Chapter 31 It's either this or that
“Shit… how did that bird hear me?”
A bead of sweat slid down Vandal’s spine, cold against his skin.
“Oh? No one wants to speak?” Elder Yung’s voice cut through the hall, sharp as a blade.
“Elder, I don’t think…” Mael began.
“Stay out of this, Mael.” Yung didn’t even look at him. “You know the rules of this sect. An insult to an elder is no small matter. If order crumbles in the smallest things, chaos will devour the greatest.”
Silence clamped down on the room.
“I want everyone to stand still.”
“Proud,” Yung called, tilting his head toward the black-feathered crow perched nearby. “Find the one who insulted me.”
Vandal’s pulse spiked.
Proud? That ridiculous bird has a name?
His fingers twitched at his sides. Think. Think. I can’t run. Not here…
The crow lifted into the air with a harsh flap of wings, circling above them. Its dark eyes scanned the line, slow and deliberate, before it descended.
It landed. It’s claws gripping firmly onto Sabine’s shoulder.
Vandal’s breath caught.
“You.” Yung’s lips curled. “I’m not surprised. You’ve always lacked manners.”
Sabine didn’t flinch.
“You will receive one hundred and fifty lashes.”
Vandal stepped forward before he could stop himself. “Elder, she’s a lady. She can’t endure that.”
What is that bird doing? Of all people, Sabine? No… I can’t let this happen.
Yung’s gaze snapped to him. “How dare you question me? I suspected you already. I’m only surprised the bird chose her, but the apple rarely falls far from the tree.”
Sabine’s eyes hardened. “Senior, what do you mean by that? You can’t punish people as you please.”
She stood straight, unshaken, every bit the daughter of a powerful elder.
“You think your mother shields you?” Yung scoffed. “The law is the law.”
From within his robes, he drew a cane, thick and solid, more like a staff than a rod. He raised it without hesitation.
“I did it!” Vandal shouted. He lunged forward to block the cane for Sabine.
Fiiit!
The cane tore through cloth and bit into flesh. Pain exploded across his back, hot and immediate. Welted skin seeped through the torn fabric.
Yung froze for a heartbeat, then his face twisted with fury. “How dare you stand in my way?”
“I said I did it.” Vandal straightened despite the sting burning along his spine. “I don’t know what’s wrong with your bird, but it chose wrong.”
Sabine grabbed his arm. “Vandal, stop. I don’t need you fighting for me. He’s already overstepping, punishing without proof.”
“There’s nothing to pretend,” Vandal said, forcing a grin. “It was me. That bird must be blind.”
Sabine’s grip tightened. Her gaze flickered between him and Yung.
If Elder Yung accepts this, it might get worse. He heads the discipline branch…
Yung exhaled slowly, anger simmering beneath his skin. “If you insist on taking the blame, so be it. You’ll be confined. Perhaps isolation will teach you manners.” He waved a hand dismissively. “The rest of you, leave.”
“Vandal…” Sabine started.
“It’s fine.” He gave her a crooked smile. “Just confinement. I earned it.”
That smile only deepened the lines of rage on Yung’s face. Still smiling? Let’s see how long that lasts, his eyes seemed to say.
“Elder, that’s enough.”
The voice drifted through the hall, calm and steady, yet it felt as though it had been spoken right beside Yung’s ear.
Yung stiffened.
“Let him go,” the voice continued. “He’s new to the sect. He hasn’t even learned the rules yet. And Sabine…” A faint pause. “She clearly didn’t insult you. You might want to check that bird of yours.”
A figure stepped forward, Father Williams, as though he had been there all along.
Shock rippled through the hall. Everyone bowed immediately.
“Greetings, Holy Father.”
“But, Grand Elder…” Yung began.
Williams turned his gaze on him. “Are you disobeying me, Elder Yung?”
Each word landed softly and carried weight enough to crush any resistance.
“No… not at all.” Yung lowered his head quickly.
“Good.” Williams waved a hand. “You enforcers should go prepare yourselves.”
Williams pulled out a chair and sat, motioning for Yung to do the same. “We should come to an understanding.”
Mael gestured. “Let’s go.”
As Vandal turned to leave, he glanced back and bowed again. Williams gave the slightest nod. He hadn’t moved his lips.
“Get stronger. Make me proud, boy.”
The voice slipped directly into Vandal’s ear.
He froze,
He didn’t even move his lips…
Just how strong is he?
\---
Back in the courtyard, Sabine caught his hand.
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
“You shouldn’t have stepped in,” Vandal replied quietly.
“I wanted to.” She met his eyes. “You have no backing here. Taking the blame would have only made things worse for you.”
Vandal chuckled softly. “Maybe I do have backing, in a way. Didn’t you see what Holy Father Williams did?”
“I did.” A small smile tugged at her lips. “Maybe he sees your talent. Maybe he wants to adopt you.”
“Or he wants something,” Vandal said. “People don’t help without a reason.”
“Maybe.” She shrugged. “But what could you possibly offer him?”
Vandal didn’t answer.
“Enough of that,” Sabine said, letting go of his hand. Her fingers lingered for a brief moment before she pulled away. “You need to train. I have a bad feeling about this mission.”
She shifted her weight, then turned to face Vandal fully. For a second, she just looked at him, her usual confidence dimmed by worry.
“Our first as enforcers,” she added.
The words settled between them, heavier than they sounded.
A breath later, her mood seemed to lift. She clasped her hands behind her back, rocking slightly on her heels, a playful glint returning to her eyes.
“Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the sect market. We’ll need to pick up some supplies. Medicines, tools… things like that.” She tilted her head with a faint smile. “My mother always says being prepared is half the solution to any problem.”
Her smile widened a little. “We should go early too. If we don’t, all the good stuff will be gone before we even get there.”
She kept talking, but her voice slowed when she noticed he hadn’t responded.
“…Vandal?”
Silence.
Her brows drew together. His gaze wasn’t on her.
Following the direction of his eyes, her expression shifted instantly. Her lips parted, then pressed into a thin line as irritation flared.
“You bum!”
Her fists landed against his chest in quick, sharp hits, more offended than painful.
“If you like her chest so much, why don’t you just follow her to the market tomorrow!”
Her face flushed red as the words tumbled out.
Vandal caught her wrists, stopping her mid-swing. “I swear, I wasn’t looking at anything,” he said, his face straight, almost too composed.
“Oh, don’t be so hard on him.”
The voice slipped in from behind her, smooth and teasing.
“He can’t help admiring a fully grown woman.”
Sabine stiffened before slowly turning around. Her eyes locked onto Yazmeen, sharp and unyielding, her posture rigid with barely contained anger.
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Yazmeen didn’t look bothered. If anything, the hostility seemed to amuse her. A faint smile curved her lips as her gaze drifted past Sabine and settled on Vandal.
“Then don’t,” she said lightly. “Although… I couldn’t help overhearing. Something about him coming to the market with me tomorrow?”
She took a small step forward, her tone softening just enough to carry an edge of suggestion.
“That works out nicely.”
Her eyes lingered on Vandal as she tilted her head slightly.
“I have a lot to show him.”
The words hung in the air longer than they should have.
Sabine’s jaw tightened, her fingers curling slightly at her sides. The tension between them thickened.