Chapter 28 THE BIG THREE
Directly under the King, three clans were in charge of running the great Avalon City.
The Flowing Flower Clan. This is the third clan in the term of power levels and strength and influence. The clan excel in healing and restoration due to their unique spirit beasts and energy circulation techniques. They own the larges hospitals and clinics in the city, therefore earning the the position as number three.
The Night Raid Clan, the second in the rank.
This clan excel in special reconnaissance, stealth and speed. They are more like assassins than knights, but their strengths are no laughing matter. Whenever the king needs a city to be silently wiped out over night, the Night Raid Clan are number one.
The Phoenix Fire Clan. The number one and the leading clan. Their power levels are unmatched with high level beast masters who excelled in what they do. Their leader is the only Transcendent who is halfway to becoming a Demi god.
Each of the clan where headed by powerful Transcendant beast masters.
They were known as the Big Three.
The sun had retired early in the vast skies, leaving the moon to take over it's shift.
The full moon shone in all glory with no dark clouds to obstruct it's path, casting it's eatheral glow on the city below.
In the Upper district, a great manor came into view. It rose from a wide stretch of rolling hills, its walls built of pale stone that caught the sun by day and glowed like embers at dusk.
Towers stood at each corner, not as tall as a king's castle, but strong and watchful, their banners snapping in the wind, each bearing the proud insignia _a black Phoenix with flaming wings. It was known, feared and respected across the kingdom.
A long, guarded road led to the gates, lined with carved stone markers that told the clan's history in silent relief of battles won.
Who says fights don't occur within the city?.
The gates themselves were massive, reinforced with iron, opening into a vast courtyard alive with disciplined order.
Beast Masters trained in formation, their movements sharp and precise. Stable hands moved powerful horses bred for war, their coats gleaming. Servants hurried with purpose, but none moved carelessly, it was a place where strength and loyalty were expected of all.
At the center stood the great manor house, larger than any noble residence, its structure a blend of elegance and quiet power. Balconies overlooked the courtyard, supported by thick pillars carved with the clan's crest. Tall windows reflected the sky like watchful eyes, and heavy doors stood open as if daring challengers to step inside.
Within lay the Great Hall—a chamber vast enough to hold the entire clan. Long tables lined the sides, but all attention was drawn to the raised dais at the far end. There, beneath a towering banner, stood the high seat of the clan leader—less a throne, more a symbol of earned authority.
Torches burned along the walls, their flames steady, casting light over armored figures and richly woven tapestries that depicted the clan's legacy. The air carried the scent of steel, fire, and power.
Beyond the hall, the manor unfolded into layers of purpose. War rooms filled with maps and strategies. Armories stocked with polished weapons. Private chambers, simple yet refined, where leaders and heirs prepared for the burdens of command. Training yards stretched beyond the main structure, where the sound of clashing steel never truly ceased.
By the time one reached the entrance, there was no doubt whose land this was.
It was the leading clan, the Phoenix Fire Clan.
At the grand manor house, the moon cast it's ray through an opened window, bathing a beautiful female figure in its eatheral light.
Anya stood over the window with eyes were closed as she let the light wash over her.
She was clad in an armless crop shirt and shorts, revealing her pristine white skin which increased in radiance over the moon light.
Her bright pink hair dripped with water , with some strands sticking on her bare skin.
Her pink bunny ears which stood on her head fluttered in the soft wind, and waving as if listening to distant sound.
Anya was nothing but breath taking, like an actual goddess gracing the mortal realm.
But everything would have been better if she felt like a goddess.
She opened her eyes, letting her beautiful pink iris glow, then exhaled. Her face stern.
When was the last time she smiled, no clue.
Anya proceeded to her dresser, and few moments later, she was clad in a black leather jacket, pants and leather boots.
The back of her jacket had the Clan's insignia on it.
She looked at herself one last time in the mirror and left.
Anya walked along the halls of the manor with her head held high and stern face. She walked past multiple servants and guards who avoided her gaze, but couldn't help but look back at her with fright and a little bit of disgust, dude to her pointy ears.
But she was used to such gazes by now.
Arriving at a large door, she pushed it open entered the a large chamber. In the center of the chamber, a large rectangular table stood in the middle with multiple lines of chairs.
The were some high ranking members of the clan sitted, having a discussion with the clan head.
At the far end of the meeting chamber, a large throne like chairs was fixed, decorated with gems and the likes. And the throne, a tall man with light skin was sitted.
The man was tall and large with vast muscles mass and edges, obviously from years of battles and training. Yet his skin shone without any form of blemish or scar.
His long black hair had a mixture of scarlet.
He was shirtless of course with a thick robe over his back. On his lower body, he wore a black armor with red fiery edges, and large armored boots.
The man glowed with the grace of the strongest Transcendent aura beast master in the world kingdom.
He was Arden, the Phoenix, the leader of the the Phoenix Fire Clan.
A deep frown formed on his already cold face when he gazed at his daughter, who had just opened the door.
Anya scanned the room briefly before advancing forward.
"Father"
Reaching the throne, she bowed.
"And what gave you the right to interrupt me"
Arden's cold voice sent shivers down her spine.
She hesitated.
"I'm sorry father"
Arden growled.
"I just wanted to tell you that I'll be moving to academy dorm tonight"
She said.
"I hope you're more useful there than you are to me"
He's words shook her to the core, but she steeled her resolve.
She stood up straight and stared at her father on the eye.
"I'm useful in more ways than you think father"
Her voice was stern.
A deep growl escape Ardens mouth and a red aura sipped out of his body, causing the whole chamber to heat up.
The two guards who stood by the doors jerked up and began moving towards Anya.
"Leave "
Ardens deep voice echoed.
The two guards moved towards Anya and placed their hands on she shoulder, wanting to escort her out.
But before their hands could land, Anya's figure exploded in pink bright aura, and she moved.
She spun her body with speed and flexibility and her long legs landed on the chest of the first guard. He could not react.
BANG
He flew speedily and crashed hard against the solid wall.
The second had was about to move, but a strange force suddenly dropped on him, holding him place.
Anya suddenly appeared and then..
BAM..
BOOM...
She landed a drop kick on his shoulder and the guard sunk to the ground.
By now the other warriors in the room had stood up from their seats and released their aura.
Anya gazed at her father, who still stood as if nothing had happened.
She lingered for a while, then walked out of the chamber, banging the door shut.
As she walked away, a line of tears rolled down her cheek, but she wiped it off.
That's how her life had been since the day she was born, a Halfling.
Anya was a rear case, she had awakened at the age of five and underwent a strange morphosis which changed her to a Halfling.
Her mother had died during birth causing a great rage in her father. He's despite increased when Anya became a Halfling. And since then she has been treated as an half cast, being the only Halfling in the kingdom.
Some moments later, Anya had disappeared from the manor and the compound without being seen or detected.
TBC