A bright golden light illuminated the space, and Malakai's eyes landed on the place his only friend called home.
A small wooden house, no more than two meters tall.
Large buckets filled with water were stacked in one corner. Wet clothes hung on makeshift lines, a worn wooden chair was propped up with a stone, and a crude oven sat near the edge, its surface blackened and scarred with burn marks.
Malakai instinctively guessed that this was where Renlo's infamous bread came from.
"Well! What do you think, Ninth Vein?" Renlo's excited voice rang out.
But Malakai just stared. He was speechless, truly speechless. He began to walk slowly around the space, observing everything in silence.
Seeing Malakai's lack of response, the smile on Renlo's face gradually faded.
'Does he not like it?' he wondered. He had been so eager to show Malakai his treehouse, it hadn't even crossed his mind how the latter might take it.
'I basically just told him I'm homeless!' Renlo inwardly cried.
Malakai came to a stop by the oven.
The oven was completely blackened, with cracks running along its sides. It looked like it had been cobbled together from broken bricks and scorched clay.
It wasn't just makeshift, it was barely functional. No wonder the bread always tasted so horrible.
Yes, Malakai had tasted Renlo's bread. That was a better way to put it.
It had been during their early days of meeting each other. Renlo would always bring him some, happily assuming Malakai enjoyed it. Eventually, he had felt guilty and had decided to take a bite, only to regret it instantly.
The bread had been hard as stone on the outside, and gummy and undercooked on the inside.
With how uneven the oven's heat distribution must have been, it wasn't surprising. A slight tilt, a cracked base, and visible burn marks all over, it was a miracle it even functioned at all.
"I-Is anything wrong, Ninth Vein?"
Malakai turned to face Renlo, who was staring at him like a child hoping his parents would like what he made.
"You… live here?" Malakai asked, unable to hide the bafflement in his tone.
Renlo nodded rapidly. "Y-Yeah. You don't like it, Ninth Vein?"
Malakai shook his head. "It's not that. I just… I don't understand. Why? If you don't have a home, the clan will give you a fully-fitted room near the fortress."
He wasn't lying. In a world like theirs, it wasn't rare for a child to be orphaned young. The clan would take responsibility, housing Sanguine children in orphanages spread across the region.
Once they reached the age to evolve, they would be brought to the fortress and given a room close by so they could focus on training.
So, Malakai didn't understand. If Renlo's parents were dead… why live here?
Renlo's expression darkened. Hesitantly, he muttered, "…M-My parents aren't dead."
"Even then, if they live far away, the clan would still give you a place."
Renlo clenched his fists and lowered his head. "…I tried. But no one would give me…"
Malakai stared at Renlo. 'Is it a sensitive topic?'
This was the first time he'd seen Renlo react this way. He looked genuinely pained.
"It's a privilege. They can't deny you that. Who did you ask?" Malakai's voice lowered.
It was a known fact, any child who made a proper request couldn't be refused. Not without going against the sovereign's decree.
Renlo bit his lip. "I didn't ask anyone."
Malakai stared at him for a long moment without saying anything. "Is this a serious topic for you?"
Renlo nodded, closing his eyes.
"…Alright," Malakai finally said, giving a small nod. Then, turning toward the oven, he added, "So this is where you make your bread?"
Renlo was a bit startled. He stared at Malakai's back for a moment, unsure of what to say.
'He's not insisting.'
Renlo knew he was never good at lying, his emotions were always written plainly on his face. Malakai had obviously seen that… and decided to change the topic.
Before he knew it, a smile crept onto Renlo's face. He stepped forward and said with renewed excitement, "Yeah! This is where all the magic happens!"
Malakai glanced back. "Magic is the last thing that happens here."
"Huh? What's that, Ninth Vein?"
"Nothing," Malakai said, shaking his head. 'No need to ruin his mood again,' he thought.
He'd find another opportunity to criticize that bread.
'You have a good heart,' came Valentine's voice, sounding genuinely proud.
'Don't make a big deal out of it,'
'But it's really cute! You're being a good fri—'
'I'll change my mind and tell him now if you don't shut up.'
'Alright, alright! I'll shut up!' Valentine backed off instantly. Malakai's tone made it clear he wasn't joking.
With Valentine's teasing finally silenced, Malakai's thoughts shifted toward the problem that had sprung into his mind the moment he'd seen this… place.
'It's too dangerous.'
Whether Renlo wanted to admit it or not, he was now tangled in the clan's politics. Julius had seen that the boy was close to him. They would definitely try to use him.
And not just that, this matter had already escalated beyond just the Veins.
People had seen the fight. Witnesses had watched Malakai defeat Julius. Word would spread through the clan. And with that attention came eyes, the good and the bad.
In a clan as cold-blooded as theirs, they would use anything they could to hurt him. Including the weakest link. In this case… Renlo.
'They'll find this place easily.'
The boy literally lived in the middle of nowhere. On top of a tree. It was insane.
Malakai sighed. He had already made up his mind.
He turned toward Renlo, who was still rambling with a proud grin about how he had built the entire place with his own hands over the course of two years. Malakai's gaze silenced him mid sentence.
Renlo blinked, confused.
"You're coming back with me. Pack your things."
Renlo's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
The sounds of footsteps echoed through the dark forest. Malakai sprinted at a steady, measured pace, occasionally glancing back at the heavy-breathing youth struggling to keep up.
He'd slowed his pace so Renlo could manage, but it didn't help much.
"Why are you still struggling?" Malakai asked.
"I'm still recovering, Ninth Vein! Why are you moving so fast?" Renlo wheezed in response, huffing with every breath.
Malakai shook his head. True, Renlo had taken a beating, but it hadn't been anything near fatal. He should have been able to move just fine.
"I should've let you carry your oven."
Renlo had actually insisted on bringing his oven. But one glare from Malakai had shut that down quickly.
He wasn't one for aesthetics, but even he had standards, and that monstrosity wasn't entering his manor.
After Malakai reassured him that the kitchen was fully equipped, Renlo had calmed down, albeit reluctantly, rising from the kneeling position where he had been moments away from begging.
"Ahh! Ninth Vein, you want to kill me!" Renlo cried. He was already struggling with the small bag of clothes and sentimental junk he carried.
If he'd brought the oven, he'd probably have collapsed halfway through.
Malakai turned to face forward again, making sure Renlo didn't catch the small smile tugging at the edge of his lips.
Of course, a certain ghost didn't miss it. But he wisely stayed silent, he knew better than to ruin the moment.