Percival Household

Count Jamie Percival sat on his grand chair, his fingers resting lightly on the armrests as he studied the young man standing before him. The youth was dressed modestly, with no clear emblem or insignia indicating a noble background. Percival narrowed his eyes.

"What family are you from?" the Count asked, his voice measured and probing.

The young man bowed slightly. "My name is Jinnara, my lord. I am not from a prestigious family. My upbringing was rather… humble."

Percival raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Not from a prestigious family, and yet you stand here. What gives you the confidence to approach me?"

Without a word, Jinnara reached into his satchel and produced a sealed envelope. The ornate seal bore the unmistakable crest of the Sanchez family of Ared. Percival's eyes widened slightly as he took the letter. Breaking the seal, he unfolded the parchment and began to read.

As his eyes scanned the elegant script, his expression shifted from curiosity to astonishment. The Sanchez family—a name of immense power and influence—had sent this young man. Not a servant, not an official, but their firstborn son.

Percival's hands trembled slightly as he finished reading. The letter was direct yet deferential. It requested a trade of Percival's newest hunt—the remains of a lamia. The Sanchez family wanted the skin, teeth, glands, and other organs for their own purposes. In return, they promised lucrative benefits and politely requested the honor of the first seat at the upcoming auction.

But Count was confused. "Why would this young man say he is not from a prominent background? Is he boasting or is he humble? I can't tell,"

The Count's lips curled into a smile. "To think the Sanchez family would send their heir for such a matter… It is truly flattering. You honor me, young Jinnara."

"Capital's biggest merchant family has taken interest in my hunt. It is truly a miracle," Count added showing, Sanchez family was indeed favoured. 

Jinnara inclined his head. "It is my family's wish to handle such important dealings personally. We believe it demonstrates our respect for you, Count Percival."

Percival chuckled softly. "A noble sentiment. Truly, your family's reputation for wisdom and diplomacy is well-earned."

Standing a few feet behind Jinnara, a woman with piercing eyes and a curious demeanor watched the exchange. Her name was Cassandra, and her presence was subtle yet keenly felt. Jinnara's gaze flicked toward her momentarily before he turned back to the Count.

"May I ask you something, Count?" Jinnara said, his tone casual but inquisitive.

"Speak," Percival replied, leaning back in his chair.

Jinnara's eyes gleamed with a strange intensity. "Is it fun to kill monsters?"

The question hung in the air, the bluntness of it catching Percival off guard. His brow furrowed as he stared at the young man.

"Fun?" Percival repeated, his voice tinged with confusion. "I wouldn't call it fun, exactly."

"Then what is it to you?" Jinnara pressed, his curiosity unwavering.

The Count's gaze hardened slightly, but he answered with measured patience. "It is necessary. Monsters are a threat to my territory and my people. Eliminating them ensures their safety. And beyond that, the materials we harvest from these creatures are invaluable."

Jinnara tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "But why are humans and monsters so different? After all, both breathe. Both bleed."

A tense silence followed his words. Percival's jaw tightened, his fingers gripping the armrest of his chair. The implication behind the question irritated him, but he forced himself to remain calm.

"Young man," Percival said slowly, his tone measured, "the difference lies in intellect. In emotion. Humans are capable of reason, of compassion. Monsters, on the other hand, are merciless and cruel by nature. They exist only to destroy."

Jinnara's lips quirked into a faint smile. "Interesting. In my eyes, both humans and monsters seem… equal."

Percival's eyes narrowed. "Equal?" he repeated, his voice sharp.

But Jinnara merely shrugged and offered no further explanation. Instead, he bowed slightly and said, "I look forward to a fruitful relationship between our families, Count Percival."

The Count's gaze lingered on Jinnara for a moment longer before he nodded curtly. "As do I."

As the conversation concluded, Jinnara turned and began to leave the room. His steps were calm and unhurried, but there was a subtle air of satisfaction about him. Cassandra, who had been quietly observing from the side, caught his eye as he passed. Her expression was one of quiet intrigue, her curiosity about the young man evident.

Hidden behind that curiosity was something rather intimidate, but nobody knew what happened between Jinnara and Cassandra when they first met.

Jinnara's lips curved into a knowing smile as he noticed her peeking from the doorway. He thought to himself that this couple—the sharp-eyed Cassandra and the stalwart Count Percival—would prove to be quite interesting and also entertaining.

***

Jinnara stepped into the dimly lit luxury merchant shop, his presence immediately commanding the attention of everyone inside. The merchants and their attendants turned their gazes toward him, their eyes hollow, void of life. 

Without a word, they bowed to him, their movements mechanical and devoid of any true emotion. Jinnara didn't spare them a second glance. He strode through the shop and ascended the creaking wooden stairs, his steps purposeful and quick.

At the top of the stairs, he reached a door. Without hesitation, he pushed it open. The room was small, bathed in soft moonlight filtering through the single window. Seated on the windowsill was Selis, her slender lamia frame silhouetted against the warm light. 

She stared outside, her expression distant, lost in thought. Jinnara followed her gaze to see the spot she was looking at—a secluded area behind the shop where they had hidden the lifeless body of the original son of the Sanchez family.

Jinnara stepped closer, his presence looming behind her. Leaning slightly, he blew softly on her ear. Selis twitched, startled by the sudden gesture, and turned to look at him. Her golden-yellowish eyes shimmered with guilt as they met his sharp, piercing ones.

"Jinnara," she murmured, her voice heavy with unspoken emotions.

He ignored her tone and walked past her, sitting casually on the edge of the small bed in the room. He leaned back slightly, propping himself up with his hands, and fixed her with a scrutinizing gaze. "I don't understand you, Selis," he began, his voice low and laced with a mix of curiosity and exasperation. "Percival just told me we will be visiting the bid soon. That should make you happy, shouldn't it? But here you are, looking like you're carrying the weight of the world."

Selis turned back toward the window, her fingers gripping the edge of the sill tightly. "Those human kids back in village are innocent," she said softly. "They didn't deserve any of this. None of them did. Not even this man."

Jinnara's eyes narrowed. "You're still hung up on that? Humans. Lamia. It doesn't matter. People die every day. It's the way of this world. We kill for our benefit."

She shook her head, her voice gaining strength. "These humans haven't done anything to us. The ones who raised arms, sure, they're fair game. But those kids… they were just caught in the crossfire. I can't stop thinking about it. I… I can't justify it."

Jinnara let out a sharp laugh, one that held no humor. "And what about your people who died, Selis? Did they raise arms before they were slaughtered? Did they get a choice?"

Selis flinched at his words, and for a moment, silence hung heavy between them. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to respond, but no words came out. She realized how flawed her reasoning sounded.

"Lamia people consume meat. Humans consume meat. Did any of those animals deserve to die?" Jinnara asked. "Let me give you the answer. Answer is yes! Don't kill someone else, don't steal from someone else. All of these are rules made by living beings so they could live in peace. But do you really think peace will bring you happiness?"

Jinnara leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared at her intently. "You don't understand this world," he said, his tone blunt. "This isn't a place where you can afford to show compassion. You either kill or you die. That's all there is to it. Survival of the fittest, Selis. Nothing more, nothing less. It is either humans or you creatures what humans call monsters. Discrimination won't end unless one of you vanish from this world."

Selis turned around to face him fully, her expression a mix of frustration and sadness. "Then why don't you just kill everyone?" she challenged, her voice trembling slightly. "We both know you could do it. You have the power, Jinnara. Why hold back? Why play these games? You could straight away go to the capital and rescue the kids."

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, and his eyes gleamed with something dark and unreadable. "Because it's not fun that way," he replied simply. "What would be the point? I've learned so much from humans… so many things I'd never have discovered if I just wiped them all out. Like that Sanchez boy…" He chuckled, a chilling sound. "Killing him and taking his place was one of my more… enlightening experiences."

"Beside...I want to see something for myself. Something humans consider...very important that I have taken interest in," Jinnara smiled, as he was reminded about Cassandra.

Selis's eyes widened slightly at his words. "You're cruel," she said, her voice laced with both anger and disappointment. "You're having fun while Lamia children suffer. While our people suffer."

Jinnara shrugged, unbothered by her accusation. "I never stopped you, Selis," he said evenly. "You want to save them? Go ahead. No one's holding you back. I'm doing my thing, and you're free to do yours. Let's enjoy our freedom. I wasn't freed to bound by some inferior laws. I already have enough of that on my plate."

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "That's not the point, Jinnara. We should be working together. We should be helping them together as soon as possible."

Jinnara didn't say anything to her, instead he left the room with a wicked smile on his face and Selis knew at that moment, this man is not someone they should take help from. 

He is what they call Evil.