Hunter

Location: Inner District of Vosa City: Kai and Hars

The Inner District of Vosa City was a very beautiful sight to see. The architecture was different from the Mid-District, and especially from the Outer District. It was the original part of Vosa City. At least the part that hadn’t been destroyed when the gates first flooded Ullilan Kingdom. It really was a beautiful sight with arches and columns, and handcrafted ornate designs that mixed with a more new-aged style the farther out of the Inner District, and into the Mid and Outer Districts, you got as more was added to the city to hold the influx of refugees running from the Egresses. Vosa City, from what Kai knew, had always prided itself on the arts and culture it had. 

The main centerpiece right when you walked into the Inner District was the mural depiction of the World Tree. Kai had seen it many times growing up in Vosa City with her father and papa but it still took her breath away every time she passed it. It was a beautiful behemoth of a willow tree with branches reaching far out on the wall it was painted on. The branches were covered in white, grey, and black leaves. The leaves didn’t really stand out against the metallic, metal-like silver bark of the tree but the tree bark itself looked like it was cracked with various colors shining through. Colors that the Egresses took. 

As always, Kai and Hars paused to look at the tree painting, sending a small prayer to the Immortals before Kai began to tug Hars to the path on the left. They needed to hurry up and get to their father and papa’s house before anything else strange happened or they broke some rule they didn't know had been implemented in the last couple of months while they were in the Outworld.

As they made their way through the Inner District, Kai couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced around, and snorted when she saw a flash of bright purple hair dodging behind a half-wall that separated their walkway from the stairs right near them.

"What is it?" Hars asked, raising an eyebrow at Kai when she looked back at him.

"We have a follower." She stated, motioning her head in the direction of where Ione was hiding. Ione was one of the Mage Guardian's in the Silver Wisp Guild. Though she desperately wanted to be a Hunter like her and Hars. Her magic was protective warding in nature though which wasn't very conducive to being a Hunter, even though it was perfect for a Guardian. It wasn't like she couldn't have been a Hunter if she truly wanted. But since she had no combative skills to speak of, and no want to learn, she would never make it out in the Outworld. It was why Einar never even gave her a shot to be a Hunter since she joined the Guild.

The thing was, though, Ione had a huge crush on Hars. From the moment they had met, Ione was convinced Hars was her soulmate. Her destiny. She was more or less a stalker of the two of them since Kai was always by Hars side. And nothing the two told her would get her to quit. Even Einar had tried to intervene since Hars was obviously gay and it made him very uncomfortable since Ione did not understand what personal space was.

"I bet she's going to follow us all the way to father and papa's and then rush off to the Guild Hall and inform everyone her 'One True Love' is back." Kai snarled under her breath, clenching and unclenching her hands to try and keep her scales and feathers from sprouting. Not many in the city liked when those from other Realms made it obvious they weren't from here. It was easier to keep from showing the extras she had from being a Vefari. Less of a hassle and less insults, and the rare attack, thrown at you as well. 

Besides… Kai had noticed that people who had been dragged to Ullilan mysteriously disappeared if they were anything other than an elf or fae. Father and Papa had stuck it in her head to always keep her extra features to herself. To not even trust those in their own Guild. Kai had taught Hars that too but he had always had a harder time keeping himself in check since he went feral so much. It was one of the main reasons they stuck to the Outworld as much as they did. She constantly had to have an eye on Hars to make sure he was hiding his scales and claws. 

Hars let out a sigh, rolling his eyes as a small blush rose to his cheeks at the mention of Ione's crush. "Just ignore her, Kai. She'll get bored eventually," he said, trying to keep his voice calm and steady. He didn't want to give Ione any reason to think he was interested in her.

Kai snorted. "Fat chance, Hars. It's been going on for four years now. The day she gets over her stupid crush is the day the Egresses stop forming." Kai teased, smirking widely. It would be lovely if that happened. Would kill two birds with one stone. Ione would stop following them around like a love sick puppy, and the people of Ullilan would only have to worry about the remaining gates and monsters. "Let's just get to the house quickly. If I have to deal with her after killing all those Skeletal Daemons, my hand might just slip."

Hars chuckled, shaking his head. "No slipping, Kai. That wouldn't be good for anyone," He paused for a moment, glancing around once more. "but I do agree." Hars knew she wasn't entirely joking. It wouldn't be the first time her hand accidentally slipped when it regarded Ione.

They weaved through the streets with practiced ease, their feet pounding on the pavement as they made their way to their destination. Finally, they arrived at their adopted father and papa's villa. It was a beautiful building, made of white marble with intricate designs etched into its walls. It had once belonged to a Noble of the Ullilan Kingdom but had been given to father as a gift for saving the Noble's twin daughters who stupidly ventured outside the gates to pick flowers right outside Vosa City.

Kai took a deep breath in before knocking on the door. It swung open moments later and the two were greeted by a giant, tight hug from their papa. Kai and Hars shared a look over papa’s shoulders as they hugged him back just as enthusiastically. “Kai, Hars! You are actually here!” Papa exclaimed, pulling back slightly to look the two over before pulling them back in a hug. “Alive and in one piece, I couldn’t be a happier papa if you tried!” 

A deeper voice cleared their throat making papa pull back again, fully this time. Kai swallowed the lump in her throat as she nervously turned to look at Father. Father, Regulus Black, was a handsomely rugged man with long black hair and silver eyes. He had a long, dark red scar that went down the left side of his face. Kai still thought he looked abnormal in leisure clothing. The loose fitting grey shirt and pants he wore didn't look nearly as good as the armor he used to wear when he was an Active Hunter.

"Kai, Hars, it's good to see you both made it back safely," Regulus said, his silver eyes scanning them both as he crossed his arms over his chest. "What exactly were you two doing that you couldn't send a single message to us in the last month? I thought we trained you better than that."

"Father," Kai greeted him with a respectful bow of her head. Hars followed suit, offering a small sheepish smile in greeting.

"Come on, don't start scolding them when they just got here! You'll have them running for the hills if you are too stern to them." Papa, Arroyo Black, scolded his husband lightly, gently smacking his shoulder. He was also handsome, though less rugged than Regulus. His hair was a bit shorter than Regulus but instead of coal black, it was pale blonde. He had a cherub-like face, youthful and innocent despite the horrors he had seen being a Hunter for so long. He was wearing a toga-like dress in bright blue that had flower patterns on it which made his eyes stick out. Those bright blue eyes sparked with happiness and mischief as he smirked at Regulus and his adopted children.

"Papa," Hars chimed, bowing his head to him with Kai following suit.

"You two are just too cute! I swear, I could hug you just as much as I want to strangle you for making us, and Guild Leader Einar, worry so much!" Arroyo stated, his grin never lessening.

Kai and Hars chuckled, knowing that it was true. They had caused quite a commotion when they disappeared the last time they were here without a word. It wasn’t their fault. Hars was going into a feral mode and having that happen within the city would have him killed so Kai dragged him out of Vosa the moment she realized. But now, being back in the comfort of their father and papa's home, they couldn't help but feel relieved. "I promise we'll give you both a full debriefing soon. But for now, can we just rest? It's been a long journey," Kai asked, glancing at both of them with pleading eyes.

"Of course, of course. Let's get you settled in. We've made your favorite dinner, Kai. Reg just had a feeling you two would be home today. And as we eat, you two can tell us whatever is bothering you so much," Papa said, leading them into the dining area where the table was already set up.

Kai and Hars shared a look, unable to stop grinning at each other. Father always had a six sense when it came to them. Whether it was that they were going to come home on a certain day or when they needed help with a mission, he always seemed to know.

The family of four began to eat silently, the sounds of metal chopsticks scraping against the bowls filling the silence before Regulus cleared his throat. The pointed look he sent Kai’s way had her sighing. “We need to keep this between us. There are some things going on in the city that I do not like. Jaden was the one who checked us in at the gate and he told us about all these new rules and regulations put into place. Something about the Crown Prince and Princess finding out the Lost Prince is alive and is wanted for treason. They even had Guardian’s blocking the Inner District!” Kai exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief. She still couldn’t believe that the Lost Prince was wanted for treason of all things. 

Regulus and Arroyo shared a look. “Things are getting tense in Vosa, that’s for sure. Einar has been called to several Hunter Association Meetings as our Guild Leader so we know more than most do.” Regulus stated, shaking his head as well.  

“Several? Normally he only has one once a year.” Hars said, looking between Regulus and Arroyo trying to see if they were serious. They simply nodded grimly. 

“Things are getting tougher. The Crown Prince is desperately searching for the Lost Prince and everyone is suffering because of it. There are even rumors of orders to start force checking one's species when they come in from the Outworld. You two really need to start being careful. You have the suppression bracelets that Marvolo made for you, right?” Regulus asked, his face creased in worry. 

Kai and Hars nodded in agreement, their faces matching Regulus' expression. The suppression bracelets were made by Marvolo, one of the Silver Wisp Guilds Mages and Scholars. He was the only one besides Einar who knew that Kai and Hars weren't human. The bracelets were for emergency cases. Like last year when mimics were on a rampage throughout multiple cities and towns across Ullilan Kingdom. The Crown Prince had ordered force checks to make sure anyone going in and out of them wasn't a monster. The suppression bracelets kept their extra features, the scales and wings, from showing up, even when the person wearing it was in extreme danger. Marvolo's magic was so strong that not even the strongest Guardian's magic could break the suppression wards on the bracelets so Kai and Hars would be safe.

Kai and Hars were quick to retrieve the inconspicuous leather bracelets from their bag and put them on, making sure that the runes carved into the leather were pressed against their skin.

"Good. We don't want to take any unnecessary risks. We've been through enough already," Regulus said, taking a deep breath before looking at them again. "but it's not just about the suppression bracelets. You two need to be careful who you talk to and what you say. The wrong word could land you before the Crown Prince and Princess."

"So it would be a bad time to ask if you know anything about the Nevarah Realm?" Kai asked, sheepishly smiling at her two adoptive parents. They stared at her blankly for a moment before raising an eyebrow, demanding her to explain herself. Kai glanced at Hars, before nodding firmly. "You know that Hars and I are originally from Nevarah, the Nevermore Realm. Hars is sixteen now and his instincts are demanding him to make his circle as a Gheyo Submissive. The time he goes feral is getting shorter and the longer he is under the more he loses himself. I know that Nevarah has a Hunt with one of the sole purposes of making circles. It's why we came back. To ask if either of you heard anything about anyone ever escaping the Realm Ullilan Kingdom is in. And honestly... I guess I've also been wanting a nest of my own." Kai begrudgingly added the last part. She didn't want to admit but with the looks father and papa were giving her, she had no choice.

Regulus and Arroyo shared a look of concern. They knew that Kai and Hars had been struggling with their origin for some time now. While they had done their best to provide a loving home for them, they couldn't deny the fact that their true nature was always going to be a burden on them. "Kai, you know full well that Ullilan drags people here. No one has ever escaped it, at least not in my lifetime." Regulus said.

Kai had figured that much. She knew if anyone had managed to escape Ullilan's Realm, more people would know about it and be talking about it. At least twenty percent of Ullilan's population had been forcibly taken away from their homes in other Realms, sometimes even whole families, and if there had been a way to escape, someone would have found it out.

"However, and this does not leave this house unless we are under proper wards, young lady, young man!" Arroyo stated, his voice sharp in warning. Kai and Hars' heads snapped up from where they had dropped to stare sadly at their plates of food. "Especially since this is the very reason why the Lost Prince is wanted for treason."

"We won't say anything, papa," The two chimed together. "And we will always be careful."

Kai's eyes widened slightly. So the Lost Prince also wanted to escape Ullilan. She didn't see why that was considered treason in the eyes of the Crown Prince and Princess though.

"Good. Einar had told us that the Lost Prince has apparently been looking for ways to escape Ullilan's Realm. To get help from other Realms. The other Realms must know that their people are getting spirited away by now since its been going on for so long. Marvolo has been researching it as well. Apparently when the two of us were taken away, though at different times, parts of Marvolo's soul didn't follow him through. He's worried about what damage they are doing out there since... He wasn't always a good person." Regulus trailed off, a haunted look in his eyes.

Kai and Hars slowly nodded. They knew from the general friendship Regulus and Marvolo had that they had been friends for some time. Even though Marvolo was at least twenty years older than their father. Neither had gone into detail about their lives outside Ullilan though. Kai and Hars weren't sure they wanted to know.

"Is there any way we can help?" Kai asked, biting her lip. She did have the Lost Prince's contact information from their run-in years ago, before she met Hars. But she wasn't sure telling her fathers and Hars that was a good idea.

Regulus and Arroyo shared another look, this one more contemplative. "There may be, but it's risky. We would need to find out more information first," Arroyo said, his voice hushed as if someone might be listening in on their conversation, despite knowing full well that Marvolo had made the wards around the house himself and no one could hear anything going on inside from the outside. "We'll talk with Einar and Marvolo about it, but for now, we need to focus on keeping you two safe. Five more dragels, two Phoelixs, and a Battle Elf, have disappeared from Vosa City alone in the last month. It really is troubling times. Neither of you are to go anywhere alone. Do you understand?"

Kai and Hars nodded in agreement, understanding that their safety was the most important thing. The conversation was quickly tabled for more light-hearted conversation about ongoing events in Vosa City that had nothing to do with the rules and regulations put into place.

As they finished up their food, the air was thick with tension. Kai felt a sense of foreboding. Things would more than likely only get worse before they got better. But for now, all she could do was prepare herself and Hars for whatever was to come next. She would have to keep a close eye on Hars for any signs of him going feral. Kai just hoped that the promise of them trying to find a way out of Ullilan would let his inner dragel calm down and give the both of them a much needed break.