disappointing…”
A brief pause.
“…but disturbing.”
That made her stop.
She looked up.
Mervil narrated the entire sequence—cleanly and precisely, without embellishment.
The Queen listened intently.
“This is the report.”
He placed the file before her.
She untied the thread and opened the red velvet-bound cover, scanning every page carefully.
“Good recovery,” she said, closing it.
“And we have three Mayaveers alive. That’s valuable.”
Mervil leaned back slightly.
“Not as much as it seems. They lacked depth—fodder at best.”
A brief pause.
“The only real value we’ll extract is their blood relics. Even those won’t be particularly interesting.”
His gaze shifted.
“I might pass one to Kairav. He was… efficient.”
The Queen nodded faintly.
The recovered assets were noted—gold and goods worth eighty to one hundred and twenty Sona, mixed gemstones worth another twenty to thirty, mid-level blood weapons, and a small combat vessel valued at around two hundred Sona.
“Inform the Chief to reward him properly,” the Queen said.
“The Crown should never appear stingy.”
Mervil inclined his head.
“Efficiency deserves reward.”
A beat.
“Though not every time.”
The Queen gave a soft, knowing smile.
“I’m sure you’ll find better luck next time.”
Mervil said nothing.
That evening, after classes, Kairav made his way toward the fortress.
The royal library awaited him—preparation for the next move, and a place to acquire the knowledge he still lacked.
“Kairav!”
He turned.
Yani approached, slightly out of breath.
“Found you.”
“All good?” he asked.
“Yes… I just—”
She smiled and pulled something from behind her back.
“I made this for you, Mr. Bounty Hunter.”
It was a brass chain with a hollow, intricately engraved pendant.
Kairav examined it.
“What is it?”
“A field utility,” she said, a hint of pride in her voice.
“Watch.”
She placed the pendant on her palm.
“Open.”
The small sphere glowed and expanded into a palm-sized orb.
Kairav’s eyes sharpened.
“In a controlled space—if you need disruption, escape, or misdirection—you open it and throw. It creates a blast—sound, dust, confusion.”
Kairav nodded, impressed.
“One use?”
She shook her head.
“Reusable. For about two years. After deployment, just command ‘Return.'”
Kairav looked at her again, more seriously now.
“You’re talented.”
A flicker of satisfaction crossed her face.
“I know.” You are reading on g.com, the official source.
She extended her hand.
“I want your blood.”
Kairav stiffened.
His master’s warning surfaced immediately.
Never give your blood lightly.
Yani caught the hesitation.
“Relax. Just a drop. It binds the weapon to you—no one else can activate it.”
A slight smile touched her lips.
“And if someone tries… it won’t end well for them.”
Kairav held her gaze for a moment.
Then extended his hand.
She pricked his finger.
A single drop of blood fell onto the orb.
It glowed faintly gold…
Then settled.
“It’s yours now,” she said.
“And against stronger opponents?” Kairav asked.
“It won’t kill—but it will destabilize. Low-rank Mayaveers get injured.”
She shrugged.
“Non-Mayaveers… won’t survive.”
Kairav nodded, committing the information to memory.
“Thank you. What do I owe you?”
“The market price is around four to five thousand,” she said casually.
“Clan craft.”
Kairav paused.
“I can’t pay that right now.”
“I know.”
She waved it off.
“You’re a bounty hunter now. Bring me something interesting when you can—gems, artifacts…”
Her smile widened.
“…something with character.”
Kairav nodded.
“Done.”
“Now say ‘Close.'”
“Close,” he said.
The orb shrank back into a pendant.
Yani’s eyes lit up.
“It worked!”
“It did.”
“Wear it,” she said.
“It suits you.”
Kairav did so without hesitation.
She smiled.
“When you awaken… I’ll make you a proper blood weapon.”
“Looking forward to it.”
They parted ways.
Near the fortress gates, a guard approached.
“Kairav. The Chief is expecting you.”
Inside the security chamber, Sendrav stood by the window.
Mervil was beside him.
Kairav entered and bowed.
“Good evening.”
Mervil’s gaze flickered briefly to the pendant.
“Looks like someone went shopping.”
Sendrav exhaled, shaking his head faintly.
Kairav understood.
He stepped forward and handed Kairav a pouch.
“Your reward.”
Kairav accepted it.
Forty Sona.
“Thank you, Chief.”
“You earned it.”
Sendrav gestured toward a nearby table.
“Pick something.”
Small pouches of loose gemstones and a few crafted ornaments lay arranged across it.
Kairav picked up a gold bracelet with an emerald set at its center.
Sendrav raised a brow.
“Interesting choice.”
“Take these as well,” Mervil added, pointing toward two gemstone pouches.
“Trade them later if needed.”
Sendrav packed them and handed them over.
Kairav accepted.
“Keep performing like this, and—”
Mervil stopped mid-sentence.
A green snake slithered through the window.
Kairav instinctively tensed.
Neither Sendrav nor Mervil moved.
The snake coiled.
Then shifted.
A masked man stood in its place.
“Relax,” Sendrav said.
“Mervil’s informant.”
The man bowed and handed Mervil a scroll.
Mervil took it and read.
His expression changed.
“Did you read this?”
“No, my Lord. I wouldn’t dare.”
Mervil passed the scroll to Sendrav.
Sendrav read it.
His face hardened.
His jaw tightened.
“If this is true…”
He looked up.
“This is serious.”
Mervil nodded once.
“I expected it, after my conversation with Lady Shakuntala.”
A pause.
“This confirms it.”
Silence settled over the room.
Kairav remained still.
Mervil turned toward him.
“You may leave.”
A beat.
“I trust you understand what you did not see.”
Kairav allowed a faint smile.
“Did I see anything? I don’t think so…”
He glanced at the pouch in his hand.
“I collected my share and left.”
Mervil studied him for a moment.
Then grinned.
“Very well.”
Sendrav’s expression softened—just slightly.
Kairav turned and walked out.
Something had shifted.
And whatever it was…
had just begun to take shape.