It was the crack of dawn when Erica burst into our room with an announcement. The moment she opened the curtains open, the fierce rays of sunlight hit our faces, waking us instantly.

 

“Wakey wakey, sleepyheads! The festival’s already started! I want you all to experience every single thing, so get up now! The food and entertainment we have are phenomenal!” Erica yelled, her excitement practically bouncing off the wooden walls.

 

“This early in the morning?!?” I groaned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

 

“Yes! So quit being lazy and get moving!” Erica responded, pulling us out of bed and prompting us to get ready immediately.

 

We bathed, changed, and headed straight to the middle of town to dive into Kurrbryde’s unique festival. When we arrived, the place was already swarming with people, every one of them having the time of their life. The streets were draped in colorful hanging papers and long, intricately designed fabric banners attached to towering poles. Some of the Beastkin wore vibrant masks and traditional clothes unique to Kurrbryde.

 

The festival stretched all the way to the city limits. Hundreds of tents offered multiple delicacies and cuisines. Others hosted games unique to the tribe, promising cool prizes. In certain areas, people were performing cultural dances and songs. The centerpiece of the town was a colossal pot, the size of a small house, with the king crab boiling inside it. Chefs lined up around it, creating various exquisite dishes from the meat.

 

With Erica as our energetic guide, we hit every tent, trying all the food and games. We spent the whole day having an absolute blast, and the smiles on the girls’ faces were priceless.

 

“Mom, I can’t eat another bite, I’m so full,” Astrid complained, rubbing her belly. The other girls echoed her sentiments.

 

I gently patted each of their heads and smiled. “Go rest on those benches, we’ll resume the fun later. I’m going to look around the village for a bit in the meantime,” I told them.

 

I left them to rest and set my plan in motion. I wanted to wander around, hoping I’d magically stumble upon Komraad. I was certain he’d be here somewhere. After all, this was the perfect place for food and entertainment. I walked non-stop, and my hunch finally paid off. I noticed a massive crowd gathered around a single tent, yelling loudly and placing bets. Curious, I peeked inside and saw something highly interesting.

 

A drinking contest was underway, and one of the contestants was Komraad.

 

I finally saw him again after he’d abandoned us months ago, and he looked completely in his element.

 

“Our winner is Komraad and he remains undefeated! Is there anyone out there who can finally dethrone him?” The gamemaster bellowed.

 

No one dared to challenge Komraad, given how thoroughly he had obliterated the competition. But I was different. I saw this as the perfect opportunity. I was confident I could beat him. My teenage years gave me plenty of "experience" in chugging. Plus, Komraad had already downed a ton of booze, so he had to be nearing his limit. More importantly, this was my chance to force a proper, sober conversation.

 

I slipped backstage and informed the person in charge that I wanted to join the game.

 

“We have a new challenger!” The gamemaster announced, his voice booming.

 

I stepped onto the stage, and the crowd erupted in cheers and jeers. Bets flew, heavily favoring Komraad. They likely assumed I couldn't possibly win because I was a woman, typical.

 

Komraad was totally full of himself. He didn't even know I was the challenger, yet his confidence was radiating.

 

“If I were you, I’d run right now. No one can beat me when it comes to drinking,” he declared cockily.

 

I smirked and gave him a sarcastic response. “We’ll see about that.”

 

Komraad froze solid the moment he heard my voice. He stared at me, his face utterly shocked. “C-Cat?!? Why are you here? Wait, how did you even find me!?” He stammered, shouting.

 

“I followed you, of course. It was really hard work tracking you down, you know,” I responded sweetly.

 

“Gah! I told you not to follow me! How hard is that simple instruction to understand!” He complained bitterly.

 

“As if I’d let you get away that easily, dummy,” I countered.

 

With his concentration and confidence shattered by my sudden appearance, I made a personal proposition before the contest officially began.

 

“Komraad, let’s make a deal. If you win, I’ll leave this place immediately and never bother you again. But if you lose, you have to start explaining yourself and come back home with us,” I suggested.

 

“Huh?! What makes you think I’ll accept those terms!?” He snapped.

 

“Oh, I’m sorry. Are you scared I’ll beat your ass? Is the high and mighty Komraad finally chickening out?” I taunted, crossing my arms.

 

“Gah! The bet is on!” He yelled back, completely irritated.

 

Heh, so easy. This dog is too predictable, I thought with a satisfied, devious grin.

 

We started chugging our mugs of strong liquor the moment the gamemaster gave the signal. The game lasted for what felt like hours, the atmosphere so intense nobody could predict the winner. Mugs piled up on our table until, finally, Komraad hit his limit.

 

“With a total of thirty-two mugs, we have a new winner!” The gamemaster announced triumphantly. The crowd went ballistic.

 

“I won!” I shouted, lifting my hands in victory.

 

Hic 

 

“Shut up! You only won because I’ve been drinking nonstop all day!” Komraad slurred in defense.

 

“Don’t be such a sore loser and just accept the defeat,” I responded, rolling my eyes.

 

Komraad was too drunk to formulate another coherent response. We both stumbled off stage and found a nearby bench to rest and sober up.

 

“Ugh… my head hurts,” Komraad complained, leaning his head back.

 

“That’s what you get for overdoing it,” I responded dryly.

 

“It’s not the booze. My head hurts because of you,” he explained, a hint of sarcasm piercing his drunkenness.

 

This dog! I thought, irritated.

 

A moment of silence passed before I broke it. “So… about our bet. You’re going to honor your words, right?” I asked.

 

He relaxed his body and let out a long sigh. “I’m not gonna go back. Not yet, at least.”

 

I had somehow predicted this answer, so I wasn’t even surprised. “Figures… after what Erica told me yesterday, I had a hunch that would be your response,” I responded calmly.

 

“Y-you met my sister!?” Komraad asked in shock.

 

“Yep, I met her on the way here. Not only her, but I also met your parents. The truth is, I’m currently staying at your enormous house,” I informed him.

 

“Ugh… I should’ve known, especially with how nosy you can get,” he complained bitterly.

 

“Huh? Where did that come from? I’m not nosy at all!” I defended myself instantly.

 

He sighed.

 

“Now that you’ve met my family, I guess you already know the reason why I’m back here,” he assumed.

 

“Yeah, your Mom and sister explained everything. Just so you know, your mom hates me. Your dad’s a nice guy, though,” I added.

 

“Stop talking about them. I don’t want to hear it.”

 

“What’s your feud with them, anyway? They seem really nice, except your Mom,” I pressed.

 

“It’s none of your business. Also, stop asking. I ain’t in the mood right now,” he insisted, massaging his temples to ease the headache.

 

“F-fine. Though I’m still upset. You never once mentioned you were this wealthy, not to mention that you had a sister all along,” I said, genuinely disappointed.

 

“Ugh… just be quiet and let me rest!” He complained again.

 

We rested for a while longer, letting the dizziness subside. At first, we just enjoyed the quiet, but then Komraad abruptly broke the silence. The lingering alcohol loosened his tongue, and he started to show his vulnerable side. It wasn't the first time, but it still caught me off guard.

 

“Hey, cat. Have you ever been faced with so much responsibility that it ended up suffocating you?” Komraad asked out of the blue.

 

“That’s so random. Where is this coming from?” I asked, surprised by the emotional depth of the question.

 

“Gah! N-never mind,” he muttered, looking away in embarrassment.

 

I took a moment to formulate my answer, ensuring my words were thoughtful and sincere.

 

“You know what, as a matter of fact, I have. That’s how I felt every single day of my past life. I was so caught up in my responsibilities as a mother to my only daughter that I felt like I forgot how to breathe. All I ever did was work my butt off to make sure she wouldn’t suffer the same fate I did. All my life, I only thought about satisfying everyone else, and I ended up neglecting myself. Now that I think about it, everything did go wrong for me in my previous life. But now that I’ve been given a second chance, I finally have time to think about what I really want while still looking out for my daughters. It’s a win-win situation,” I responded, speaking genuinely from the heart.

 

Komraad stared at the sky for a long moment before responding. “Is that so? Still, I don’t know how you’re managing all of that,” he followed up.

 

“I just did what I thought was right. I know it’s scary to take responsibility, but we’re not going to grow if we keep running away from it,” I advised.

 

“I see. We really are different. My whole life, all I ever did was run away,” he admitted, disappointed in himself.

 

“It’s normal to be scared sometimes, but sooner or later, we’ll be forced to confront it. The only thing we control is how we handle it,” I said.

 

“You don’t understand. The moment I was born, fate decided the path I must walk. I was supposed to be special, but everything I do proves otherwise,” he clarified, his voice heavy.

 

“What do you mean?” I asked, completely lost as to what he was referring to.

 

It was obvious on his face that gathering the courage to open up was difficult, but he pushed himself to do it.

 

“You know, I thought I had everything. A stable life and a loving family. I was blessed with a strength no one could compare to, so everyone depended on me. It felt great at first, but as I grew up, I realized I’m no different than anyone else. The responsibilities they gave me were too much, and they became a crushing burden. I just didn’t know what to do anymore, and I knew staying here would only make it worse,” he revealed.

 

I was shocked by this confession. All the time I spent with him, it never crossed my mind that he was carrying such a heavy load. The fact that he came back here, despite the inner turmoil it caused, showed how strong he had become. But he was still clearly struggling, and he needed someone to finally hear him out.

 

“Is that the reason why you ran away from here in the first place?” I asked, finally connecting the dots and realizing why he chose the isolation of the forest.

 

He took a long time to respond, hesitating, but finally found the courage.

 

“It’s more than that. I… I did something horrible when I was young, and I’ll never forgive myself for it,” he confessed, his voice barely a whisper.

 

I wanted to ask what he meant, but the sheer sadness and fear in his tone stopped me. He started to visibly shiver, and his demeanor shifted completely. The trauma haunting him was so profound that he was terrified to even speak of it.

 

“Look, if you don’t want to talk about it, then it’s okay. I won’t force you to tell me. But remember that no matter what, I’ll always be here to listen,” I assured him. “Remember this: you’re not alone anymore. You can count on us when push comes to shove, so please, just stop running away,” I followed up, my resolve firm.

 

“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who’s been running away his whole life,” he whispered to himself.

 

We were still in the middle of our tense conversation when something unexpected happened. We heard a deafening explosion in the center of the town, and a column of thick smoke billowed skyward from the area. Thankfully, we were both sober enough to react instantly.

 

“W-what was that?! Is that part of the festival?” I demanded.

 

“It’s not!” Komraad snapped. We both rushed toward the commotion.

 

A horrifying realization dawned on me as we ran. “Oh no, the girls! I’m worried about them. They’re near where the explosion happened!”

 

“What??? You brought the girls with you?! Why didn’t you mention that earlier!?” Komraad shouted, shocked.

 

“They wanted to see you even more than I did! I had no choice but to bring them!” I defended myself hotly.

 

“Gah! You shouldn’t have brought them!” He complained.

 

“I wouldn’t have done it if you had just explained everything before you left! Your communication skills suck! Grr… I swear I’m never forgiving you if anything happened to them!” I growled.

 

We moved as fast as we could and arrived at the scene quickly. It was chaos. Tents were burning, and people were scattering in a panic. Fortunately, most of them had managed to evade the blast, suffering only minor injuries. I struggled to see through the thick smoke, unable to find the girls.

 

“Girls! Where are you?” I screamed, my voice laced with worry. They finally heard me and responded.

 

“Mom! We're here!” They yelled back. I rushed toward their voices, found them, and immediately swept them into a tight hug.

 

“Thank goodness you’re all safe!” I gasped, my worry draining away.

 

“We moved away from our spot just before the explosion hit,” Rein explained calmly.

 

“That’s good to hear,” I responded, then asked, “What in the world happened here?”

 

“That happened,” Astrid answered, pointing up at the sky.

 

I looked up and gasped.

 

Multiple figures were hovering in the air. As the smoke cleared, we had a perfect view. They radiated grace, power, and cold radiance. They had golden hair and golden eyes. They wore flowing, ethereal white garments and possessed large, angelic wings. It took me a second to realize they were the Featherlight Race, the ones Erica had mentioned were threatening war. The resemblance to Raya was immediate and striking.

 

It was safe to assume they were the culprits behind the blast. There were only three of them, but each one emanated overwhelming power. They caused so much damage in such a short time.

 

The Featherlight in the center, who appeared to be their leader, started speaking, his voice laced with menace and arrogance. He was clearly looking down on us, literally and figuratively.

 

Unlike the others, this Featherlight had two pairs of golden-hued angelic wings. His entire posture screamed narcissistic arrogance.

 

“Residents of Kurrbryde, I am Alecks, a proud member of the Featherlight elite guards and the King’s right wing. We are here by the order of our chosen one and the current ruler of the Azure Kingdom, King Zayke. We sent a letter ahead of time as a warning. We waited for a response but received none, so we came personally to assess the situation. Seeing all of you out here enjoying yourselves, unaware and careless, means your leader failed to inform you. I truly pity your ignorance,” Alecks delivered his speech with disdain.

 

“Show some respect, you mutts! None of you even deserves to hear our King’s name!” One of the flanking Featherlights chimed in.

 

The Beastkin below were enraged by their arrogance. “Why are you doing this? What the hell do you want from us?!” One of them yelled.

 

“We believe our race is the epitome of strength and power. To prove this, our King intends to conquer every race and claim their lands as our own. We will instill fear in everyone and show the world just how powerful and terrifying we are!” Alecks explained, proud of their barbaric intent.

 

“You think we’ll stay quiet while you interrupt our peace?! You chose the wrong race to make an enemy of!” Another Beastkin roared, the others echoing his fury.

 

“On the contrary, we do not. That is why we are here to give you a final warning. Kneel and accept subordination, or face complete annihilation. The choice is yours,” Alecks demanded imperiously.

 

“We will never bow down to anyone! Never!” The Beastkin responded unanimously.

 

“Silence! Our King views your kind as lower than pests! We allowed you mutts to roam freely for too long, and now it’s time to put you all on a leash!” The third Featherlight declared.

 

Everyone below was ready to attack. Thankfully, Erica, with her quick wits and decision-making, abruptly stopped a potentially catastrophic head-on clash. She stood in front of the crowd, releasing a powerful aura, much like her mother, strong enough to stop everyone in their tracks. This presence quenched their bloodlust and forced them to think rationally. She acted like a true leader, making the most viable decision for the well-being of the whole.

 

“None of you move a single muscle! Being hasty is not what we need right now! There are children and the elderly nearby, so show some restraint! Instead of attacking, you need to tend to those who are wounded,” Erica commanded firmly.

 

The Beastkin calmed down, choosing to swallow their pride for the safety of their tribe.

 

“Wise decision,” Alecks complimented dismissively. “We will be back in three days with our full force. Use your remaining days wisely.”

 

The Featherlights flew away. The festival was immediately halted, and everyone prioritized tending to the wounded.

 

Once the chaos settled, I turned back to the girls. “I have good news. I forgot to tell you, but I finally found Komraad,” I announced.

 

“Really, Mom?” Fae asked, her eyes lighting up.

 

“Where is he?” Astrid chimed in excitedly.

 

“That’s the thing. He was just with me. We came here together, and now he’s gone,” I responded, annoyed.

 

“That’s okay, Mom. As long as he’s around here somewhere, we can reunite with him anytime,” Rein responded reassuringly.

 

“You’re right, he can wait. Raya, I’m more worried about you. Seeing your own race do this must be hard,” I said, looking at her with concern.

 

“It’s fine, Ms. Ina. Even though I’m part Featherlight, my heart will always choose what is right. If that means fighting against my father’s people for the greater good, then I will do it without hesitation,” Raya declared with surprising maturity.

 

“Good thinking. I’m proud of you,” I responded, smiling.

 

After our chat, we found Erica and helped out wherever we could. Fae and Raya tended to the wounded, while Astrid, Rein, and I helped clear the debris from the blast. Erica, in Nilda’s absence, took command. Under her leadership, the residents quickly recovered from the Featherlights’ disaster.

 

“Thanks for the assist, girls. You were a big help,” Erica told us gratefully.

 

“No worries, Erica,” I responded.

 

With the festival postponed, everyone gathered outside Nilda’s mansion, demanding to see their leader.

 

“Attention, everyone! The Leader has finally arrived!” One of the guards announced.

 

The wild crowd fell silent the moment Nilda appeared, completely overwhelmed by the sudden burst of her aura.

 

“My people, my daughter has already told me what happened. What they did to our land and our people is unforgivable, and their actions will not go unpunished,” Nilda announced, her voice ringing with authority.

 

“Leader! Where were you earlier when the incident happened?” A Beastkin demanded. “Is it true that you received a letter regarding the upcoming invasion?” Another followed up.

 

Nilda hesitated, but knew hiding it now would only cause more strife. “I apologize for being away during the attack, for I was attending to an important matter. Regarding the letter you mentioned, it is true that I knew about the crisis at hand, and I apologize for hiding the truth. I did it to protect our peace. I wanted to avoid war if possible, for we are hunters, not barbarians. War only leads to destruction. But protecting our land and people is a completely different matter. If fighting back is the only option for us not to lose our freedom, then we will give them a fight they will never forget!” Nilda responded with firm, unyielding resolve.

 

Everyone was more than satisfied with Nilda’s response. Their fighting spirit was instantly reignited.

 

“Yeah! No more playing nice! They will face the wrath of our tribe!” A Beastkin shouted. The others followed up with a synchronized war chant.

 

“That’s right! Use your rage as fuel for your strength. Our lives are our own, and we will not let anyone take them away from us! Rise, my proud hunters, and protect what is rightfully ours!” Nilda responded like a true leader, showing her people a fighting chance with just a few words. 

 

“Evacuate the children and the elderly and gather those who can fight! In three days, this place is going to be a battlefield,” she instructed.

 

The servants began evacuating all the children and the elderly into the safe confines beneath the mansion while the guards gathered and equipped every capable fighter. Nilda, Kedrick, and Erica were busy preparing the army, but Komraad was still nowhere to be seen. After witnessing everything, the girls and I decided instantly to join the defense.

 

“Komraad’s fight is also our fight, right, girls?” I asked.

 

“Without a doubt!!” The girls responded with full determination.

 

After the preparations, we found Erica to offer our help.

 

“Erica, how’s everything going?” I asked, approaching her. She looked tired from the frantic activity.

 

“Oh, hey, Ina. Everything is going smoothly, for now at least,” she responded.

 

“That’s good to hear. Anyway, we came here to tell you we’ll be lending a hand. We’re friends, so you’ll always have our back,” I said simply.

 

“I’m happy to accept your help, but are you really sure about this? I mean, can you even fight or protect yourselves??” she asked a reasonable question.

 

I understood her skepticism. She hadn’t seen what we could do.

 

“It seems like you’re forgetting that we are your brother’s companions,” I reminded her, a hint of challenge in my voice.

 

“We’re more than capable, so put your trust in us,” Astrid chimed in confidently.

 

“We’ve been in similar scenarios many times, so this is no different,” Rein interjected with equal confidence.

 

“It’s not much, but we can take care of anyone who gets wounded, so please depend on us, Ms. Erica,” Fae added, with Raya nodding seriously beside her.

 

Erica hesitated, then finally brightened, smiling genuinely. “You’re right. I’m sorry for doubting you. Let’s go tell my Mother right away.”

 

We followed Erica to see Nilda, who was finally available.

 

“Mother, my brother’s companions have business with you,” Erica relayed.

 

“Again with these humans. Why are you still here? If you know what’s better for you, then leave this place at once!” Nilda demanded fiercely.

 

“We’re not leaving no matter what, not when the people important to us are in danger,” I answered firmly. The girls stood right beside me, united.

 

Nilda stood up to exert her full dominance. “I was not suggesting. I was ordering you to leave. This place is about to become a battlefield, nothing good will come of it. You’ll only see a mountain of corpses as a result. You’re a mother like me, so you should know that your priority right now is the safety of your daughters. Be responsible enough to know that, human,” Nilda spat out.

 

“I know I should be prioritizing their safety, but it is not my decision to tell my daughters what they should or should not do. My job is to see that my kids choose a path they won’t regret in the future. That’s what being a parent is all about,” I defended myself, matching her intensity.

 

Nilda was furious at my tenacity. “Enough squabbling! If you don’t want to leave, then I’ll be more than happy to show you the door.” She was about to resort to force when a guard burst into the room, crashing through the door and holding a critical piece of information.

 

“G-Great Leader! I have something urgent I must relay to you,” the guard stammered.

 

“What is it? Get straight to the point,” Nilda ordered.

 

“I-it’s about your son,” the guard responded, trembling.

 

“Good timing. I’ve been looking all over for him. Where is he?” Nilda demanded.

 

“We saw him leave the village moments ago. He’s probably already deep within the forest,” the guard answered.

 

“What?!? Why would he leave now when he knows he has an important role to play here?!? Where is my thick-headed son heading?” Nilda shouted in sheer rage.

 

The guard was sweating profusely as he delivered the final piece of news. “Y-Your son is headed to the Azure Kingdom on his own.”

 

Everyone in the room was stunned by the revelation.

 

“What?!? Are you telling me that my son is planning to stop them on his own? That stupid brat! What is he thinking?!” Nilda shrieked.

 

Azure Kingdom? That’s where the Featherlights live! This is bad. Going there all on his own is suicide! I thought, my heart sinking with worry.

 

Erica suddenly sprinted for the door. Thankfully, Nilda was fast enough to catch her.

 

“Where do you think you’re going, my daughter?” Nilda asked, restraining her.

 

“Let me go, Mother! I’m going after my brother!” Erica responded, tears welling up in her eyes.

 

“Control yourself! You are not leaving this place! You’ll only end up becoming a burden if you follow him. If there’s someone who can stop them, it is him. And if he ever loses, then it’s the end of us all. We must put our faith in him and wait for the result,” Nilda insisted.

 

“B-but…”

 

“Stay composed, my daughter, and trust in your brother. He’s our only last hope,” Kedrick chimed in, his voice full of solemn faith.

 

With Kedrick and Nilda’s advice, Erica managed to contain her emotions, though no one knew her true thoughts. I knew she cared so deeply for her brother that she was willing to risk everything for him.

 

“Gather all the guards and the fighters and fortify our defenses,” Nilda instructed. “The battle might happen earlier than expected. Make sure everyone is prepared,” she added.

 

“Understood, Great Leader!” The guard responded, leaving immediately to relay the instructions.

 

“As for you humans, I don’t care if you stay anymore, but you are to lock yourselves up in your room and are not allowed to intervene. Servants, see to it that they don’t leave their room no matter what,” Nilda instructed, her voice final.

 

I didn’t argue with Nilda anymore. Learning Komraad’s reckless plan had shifted my priority. We returned to our room willingly, and the servants properly locked the door and windows, even leaving lookouts to ensure we couldn't escape. Little did they know I had already been planning my exit.

 

“What now, Mom?” Rein asked, already sensing my intent.

 

“I know you’re up to something, Mom. There’s no way you’d abide by their rules this easily,” Astrid noticed, a slight grin forming.

 

“Tee-hee. You girls know me too well. There is absolutely no way I’m just going to stay here and let Komraad walk into danger. I’m going to go get him back, no matter what. After all, we still have a lot of catching up to do,” I responded with firm resolve.

 

“Wait, you’re going on your own, Mom?” Fae asked, worried.

 

“I don’t want to expose you girls to that kind of danger, and it’s easier for me to go on my own. I can sneak in with my cat form, and they won’t even notice a thing,” I explained.

 

“What about us? What do we do?” Astrid asked, eager for a task.

 

“I want you girls to stay here and protect as many people as you can. I don’t know how strong the enemies are, but I know that each of you has a strength of your own. I trust you girls with all of my heart,” I instructed.

 

The girls agreed without further argument.

 

“Do you know how to get there, Ms. Ina? I wish I could help, but I’ve never been there, so my clairvoyance is useless,” Raya chimed in, disappointed.

 

“Don’t worry. Somehow, I can sense him when he’s in danger,” I assured her.

 

“Okay, Mom, we trust you. Come back safe, no matter what,” Fae said seriously. “And make sure you bring Komraad. I still haven’t kicked his butt yet,” Astrid added, trying to lighten the mood.

 

“Of course, I will! You girls stay safe, too, okay? If things get out of hand, then I want you to prioritize your safety,” I responded, giving them a serious look.

 

“We will, Mom. We’ll wait for you here,” Rein promised kindly.

 

The girls hugged me tightly one last time. I quickly reverted to my cat form so I could easily sneak out of the mansion and begin my infiltration. Thankfully, I managed to find a small hole big enough to fit through and slip out of the locked room.

 

Komraad, I’m coming. Just hold on until I get there.