Roy and Mei sprinted through the village streets, their breath coming in ragged gasps. Roy's mind raced as he struggled to keep up.
"Mei, where are we going?" he asked, glancing at her.
"We're being followed. No time to think—just run straight ahead! I remember the village exit!" Mei replied, her voice urgent.
Roy nodded and pushed forward. Meanwhile, Mei's thoughts were tangled with unease. (The mark… it faded along with that light. What does that mean?)
As they neared the village's exit, a figure stood near the edge, waving at them.
"Over here! Quickly!" the stranger called.
Roy didn't hesitate. Grabbing Mei's wrist, he dragged her toward the man, who appeared to be offering them refuge. With nowhere else to go, they followed him into the forest.
The man led them deep into the woods, arriving at a small, secluded house. He gestured for them to enter.
"You'll be safe here," he said.
Roy, still catching his breath, narrowed his eyes. "Who are you? And why are you helping us?"
Mei smirked, crossing her arms. "Well, that should've been my question. But I'm proud of you, Roy."
She exhaled, glancing at their surroundings. "From the moment we arrived in this place, we've done nothing but cause chaos. I miss our quiet village life."
The man chuckled. "I just saw you in trouble and decided to help. You were being chased by the Shark Clan—they're dangerous."
He had blond hair, brown eyes, and glasses, and his expression seemed sincere. But Roy and Mei exchanged glances. Without hesitation, they drew their weapons and pointed them at him.
The man stepped back, alarmed. "W-What's wrong?! Why are you pointing weapons at me?"
Mei, having left her weapon in the cave to avoid suspicion, borrowed a knife from Roy.
Roy's voice was cold. "Answer us, or you'll regret it."
The man raised his hands. "Calm down! My name is Frank. I belong to a tribe that helps people. I swear, I mean no harm. I was just trying to assist you."
Mei's eyes narrowed. "A tribe? That means you belong to someone… so why would we trust you?"
Roy grabbed Frank by the collar with one hand, his grip tight. "We don't need your help. Why are you lying to us?"
Frank stammered, panic flashing across his face. "I-I'm not lying! I swear, I only wanted to help!"
Mei's grip on her knife tightened. "Lies. If you belong to a clan, then you owe loyalty to someone. Are you planning to sell us out?"
Roy smirked. "Mei was our village's best lie detector." Then, a sudden realization struck him. "Wait… Mei, why didn't you detect Kuroi Zen's lies? Did he overpower you?"
Mei hesitated before answering. "That's not the case. He was our only way forward… and you insisted on trusting him. Besides, he doesn't lie often. Unlike this one." She shot a sharp glare at Frank.
Frank's mind was reeling. (What's with these two? They're terrifying… And they know Kuroi Zen? How are they still alive?)
Mei leaned in, her face close to Frank's. "You know Kuroi Zen, don't you? Tell me—where is he right now?"
Frank broke into a cold sweat. "I-I don't know! Please, spare me! I was just wondering how you're still alive after meeting him. He doesn't let people in his way live."
Roy's grip on Frank's collar tightened. "Is that so?" His voice was eerily calm. "Well, we survived thanks to him."
Frank's eyes widened in disbelief. "We're talking about the same Kuroi Zen, right? I-I don't understand…"
Mei scoffed. "Since all you do is lie, we have no choice."
Frank's body stiffened. "No choice…? What do you mean?!"
Roy smirked darkly. "You'll find out soon."
Frank struggled as Roy forcefully tied him up in his own living room.
Frank sat tied up in his living room, his hands bound tightly as Roy sat behind him, sword in hand, watching him carefully. Mei, meanwhile, explored the house, searching for anything of value. After a few minutes, she returned with several books and a letter, placing them on the table in front of Frank.
Mei narrowed her eyes at him. "Is this letter yours?"
Frank gasped, his eyes darting toward the letter. "I-I have no idea where that came from!"
Mei's gaze sharpened. "Is that so? Because this proves you were planning to sell us to the Shark Clan."
Frank swallowed hard, his eyes shifting nervously between Roy's sword, which was inching closer to his neck, and Mei's intense stare.
"You're lying to us!" Mei accused.
Frank, now visibly panicked, blurted out, "Where did you two even come from?!"
Mei smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "From space," she said mockingly. "But let's not change the subject. Can you answer us properly without dodging the question?"
Frank, sweating, sighed in resignation. "Fine! An old lady told me that if I helped two people who came my way, I would receive a fortune. I swear that's the truth!"
Roy frowned. "What kind of nonsense is that?"
Mei crossed her arms. "He's telling the truth, Roy. But seriously? You believed some random old lady on the road?"
Frank nodded quickly. "They say this old lady knows about legends, and whenever someone encounters her, she warns them about something important. It's rare to meet her!"
Mei rolled her eyes. "You're a fool for believing in rumors. But whatever. You still owe us information. I found a lot of interesting things in your house—you're going to explain how the world works, the tribes, the marks, everything."
Frank scoffed. "Why would I? I'm already tied up. I won't speak unless you release me first."
Roy smirked. "Nope. You're not trustworthy, so you stay tied up."
Mei grabbed a book and flipped through its pages before shoving it in front of Frank. "Explain these marks and how they work. We don't have time to waste."
Frank exhaled sharply. "You won't survive. Kahel from the Shark Clan will find and execute you. Their leader won't let you go."
Roy raised an eyebrow. "Kahel? You mean the guy I fought and killed?"
Mei added with a smirk, "And the leader? Well, he has to deal with the glass I threw into his eyes. They won't find us."
Frank's face twisted in disbelief. "You're lying! There's no way you both could have done that!"
Roy leaned forward, voice calm yet deadly. "We did. That's why we escaped."
Mei's sharp gaze locked onto Frank. "So tell us the truth, or you'll end up like them."
Frank gulped. His expression darkened. "You won't survive freely like this. Women here have no rights to speak, no ability to fight. Nothing. The only one who broke the rules was Princess Lumina, but now her kingdom's guards are after her."
Mei's eyes flashed with recognition. "I know that well. So, are you going to tell us more about the tribes and clans, or not?"
Frank took a deep breath. "This book holds all the information you want. But if you touch it, my people will hunt you down. And I'll be executed for revealing anything."
Roy sighed, leaning back. "I'm tired. Can you just start talking already?"
Mei stood up. "I'm going to look for something to eat. Can you hold him for a moment, Roy?"
Roy tossed his sword to Mei. "Wait—don't touch anything. It might be poisoned."
Mei smirked. "Then make Frank taste everything before us."
Roy chuckled and grabbed some food, placing it in front of Frank. "Go on. Taste it."
Frank groaned but reluctantly ate. "It's not poisoned, happy now?"
Roy grinned, throwing some food at Mei. "Eat up."
Mei sat down with the sword resting on her lap. "Alright, I'm listening."
Frank's mind raced. (Even if she's holding that sword, she's just a woman. This is my chance to escape. I just need to get close enough—)
In a sudden move, Frank lunged forward, trying to grab the sword from Mei's hands. But she was faster. In one swift motion, she moved behind him, wrapping Roy's sword around his neck.
"What were you trying to do?" she asked coldly. "Do you have a death wish?"
Frank gasped, struggling. "Fine, I'll talk!"
He took a deep breath before continuing. "The marks belong to the tribes and clans. Each clan has its own mark, and these aren't just symbols—they hold power. The marks determine a clan's fighting techniques and abilities. But not everyone can use them. Only those born with strong bloodlines can wield their full potential. It's like a blood pact."
Roy returned, setting down some drinks and snacks. "Huh, that's interesting. Mei, look—I found these snacks. They look delicious."
He shoved a drink in front of Frank. "Drink it."
Frank sighed, taking a sip. "It's not poisoned."
Roy grinned and started eating. "Good. Now keep talking."
Mei leaned in. "Where are you from? What's your tribe's mark?"
Frank scowled. "Do I have to say that too?"
Roy pointed his sword at him. "You have no choice."
Mei smirked. "He won't talk, Roy. But I do have some hypnotic powder left. If I add a little to his drink, he'll die. Should I?"
Frank's eyes widened in terror. "Fine! I'll talk! I'm from the Owl Clan. There aren't many of us, but we specialize in gathering information for other tribes. We exist in the shadows."
When Frank told them about his clan, Mei became suspicious. She glanced at Roy, and they exchanged looks. Then, without thinking, Roy started undressing Frank, looking for the owl mark.
"Aaah! Have you lost your mind? What's wrong with you? I told you to check for the mark, not undress him in front of me!" Mei shouted, turning red and looking away.
Roy, confused, replied, "But you saw me when I undressed myself, and you didn't act like that. You just hit me with a pebble."
"I did that because I was annoyed," Mei retorted, still looking away. "But I am a woman; this is inappropriate in front of me!"
"Aha! I found it! It's an owl right here," Roy exclaimed, unfazed.
Roy was confused by Mei's reaction: "Hmm, you know you're acting really weird. You never acted like a woman; you usually just attack like a monster."
Exasperated, Mei threw a knife at Roy.
"See what you've done," Roy exclaimed.
Still looking away, Mei mumbled, "Just dress him already. I need to ask him some questions."
Frank thought, What is wrong with these two?
Mei composed herself.
Mei: I need you to explain every mark—what they do in their clans and tribes, how many there are. Don't leave anything out.
Frank, scoffing: You think I know all of them? It's too much. Even I don't have that kind of knowledge. But I can tell you this—there are fifteen tribes. Some are connected to nature and the forest, others to animals, and one… to space.
Mei, eyes narrowing: Space, huh? Then you must know about the Moon Tribe.
Frank, visibly startled: The Moon Tribe? That's just a legend. No one's ever seen them. They say they were warriors like no other, their marks expanding their power in ways no one could match. But no proof of their existence remains. No known marks. Nothing.
Mei, leaning in: Then tell me—what's the strongest tribe that does exist?
Frank, hesitating before sighing: There are the ones tied to legendary beasts—the Phoenix and the Dragon. It's said they were once rulers, their marks carrying a power beyond our understanding. But whether that's true or not, who knows? Then there are nature tribes—like the Pinos Flower Tribe and the Butterfly Tribe. One of them is searching for their true leader. They say that long ago, a man from the Moon Tribe led them. A legend. One of the most powerful men in history. But he died.
And then… there are the Sharks. They own the Arabit. But they aren't a tribe—they're a clan. Every single one of them has a specialty, something that makes them deadly.
Roy, staring at the marks in an old book, smirking: Huh. Isn't that ?
Mei shot him a cold glare, silencing him instantly.
Mei: What about the marks' techniques? Their powers? I read in one of the papers you're holding that each mark has a unique ability.
Frank, raising an eyebrow: You can read? A woman who can read—what a fate.
Mei, voice sharp: Answer me.
Frank, sighing in defeat: Fine. The legendary ones? No idea. But the tribes connected to nature? Most of them specialize in healing.
Mei, crossing her arms: Since you're from the Owl Clan, that means your vision must be sharper at night. You probably rely on the dark for ambushes… or escapes. Am I right?
Frank, lips twitching into a smirk: Not bad. But it doesn't work exactly like that. It's only half true.
His expression shifted as he eyed Mei carefully.
Frank, suddenly curious: What about you two? What's your mark?
Roy opened his mouth to speak, but Mei shot him a warning glance, and he shut up immediately.
Mei, tone controlled: We don't have marks. We were raised far from all this.
She studied Frank carefully. He was trying to pry information from them. That much was clear. She had been deliberately vague with her questions, but he was sharp—too sharp. He might have already caught on that they were lying.
A sudden tension filled the room.
Mei and Roy exchanged a glance.
Someone was outside.
Frank smirked, a glint of malice in his eyes.
Frank, chuckling darkly: Took them long enough. You can't escape now. You're surrounded.
Roy, gripping his sword: Should we kill him?
Mei, coldly: I suppose that's our only choice.
Frank, eyes widening in panic: W-Wait! You can't be serious! You don't have the guts!
Mei, tilting her head, voice eerily calm: Did he just say courage?
She stepped closer, her fingers tightening around the hilt of Roy's sword.
Mei, thoughts racing: He's lying. We're not surrounded. There's only one person outside.
But who?
The door suddenly burst open.
A figure stepped inside—tall, with sharp eyes and dark hair.
Zen.
Mei's expression darkened instantly.
Roy's lips curled into a grin, but he quickly schooled his face, gripping his weapon. He had made a promise to Mei, after all.
Frank's face drained of color.
Frank, voice shaking: K-Kuroi Zen…?! What the hell are you doing here?!
Zen spoke with disdain: "Frank, are you finding a new prey to trick? You never changed! You're still the same face pretending to help, only to drag people into traps for the sake of information. Acting like you provide them, am I right?"
Mei's eyes widened. "So he was tricking us?"
Roy glanced at her. "So, Mei, what's your decision?"
Mei smirked darkly. "He should be killed… or tortured."
Roy sighed. "I feel bad for him, but he tricked us. This is the price."
Frank, terrified, turned to Zen. "Please help me! I'll do anything! These two are crazy!"
Zen scoffed. "You never changed. I don't help wolves in sheep's clothing… or cowards like you." Then, he smirked. "But you two… you did a great job with this man. I congratulate you."
Mei narrowed her eyes. "Are you trying to avoid what you made us fall into, black-haired?"
Roy frowned. "Yeah, I was very disappointed because I trusted you, Zen."
Zen ignored their murderous glares. "I didn't care what happened to you both. But since you escaped, it means you're stronger than I imagined. However, you still haven't defeated the whole clan."
Mei scoffed. "Yeah? Well, excuse us for not playing the price of debts any longer."
Zen cut in. "We have no time to waste. We need to move from here."
Roy eyed him suspiciously. "Why are you helping us all of a sudden? And why did you warn us about this man?" He pointed at Frank.
Frank panicked. "Zen, these two are dangerous! You have to kill them! Help me, and I'll help you find what you want! This guy killed Kaheel, and this girl—she's a monster! She… she was breathing hard and threw broken glass into the Shark leader's eyes! Do you believe that?"
Zen's eyes widened. "Is that so? Wow… You two have broken all my expectations. Kaheel is someone I avoid just so I don't get exhausted—he's like a wild animal. Are you both insane?"
Mei flicked her hair behind her back and spoke in an annoyed tone. "That's what he deserved for choking me and slapping me. I wanted to kill him, but I had no time. So, blinding him, even for a moment, was enough."
Roy, voice firm, added, "I had to kill Kaheel to save Mei. I had no choice."
Zen, deep in thought, found it shocking. They aren't that strong—or at least that's what I saw. Are they still hiding their skills?
Mei sighed, then smirked at Frank, pointing her knife at him. "You called me a monster? Then you should give me a gift. What about the Book of Marks and Signs?"
Frank trembled. "I-I can't! Please… It's the book of our tribe. If it disappears, I'll be burned by my clan!"
Mei tapped her knife against her palm. "Don't you have anything? But you're right—we do have to lower our enemies' numbers." She sighed again. "I guess I'll just register everything in my head."
Frank looked confused, but Roy grinned proudly. "Well, the only thing I'm proud of is Mei's ability to memorize all the information she reads just once."
Zen thought to himself. Are they truly normal?
Mei turned to him. "Why should we follow you? You tricked us twice."
Roy tried to reassure her. "But he saved us three times!"
Mei crossed her arms. "Both ways, you're right, Roy. In the end, the Sharks will want to kill him too, since he was the one who paid his debts with us. And we caused him more trouble. Actually…" She let out a wicked laugh. "I'm relieved because we're in the same boat."
Roy chuckled. "You're evil, Mei. But now he has to join us, so I'm relieved too."
Frank gulped in horror. Even Kuroi Zen, the most feared person on earth, couldn't deal with them… This is really scary.
Zen tossed Mei's weapons back to her. "These are yours. I bought them from the cave."
Roy grinned. "Mei, you can't be mad at him. He still helped us. Let this guy join us. Maybe we'll help each other reach our goals."
Zen sighed. "Well, before that, I have my own goals. So don't mix them with yours. I'll deal with them without you. But for now… I have no choice but to join you. For the moment, I said." His expression darkened. "They'll arrive soon."
Mei's eyes turned cold. "You still didn't return our riches! But I'll make sure to get them back."
Roy and Zen waited outside as Mei stayed behind for a final talk with Frank. She fixed him with a fierce glare. "Listen. Don't let them know we were here. I'm warning you. If you do… I'll come from the shadows to cut your throat."
She turned and left—but forgot her arch inside.
Outside, Roy grinned. "I knew you'd join us in the end!"
Zen, annoyed, muttered, "Why are you so excited? Do you realize the kind of trouble we're in? How can you smile? It's really bothering me."
Roy laughed. "Well, actually… I found out something about the marks. And I have one. A legendary one."
Zen raised an eyebrow. "What mark?"
Roy leaned in and whispered, "The Dragon Mark."
Zen's carefree expression shattered. A murderous look overtook his face as he grabbed Roy by the collar and shoved him against a tree.
Roy struggled. "What's wrong with you?!"
Mei's sharp voice rang out. "Roy! I left my arch inside! Go bring it, or you'll die!"
Roy pushed Zen's hands away and went to retrieve the arch. Meanwhile, Zen clenched his fists and punched the tree in frustration.
Then, out of nowhere, a swift presence struck him. In an instant, a sword was pressed against his throat.
Zen's eyes widened in shock. "What the hell—?!"
Mei glared at him, her gaze fierce and sharp. "If you ever try to harm Roy in any way… I won't hesitate to sacrifice my life just to kill you."
Zen frowned. "What are you doing?"
Mei's voice was ice-cold. "I saw the look you gave when you saw Roy's mark. It was a look of grudge."
Zen scoffed. "You're his sister. So you have it too, don't you?"
Mei's grip on the sword didn't waver. "That doesn't matter. Roy and I grew up far away from here. We have no tribe or clan. We only knew our mother. If you want to hold a grudge, then direct it at the one who deserves it—not someone who has no idea about it."
Zen's annoyed gaze met hers. "Maybe this is just another trick to make me join you."
Mei's eyes narrowed. "It's not. And don't test me. You will accompany us—and you will not harm Roy."
Zen smirked. "What about you? You don't care about yourself?"
Mei didn't flinch. "Kuroi Zen, don't underestimate me. I am a genius woman. I don't mind being attacked."
Zen tilted his head. "But he will get enraged…" He let out a breath. "I confess—you are one of a kind."
Mei hesitated. "What does it mean when two people in a family have different marks?"
Zen's expression darkened. "It means… they are not family. Birthmarks come from the father's blood." His lips curled mischievously. "Don't tell me… you don't know?"
Mei pressed the blade against his throat. "If you say one more word, I'll cut it. I'm warning you."
Roy came back and froze at the sight before him. Mei had a sword against Zen's throat.
"What are you doing?! Mei, stop! He's part of our team now!"
Mei coldly removed her sword, primped her hair, and tightened her fists. "I just warned him."
Roy looked at her, his face filled with concern. "Mei, what's wrong? You're not acting like yourself. I know you well."
Mei rolled her eyes in annoyance. "What do you mean? I'm just irritated by this black-haired bastard's presence!" She turned on her heel. "I'm going to say goodbye to Frank."
Roy's eyes widened in shock. "What? Don't you hate him?"
Mei shrugged. "He provided us with information. That's more useful than a certain someone." She threw a sharp glare at Zen.
Roy hesitated, then narrowed his eyes. "Mei… Did Zen annoy you because he undressed himself?"
Mei's face turned bright red. "W-what?! Are you stupid? Why would he do something like that?! I'm leaving!" She spun around and dashed toward the living room.
Roy, now pale, slowly turned to Zen with suspicion.
Zen raised his hands defensively. "I didn't do a thing! So stop looking at me like that!" He sighed. "But that was an… unexpected reaction from her, that's for sure."
Meanwhile, Mei entered Frank's living room, still seeing him tied up. He gasped in fear.
Mei coldly reassured him. "Don't worry. I'm not going to harm you."
Mei's thoughts: Well, this is just an excuse to escape Roy's gaze and compose myself again.
She stepped closer to Frank, standing over him. "I'll say this just once—I'm grateful you provided me with information."
A very small, nearly nonexistent smile appeared on her lips before she elegantly pushed her hair behind her back. Without another word, she turned and left, rejoining Roy and Zen.
Frank, still in shock from Mei's rare smile, sat frozen for a moment. Then, suddenly, his heart started pounding uncontrollably.
Why… Why is my heart racing?!
He clutched his chest in confusion. We, the Owls, have no right to be with women. We prefer staying single all our lives… So why do I feel attracted to this woman?!
His thoughts spiraled, and before he could comprehend what was happening, his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the tatami mat, completely dazed.
Roy and Mei followed Zen, who was moving forward with urgency.
Zen: "We have to hurry, or they'll catch us."
Mei (coldly): "Where exactly are we heading? I bet this isn't one of your tricks."
Zen: "No way. I've had enough of tricking you two. You always show up again, dragging even bigger problems with you."
Roy (excited): "I don't know about that, but I grabbed plenty of snacks from Frank's fridge, so at least we won't starve. That's a relief!"
Zen (careless, tired): "That little thing made you happy? You really are one of a kind."
Then, his expression turned serious.
Zen: "We're heading north, to Syrena Island. It's not far, but it's home to various tribes and clans, so we'll need to be careful."
Roy (excited): "That sounds fun!"
Mei: "Could you act seriously for once, Roy? We're going there to stay out of sight. But what kind of place is it? And how exactly are we getting there? We don't have a boat."
Roy (smirking): "Of course, Zen has a friend who'll lend him one!"
Zen (calmly): "Well… about that. The island is lively, but as for a boat… I don't have one."
Mei (confused): "So we'll… what?"