Evolution of the Ruined Heir

After breakfast, Mamush and his wife left to ’set some things in order.’ Their children followed moments later, leaving only Malakai, Renlo, and Octavia in the dining room.

"Argh, finally! I can breathe clean air again!"

As though happy to finally be rid of some horrible stench, Octavia leaned back in her seat and released a relieved sigh.

"Huh?" Renlo blinked. "The air seemed fine to me..."

Malakai almost smacked the boy on the back of his head. How oblivious could anyone possibly be, especially when Octavia hadn’t exactly been subtle about her hatred...

As expected, Octavia directed a death glare at Renlo that immediately made him stiffen. His friend silently inched closer to Malakai, as though seeking protection.

"Anyways..." A moment later, Octavia scoffed before turning to Malakai. "You’re seriously going to spend time with that chick? Please tell me you realize what they’re trying to do.

’As expected, she noticed too.’

Unlike Renlo, Octavia was sly and mischievous, just like her mother. Something this obvious was hardly going to escape her notice. She stared at Malakai with a slight frown, her expression almost as though she was beginning to question whether she had overestimated his intelligence.

’She thinks you’re stupid, Malakai.’

’Thank you, Valentine. Very helpful.’

’You’re welcome,’ Valentine shamelessly replied.

Shaking his head, Malakai twitched his fingers. A faint vibration thrummed through him, and a barrier of Vita silently formed around the three of them. Renlo and Octavia both sensed a subtle shift in the air, but neither seemed able to pinpoint exactly what had changed, just as Malakai preferred.

The ability to control Vita away from the body was a power exclusive to Blooms. The fact that he could already do it while still at the Synergy Stage was something that would be enough to stir the entire Dome.

"Listen carefully, because I’m only saying this once." Malakai met the Tenth Vein’s eyes. "There’s something wrong with this family, and I think whatever it is will lead us to the answer we’re looking for. I don’t care if you like them. Hate them all you want. But if that hatred gets in the way of this investigation, I’ll deal with you myself. If you can’t accept that, there’s the door." His eyes narrowed slightly. "So, which is it?"

For one Vein to give another such a warning, especially when they belonged to separate Pulses, was practically a challenge to the other’s authority and enough cause for a full-fledged confrontation. However, beneath Malakai’s cold gaze, Octavia swallowed. Then she folded her arms and quickly turned away, muttering beneath her breath,

"Well, you didn’t have to be such a bitch about it..."

"What was that?"

Octavia flinched. A moment later, she cleared her throat.

"...Nothing."

Malakai stared at her for a few seconds before asking,

"Good. Then what’s your answer?"

Octavia muttered something incomprehensible beneath her breath.

"Um..." Renlo squinted. "You have to speak louder. We can’t hear you."

Octavia slowly turned toward him. Her glare looked like it could have pierced through stone.

Renlo immediately covered his mouth with his hand, as though to make it perfectly clear that no more words would be coming out of it. Then, with Malakai still staring at her, Octavia clicked her tongue and reluctantly nodded.

"...Alright."

...

Soon after, a guard came to inform them that the ’preparations’ were ready. As they stepped out of the room, Malakai stopped Renlo when his friend tried to follow him.

"I’ll do this alone."

Renlo blinked. "Wait... you mean just you and her?"

Malakai nodded.

"Alone?" Renlo’s eyes slowly widened. "Like... like a date?"

Malakai’s expression immediately darkened. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Renlo was already smiling smugly. "Come on, think about it. Just you and her, boy and girl, around the same age, spending time alone together. Brother, that’s a date."

"I’m showing her a few things. That’s all."

"Ahh, of course, of course. You’re going to show her a few things." Renlo nodded knowingly. "That sounds much better."

Renlo kept winking at him as though something was wrong with his eye. Malakai’s stare turned icy. Still, Renlo, who seemed to have grown somewhat immune to it by now, casually tapped him on the shoulder.

"That’s the spirit, brother! Just... don’t forget your fellow brother when you find love. As the saying goes... bros before hoes."

’I love this boy,’ Valentine muttered.

’Of course you do.’

Malakai did not find the entire matter amusing. Women weren’t even on his list of priorities. The only reason he was spending time with Donna was because of the mission, nothing else.

Then Malakai caught sight of Octavia standing nearby with a frown on her face, and a hint of vengefulness suddenly stirred within him.

"Then enjoy your date too."

Renlo frowned.

"Huh? What date?"

"With Octavia."

Renlo went completely still. Only then did he seem to realize that, with Malakai gone, he would be left alone with Octavia.

With that monster.

Renlo’s expression immediately turned horrified. "W-wait, Malakai, I—"

Malakai waved him off before he could finish, shutting the door firmly in his face. A moment later, he felt Renlo slump against the other side, clearly defeated, and a small sense of satisfaction welled up within him.

’You’re a monster,’ Valentine said.

Malakai didn’t respond. But the faint glint of satisfaction in his eyes made it clear he didn’t particularly dislike the title.

...

’You have to go on the offensive! Ask her about herself, tease her a little, make her laugh. Women love a man who can make them laugh. And listen to her! Make her feel heard. Whatever she says, show some interest, acknowledge it, then—’

Valentine continued rambling inside his head.

Malakai felt the urge to cut off the increasingly annoying ghost, but he held himself back. As annoying as Valentine was, right now, he was Malakai’s only hope of surviving this... situation.

Malakai was currently walking through the middle of a beautiful garden, Donna at his side. Rather than preparing a training room or some sort of stage, Mamush and Onilia’s ’preparations’ had apparently involved beautifying the garden. Soft classical music played in the background, adding even further to the romantic atmosphere.

’They’re not even trying to be subtle.’

That had been Malakai’s first thought the moment he saw all of this. Now, though, his attention had shifted to something else entirely.

Donna walked silently beside him, her head lowered, clearly too nervous to even think of breaking the silence herself. Which, unfortunately, left all the talking to him.

But the problem was, well, Malakai, having dedicated practically his entire life to training, wasn’t exactly sure how to talk to a girl, especially one he was supposed to woo.

Valentine had immediately realized this and taken it upon himself to ’educate’ Malakai in matters of women. While Malakai seriously doubted that a man who had run away from civilization to live alone on a secluded farm would know anything about talking to women, he didn’t exactly have much of a choice.

But just as he’d expected, Valentine had ended up being quite useless.

Tease her? Make her feel heard? How the hell was any of that supposed to help him figure out how to actually start the damn conversation?

Donna, meanwhile, continued stealing glances at him every now and then, her cheeks flushing each time.

’At least this outfit is doing its job. Unlike someone.’ Malakai thought.

Valentine gasped as though Malakai had stabbed him.

’Wow. Just... wow. Here I am, pouring generations of wisdom into your empty head, and this is the thanks I get?’

’Maybe if any of that wisdom was actually useful, I’d be more appreciative.’

’Not useful?! I’ve given you everything you need! Tease her. Make her laugh. Make her feel heard. How much simpler do you want me to make it? Think, Malakai. Think!’

Malakai sighed inwardly, realizing he apparently had no other choice. He ran Valentine’s words through his mind for a moment, trying to figure out what exactly he was supposed to do with them.

Then, suddenly, an idea came to him.

Malakai turned to Donna.

"I want you to feel heard, and apparently I’m supposed to make you laugh too, so... tell me about yourself."

In his mind, Malakai heard the unmistakable sound of Valentine smacking his forehead.

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