Saquin: Death To My Enemies

"So, do you like the gift?" Saquin asked Prince Jonathan, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Jonathan's gaze darkened, ignoring the question entirely. "What are you doing here?" His voice carried an edge, masking the subtle flicker of unease in his eyes. I didn't notice before.

Saquin glanced around the forest with a nonchalant shrug. "Oh, I live here now," he said, gesturing expansively. "Inherited it after your sister killed the previous owner."

"You know what I mean," Jonathan pressed, his voice taking on a sharper tone. "What is a true royal doing out here?"

Edward's brow furrowed in confusion as he shifted his gaze to his older brother. True royal? The term was unfamiliar. Was Jonathan... afraid?

Relia, standing silently by Jonathan's side, mirrored Edward's confusion. Her questioning look demanded answers. True royal? Why have I never heard of this before? Was it some secret only the crown prince was privy to?

"True royal, huh?" Saquin mused, his tone light, almost mocking. "Well, relax. I'm not a true royal. If I go by what I've been told, I'd be classified as a hyper human."

"A hyper," Jonathan repeated, his frown deepening. He muttered the word under his breath several times, as if testing its weight. "A hyper..." Finally, he looked up. "So, what brings you here?"

Saquin's gaze didn't falter. "I was born here—in the Eastern Kingdom."

"If you say so." Jonathan waved his hand dismissively. "But let's cut to the chase. What do you want from us—or should I say, her?" He gestured toward Relia.

Relia's eyes widened. "Me?" she asked, her voice tinged with incredulity.

Edward, standing to the side, was still grappling with his thoughts. True royal? Hyper human? The terms spiraled in his mind, blending into confusion. Aren't higher humans and hypers the same thing? Or are they? He scowled. Father has a lot to explain.

"Yeah," Jonathan interjected, answering Relia's question. "He lured us here to talk to you. Isn't that right, Saquin?"

"True," Saquin admitted, his smile unwavering. "But not entirely. I also wanted to talk to you, Crown Prince. I have a small request."

Jonathan crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "Oh? And what might that be?"

Saquin's tone turned serious. "When you besiege the continent, I want to tag along."

Jonathan tilted his head, scrutinizing him. "Do you have a vendetta against them, or are you just thirsty for blood?"

Saquin's eyes hardened. "There's someone I need to kill."

"Level?" Jonathan asked, his tone measured.

"Nine, probably," Saquin replied casually.

Jonathan let out a low whistle. "A level nine. Even for you, that's a tall order. Advanced or modern?"

"Higher."

That word hung heavily in the air. Jonathan's brow furrowed, and Edward's gaze snapped toward Saquin. Relia gasped faintly, her hand instinctively clutching her sleeve.

"A higher," Jonathan muttered, as if grappling with the absurdity of the claim. "That's impossible."

"Not really," Saquin countered, his tone calm but resolute. "So, what do you think? Can I tag along?"

Jonathan was silent for a moment before finally nodding. "Yeah, of course. When the time comes, I'll send someone to fetch you. But..." He gave Saquin a knowing look. "You should come and see Father if you're serious about it. And by 'it,' you know what I mean." He ended with a sly wink.

Jonathan extended his hand toward King Zen, who stood stoically by Lira's side. Without warning, King Zen was yanked toward Jonathan, his neck firmly in the prince's grasp.

Turning to Edward, who remained visibly unsettled, Jonathan gestured impatiently. "Let's go, Edward."

"Hmph." Edward snorted, teleporting to Jonathan's side. Before they left, he cast a lingering glance at Lira. A cocky grin spread across his face. "See you later, beauty."

Relia, noticing Edward's hand resting on Jonathan's shoulder, suddenly felt a pang of abandonment. "Wait!" she called, her voice tinged with anxiety. "Are you leaving me here? Alone? With him? In the middle of a forest?"

Edward winked at her, ignoring her plea.

"Don't be late," Jonathan said coolly, his voice trailing as Edward teleported them away.

"I hate you!" Relia shouted at the empty air, her voice echoing through the forest.

Behind her, Saquin's calm, mocking tone drifted lazily to her ears. "Can we talk now, Sharon?"

"No," she replied weakly, her voice barely audible.

Saquin chuckled softly. "It took me a while to remember. You just looked so familiar. It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

"I'm not talking to you," Relia muttered, fiddling with her fingers. She kept her head down, hiding her face from his piercing gaze.

"I decided to abduct that king when I felt your SP signature at the palace. I knew you'd come after me. At first, I wasn't sure, but then you recognized me—or, more accurately, my eyes." His voice carried a genuine warmth, as though reminiscing about an old friend. "That's when I knew it was you. It's really been a long time, hasn't it? And you're actually a princess for real."

"I'm not talking," she repeated, her tone firmer but still laced with vulnerability.

"Funny, isn't it? I'm the one who shouldn't be talking, considering you shot me in the head yesterday afternoon... and stabbed me in the heart last night." Saquin's voice carried an undertone of amusement, but his words hit like a dagger.

Relia flinched, her fingers trembling as she gripped the fabric of her sleeve tighter. "I'm not talking," she whispered again, though this time, it sounded more like a plea.

"You potentially killed me twice," Saquin said with a faint smile, his voice laced with teasing.

"I didn't know," Relia replied, her tone defensive yet soft. "You've changed so much—your hair, your eyes. Everything is different about you, especially last night."

"Thought you weren't talking?" Saquin quipped, arching an eyebrow.

"It's just..." She hesitated, her voice faltering.

Saquin took a step closer, his expression shifting to something more sincere. "I've missed you."

"Me too," Relia whispered, her words barely audible, as if afraid they might carry too much weight.

"You could have come to see me, you know?" Saquin said, tilting his head slightly, his gaze steady on her.

Relia shook her head, her hands fidgeting nervously. "No, I couldn't. I couldn't go back there, and... I had no way to contact you."

"Well," Saquin said, spreading his arms slightly. "Here I am."

"True." Relia finally looked up, her amber eyes locking with his. "But... how?"

"Does it matter?" he asked, his tone light but his eyes searching hers.

"Yes, it does," she insisted. "You're a higher now—and somehow a vampire too? And I thought you couldn't leave the village."

"What I am doesn't really matter, does it?" he replied, his voice quieter now. "And the village... it's gone. Destroyed."

Relia's breath hitched. "It was? How?"

"Some people attacked while looking for something called a system," Saquin explained, his tone tinged with regret.

"But..." she started, her voice trailing off.

"They had all left, and I wasn't with my sword," Saquin continued, his jaw tightening slightly.

"You weren't with your sword?" Relia asked, her eyes widening in disbelief. "I thought you couldn't live without it! Besides—"

"Sharon," Saquin interrupted gently, his eyes softening. "Wait, is it Sharon or Relia?"

Relia blinked, surprised. "It's Sharon. Relia is my 'Queen name.'"

"Queen of Hunt?"

"Yes," she confirmed softly.

"So, Sharon," Saquin said, a small, genuine smile curving his lips. "Want to see something beautiful?"