Hwang Hanuel’s POV

A month without him.

I haven’t been able to see him, the area is now double guarded, they know someone ventured in too deep and now I feel foolish.

I have to save Yeon, but I can’t do it alone, I surely can’t do this like this...as a sentimental nobody in my own clan.

"Son" father calls and I go to stand by his side, I am taller these days and mom says I am still growing, maybe I could build muscles enough to fight off everyone that hurt Yeon. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"...okay?" Father says and I nod, I didn’t hear anything he said, but I nod anyways.

My mom is standing by the tent with her arms folded, she’s offended at dad, but she’s not saying it yet, she’s showing it by staying out of the house and camping with me.

"You’re really going to make my son go through all that?" Mom asks and dad sighs, "he’s a grown man, honey, he is bound to experience it one way or another" is father’s tired response.

I am still lost.

"He is eighteen, he’s not ready to watch people get wasted because of your weakness" my mom sobs and returns into the tent.

Dad watches quietly before gesturing for me to get into the car, I know he wants to go to mom, but he knows her better than I do.

"Your mom would rather I don’t make you Lord" he says and I shrug, "it’s for good reasons, she’s just worried" I say with a gentle voice, my voice is deeper too, almost deeper than dad’s.

"Do you want to let someone else take it?" he asks with concern, willing to do it if it’s what I want, I look outside the window and sigh.

Yeon needs a strong lord to get him out of there and that’s who I’ll be by all means from now on.

"No dad, I want to be Lord, I can do it" I say and he nods, leaning back into the seat, he looks tired, he doesn’t work too hard these days but his mind does.

I know he’s seeing the chaos his subordinates are causing, if I feel this guilty for being a Hwang, he must feel it twice.

"Where are we going now?" I ask and father chuckles, "I knew you weren’t listening, you’re your mother’s son" he says and I give a small smile in response.

"There is a small clan near the forest sides, I am introducing you to them as lord, you will be introduced to every clan one after the other" father says and I nod, suddenly nervous at the thought of meeting strangers.

"When we are done with them, we’ll move to the next and the next after that" he says.

"Why can’t we use the T.V?" I ask quietly and he hums, "those technology things these days are making people lazy" father says and I hide my smile.

He and mom are alike, they both hate the technology and the machinery of these days, they both prefer the intimacy of face-to-face and tradition.

"Dad? When do I start to train for my lordship?" I ask and he smiles.

"We can start as soon as we get to the new clan, there’s this trainer there, he’s building giants in that place and he refuses to leave" dad says and I straighten my back eagerly.

Cool!

Once I start, I’ll be strong enough, it’s either I go in and beat everyone to save Yeon or I wait till I’m lord...

I drop my shoulders because I know, at the end of the day, logic and authority always wins over brute strength.

I’ll use my brain...I’ll do it legally.

"You don’t look so excited anymore" father says and the car jostles from a stone, "I am excited" I lie.

We arrive at the clan and the place is really small.

Their people line in front to greet us, they look like they’ve only seen terror and it bothers me, I see a woman that looks too expensive to be in a clan like this.

She bows as we pass by and I can’t take my eyes off her home...the flowers that line the front are dying, like the person who planted them there with so much care is gone, leaving them to die.

"Come on, meet the trainer boys and I’ll have a meeting with the clan leader to arrange a public announcement" dad pats my shoulder and points towards a building that looks like a studio.

With no one with me, I enter the place with my head down, and I am immediately hit with the smell of different pheromones; male sweat, alpha rage and bitter pain.

My nose stings from the horrid mix of smell but I get into the place still.

A man stands in front watching the young boys fight, shouting orders and I make myself small, avoiding the blood, spit and sweat.

"Ah, Hwang Hanuel is here, everyone show him the best things you can do" he yells and a chill goes through my body.

I hate violence, I hate noise, I hate the way they’re grunting and groaning...but I have to stay through it, learn it all.

It goes on for over an hour before it ends, and some of them walks past me mumbling ’hellos’ and ’goodbyes’, I can’t tell if they are intimidated because I’m tall or they’re irritated because I’m a Hwang.

"How did you enjoy the class, Hwang?" the trainer asks and I nod, sick to my stomach and ready to leave.

"Your father says you might train with me, I hope you’re ready, you look rather...pale" he says and laughs.

A boy dressed in dark clothes and a backpack on his shoulder walks past us, he’s almost as tall as I am, his features look scary and his body is built.

"That’s Jisung, he started out as my weakest and now, no one can beat him" trainer says and excuses himself to attend to someone else.

Something falls out of Jisung’s pocket and I run to pick it up for him, but before I can call his name, I flip the paper over and I’m greeted with Yeon’s face.

He looks younger here, younger, rougher and rude.

"Yeon?" I call and Jisung turns around.

"What did you say?" he growls at me and before I can respond, he jumps on me, pushing my body to the floor and punching my face.

"Wait! Yah! Yah!" I scream, trying to push him off me, but he keeps punching my face.

"Keep my dead hyung’s name out of your mouth, you Hwang beast!" he roars and punches me again.

"What are you talking about?!" I cry out in pain.

"Acting like you’re not part of those that killed him!" he spits in my face, shaking my body and slamming my head against the floor.

What?

Killed him?

My head hurts, my face hurts, my eyes are burning with tears when his words click.

He thinks I killed Yeon because I’m a Hwang? He thinks Yeon is dead? DEAD?

"Yeon’s not dead! I know where he is!" I scream and cover my face to save myself from the next hit but it never comes.

"What?" Jisung asks.