Weakness

Ana and Ingrid hardened their stance and drew their short sword in a split second. The beast that was playing immediately hid under the table.

*knock knock

They felt a strong presence split second before it knocked.

"Ingrid, call master."

Ingrid disappeared in Ana's side like a smoke and seconds laters, Kali descends from the second floor. She threw her gloves away and it disappeared in the air.

Even without words, the tension can be felt in her steps. Her distorted face cannot be hidden even with a mask covering the lower part of her face.

*knock knock*

Kali locked eyes with Ingrid and motioned to get the beasts to the second floor.

"Do not make a sound." She said to the beasts. Luna nodded silently while the fox just stared at her.

"Go." Kali said as she turned her back on them. She opened the inventory and got her cloak and white mask. Ana did the same thing.

There were a few seconds of silence before the knock continued.

*Knock knock*

"We are coming in."

The door's knob was crushed and it was opened by a hooded knight.

Kali frowned strongly after seeing the knight step aside and a tall figure of hooded person appeared.

"Good day, Sir Anwir." A familiar voice greeted her. Under the hood a silhouette of light pink hair peeked outside and a strong gaze of green eyes.

"What brings you here, Young Master Ren."

Even with a mask covering his lower face, his visuals and physical characteristics undeniably belong to Ren Cartisson, The duke's son.

*cough* cough*

Ren coughed to the side and the knights offered their arms to support him but he signaled he was okay. He cleared his throat and looked around the small house. He started frowning and hesitated to step inside. His displeasure is clearly reflected.

"Pardon my manners. Can we continue our talk from last time?"

Kali narrowed her eyes on him.

'Two days.'

It only took two days, before they finally tracked her down.

'Did I make a mistake involving a ducal family?' Kali frowned more and more.

"Wait outside." Ren ordered the knight. The knight bowed down without a word and exited the house.

"Shall we begin?" Ren opened his hand in a gentlemanly manner and walked confidently on the table and he pulled a handkerchief and placed it on the chair before he sat carefully trying not to get in contact with anything else.

"Please sit down." He opened his palm and directed to the opposite chair.

"How did you find this house?" Kali didn't move.

"It wasn't that easy but thanks to my father's influence I was able to find you."

"...?!" Kali's inventory is already opened and she is ready to reach for her weapon.

"I have come here to make a deal. Will you take a seat?"

Despite the uneasiness Kali still took a seat and faced Ren.

" Exchange for the supply of medicine until the end of the year. You will be given 1 entry pass provided you will be accompanied during that time since we cannot let the royal family be exposed to any harm. Of course that is also if you promised not to harm the royals or anyone inside."

". . ."

"What do you say?"

"Haaaa." Kali heavily sighed and retired her body against the chair. It was good he was direct to the point but. . .

'This is really annoying.' She lazily thought.

She pulled multiple items from her inventory and let it stack and pile up on the table.

"This is all I have now." Kali said as she presented 18 bottles of the 'Mythical Beast's Mana.'

"This is enough ---"

*CRASH*

*Bang*

Two knights appeared and hid Ren behind them. Their swords are drawn out and pointed at Kali. The sound of the broken door was only heard after.

"Young Master, are you okay?" One of the knights asked but Ren's eyes were focused on the wet table with shattered pieces of glasses. The white masked man, Anwir, is frozen in the swing position she just made. A huge butcher knife is upheld high and dripping wet.

"How dare you?!" Other knight asked.

"Now, I have none left." Kali said but no one beside Ren understood it. She swings her huge butcher knife, breaking all the bottles with 'Mythical Beast's Mana'inside.

"You. . ."

"You!! You are pissing me off." Kali cut off Ren's words.

"..!!"

"You are mistaken, young master. To me, you are not necessary. I don't need you but can you say the same to me?"

Ren swallowed his dry saliva.

"I apologize. It is not my intention to offend you." He passes through his two knights and orders them to stand down.

"Young Master, This is your last chance. You will get me a pass whenever I demand on it in exchange for your 'Medicine' "

". . ."

". . . and I want my first pass tomorrow"

"What?" Ren furrowed his eyebrows.

"If not tomorrow, we can do it three months from now. Can your body wait till then?"

Kali can see the slight wobbling of Ren's legs, Today will be the 4th day after she first fed Ren the Mythical Beast's Mana.

'One bottle every 3 days?' Kali repeated in her head the Duke's demand from 2 days ago.

'I just can't let my guard down with humans.'

Kali can see his dissatisfaction with his creased forehead and she can almost imagine him either grinding his teeth or chewing his lips.

"You said, that is all you have left." The confident tone of Ren was replaced with irritation, he continued "How will you provide the medicine?"

"You don't need to worry about that." Kali shrugged her shoulders like she can just buy it on the market.

"If that is all, I'll see you tomorrow. Goodbye now, young master." Kali turned away and Ana followed behind.

"W,Wait---- *cough* cough*" Ren's leg gave up and his cough grew louder.

"Young master!" The knights supported Ren by grabbing him before he hit the floor.

He was losing consciousness when he looked towards the blurry image of Anwir and his subordinate leaving for the second floor. Even when he collapsed a few steps away from them they didn't bother to stop and check.

"T,take me *cough* out of this filthy place." He said in a weakly , hoarse voice.

While on the second floor.

"Let's go" Kali opened her palm towards the fox and the fox walked to her arms and circled to her shoulders.

"You, go with Ingrid." Kali said in a low voice to the wolf. The wolf usually displays his dissatisfaction but today he followed Kali's order without complaint.

"Ana, go to that inn, I told you before, outside the Capital. Book two rooms and wait for us there."

Ana bowed down and exited by the window.

Ren is being carried by a knight at his back. He opened his eyes and somehow he saw a figure watching from the second floor window.

At that time they both had the same thought.

"Dammit"

****

"Master?" Luna jumped up to the bed and looked at Kali but she ignored his call.

*knock knock*

Kali didn't answer but the door still opened. Ingrid is standing holding a tray full of food in her hands. She quietly puts the food down and the beast gathers around their dinner.

Ana also entered the room. It was quite small; now there are three full grown adults and two beasts inside.

Kali then removed her gaze outside the window and looked at the sisters who were waiting.

"What are my chances of successfully killing a duke? "

"..?!"

"Ah. I mean, the entire Ducal family?" Kali corrected her words making it sound more terrifying.

"What are you planning, Master?" Ana was alarmed at Kali's words.

"My identity. It might've been compromised."

The moment she had seen Ren, she assumed the worst scenario. The house they were in was purchased by Vico during the time she was pretending to be sick. She is raking her brains out on 'how' can it be traced back to her.

"They already tracked us to the capital in less than a day and found the house in just a matter of two days. It will be a race against time until they find my identity, if they still haven't known already."

". . . and your best solution is to annihilate them?" Ingrid forgot her manners and frowned at Kali openly. Ana stopped Ingrid.

"Master, Do you plan to kill them tomorrow?" Ana questioned.

"No. It's for the worst case scenario." Kali answered undisturbed and ignoring Ingrid's manner.

"Then, why are you exposing yourself to them? They might get a hold of your weakness."

Ana is confused, she had the impression of Kali's high intelligence but earlier, she might've lost her patience and demand a pass for tomorrow but if she truly had a hunch that she might've been exposed, she wouldn't be reckless.

'Her identity as Kaleena Alexander, must never be exposed. If she failed to protect it or you deemed it a high risk, you ought to bring her back immediately.' It was Vico's instructions.

'If she insists on involving herself in the Ducal Family, we will have no choice but to send her back.' Ana remained calm on the outside but she is already taking precautionary measures.

"We will see if they get a hold of my weakness first or I get theirs."

Ana wished it wouldn't come to this. Was it Kali's pride talking? The Duke and his son's treatment was something Kali cannot digest.

Ana can almost foresee Kali's retaliation as she and Ingrid drag her back.

She has to make it happen before the sunrise arrives.