“Fenley, have you prepared the condolence money?”

  “5 gold pieces, all ready.”

  Nodding at Fenley, Dai’Ne continued.

  “All of us will have to attend Old Charles’ funeral in a bit. Including you two, John, Taelyn.”

  “Huh!? Why do I have to go!?” Taelyn snapped loudly before the dining table. “This doesn’t concern me! Are you all serious!?”

  “Calm down, Taelyn. This man, Charles, is— Was Uncle Lun Mien’s cousin, the very least we could do is go show respect, on behalf of the Sarvod family.”

  Uncle Lun Mien!? Yuck! Who in their right mind would call him that!?

  “I promised my friends that I would—”

  “No,” Fenley interrupted, giving the final word before Taelyn threw yet another tantrum.

  “But mother! You said I would be free to—”

  “Not this time, Taelyn. Your grades have been dropping recently too, I should have known you cheated on most of your tests.”

  “Hmph.”

  “What are you laughing at!?” Taelyn who noticed John’s smirk shouted again, only for John to make a face while he shrugged.

  “Nothing.”

  You’re nothing but bitch spoiled rotten. I may be related to you by blood, but Kahnira is my true family.

  “John, enough with teasing your sister,” his father intervened with a commanding voice. “You are the one that I am worried who will cause me more problems than your sister.”

  Taelyn cheated and lied on her achievements, possibly even sullying the Sarvod’s, and I am the trouble maker?

  His complained internally but kept his expression neutral, something that he found easier to do the less time he spent with his ‘loving family’.

  “Uncle Lun Mien will be there later, can I expect you to behave yourself?”

  John was currently in the main house—as he would every now and then his parents summoned him over for dinner.

  He wanted make a remark on the creepy man, and protested as his imbecile of a sister, to declare he wanted nothing to do with the Lun Mein…

  But, John kept it to himself instead.

  If his father was blinded by his ridiculous search for power that he could not identify Ha Lun Mien’s strangeness, John can only hold his tongue.

  Not that it would make any difference had he spoken up about his father’s most trusted aide.

  “There is no issue, father. However, there’s something else I wanted to ask.”

  “Sure son, go ahead,” seeing how obedient John’s answers were, Dai’Ne responded with glee.

  “What’s the relation between us Sarvods and the Perxins?” he poised the question as gentle as he could. “Because, I’ve noticed how odd the Perxin girl behaved around me in school.”

  ‘Perxin girl’ and ‘us Sarvods’ were specific terms he came up with in his head a few days ago.

  By implying the faction dynamics between the two families, he would appear to his family that he had all but denounced his connection with the Perxins.

  That way, they would have never suspect he eavesdropped onto the conspiracy that his father and Ha Lun Mien were on a few days ago.

  “Oh? How so?” his father raised an interesting brow, even his mother leaned closer to John to hear the full story. “What made you say such things?”

  “I don’t know, but the Perxin girl has been treating me like I don’t exist, I’ve even heard rumors that she was badmouthing Sarvods or something from my friends.”

  He spoke just like he did during the countless rehearsals he conducted with Kahnira, speaking untruths to pique his father’s interest.

  “So it has come to that huh?” Dai’Ne nodded favorably. “I did not want to say this to you, given how close you were with them, but it seems I have no reason not to.”

  “What do you mean, father?”

  John faked an ignorant voice, rejoicing in his mind as the tactic he came up to get his father talk worked.

  “I thought you sent me there to build relations with the Perxins?”

  “And I have brought you back here the moment I learned from Lun Mien that the Perxins have turned against us. After our party months ago, the Perxins had become increasingly stubborn, I am sad to say the matters of us Sarvods and the Perxins have gotten so bad that we fear an assassination attempt from them.”

  Assasination!?

  “If not for Uncle Lun Mien, your father would not have been here, John,” his mother spoke. “That is why, attending this funeral is to pay respects to the man who saved your father’s life from the scheming of the Perxins.”

  Perxins? Schemes? What?

  While John lived happily while he was with the Perxins, it was not to say he was blind to Uncle Edgar and Aunt Dalene’s actions.

  During late nights, he would sometimes overhear the discussions the Perxin couple had, but not once had they mentioned the use of underhanded tactics.

  If anything, the Perxins sought to do things fairly and avoid harm, even at their own loss.

  “I know, son. This must be a surprise for you. But don’t worry, your father is mightier than those scum.”

  Scum?

  “Which is why, someday, the Perxins will get what they deserve.”

  !!!

  The terrible chill that appeared on John’s back confirmed what he suspected to be true.

  Assassination, schemes, betrayal…

  Those were not the methods of the Perxins.

  At the very least, he had never seen Uncle Edgar or Aunt Dalene entertain such underhanded tactics when it came to their line of work.

  John however, overheard Dai’Ne and Lun Mien’s conspiracy against the Perxins with his very ears.

  K-Kahnira is right… T-these people are t-the furthest from me… T-they are n-not human…

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  …

  …

  …

  After exchanging pointless pleasantries at the funeral of the man named Charles, John excused himself away from the crowd to avoid all possible chances of making contact with Ha Lun Mien, who he had the luxury of not meeting—yet.

  He escaped into the orchard behind the mansion, smiling as he felt the chill breeze of liberty on his face.

  The plentiful flora and fauna native to Shi Jou surrounded him from all sides as he hopped, ran, and sprinted across the garden, knowing that he would have his solace here.

  “Hmm…”

  He slowed his pace when he reached a place where walls and walls of tendrilled plants hung upon white fences, from those vines came the gentle fragrance of fruits as he drew closer to inspect.

  “Those are grapes, passion fruit, some flowers…”

  As of late, his maid had been talking to him about her plans of expanding the humble garden that she kept in their backyard.

  She had been gushing to him about the different fruit trees that she was interested in, she and John had been working on the layout of how they wanted keep their garden organized.

  It’s a shame Kahnira couldn’t come,” John said to himself. “I’ll just have to tell her later.”

  He treaded path after path, following the garden’s non linear layout as he traversed further into the dimly lit garden.

  “Hehehe.”

  He placed his hands cupped around his eyes, pretending they were binoculars as he scanned the orchard for more interesting pieces, snickering like the goofball that he was.

  “This place is super cool.”

  “What’s so interesting about this stupid garden anyway?”

  “Ahhh!!!” John shot up as he jumped backwards from the voice, his hands into fists before him as he saw a silhouette approaching him.

  “Relax my dude. It’s me,” out came a boy who was his height with arms spread.

  “Ha Zun!? What the— How did you sneak up on me!?”

  Shaking his head with a stupid smile John walked over to his friend as they both brought their arms together as their brotherly greeting.

  “Seriously, how did you get here without making a sound?”

  “What can I say? I walk very quietly. I saw you leaving the old man’s mansion when I arrived, so I came followed after you.”

  “My hearing is pretty good though...” John squinted his eyes at his friend. “Hmmm…”

  “Sneaking around is all I am good at. If it’s strength, I think you are three times stronger than I am, haha.”

  “Y-yeah…” John uttered, reminded of the argument they had a few days back.

  Ha Zun had completely brushed the incident aside, while their friendship had only gotten stronger since that incident, John had no plans to apologize for his behavior anytime soon.

  Even if he was the one who instigated it.

  “I can see why you ran all the way here, I can’t stand being boooorrred by idiots crying over someone who is dead.”

  “!?”

  “I mean, you feel the same too right, John?” seeing John’s raised brow, Ha Zun asked. “Isn’t that why you are here? To avoid those retards.”

  I came here to avoid your father.

  “I…you’re not exactly wrong on that. But funerals aren’t that useless if you ask me.”

  “Huh?” Ha Zun made a funny face. “Even my dad says it sucks and stupid.”

  “I-I think it’s a waste of time and money for people outside the family of the deceased. If it helps people to move on, I can’t say it’s completely pointless. You know?”

  “It really is not that special, John,” Ha Zun shrugged nonchalantly.

  “To the living, funerals are to guide souls into the afterlife, so their spirits won’t continue to haunt this realm and all of that. It’s like executing the last wishes of the deceased to help bring them peace over their deaths.”

  “You really believe that kind of thing?”

  Ha Zun asked, this time his face turned into a curious, yet unhappy expression as he strolled around John.

  “I thought you liked practical things more? I mean, magic exists because there are theories and actual proof of it. But the dead having conscious and all that? I don’t believe it, they are dead, and they stay dead, they have no say!”

  “I’ve read it in some books, that’s what they say. It also makes sense doesn’t it? Of course, I don’t care too much for it but, it matters to the people that do, I think.”

  “I don’t know, man. Magic is one thing, because we can cast them with mana from our bodies, but without a body, how is the dead or their soul supposed to, be alive?”

  “What about necromancy!?”

  “!!!”

  Whoosh!!!

  As soon as those words came from John’s mouth, a torrent of frigid wind blew around them, dropping the temperature of the orchard to freezing temperatures for a good minute before it returned normal.

  “Dude, we, don’t, talk, about, forbidden, magic, outside!” Ha Zun spoke in a suppressed voice.

  John, though experienced the frigid cold did not waver as he replied.

  “Whhaaattt? It’s not as if it doesn’t exist.”

  “Yes, but we’ll attract the unwanted—”

  “So now you believe it, Ha Zun? You were so bold earlier, look at you now?”

  “J-John, this is not something we should joke about!!!”

  Ha Zun’s eyes were about to pop from their sockets as he shouted at John, his voice almost shaking as he watched their surroundings frantically.

  “I am not joking. I know it exists, but it doesn’t mean I will use that sort of magic to defile and disturb the deceased, they deserve their peace. As long I don’t mess with them, they won’t bother me. Which is why I think, funerals have a place in the world, even though I don’t like it myself.”

  John had his hand gesturing at Ha Zun, proving his point being able to dislike funerals but respect people who conduct it.

  “F-fine, fine, you win. Let’s not talk about this here anymore. Let’s go there.”

  Ha Zun pointed to the part of the orchard that was closer to the mansion where lights were more vividly lit and human presence was more prominent, unlike where they were now.

  “What? Why?”

  John upset that he had to return—and risk his chances of meeting Ha Lun Mien protested.

  “Isn’t this place better? It’s not too bright, not too dark, and its peaceful too.”

  “Grk!”

  “Ha Zun?” he watched his friend who seemed to be choaking on his own fear.

  “L-let’s just go!” Ha Zun who was seemingly upset left briskly. “I’ll g-go on first.”

  “W-what’s the matter with him?” disappointed that his conversation partner left, John made a big frown. “Guess I should also leave too.”

  He turned to the vineyard, cupped his hands around his eyes one last time as he carefully observed the beautiful garden that had a faint fog gathered at the grounds with a goofy smile.

  “Fruit trees on the outside, and flowers decorating the path…”

  John muttered to himself as he burned the scene of the beautiful garden in his mind, making sure he would tell Kahnira what he saw here in detail.

  With a quick glance of the gleaming moon in the sky, John shrugged as he left, knowing that he had his fill of orchard viewing.

  Plethora of voices surrounded them by the time he met up with his family.

  Fortunately for John, they had little questions about his temporary disappearance and were fraternizing with seemingly important figures relating to work.

  Where’s Ha Zun?

  His little question was answered when he caught the familiar silhouette of Ha Zun alongside with his irritable sister, Taelyn.

  Engrossed with their conversation, his friend and sister laughed freely.

  “?”

  Along with the knowledge of John’s misgivings about Taelyn, Ha Zun, himself had an unfavorable view about girls in general.

  While John himself had little care to females who were not his friends, Ha Zun absolutely hated the opposite gender.

  The complaints from his friend were always about how shallow they were, their inability to take a good joke, and their meaningless squabbles over little things.

  Once Ha Zun started rambling on about the how much he detested the opposite gender, not even John could stop him.

  In fact, having this strong hatred towards females was why his friend often clashed with John—regarding Serene, or even about Kahnira when John occasionally slipped his tongue.

  It was not to say Ha Zun could not behave himself around girls, rather—

  Thud!

  “Ahhhh!!!”

  A blood-curdling scream came from Taelyn’s direction, causing all heads to turn as Ha Zun dropped to the ground, curling to his knees as he rolled across the ground, writhing in agony.

  John ran to his friend for help, but was suddenly shoved aside by a large man.

  “Ha Zun!!!”

  Ha Lun Mien came bursting from the crowd, ran to Ha Zun as he promptly scooped the boy into his arms.

  “I-I didn’t do anything… H-his body j-just…” Taelyn stuttered as she indicated towards Ha Zun’s neck, where a large patch of red appeared.

  “His pollen allergies must be acting up. Don’t worry Taelyn.”

  Ha Lun Mien then turned to the crowd, gave a deep bow.

  “I am sorry for my son’s condition, please forgive us for this abrupt departure.”

  John simply stood watch while his friend was carried out of the funeral, watching the horrible red marks continue to grow along Ha Zun’s neck and wrists, increasing in area in peculiar patterns.

  Allergy? Ha Zun is immune to everything.

  He knew for a fact that his friend had no allergies of any kind, for in the State Academy, yearly blood work was done for the students to supervise their health conditions.

  The test results often came back with what illness the student was prone to, or what type of magic they were more vulnerable to.

  Aside from a few food allergies, John was resistant to everything else.

  His friend, however, was completely immune to all illnesses. John should know this as Ha Zun constantly lorded it over him, so much that the knowledge of Ha Zun’s indestructible health had become common knowledge in the State academy.

  And now, out of nowhere, his friend reacted adversely to pollen?

  John and Ha Zun often loitered around the school’s garden—and the flowers there were far abundant than the orchard they were in earlier—there had not been a single instance that Ha Zun went into shock over it.

  “Poor kid…”

  “Suffering something like that during a funeral too.”

  “Let’s hope Charles’ spirits keep him safe.”

  “They look more like scratch marks to me than allergies, did the girl—?”

  “Shhh! Are you trying to slander the noble Sarvod family!?”

  John kept his head low, kept himself out of the spotlight while his parents consoled his sister who was wailing up a storm for having witnessed Ha Zun’s misfortune.

  If only she is slightly competent, she might be to blame. But Taelyn is all but that.

  John threw a quick glance at the commotion that Taelyn Sarvod caused, headed to the back of the funeral parlor to excuse himself from the embarrassment or his father who will make Taelyn’s mess his responsibility.

  “What a mess,” he shook his head as he shut the door behind him. “This is a funeral for crying out loud. Crying in front of the casket is ridiculous, stupid sister.”

  “Oh? You are related to that rude girl?”

  “!!!”

  For the second time of the night, John was prompted to jump backwards from surprise.

  “Who goes there!?”

  “Youngsters these days are easily startled,” a man who was crouched by the wall shook his head.

  His attire was a simple white shirt and a straw hat that gardeners often used for their work.

  “Am I that scary to you, boy?”

  “No…?” John raised a brow at the man’s gruff voice. “You just appeared out of nowhere. I was just surprised that’s all.”

  “Yeah, yeah, you kids always say that, every little thing has to be something dramatic,” the gardener shook his head once more. “What do they teach you in those fancy schools?”

  “Very little I am afraid.”

  “Ho? You’re a humorous one aren’t you?”

  John shrugged, “Ha Zun would agree with you on that.”

  “Ha Zun? You mean that boy who collapsed and caused all that noise?!” the gardener still crouching placed a palm against his face. “How is a boy like you— No, no, I should ask that about your sister instead.”

  “About my sister?”

  “Yeah! About that boisterous brat!” the man scoffed. “How are you related to her by blood!? She is as uncouth as that of the sailors, absolutely no grace in her speech or her thoughts”

  “How did you—” John paused when he thought of the man’s position.

  “I have ears, boy. Keen ones, I might as well be at the very center of the room right now. I can hear your parents talking about you, John.”

  “!!!”

  “Speaking of which, consider yourself blessed for not getting the same allergies as your friend. The orchard is harsh even to the person who takes care of them…”

  The gardener rolled up one of sleeves, showing John a similar streaky patch of red along his arm, streaks of red that looked to be claw marks from an unknown creature.

  “And on foggy nights, I sometimes see vague shadows standing in the orchard, but they always disappear whenever I got close. Spirits of the deceased I presume.”

  “!!!”

  “They usually are harmless, I wouldn’t worry if I were you. Since you have no rashes like your friend, you are safe from them.”

  “What about Ha Zun?”

  “Your friend? Ha! That should teach him a lesson or two.”

  “Teach him a lesson?”

  “For mocking the dead.”

  “M-mocking? S-since when did he—”

  “You and your endless questions, use that noggin in your head for once. Your parents are leaving soon, are you sure you want to stay here up late for a funeral? It’s highly disrespectful you know?”

  “O-oh. In that case, I’ll m-make my leave, mister.”

  “Run along now.”

  “That garden you kept was interesting, I’ll make sure to tell my maid about it, she too, is wanting to keep a garden like yours.”

  Having said that, young John gave the gardener a slight bow before returning to where everyone else was.