The other passengers, including Ryuen and his students, were bound in chains once again.
They were loaded into trucks that ran on fire—fire the soldiers produced.
The trucks were made entirely of metal, and as a result, the interiors were unbearably hot.
It would have been worse if not for the openings in the walls and the roof, allowing some ventilation.
The students watched wide-eyed, filled with excitement and curiosity, as the soldiers hurled fireballs into a compartment to power the vehicles.
So fixated were they on this phenomenon that they temporarily forgot what awaited them at their destination.
Ryuen, on the other hand, stared blankly at the moon, which seemed to move with them.
His jaw clenched, and his fists gripped tightly around his wrist chains and the pendant in his hand.
His mind wandered back to the morning of that day. He had no clue he would find himself in another world—a world ruled by mortals who hated his kind and beasts that thrived in chaos.
And then there was the curse, hanging over him for reasons he still couldn't understand.
And who was the "Great Arbiter"?
He exhaled for the umpteenth time, glancing quickly at his students to ensure they were okay.
A faint smile appeared on his lips as he watched them mumble to each other while occasionally speaking to the soldiers.
Fortunately, the soldiers handling the transfer were more polite than the ones they had encountered before, and for that, Ryuen was a little relieved.
The journey to Mirath City was anything but silent. The truck buzzed with life as prisoners chatted and bonded with the soldiers effortlessly.
Haruka had returned to her giddy self, animatedly speaking to one of the soldiers as he controlled the fire powering the engine.
Akari, though bound, managed to scribble notes in her notepad, observing and even conducting small interviews with the less busy soldiers and prisoners.
Kenta and Yuta played cards with a few male prisoners, low chuckles escaping each time Yuta won.
The atmosphere was less tense, and Ryuen felt glad, though he chose not to indulge in the activities.
Instead, he sat quietly in his corner, gazing at the moonlit wasteland. The moon seemed to be setting, signaling the arrival of a new day.
They were now hours away from home, without food, water, or proper sleep.
And while no one seemed to complain yet, Ryuen knew it was only a matter of time before exhaustion set in.
At least there were no children among them. Haruka and Akari were eighteen, Yuta was nineteen, and Kenta was twenty.
The youngest passengers appeared to be two blonde teens sitting beside Ryuen, hugging their knees.
They didn't look alike, but he guessed they were friends, likely around sixteen.
Suddenly, a faint light in the distance caught Ryuen's eye. He snapped his head toward it, and a city bustling with life came into view.
The streets were filled with vibrantly dressed people.
As they drove deeper into the city, stalls lined the roads.
Different-looking humans waved at Ryuen, particularly the women, though he paid them little attention.
His focus was on their intriguing features: long, pointy ears, vertically extended furry ears, tails, horns, and unique shaped irises.
The foods being sold were strange, yet their aromas were heavenly.
The view was magnificent, and they hadn't even entered the heart of the city yet.
The buildings reminded him of Japan, though far less modern.
As the truck moved further into the city, a larger structure came into view.
Surrounded by a massive wall, the palace loomed ahead, its gates marked by a logo of an open dog—or wolf—jaw.
Yet something felt off. The air in the city was different, as though something sinister hid beneath its polished façade.
Like that of the field they escaped alive from.
When the truck finally came to a stop behind the palace, the prisoners were carefully led out.
Their chains were removed before they were escorted into the palace in a single file.
The palace's interior was different from the one they had just left.
High halls, a dark ceiling carved with faint constellations and symbols that reflected the red glow of the chandelier above.
The chandelier itself was massive, made of black iron and adorned with red crystals that cast long, shadows across the walls.
Standing before the throne was a woman wearing a simple yet elegant silver crown that gleamed faintly in the dim light.
Her black hair fell in waves over her shoulder, framing her face.
She wore a pale pink dress that clung tightly to her upper body, the low neckline exposing her cleavage, before flowing from her hips to the floor.
A faintly glowing amulet rested just above her exposed collarbone, matching the warm brown of her eyes.
She stepped to the side, revealing King Arel.
The king leaned back in his throne, his sapphire crown tilted slightly to one side.
His expression held quiet amusement.
Clad in a black cloak with pajamas peeking out from underneath, Arel's youthful appearance sharply contrasted with the previous king's.
His features—his fox ears and red eyes—gave off a mischievous yet dangerous aura.
While the lady had long, pointy ears with a faint pink hue at the tips.
The king's composed demeanor was betrayed by a sly smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
He studied the group for a moment, his crimson orbs lingering on Ryuen, gazing into a pool of silver, gold, and brown.
Then he smiled, though it did not quite reach his eyes.
"You must be the prisoners my dear neighbors sent me. What a... curious lot," he said, his voice carrying a teasing tone..
Ryuen did not respond, his sharp gaze fixed on the king, observing him intently.
Arel's expression softened, amusement flickering in his eyes. He liked Ryuen's boldness.
The fearless gleam in Ryuen's gaze reminded him of someone rebellious—unyielding.
He had expected the group to cower before him, yet here they stood, meeting his gaze with defiance.
Even the girls seemed captivated, their attention drawn to the woman standing beside the king.
"You," Arel said suddenly, his voice sharp as he rose from his throne.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished into a cloud of white mist, earning startled gasps from the group.
Ryuen remained still, his gaze hardening as the queen smiled at him, her expression was calm but unsettling.
His instincts kicked in, as well as his intuition
He tapped his right leg on the ground, confirming that he hadn't lost what he hid in his boots.
With a swift motion, he reached down, drew a dagger, and spun around—just as Arel appeared behind him, smirking.
The blade was pressed against the king's throat, the sharo biting lightly into his skin.
The hall fell into silence.
Ryuen's audacity—his sheer insolence—left everyone speechless.
The queen blinked, momentarily stunned, while the guards froze, their hands inching toward their weapons.
But no one dared move an inch without the king's orders
Arel stepped back slightly, raising a hand to his neck.
His breath hitched as his fingers brushed the spot where the blade touched.
A spot where another step could have left him bleeding to death.
In Ryuen's eyes, he saw it—the cold, unwavering determination of a man who wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone.
Arel's lips widened into grin, his crimson eyes glowing more.
"I don't know if I should be furious... or pleased," Arel said softly, as he traced the faint mark on his neck.
"Pleased?!"
The guards exclaimed, including Ryuen's students.
Only the queen remained silent, her attention shifting to something—or someone—approaching from the hall's entrance.
Arel chuckled, ignoring their shock.
"What's your kill count?" he asked suddenly, causing Ryuen's heart to skip a beat.
His grip on the dagger tightened.
He frowned, his gaze hardening. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he replied, however, his unease and nervousness betrayed him.
Arel stepped closer, "You have the reflexes of someone trained to kill," he paused, "And you don't look so innocent."
His crimson gaze shifted toward Haruka, who was confused , her wide eyes darting between Ryuen and Arel.
The other three—Akari, Kenta, and Yuta—has the same look, confusion and curiosity.
"Who are they to you?" Arel whispered, leaning closer as his voice became low
Ryuen's gaze moved toward his students, softening slightly as he answered.
"Your siblings? Or you're in love with one of them?" he interrogated further, leaning closer, till Ryuen stepped back.
"They are my students," he said.
Arel's brows rose, and a sly grin spread across his face. "Your students? Interesting..."
"They are my students," Ryuen repeated, his tone colder this time.
"And I would appreciate it if you didn't include my—" he trailed off, realizing he had already said too much.
The king's smile widened. "I'll get my answers soon enough," he said, folding his hands behind his back.
"How long have you been in that line of work?"
"Four years."
"Wonderful!" Arel exclaimed, clasping his hands together in excitement.
His gaze shifted suddenly to a figure approaching the queen.
"Ah! My baby girl!"