A cherry-colored liquid dripped to the grounds from a silver dagger as Abe remained still, his red eyes darting to all of them like that of a venomous viper ready to strike. He began to saunter forward, his red eyes contracting like that of a wild beast beholding his prey. Abe ran towards them with a snarl as he slashed his dagger near to Lorenz, who had dodged it with a smile etched on his face.

"Haah, looks like somebody had gone savage," says Lorenz, turning to Elliot who was clearly in shock. "Isn't that right, Mr. Defender?"

"Knights!" Roth commanded.

"Protect the king at all cost—" says Roth as he pointed his sword as he and the knights positioned in a defensive stance, "—from the Vice-captain!"

The knights remained vigilant as they watched Abe stand before then with his blades. Abe—the Knighthood's Vice Captain, was an exemplary a.s.sa.s.sin. The king himself chose him and found him. Albinos are the same as the Heilen clan, except Albinos' abilities are clear.

Albinos have night visions and heightened animalistic senses. They respond to the slightest sound and could see kilometers away.

All Albinos have distinctive and redeeming features. They had paper-white hair and a pair of blood-red eyes. Albinos are bred to have an unquenchable thirst for hunting. Their enormous strength and talent to kill made then excellent a.s.sa.s.sins.

This is why the knights have to be warier.

In front of them is not just any a.s.sa.s.sin—but a Vice-captain of the Knighthood chosen by the king himself. Anyone ought to remain vigilant if he would appear with a weapon and eyes that speak of bloodl.u.s.t.

Albinos are often regarded as people with an abnormal genome that evolved by a Warlock's interference. It wasn't like the Heilen clan who had existed since the civilization rose. Albinos are said to be byproducts of Warlocks.

They were endowed with strength and increased abilities in every possible aspect. However, rooted in their hearts is a bloodl.u.s.t that could not be quenched. This is something that a monster would have.

Rumors have gone around saying that Albinos can never quench that rotten origin deep inside their hearts. Their desire for hunting, murder, and anything malevolent is engraved into their very soul—their fate has been long decided even if they aren't born just yet.

This is why Albinos were also regarded as something as notable products by slave traders. Heilen slaves are usually hard to see these days because their authenticity was dying. People would dye normal slaves' hairs to black and claim that they have a Heilen servant.

But what does a Heilen do, really? No one had a clear answer to that. At least, in Feuersturm. No one really knew what Heilens can do. The sayings were diversified per region, but there was one thing set clear: Heilens harbor strength and magical power.

That vague description alone set Albinos from Heilens. Albinos, although rare, weren't hard to find. Purchasing Albinos from a.s.sa.s.sins were common in underground transactions. And strangely enough, the traders are albino themselves.

That's how twisted it was. Selling your own kin. Imprisoning your own blood.

'Something is rotten deep inside the Albinos.'

'They only know how to commit malevolent duties.'

These rumors lingered around for the course of many years . . . and at THAT particular time, the rumors have gotten stronger. It shrouded the whole country in a sweeping motion, similar to that of a domino effect.

Rumors about the young king turning an a.s.sa.s.sin to his care and then a.s.signing the position of a High Knight to him. Both n.o.bles and common folks were stirred with this decision. It was rash, absurd, and was innately insane.

Why in the world would the youngest king that ascended the throne want to hire an a.s.sa.s.sin to such an honorable job? The past kings all gave the position to either the Adelards, Wainwrights, or even the Disfiegro house.

People expected to have at least one of the Wainwright brothers to possess the rank. The t.i.tle of being the part of the Knighthood doesn't just mean you're a servant. It means you are the king's protector, and he had entrusted his life to you.

Elvis Wainwright is the most qualified to be the Vice-Captain, but instead, the king chose a mere a.s.sa.s.sin. A mere a.s.sa.s.sin whose heart was rotten; malevolence only the driving force this certain clan possesses.

And it's not just the Albino named Abe he made a Vice-captain. The king also made a citizen of another continent a seat in the Knighthood of the Firehawk. Not only did it spurred both the feeling of confusion and irate to the people, but it also made the royals of other nations in Zuerst question the Ninth King—the ninth user of the Opus—recoil in the most unpleasant way.

But then this was Alexander Octavius.

The rumors died down as the king strategically averted the attention to that certain issue. After a whole while of criticism, Alexander Octavius Ein Feuerkrieger IX was able to s.h.i.+ft the attention.

From his outrageous actions, the citizens of the country rejoiced as he harnessed the sword of Feuersturm. A sword that was once wielded by the first king himself.

The rumored, although cannot perish completely, still remained, hiding until can come out stronger.

And the incident in the Feuer capital's archives just allowed that to happen.

"Vice-captain, drop your weapons . . ." Says Roth, remaining vigilant.

Abe huffed, his blades falling to the ground with a clang. The king, sitting on his throne, simply stared at Abe.

His red eyes were blank, and he looked all beat up.

The Vice-captain of the high knights.

All beat up.

Abe's red eyes turned blank gradually until his knees gave up. He collapsed in front of them, heaving. His injuries marked how much he fought.

And Abe, the a.s.sa.s.sin, fought and got this b.l.o.o.d.y?

Abe's body hit the floor and rendered him sheerly unconscious and unbecoming.

The king smiled.

"Get him to the infirmary."