The black cat lazily took a stroll around the estate's garden while fully knowing that he was trespassing on Alejandro Pierce's territory. The lush greenery and vivid flowers gave off a pleasant smell, naturally drawing the cat's attention. Raindrops began to fall from the sky, making the cat's sleek fur stick to its body.
It's crimson eyes narrowed while observing the garden for one last time. The feeling of longing brew inside of the cat, causing him to hesitate at the idea of leaving the garden that was brimming with life. Despite how much the cat wanted to stay, he was given a mission. Failing would surely cost his life.
The cat climbed up the wall as mockery flashed in his crimson-colored eyes. How could he, the legendary black panther, be ordered around by a mere human? Not to mention that the human was still young...
Shaking his head, the small cat's body began to increase in size as thoughts continued to plague his mind. Its black fur became shinier under the sun and its red eyes glowed softly. Strong muscles could easily be seen beneath his skin, making him appear menacing and ruthless. The once tiny cat had now transformed into a powerful black panther.
Right after transforming into its original form, the black panther began to sprint. The panther didn't fear the young man that had been using him to carry out his work. The person that he feared was his father.
The beast shuddered at the thought of that vicious man. That man truly was the epitome of destruction. He had an unfathomable sea of women endlessly following him wherever he went, all of the armies were under his control, heck, even the emperor couldn't help but show reverence in fear of destruction!
After an hour of non-stop running, the black panther finally arrived at its destination. Before him stood a small, but dignified estate that was hidden away from prying eyes. Trees towered over the elegant building that gave off a comfortable feeling. However, the same thing couldn't be said about the inside of the estate.
While the inside was covered with beautiful decorations and comfortable chairs, the atmosphere was anything but positive. Everything was cold, quiet and dark; almost as if nobody was residing inside the building. The pressure was enough to make the beast want to run away with its tail between its legs, but he couldn't leave now. If he did, he wouldn't be allowed to leave with his life.
Inside one of the many rooms was a young man in his mid-teens that wore an expressionless look. His raven hair was long enough to cover his eyes while shadowing his face. His complexion was like a doll; both pale and free from blemish. The young man lifted his gaze, uncovering his eyes for the world to see. His dark eyes shone brightly despite the lack of light, taking away the breath of any unsuspecting victims.
The beast was still not used to his otherworldly appearance, causing his breath to hitch. Bowing to the young lord, the panther spoke:
"Little lord, I come bearing news."
"Oh?"
The young lord smiled, causing the beast to shudder as a cold chill ran down his spine. The little lord stood from his seat, a hidden power seeping from his very being.
"Please enlighten this little lord. What news have you brought?"
The beast slightly shook due to the pressure that was being emitted by the young lord. How can someone so young possess such an aura? Normally, only strong mages that have gone through rigorous training and were faced with countless life or death situations were able to emit such a dark aura.
"Asher Pierce, the youngest child of Nikola and Alejandro Pierce, has changed. His temperament and the aura he exudes has changed drastically. He wasn't like this yesterday."
As the black panther spoke, the air around him turned colder. The beast lowered his head as a sign of respect, finally coming to terms that he wouldn't be able to escape being used as a pawn. The little lord took long strides towards the beast. His cold hand touched the beast's head in what was supposed to be a comforting manner. His dark eyes were full of mirth as a cold laugh rang out, spooking the poor beast and causing its eyes to widen in alarm.
"Good! Very good! We finally have a clue!"
The little lord kept laughing loudly, his voice echoing through the empty building. The servants that were located in different parts of the estate couldn't help but shiver at the sound of his chilly laugh. How could their master turn out to be a complete lunatic?
Licking his cracked lips, the young lord turned his gaze and narrowed his eyes at a dark corner of a room. "Zelron, request for a meeting with the king and with Nikola and Alejandro Pierce," he said as a thin man walked from the shadows silently. Completely covered in a dark outfit, it was almost impossible to see the man's face. The only thing visible was his clear eyes that were full of admiration for his little lord.
The man nodded his head before completely disappearing to fulfill the task given to him. The little lord then stared at the black panther, his lips curving into a small smile.
"You will befriend Asher Pierce. You will become his pet," his dark eyes narrowing, he waved his hand as a form of dismissing the beast.
"Everything he does shall be immediately reported, no matter how insignificant it may be."
"Yes, little lord. This beast shall accomplish your orders."
"And one last thing. You will appear in front of Asher as a cat. You will not transform into a panther unless necessary."
After saying this, the little lord walked past the black panther as amusement danced in his eyes. If Asher was indeed the person that his father is looking for, then the young boy wouldn't mind using him as a way to garner his father's trust before taking over what was rightfully his.
Suddenly, the little lord began to cough harshly. His body swayed and his turned fuzzy. The hand that was covering his mouth was now covered in blood. He smiled as the metallic taste danced on his taste buds.
"Father, you have underestimated me. To think that I've survived your gruesome attack," a dark chuckle escaped his lips as he leaned against the wall for support.
"I will slowly reclaim what's mine. My health, my empire, my freedom... If it weren't for the task you have given me, I would've been long dead!"
His cold voice was laced with hurt and betrayal. Who would've thought that, after helping his father grow his army and assert his dominance, that he would be tossed aside like a pile of rubbish? Certainly, this little lord wouldn't stand for this injustice!
The empire he had worked so hard to expand and maintain was taken away just like that! Not to mention that, in fear of his son taking away his power, his father decided to poison him with a slow-acting poison that only he had created, making it near impossible for him to retrieve the cure. However, there is one way to slow down the poison's effects. If the victim of the poison manages to find someone that complements him as a person, then the effects of the poison would considerably slow down.
Still, it was near impossible to find a person that complements the little lord, so he didn't get his hopes up. Zelron, on the other hand, has been conducting a thorough search throughout the continent of Zatheusyl to find a person that complements his master.
The little lord painstakingly made his way to his chamber without the help of the servants. The little lord barely had any servants serving him because of his father's influence, so a few maids and butlers were all he could manage to have. His pale and unblemished skin was full of cold sweat as the little lord furrowed his eyebrows in pain. He desperately needed to finish this task without a hitch for him to survive, so the little lord could only hope that Asher Pierce was the spy that his father had been talking about.
A few days had passed since the black panther visited the little lord's estate. The beast had yet to meet Asher, but only because he wished to familiarize himself with the layout of the large and luxurious building. If he ended up being caught, he needed to have an escape plan.
The little lord, on the other hand, was currently on his way to meet with the king. The carriage he was on wasn't flashy like the other rich kids, but it was all a part of his plan. He couldn't be seen riding an expensive vehicle since it would raise questions like who was he. No guards could be seen guarding the carriage, but the little lord knew that his trusty Zelron was nearby to protect him from any unexpected attacks. By the little lord's side sat an incredibly elegant and handsome young servant.
The servant appeared to be in his early twenty's. He possessed long, dark hair that was kept up in a ponytail, highlighting his sharp jawline and pointy nose. His skin was as dark as chocolate and his eyes were an unusual silver color. Beneath his exuberant looks laid a particularly strong power that seemed to be suppressed by an unknown force. One glance at this elegant and poised man would be enough to make anyone's knees go weak.
The little lord glanced at the servant and said, "Archer, you will be given a heavy task. Will you complete it with ease, or will you cause this little lord more problems?
His words hid a deeper meaning within them: do not disappoint me, I will not tolerate any mistakes.
Archer was well aware of the meaning behind his master's word. His lips curled up into a mysterious smile. "Yes, my lord. This servant shall not disappoint you."
Nodding his head in satisfaction, the little lord stared off into the distance. The castle's gates were slowly growing bigger as the carriage got closer to its destination. Immediately after arriving at the gates, the guards let them pass.
"Tsk, the king can easily be assassinated with such lousy guards."
Finally, the carriage halted its movement as a quiet voice was heard. "Little lord, we have arrived."
The little lord gracefully got off of the carriage as he nodded his head towards Zelron in acknowledgment. A long line of maids and butlers were awaiting this lord's arrival, and they couldn't help but stare in confusion. How could this lord be so young?
Nevertheless, the servants still managed to compose themselves. They bowed in respect while exclaiming, "Welcome, Lord Zacharia!"
The little lord Zacharia walked past the servants, not bothering to acknowledge their very existence. Every maid couldn't help but swoon at the lord's handsome yet cute appearance. His cold gaze caused many women to shudder in sheer delight.
At the end of the human-made hall stood an old servant. His warm smile caused Zacharia to smile as well, making all of the women inadvertently squeal. How could this lord's cold gaze hold such warmness?!
"Lord Zacharia, please forgive their rude behavior. We rarely get the chance to welcome such an esteemed guest, so they were all excited," said the old servant with a warm smile. He bowed carefully and smiled towards Archer before returning to his original stance.
"I shall take you to the king. Please, follow me."
After a few minutes of walking, the trio stood in front of a huge, red door. The door possessed ancient engravings which added to its beauty and splendor. The old servant knocked on the door before opening it slowly.
"My king, Lord Zacharia has arrived."
The inside of the room was just as enchanting as the outside. A huge window was placed on the ceiling, filling the room with warmth. The white, marble floors shone under the sun's rays. A dark table was placed in the middle of the room, its color contrasting against the rest of the room. The sight represented the king's riches. While the display of beautiful and expensive artifacts would make any man's blood boil in jealousy, Zacharia couldn't help but feel displeased. Only a handful of people were able to enter the palace, so why have so many expensive artifacts that no one would appreciate?
The king looked at Zacharia with disdain. How could such a young child be respected and feared by many? Even the kid's father held great power, enough to make him kneel in respect! It made the king's blood boil with envy! Still, he forced out a smile and greeted Zacharia.
"Zacharia! How great to finally meet you!"