The Debt of Blood

Zeyn no longer cared about his classes.

Someone's life was at stake.

That was all that mattered now.

He stormed down the corridor, his heart churning with a mix of fury and guilt. The thought of his sister casually deciding to claim a stranger's life filled him with rage. He couldn't understand it. How could she... how could they—be so cruel?

His chest ached, not from exertion, but from the cold that had seeped into his very soul. It had started ever since that cursed keris sheath was pierced into his body. A silent pact. A mark of burden.

He had become the designated seeker of sacrifices.

And the price? The lives of others. Innocent ones. He clenched his fists. He couldn't let Azalea die.

"Ah, there you are."

A calm voice stopped him in his tracks.

Zeyn turned sharply. "Mr. Hendri?!"

The man stood casually in the hallway leading to Building A, as if he'd been waiting there all along.

He hadn't seen him for several days, neither at the office nor in the village where he lived. So why was he suddenly at his campus? More importantly, where had he been all this time?

"I haven't seen you in days—where have you been?"

Mr. Hendri smiled faintly. "Why so surprised to see me?"

Zeyn opened his mouth, but words tangled on his tongue.

"Anyway, You seem really angry today."

"I'm just... Nevermind. It's nothing."

The unconvincing response seemed to amuse him.. A small smile indicated that he understood the situation that this young man was facing.

"Care to talk about it while we walk?" Hendri said, stepping closer.

"I can't," Zeyn replied, voice tense. "There's something I have to do. Urgently."

"Is it about your issue with your sister?"

"...If you already know, then I don't have to explain. I have to go!"

"Relax. You're acting like doomsday is tomorrow," Hendri chuckled. "Come. Walk with me.

Zeyn was still unsure, but Mr. Hendri's smile implied that everything would be okay. In the end, he just agreed to walk alongside and take a break. He didn't know if it was the right time to talk. But it was also his fault for hiding this matter from the two people who should have been his mentors.

"…It's my fault," Zeyn muttered. "I freed the wrong people. Now someone else is going to die because of me."

"Your fault is trying to carry all this alone. Haven't we been here before?"

"..."

Why did it all feel different this time? He'd pleaded for mercy from his sisters before. He'd begged them to spare certain lives. And usually… they did.

"This isn't the first time you've asked the forest to release someone, is it?" Hendri continued.

"...Kinda."

"And now you're so confused. Why is the forest ruler angry about something you've done multiple times?"

Zeyn remained silent at this point. Mr. Hendri was truly able to read his thoughts and feelings.

"Any unpaid blood must be paid for with other blood.... that's the unwritten law of the supernatural world. Do you think your debt can just be forgotten like that?"

"But it's unfair. Why should an innocent girl suffer for—"

"Zeyn!" Hendri's gaze sharpened, calm but unwavering. "Don't pretend you don't know how their world works."

Zeyn bit his lip.

He did know.

He knew too well.

He understood that reality all too well. Yet his heart was torn by the dilemma.

Julius had taught him the value of human life. But Bella… taught him the law of survival in the astral world.Two worlds. Two mentors. Two truths.

Both of them had different perspectives... but then again, they were different beings as well.

"You're not wrong," Hendri said. "But in both worlds—doing what's right still comes with consequences."

"Then what am I supposed to do?" he asked, frustrated. "I can't just stand by and let her die."

He emphasized the importance of respecting the laws of both realms, especially because the young man understood how these two worlds interacted with each other.

"If you've done what you can," Hendri said, "then let the universe do the rest. But if you still feel uncertain… choose the best path. One that brings balance to both sides."

Zeyn looked at him, confused. "What does that even mean?"

From the pocket of his jacket, Mr. Hendri took out a simple letter enveloped in an envelope. He handed the letter to the young man.

"Give this to Julius. He'll help explain it to you."

A letter? What could be the purpose of this message? Wouldn't it be easier to communicate through social media as usual?

Zeyn tried to think multiple times about why he was given this entrusted envelope. It was an unusual gesture from Mr. Hendri.

"Does it contain money?" he joked half-heartedly.

"Hahahaha, no. You'll figure it out."

With a gentle laugh, Mr. Hendri patted his shoulder. He walked back along the campus corridor, leaving Zeyn still standing there, silent and motionless.

"Sir? Tell me... what should I do to protect that girl?"

"Think about what you can do and what you cannot do, Zeyn. You are no longer a child. Your responsibilities will grow even greater from this point onward. Think carefully. Maybe there's a reason why all this happened."

Mr. Hendri kept walking until he finally reached a junction. Before leaving, he waved his hand and smiled gently.

"Wait, what do you mean?"

"This is something you'll have to figure out on your own. Just focus on fulfilling your duties for today," Mr. Hendri replied, his voice filled with a sense of mystery.

"My duties? What duties?"

"Study, you know? Study!"

He ran to catch up with him, reaching the corridor's bend. But when he arrived there, Mr. Hendri had already disappeared and vanished from sight. After blinking for a split second, Zeyn realized that the corridor was actually bustling with students passing by.

But during their conversation… the space had felt deserted.

He felt confused with Mr. Hendri's answer. His heart was still tumultuous, questioning what was right and what was wrong.

Was siding with astral beings like his sister really the right thing? Or should he remain on his current path? What was the true essence of humanity?

"Ah... I'm so confused! This is too much."

He tried to take some time to reflect on this issue and find a solution. What did he mean by giving a letter to Julius?

A few moments later, he felt calmer and able to think more clearly. However, he still wondered if the girl named Azalea would be alright after this.

In the end, he decided to just return to the classroom. He chose to use his powers.

*Bzzztth~ Whung!

The world gradually slowed down, entering a slow-motion state that affected the environment and all living creatures. Only Zeyn remained unaffected, as if he was walking forward, and in the blink of an eye, he was already behind Kriss.

"Good morning,"

"Hm? Huh? WHAT?!"

Kriss jolted forward in shock. He turned and saw Zeyn, calm and smiling.

"Where did you come from?... You said you had something to do earlier? Wait! You were supposed to-"

"It's alright, I'm fine now. Let's go to class."

Kriss blinked, baffled. "You sure you're okay?"

"Why? What's wrong? If we don't hurry, we'll be late."

"... H'huh?"

The message from Mr. Hendri to him was to focus on his obligations for today, especially when it comes to attending classes. He seemed unconcerned even though someone's life could be at stake today.

Zeyn chose to trust him. He would deal with his sister later, he would definitely take it into consideration.

Because this time, the burden of two worlds… was his alone to carry.

* * * *