Killian paced around his father’s office, waiting for the servant to finish reporting the incident.

There was a brief chuckle inside the office that made him pause, his palm took more damage as his nails dug in.

’What is he laughing at? Isn’t he taking Quara’s disappearance too lightly? She’s still his daughter. Can he bear to....’

His thoughts halted when a young blonde lady walked out of the office, his sister’s personal attendant. She bowed curtly and stretched a phone to Killian.

"Never mind that. What did Father say? Has he received any news from Quara’s manager?"

The attendant briefly glanced towards the still opened door she just walked out from. "The higher-ups would handle it. They sent her in there anyway."

She said it like a recital, and Killian knew who had told her that.

"Lady Quara sent an SOS signal to her phone, a few minutes before her WLog sent a Mission Failure alert to her manager. The cause being a ghastly accident. We’ve heard nothing else."

Killian barged into the room just after grabbing Quara’s phone from the attendant. His father had a faint smirk on his face.

"Did you forget how to knock, Killian?"

"I ask you again, Father. What good would your children be to you if we were dead? Do you really not care about us?" Killian’s voice was low, as he knew the answer to that.

That was the reason Quara had decided to forge her own path by herself, putting herself in dangerous situations to be what she wanted to be without the help of neither the Dominic nor Ammon family. Still, it seemed it couldn’t be enough to just work hard.

"I fear you accuse me of an act that I never did, Killian." Mr. Dominic said monotonously. "But I will overlook it because my discussion with your team leader last time was to your favor."

Killian gently lifted his head, making eye contact with his father. He wondered why George would say something favourable about him to his father.

"Now, more important." Mr. Dominic tapped a finger on his table once. "You will be paired with Keith during the Academy Trials. There’s a duel match that I want you two to win."

"No."

"Killian," his father inhaled deeply, tapping the table continuously. He exhaled and continued. "You broke three records within the first few months of being a Warden. That is... impressive."

Killian’s brows furrowed, his eyes narrowed at his father.

It wasn’t because of the first compliment coming from him in the last nine years, but because he wasn’t aware of those records. "I am not Keith. Don’t replace me with him."

"Replace you? Keith’s potential is still boundless, so I’m just making sure he doesn’t get sidelined in all of this." Mr. Dominic said with a slight scoff. "You are working hard to prove yourself and that’s fair. Now, prove yourself to your—"

"I said no." Killian looked away from him. The thought that he wasn’t even worthy to be replaced by Keith burned his insides. He never wanted to be anyway.

"You ostracized Keith by placing him in a higher seat, away from his friends." He tried to keep his voice leveled. "Now, no one wants anything to do with him. I am not his rebound."

He spoke clearly, ensuring that would be the last time his father would speak of that case again. He also dug for the phone in his pocket, dialing George as he left.

"Lastly, I will not leave for the academy if I do not get a good report about my older sister." he frowned. "I promise that."

Mr. Dominic said nothing, watching him with an unclear emotion in his eyes. But Killian had swallowed more than he could take, even most of the fear he had for his father.

"I will send a message to an admin. You should also think hard about my offer. You and Keith will make a good team."

His father’s response made Killian’s frown deepen. Now he was framing helping his own daughter as a price for accepting his offer. Killian stomped out of the office.

He picked up the phone when George called back.

"Any news yet?"

"Nothing. That is one of the cons of the WLog, you know. It’s a very private system that only the user can access. I will try to find what C-tier realms were available a week ago."

Killian nodded, even if George couldn’t see him. "Thanks."

"It is alright. Drop by tomorrow. You have to sign up for your trip to the academy. Also, your teammates want to meet with you." George added before hanging up.

Killian stared at his phone, then turned to the office a few steps away from him. He spotted his older sister’s attendant still standing by the door, with her head down.

Since she served his older sister since she awakened at five, Killian wanted to believe she was also worried about the case at hand. "Come." he demanded, holding a card towards her.

Her ears perked up from habit. She hurried towards him. "Yes, Young Master?" She stared at the card, her eyes staying glued to the name of her Young Mistress on it.

"I want you to stop by a mall for me. I will send you the list while you’re on your way." He rubbed his temples. "You can get something for yourself too."

She stiffened, before making a curt bow "Thank you."

Seeing as she added no ’Young Master’, Killian took it as genuine. His older sister had made sure she stopped calling her Young mistress or Lady to her face.

"Also, please, ask the kitchen to send a tray of carrots to my room. You can leave." Killian said, he headed to his room.

He checked his WLog one more time as he walked. There was still no message from his sister. He reached his room, and fell on his bed, face planted on the stacks of pillows.

"Status. Inventory." He pulled the human-rabbit out.

She fell on his bed, and he felt sand from under her feet pour onto the bed. He groaned softly.

"I will go to sleep now to escape. When the meal is sent, wait a minute before you open the door to take it. Good luck."

She sat on the bed, her neck craning around the room as she took the new surroundings in. It was quite boring with plain contemporary art works, and tree patterns.

"Do you like to paint?"

"I want to sleep." He said groggily, his legs and arms already inside the blanket, rolled in the bed.

"Why do you want to sleep? Are you sad?"

There was no reply.

"You never asked me for my name." She shifted her body towards the end of the bed. "I think yours is Killian, yes?" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"What is your name?"

"Thistle." She said enthusiastically, keeping an arm on her hip. Her expression flattened when she stared at his back that was still turned to her. "You are sad." She concluded.

Since she was off the bed, she inched towards it, raising her little feet to pat his head.

"It’s alright, Killian. Don’t be sad."