Aya froze when she saw a man carrying several cages filled with animals. Without hesitation, she rushed toward him to help.
"What happened?" was the only question she asked as she immediately began checking their vital signs.
The man let out a heavy sigh.
"Just do your best to save them," he said quietly.
Aya frowned slightly. Normally, she would first gather basic information from the owner or guardian. But several of the animals were already in critical condition. They needed immediate medical attention.
She moved quickly.
Grabbing an information slip, she handed it to the man—a stranger she had never seen before.
"Please fill out this form, sir," she said politely before turning her full attention back to the injured animals.
As she examined them, her brows knitted together.
There were obvious signs of abuse.
Dehydration. Lash marks. Open wounds scattered across their bodies.
She didn't know where these animals had come from, but one thing was certain—
They had suffered terribly.
She needed to run blood tests.
A flicker of suspicion crossed her mind as she glanced briefly at the man filling out the form.
Don't worry. You'll get better, she silently told the animals.
Moving carefully, she prepared the tools she needed. Animals traumatized by humans required gentleness above all else.
She noticed how skittish they were—how they recoiled whenever a person moved too close.
Wherever they had come from, she hoped they would never experience such cruelty again.
She slipped on protective gloves, then a face mask.
Aya worked alone. Her clinic had only just opened, and she hadn't hired an assistant yet. For now, she preferred handling everything herself—no matter what kind of clients arrived at her door.
The man quietly watched her for a moment before moving to the waiting area, leaving the completed form on her table.
There were ten animals in total.
Ten victims of cruelty.
All of them terrified of humans.
Aya focused on calming them first.
Once they settled, she began running tests—checking their blood, urine, and wounds thoroughly to ensure the correct medication and treatment.
Only after stabilizing them did she finally pick up the information slip.
Before she could read much, the man approached her.
"I'm sorry I only introduced myself now, Doc," he said politely.
She looked up.
"Luigi Gandamo," he continued. "I'm a police officer."
She gave a small nod.
"Aya Grace Castro."
"We need your help as a veterinary clinic," Luigi explained. "This is part of an ongoing investigation, so the information we can share is limited—for your safety as well."
Aya understood immediately.
She asked no further questions.
The investigation surrounding her sister's case was still ongoing. She had even been assigned a new lawyer for a separate matter.
She couldn't give up.
No matter how long it took, she would never abandon her sister.
XXXXXX
Meanwhile, Daniel and the others continued following the soul of the cat that had passed earlier.
Soon, they saw something unexpected.
The mother cat and her remaining kitten were now in Malchor's care.
"I'm sorry I couldn't save your child… and your sibling," Malchor murmured softly.
"Come now," he added gently. "Your mother and sibling are safe."
Slowly, the frightened kitten approached him.
Mom… are you really safe there? the kitten asked anxiously.
Daniel and the others remained silent, allowing them to speak.
"Don't worry," Malchor reassured the animals. "We're heading to a veterinary clinic now. You'll be checked and taken care of there."
His phone suddenly rang.
He answered briefly, speaking in a hurried tone before ending the call.
Daniel noticed it immediately.
Malchor was moving like a man being chased.
Carrying the cages tightly, he hurried away.
They followed him.
Soon, they arrived at the veterinary clinic.
The animals he rescued were already being treated by a single doctor.
Daniel exhaled in relief.
"Miss, please," Malchor pleaded desperately. "Save this mother cat and her child."
He looked exhausted.
"Are you alright, sir?" the woman asked.
"Oh—our dog bit me earlier," he said with an awkward laugh.
"Oh my, sir. You should probably get an anti-rabies shot," the doctor suggested while continuing her examination.
He nodded quickly.
"Later, Miss. The cats come first."
The kitten's spirit appeared again, gazing lovingly at its mother and sibling.
We'll be safe here, my child. Go now—you need to cross, the mother said gently.
Mom… The kitten whispered silently.
"Come," Daniel said softly.
The kitten looked at him.
Then it nodded.
Accepting its fate.
The spirit approached him, and Daniel carefully guided it toward its true home.
He sighed deeply.
Then he glanced at Aliya.
Because what she had done carried consequences.
Daniel noticed Isaac had not yet arrived.
Unease crept into his chest, especially knowing what awaited them above.
"Aliya," Daniel asked quietly, "why did you do that? You know it isn't our role. We only appear when necessary."
Aliya remained silent.
Her thoughts were somewhere far away.
Daniel decided not to press her further.
Moments later, Isaac appeared and signaled to him.
Daniel approached immediately.
"You're being summoned upstairs," Isaac said.
Daniel nodded.
"Aliya. Come."
She followed him silently.
"Our beloved King," they said together, bowing.
The King did not speak at first.
Silence filled the vast hall.
"Do you know why the two of you are here?" he finally asked.
They nodded faintly.
"You know what happens when the laws of this realm are violated," he continued.
"Aliya," he called.
"Forgive me, our King," Aliya said, her voice trembling. "I could not restrain what I felt after witnessing everything."
Both of them kept their heads bowed.
"My child Aliya," the King said calmly, "the world follows its own laws. When one law is broken, the balance of nature collapses."
Aliya lifted her gaze slightly.
"Is it truly natural order," she asked quietly, "for humans to harm innocent animals… to burn and destroy nature… simply to satisfy their own desires?"
Daniel remained silent.
He already knew.
Aliya despised humanity—even if she never said it directly.
He let out a quiet sigh.
"My child," the King replied gently, "no matter how cruel mankind may be, you will still encounter one or two souls with good hearts."
"Aliya, helping is not wrong."
"But what you did… deprived them of their freedom."
Aliya lowered her head again.
"It will not happen again, our King," she said softly.
The King sighed.
"I will allow this to pass—for now."
A pause followed.
"I hope this will be the last time."
"I understand."
The King turned his gaze to Daniel.
"You may go."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Aliya followed Daniel in silence.
Her thoughts remained distant.
Daniel decided to let her be—for now.