The rustle of parchment amplified in the silent hall.

  All eyes were glued to Licarus’s hands as he lifted the sheet.

  The crisp sound echoed, muffled only by Licarus's voice after he finished reading it, “Now, as every year, I’d like to call those who showed the most promising and exemplary work.”

  “Kan vid Greyfur, Kiana vid Greyfur, Savannah vid Chrystalia, Lucy di Purpleflower, Nora vid Goldenmane, Lara vid Goldenmane, Amber vid Dracnakrid, Kina vid Silverfang, and Amira di Armfrost.”

  His gaze lifted from the paper and swept over the crowd, searching, as Sokram’s teammates came forth, “They are all members of the same team who delighted us with their work in the last two years. I’m sure all in Eversnow know their fame. Please come forward, exemplary children of Eversnow.”

  Licarus’ voice boomed with unmistakable pride as he flashed them a big smile.

  He turned back to the members of the Eversnow’s commission behind him and asked, “So, who would like to go first?”

  Liaranna didn’t just step onto the stand; she occupied it.

  The air seemed to bend around her, as though instinct itself recoiled in respect.

  Such was the weight of the presence of an Alpha who reached the Perfect Existence level.

  Even the City Lord, on the same level, seemed to shrink slightly in her shadow.

  She moved with the effortless, predatory grace of an alpha wolf in the wilds who knew she had no natural predators before her.

  “Kan vid Greyfur, like me, you’re a Blade Dancer. And I was very amused to see your progress as you trained with my daughter’s disciple, so much that I’ll break a promise I made to myself and ask you: Would you like to be my disciple?”

  When the crowd heard that, they went wild as chatter rippled through the room.

  Liaranna was the most famous warrior of Eversnow, the one who posed as the true powerhouse of the City, but one who, after the loss of her previous disciple, promised she would never take in another one, a promise she made to herself but was known to all.

  Kan stood frozen.

  His jaw went slack, disbelief hollowing his expression.

  His eyes burned as tears threatened to leak, blurring the edges of the world as his breath hitched.

  His shock was so great that Kiana was forced to pinch him.

  “Answer her, you fool!”

  “Y-YES, I WOULD BE HONORED, MILADY!” He shouted, bowing to her eagerly.

  “Then you called me wrongly, hm? You should be calling me Master, not milady, but I’ll forgive you this once.” Liaranna smiled at him.

  “Yes! Thank you, Master!” Kan still couldn’t believe it.

  His heart surged into his throat, beating so fast and loud that the frantic rhythm of his heart betrayed his true feelings to every Feral in the hall.

  “Then come, whelp, sit with me; we have much to talk about.” Kan, with rushed, trembling steps, obediently followed Liaranna.

  As he stepped forth, he briefly looked back at Sokram with gratitude.

  Sokram avoided his gaze, thinking, ‘Stop looking at me like that, you fool. It was your efforts.’

  Licarus's voice boomed again, mixed with joyful laughter, “Haha! That’s good news! Now, who’s next?”

  Karini stepped forward, “It’s I, Father.”

  She stood beside him and summoned a scroll of heavy vellum, bound in silk.

  The wax seal was crimson, stamped with the intricate sigil of the Royal Family.

  A symbol that carried the weight of Norwinter's law and blood.

  At the sight of the waxed royal seal, a hush fell over the room.

  As one, humans, ferals, and elves dropped to their knees in customary reverence.

  Those were words from King Lucien, and reading aloud, Karini called two names forward, “Kiana vid Greyfur, Kina vid Silverfang, I, Lucien di Norwinter vid Greyfur id Goldenmane, King of Norwinter, extend to you this royal invitation, to join Lieutenant Karini, in White Wolf Squad of the Royal Army of Norwinter, under her command. Do you accept this royal duty?”

  “Yes, your Honor!” They answered in unison.

  Karini rolled the scroll back and stored it in her ring, and after all those who knelt stood up, she told them, “Then follow me, girls. Come join the White Wolf Squad table with your shield sisters.”

  Similar offers were made to Lara and Nora, who were invited to join the City Guard as Captains.

  But when Lucy’s turn arrived, she was invited to join the City’s Administration Office.

  Her answer was, “I’m grateful for the invitation, but I refuse as my fate lies elsewhere.”

  The Lion-kin who invited her wasn’t expecting a refusal so blunt, and remained silent without knowing how to proceed.

  That’s when Licarus interjected, “Could tell us where that fate of yours is leading you, young lady?”

  Lucy nodded, smiling and pointed at Sokram, “I’m already under contract with the future Patriarch of the Dracnakrid, Dracony, and Androny families.”

  “Hoh…” Licarus looked at Sokram and motioned him to approach the stand, “Tell me, young dragon, before any other offer is made, who else have you hired?”

  “The four of them, though, Amira's contract is still under negotiation. But I’m sure she won’t refuse my offer.” Sokram flashed a knowing grin, shooting Amira a look, and asked, “Right?”

  “Yes, of course, Drakmo.” Amira showed the biggest smile she had ever shown.

  And Sokram finally could see in her eyes that, with Sokram accepting her, she had finally pleased Mentyr.

  ‘Sigh… These fanatics are so hard to understand sometimes.’ Sokram thought, watching Amira's reaction.

  “Well, if that’s the case, then you once again proved to be quite insightful.” Licarus nodded, but then his expression turned awkward.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  And his voice didn’t hide his embarrassment as he asked, “Still, I must ask them. So don’t be offended…”

  He turned to face Savannah and Amber, and asked them, “Savannah vid Chrystalia and Amber vid Dracnakrid, my daughter Cecille di Armfrost vid Blackfur, Eversnow’s Arch Mage, wanted to offer you a position in her tower. If you accept, I promise to compensate him.”

  At this moment, Sokram shot Cecille an inquiring look.

  Sokram exhaled through his nose, fighting a smirk as Cecille hid behind Leona like a guilty pup. ‘So you’re not satisfied with joining my harem and want my girls too, hm? Tough luck.’

  Sokram didn’t worry. Not even for an instant.

  And proving his faith in them was justified, the answer came from Amber.

  Amber straightened her back, shedding her usual meek demeanor.

  She met Licarus’s gaze head-on, her enchanting smile polite but fierce.

  Her voice rang clear and unwavering across the silence, exuding a confidence unbecoming of her shy appearance.

  “Milord, you know I didn’t have a surname before he entered our team, right? He is the one who changed mine and these girls' fates, so I know I speak for all of us when I say that there’s no chance at all. I would never repay him by abandoning him. I’m thankful for the offer. I once dreamed of this moment, but now, I’m living another dream.”

  And Savannah merely nodded along, agreeing with her words.

  “Sigh… Good, then,” Licarus turned to Sokram and smirked shyly, “I hope I didn’t offend you by insisting on extending them this offer, young dragon.”

  “Don’t worry, City Lord,” Sokram once again glanced at Cecille with a boastful grin, “I know you’re just a loving father doing your daughter’s bidding. There's nothing wrong with that.”

  Sokram and his girls knocked their fists over their hearts in salutation, and went back to their seats at the same table Cecille and Leona were at.

  The Ceremony didn’t take much longer to end after these events. There were just a few others who, like Sokram’s team, were also invited to work for the City’s forces.

  Then there were a couple of speeches from the Commander of the Hunters Hall, Nirul. And lastly, the Commander of the Extermination Hall.

  The Commander was a void of mystery, an absence shaped like a person in the room. A shapeless mass of black fabric that swallowed the light. Hidden under a black, oversized robe. Face hidden under a hood and a ninja-like mask.

  No skin, no hair, no hint of gender; only two amber eyes burned from the darkness of the hood, scanning the crowd with feral intensity.

  After those speeches, the crowd was dismissed after the graduate received their Official City Tokens.

  With that Token, they had free entry to all cities of Norwinter and lower tax rates for importing and exporting goods.

  They would also be able to take on missions at any City’s Hunter and Extermination Halls they wanted.

  These privileges were only received by those who had served their country.

  After the crowd was dismissed, Cecille approached Sokram and, embarrassed, apologized, “I’m sorry for trying to poach your girls.”

  “No, I do not forgive you.” Sokram’s face was resolute and impassive.

  This caught even Leona and the girls off guard.

  But then he grinned naughtily, “You owe me one now, don’t forget. But until then, a few kisses may improve my mood.”

  “Silly dragon, once you’re of age, we’ll talk,” Cecille accepted owing him, because it was a great taboo to try to poach the people of other families.

  But the reason she did that was for, in the future, when she and her wives joined Sokram’s harem, the people of Eversnow would see her move now as though they were flirting in public. And no one would think that it was something they decided on a whim.

  Sokram, with his now four girls in tow, led the way back to the Dracnakrid’s estate.

  Once they arrived at his estate, the first thing he did was guide Amira to his triplex and sit down to discuss the terms of her contract.

  “Look, I believe this is obvious, but I don’t trust you completely. Not because of anything you did, but I don’t trust fanatics like you.” Sokram began.

  Amira heard the word fanatic and grinned, “Well, but you’re one of us, aren’t you?”

  “No, it’s just that your lady and I have a similar view on the Path. But I won’t pledge myself to her name. I’ll pledge myself to Evolution itself. If she is fine with that, I’ll name myself a Seeker to increase her fame too, but not for free, of course.”

  But Sokram knew the effect his words would have.

  Amira’s neck snapped backward with a sickening crack as her head shot back. Her eyes rolled into her skull, leaving only the whites exposed.

  From the floor below her feet, a shadow, viscous and mud-like, surged up, covering her body, like a bold line outlining her shape, and dimming the light in the room.

  A manic laughter sounded from her mouth.

  “You… a dragon who isn’t even of age wants to bargain with me? Keeper of Secrets, Knower of the Unknown, Ruler of the Infinium Librarium?!”

  Mentyr’s presence was felt around the entire estate.

  In the very next instant, wind rippled and sonic booms echoed as all the women in his family rushed into the room.

  Some came through the door, others came flying through the open balcony glass.

  The presence of a vessel fully possessed by a Nether Lord was unmistakable and terrifying.

  Before they could do anything else, Sokram raised a barrier to stop them.

  A shockwave of displaced air cracked from the balcony as Hilda and Margiory burst in, their mana signatures slamming into Sokram’s senses like tidal waves.

  Hannah met his gaze, the mana surrounding her blazing like a sun, while the crash of his shattered, glassy barrier echoed.

  He knew that his barrier wouldn’t hold them back, but it gave him time enough to explain, “It’s Mentyr, you girls don’t have to worry.”

  But being as insane as every Nether Lord was, Mentyr's wolfish grin broadened, “Yes, you do have to worry! But hopefully he will return in one piece.”

  “NO!” Hannah shouted, invoking all her power with Hilda, Brunhild, and Margiory right behind her, but it was useless.

  Even as Perfect Existences, they could do nothing to stop her.

  Sokram was teleported, but the worst part was that the necklace connected to the Life Stone stayed behind.

  Right where he was seated.

  The world twisted, warped, and tore around him, and Sokram found himself at the peak of a mountain.

  The comfortable warmth of the estate was ripped away. Instantly replaced by a biting, freezing gale, making Sokram shiver under his light clothes.

  The first thing he did was to look around searching for any landmarks he could recognize on the ground below, because crazy as Mentyr was, he didn’t put above her teleporting him to another planet.

  Thankfully, this wasn’t the case.

  “Are you sure Nhiria is fine with this level of interference?” Sokram joked, a hint of mock worry glinting in his eyes.

  Mentyr flashed him a warm smile, but there was a glint of surprise in her eyes at how composed he seemed, “You’re truly something else.”

  She walked with a feline sway, circling him. Her hand slid across his chest, then his shoulders, and finally his back, stopping behind him.

  Her touch pressed down with a heavy, possessive inevitability, terrifying.

  It was Amira’s body, but the touch lacked her usual warmth.

  Instead, a biting frost radiated from her fingertips, sinking through his clothes.

  She traced his muscles not with affection, but with the clinical, suffocating pressure, as she answered his question.

  “She allowed me to deal with you ever since you declared you wanted to become a Seeker, but to think that instead of accepting my grace you would try to bargain with me… pitiful.”

  “Accepting your grace? You talk as if you’re a god or something, but no, you’re not. And I’m not aiming to become one of those fanatics who follow you.”

  Hearing Sokram’s words, she frowned and gave him a soft push.

  Yet, that push was powerful enough to push him out of the mountain.

  “FUCK!” Sokram shouted, feeling his body colliding with the rarefied air.

  The wind roared in his ears, shredding the warmth from his skin, tearing at his clothes, and stealing his breath.

  He plummeted into the white mist of a cloud, the moisture freezing on his skin instantly as the world sped by into a blur of gray and white.

  Mentyr snapped her fingers, and Sokram found himself standing at the same spot he was before.

  “Huff… huff…”

  His breath came ragged, pulled in sharp, uneven bursts, and his heart rate rose to the sky out of fright.

  Yet, he thought to himself, ‘Amazing Illusion, terrifyingly real... I need to keep provoking her to keep up the act. If she realizes I’ve already deconstructed her formula, I lose my advantage. Just a few more times, it should be enough to justify it.’

  “Try calling my children that word again.” Mentyr’s voice dropped to a cold, menacing whisper, the threat in her tone final and resolute, as her hand firmly pressed against his back.

  “What? Fana… OAH FUCK!” Sokram once again felt himself being pushed out of the mountain.

  This time, he not only dipped into a cloud but passed through it completely and fell until the sensation of falling got mixed with the air resistance, resembling the feeling of flying.

  “Snap!”

  Mentyr snapped her fingers again, and Sokram was back as if nothing had happened.

  Sokram kept provoking her, and being pushed away, time and time again, after the twentieth, his mind was still able to handle it.

  But the feeling of panic and fear only became more real each time.

  “Huff… Huff…” Each time he reappeared, the thin air clawed at his lungs, leaving his breathing shallow and burning, and the lack of oxygen and mana in the air wasn’t helping.

  “May Nhiria forgive me, but you’re stubborn little lizard,” Mentyr sighed.

  Sokram forced a grin, struggling to compose himself. “Huff… Is this why your fanatics are all so crazy? Huff… You break their minds to force them into submission?... Huff… No wonder they are more fanatical than Yokthram’s followers…AAAAH FUCK AGAIN?!! AAAAAH!!”

  But while he put on his performance, he thought, ‘Alright, I think this is…’