Chapter 12: Flesh and Blood

~Chapter 12~

~Flesh and Blood ~

Unknown Area

"Sir, they defeated Stone. We sent a few recovery squads to investigate," the soldier reported.

"It's fine. The children seem to be doing much better than I thought," Magnus answered.

"We've received information suggesting that Lilith has been helping the boy," the soldier added.

"Damn that nosy bitch," Magnus exclaimed.

"It's fine. Let the church know about the results we've gotten so far," Magnus ordered.

"We already have. Apparently, the boy made it to Veloria. Vermoth failed to capture him, but he says it’s only a matter of time," the soldier replied.

"Tell him to hold back. I'm going in," Magnus commanded.

"But, sir, just—"

"I'm going in,make sure the priests are ready," Magnus interrupted.

Veloria~

"Madoxx, our real names are Zenith and Athena," Kimora said suddenly.

"We had to change them in order to keep our identities hidden from the king," Zenith added.

"We trust you, which is why we’re sharing this with you," Athena explained.

I smiled and nodded. "Thanks," I said before returning to the subject at hand.

"Okay, so what's the plan now?" Melody asked.

"We're basically stuck on the outskirts of New Molina. The closest exit is near Market Square. If we can make it there, we might be able to escape," Athena answered.

"That would at least give us some time to figure out our next move," I added.

"But... the people," Melody said with concern.

"I know, and we won’t abandon them," I assured her.

She smiled and nodded in agreement.

"The gates might be heavily guarded. We need to make sure our escape route isn’t blocked before we make a move," I instructed.

"True, but if we all go at once, it’ll draw too much attention," Zenith noted.

"Zen and I aren’t the best in a fight, so even though we know the area, I suggest one of you goes in our place," Athena said.

"I know how your temper gets, Melody, so I think I should go," I quickly volunteered.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, glaring at me.

"Nothing! I’m just saying... maybe sit this one out," I replied nervously.

"Fine," she said, pouting.

"Okay, listen, Madoxx," Athena said, giving me directions to reach Market Square and the gate.

Town Square~

It was the first time I’d truly been by myself. That was all I could think about. I’d always had someone: at the orphanage, my friends; in the forest, Ola and Ren; in Lilith's burrow, her and Melody; on the journey, Melody again; and here in Veloria, Melody, Athena, and Zenith. But now, walking through Town Square, I was alone—just me and no one else. I’m not sure why I was thinking about this, but it was all I could do as I walked through the streets.

Zenith had given me a cloak meant to make me harder to spot, and while it worked, I still felt like I stood out like a sore thumb.

"You aren’t alone, Madoxx," Livana’s voice echoed in my mind.

"Well, you’re in my head, so I don’t think you count, Livana," I replied.

"Ouch! That’s not very nice, Madoxx," she said offended.

"Wasn’t meant to be," I responded with a grin.

"Wait, Livana," I said, a memory surfacing.

"No, Madoxx. You have nothing to be sorry about," she said dismissively, cutting me off before I could say more.

"But—"

"But nothing," she insisted.

I really did feel bad. She was my friend, and because of me, she was dead now.

"Stop it, Madoxx. I can hear your thoughts," she reminded me.

"Okay, I’m sorr—fine," I corrected myself, stopping short.

As I walked through the square, it didn’t take long to see the ugliness hiding behind the wealth here. The royals and nobles carried themselves as if they owned every inch of this place—and, honestly, they probably thought they did. Carriages lined the streets, each one more elaborate than the last, adorned with gold trim and fine silk curtains. The people inside barely glanced at the crowds they shoved past, holding their noses high, as if they couldn’t bear to breathe the same air as the rest of us.

A young servant girl stumbled nearby, struggling with a heavy basket as she passed a royal guard. She tripped, and before she could get back up, he kicked her basket aside, scattering its contents across the street. She scrambled to gather everything, her face red with embarrassment, but he sneered at her and walked away without a second glance.

Near one of the grand fountains, a group of nobles lounged as if they were in a private palace garden. Servants fanned them, fed them fruits, poured their drinks. One of the women waved her hand impatiently, ordering more food without even looking up. Just a few steps away, a couple of street kids stared at them, hollow-eyed and hungry. But the nobles? They didn’t even notice.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

A little further along, I saw an old man in a tattered cloak reaching out to a passing noble, pleading for anything—a coin, a scrap of food. The noble rolled his eyes, tossed a single coin onto the ground, and watched with amusement as the man crawled for it, laughing with his friends.

It was revolting. Anger rose in my chest, my fists clenching instinctively. How could they act like this? Like the pain and desperation around them were just part of the scenery?

I made my way to the gate, only to find it under lockdown. At least twenty soldiers stood guard, allowing no one to come or go. Frustrated, I turned back.

“What did you find?” Melody asked as I returned.

“The gate is under lockdown. There are at least twenty soldiers stationed there. No one can leave, and no one can come in.”

I paused, glancing over at Zen. “On my way back, I saw something disturbing. I wanted to ask you about it, Zen.”

“Sure, mad—”

“Shit,” Melody muttered, interrupting. “So what do we do now?”

“Madoxx, may I speak?” Livana said suddenly.

Instinctively, as she spoke, a black, tar-like substance bubbled up from my shadow. Everyone looked on in shock.

“What is that?” Melody asked, backing away slowly.

The black tar began bending and shaping itself into a human figure, its shadowy color shifting into different shades of white and blue until, finally, it formed Livana in human form. She had somehow materialized from my shadow.

“Livana, how—?”

“Madoxx, you are yet to understand the power you hold, and it isn’t my place to explain it yet. But for now, I know how we can save these people. You won’t like the plan—I know it will go against every fiber of your being. But trust me, I’ve seen it.”

“Before I explain, tell them what you saw,” Livana said, pacing and inspecting the room.

The group’s attention turned back to me.

“There was a castle I passed on my way back. Outside, I saw a woman and a man crying and begging before a group of guards.”

The woman screamed, her voice raw with pain in her voice. “We’ve changed our minds! We don’t want this anymore. Give her back!”

The man, on his knees, sobbed as well. “Please, give her back. We can’t live without her.”

The guard sneered at them. “The king has accepted your worth. There’s no going back.”

“No! I didn’t know—I thought I could live with it, but I can’t,” the woman cried, her hands bleeding as she crawled toward the guard. “Give them back. I want my babies back.”

The guard’s eyes narrowed in anger, and he kicked the woman hard, sending her flying. “You fleas are all the same,” he spat. “Never satisfied. If you want more kids, go have some more.”

The woman lay on the ground in agony, but she still cried out, “My sweet baby girls... my sun, my moon,” her voice choked with sobs, blood spilling from her mouth.

Her husband, filled with rage, sprang to his feet and lunged at the guard. The guard pulled out a wand, casting a monstrous spell that stopped the man mid-run, his body going limp as he crashed to the ground. The guard laughed, calling back to his companions in the carriage, “Guess he won’t be having any more kids after all."

He spat on the man’s lifeless body, delivering a volley of kicks before turning back toward the carriage.

Defeated, the woman let out a silent scream, her red, bloodshot eyes widening in shock. She crawled back to her husband’s body, her tears falling onto his lifeless face.

“And as horrific as it was,” I said, clenching my fists, “the people around them just stood there and watched. I stood there and watched.”

The guard pulled out a chest of gold from the carriage, placing it beside the couple’s bodies before leaving. The street soon resumed its usual clamor, as people laughed and joked, oblivious to the tragedy that had unfolded.

“What is wrong with the people here?” I asked, turning to Zen and Athena, whose only response was to look down in silence.

Athena finally spoke, her voice steady.

“There are four main regions here in Veloria. Molina, the poor district, is better known as the ‘City of No Worth.’ New Molina is the ‘City of Lost Morals.’ Then there’s the king’s personal domain, a vast piece of land he calls Perri Sall Vermont, which is solely for housing his own luxuries and guards. And lastly, there’s Bountyreach—the district responsible for manufacturing all essential goods, food, clothing, water, potions, wands. It’s the lifeline of Veloria.”

She paused, then added, “Society has long been split between the Deserters and the Faithful. To live comfortably in Veloria, one must have worth in the eyes of the king or his kingdom.”

“In the past, before the church gained full control, worth was measured by one’s contribution to society. People could labor, offer services, or contribute in other ways. But then a law was passed that shocked everyone.”

She looked at me, her eyes hard. “To gain any worth, one had to sacrifice their firstborn child. In return, they would be granted noble status and wealth by the king himself. Not everyone accepted this law. Those who did became Deserters and were relocated to New Molina, which had once been a royal zone but had ample space to house this influx. Those who rejected the law were left in Molina—a land of the Faithful and the poor, those who refused to sacrifice their flesh and blood for wealth.”

Athena continued, “Over time, the king introduced a new law, creating further class distinctions. To maintain status, the wealthy had to keep sacrificing, and thus, they could give more than just their firstborn to grow their fortune or noble rank. But not all children were of equal worth.”

She paused, her face unreadable. “Children born with strong magic potential held the greatest value, and their sacrifice would grant royal rank. Those with weaker magic potential had less worth but could still bring a small fortune. Children born with no magic had the least worth, usually earning only a fraction of a noble’s wealth.”

Athena’s voice softened. “The people of Molina were left to fend for themselves. Bountyreach belonged to the king, so no aid reached Molina, leaving its people with the choice to become Deserters or eventually die from starvation and disease. Later, a second law forbade anyone from helping the people of Molina, deeming them without worth to Veloria.”

“But I saw a royal give a poor man a gold coin in the street, and nothing bad happened to him,” I said.

“Those are called Fallen Royals,” she explained. “They are people who once made the ultimate sacrifice but have since spent all their fortune. They now survive on scraps, and it isn’t against the law to assist them.”

Melody’s voice cut through the silence. “What actually happens to the children sacrificed to the king?”

Zen’s face darkened as he replied, “They’re sent to a place called Hules Orphanage.”

A chill ran down my spine as I fully understood his words.

I-

Yes madoxx you me Ren Ola Eliza Ethan Bethany all of use were once sacrificed by the very people who live like kings here in Veloria Livana said

I needed you to understand this I needed you to see theses people as what they are before I told you the plan it's the only way to escape its the only way to save everybody livana said pleading with me

Still in shock I asked what plan Livana

I looked at Livana as she explained what needed to be done the faces on zan Athena and melody's visible went pale as Livana explained

I looked at her unable to believe what I was hearing

She spoke for a while before saying that is the only way madoxx you may not see it right now but it's the only way

Zen’s face darkened as he replied, “They’re sent to a place called Hules Orphanage.”

A chill ran down my spine as the full weight of his words hit me.

I—

“Yes, Madoxx. You, me, Ren, Ola, Eliza, Ethan, Bethany—all of us—were once sacrificed by the very people who live like kings here in Veloria,” Livana said.

“I needed you to understand this. I needed you to see these people for what they truly are before I told you the plan. It’s the only way to escape—it’s the only way to save everyone,” she added, her voice almost pleading.

Still in shock, I asked, “What plan, Livana?”

I looked at her as she began explaining what needed to be done. I glanced at Zan, Athena, and Melody. Their faces visibly paled as Livana’s words sank in.

I turned back to her, unable to believe what I was hearing.

She continued for a while before finally saying, “This is the only way, Madoxx. You might not see it now, but it’s the only way.”