The Sutrex clan head, Neigon Le Sutrex, was known by all as an honorable man.
It was a fact known by everyone in the Kaer Thorn district. Unlike the other clan heads, who were considered ruthless and only cared about the rise of their clans, Neigon was different.
In a world filled with cold and brutal people, he was like a light. This was the main reason why the relationships between the Sutrex and Tendrix soured.
Today, for Neigon, was supposed to be filled with nothing but joy. It was the birthday of his most beloved last born.
He was supposed to get drunk and party into the night. But not only had that not happened, he had lost everything.
Smoke, ash, and death, that was what replaced the once bustling mansion and buildings. The cheering people were gone, replaced by the creatures of darkness.
As Neigon gazed at the scene of devastation below him, he couldn't move. His expression had paled, and his heart beat so fast it was a miracle it hadn't exploded from his chest.
Everything, his house, his family, his clan… everything was gone.
A hand yanked his shoulder, bringing him out of his reverie. Neigon turned to see one of his brothers staring at him with panic.
Neigon's thoughts snapped back into focus as he saw the beam of destruction screaming towards them… a vita lance.
He glanced towards the survivors of the party. There were a few elders of the Sutrex, his son, the first fleshling who had been lucky enough to be close to one of the elders, and some other powerful guests.
Regardless, they all looked to him.
Controlling vita required a large amount of talent, talent that simply being a bloom couldn't bridge.
Of all the blooms present, even taking into account the elders, he was the only one with such ability. It was his vita dome that currently enveloped them.
He manipulated the vita dome, barely evading the vita lance that screamed past them. The force from its momentum hit the dome, sending them hurtling away.
They soon regained their balance as Neigon manipulated the dome to stop their momentum.
The survivors broke into panic, shouting all at once. Every attempt Neigon made to think came up futile. The clamor around him made it impossible.
His clan was gone. What could he even do? Everything was over.
A heavy slap landed across his face.
Neigon turned to see his brother grabbing him by the collar of his suit, eyes fierce.
"If you don't get a grip, we'll all die!"
Neigon clenched his fist. 'He's right.'
He let out a deep breath, mind already spinning.
"We were targeted," he finally said after a second. His brother let go of him, huffing.
"Yeah, no shit. Of course we were attacked. But by who?"
Neigon was about to respond when another green dome suddenly merged with theirs from the side, and a group joined them inside.
The moment Neigon's eyes landed on the figure of a young boy, they almost popped from their sockets.
'How…' There was no way he would be mistaken. He knew exactly who that was.
The clamor around the dome vanished the moment those words were uttered. Ninth vein? Here?
All eyes turned, widening as they saw Malakai approaching Neigon. It really was him. What the hell was he doing here? Had he been at the party? How hadn't anyone seen him!?
Neigon's shock was quickly replaced with caution. First this attack, and then, a vein of the Sanguine clan? What the hell was going on?
"The one responsible for this attack is the fourth pulse."
Malakai's words froze Neigon's tongue. He was unable to speak for a moment, then a surge of anger roared through his body.
"Is this the truth?" His gaze blazed. Fourth pulse of the Sanguine or not, she had gone too far.
Malakai didn't seem to care about his anger.
"It is," he said, staring straight at him and speaking quickly. "I don't have time to explain everything. A vita veil is about to evelope us. When it does, we'll be trapped, and they'll probably hunt us all down."
The dome was deathly silent. The survivors were mostly blooms, and their comprehension speed was off the charts. They quickly understood what Malakai was saying.
"How dare the fourth pulse do this!?"
One of the elders demanded, but Malakai ignored him, focusing on Neigon.
"The reason she went through all of this trouble is because of the dispute you both had. What was it?"
Neigon's eyes widened as the realization dawned. Now he understood why all of this was happening, why his people had died, why he had lost everything.
'But…' Neigon clenched his fist so hard that blood spilled from them. Why would the fourth pulse go so far… for that?
"Another incoming vita lance!"
Neigon was snapped out of his thoughts by another piercing scream. He turned and saw another vita lance screaming towards them.
But before he could even act, he felt control over the vita dome slipping from his grasp. The dome zoomed out of the way, evading the attack.
Neigon's gaze snapped towards the figure of a breathtaking woman clad in a black gown. He was momentarily taken by her beauty, then realized just who it was.
'The Red Eclipse.' He gulped.
Neigon felt a sudden chill wash over him. He turned back towards Malakai. The child was staring at him with a gaze so cold it was like being doused with icy water.
Neigon quickly recalled everything about his interactions with the fourth pulse.
"U-underground," he finally said. "She wants to pass something through my estate, but I refused. Do you think that—"
Neigon kept on talking, but Malakai had already stopped listening, deep in thought.
He tried to recall everything he knew, but nothing was clicking. Malakai shook his head.
'It doesn't matter. That's the only way we can escape anyways.'
He was about to order Nyx when a cataclysmic shockwave hit the dome.
The sudden force knocked Malakai off his feet, sending him slamming against the edge of the dome.