Kill The Old Ones!

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”So, I’ve heard that you’re on the roster of the tournament. I knew that you would join, so I did too.”

Inside a small tavern in the Archstone Plaza, a guy with short brown hair unceremoniously sat on a table next to the person who was already there, another man with long black hair tied to a bun wearing a serene expression that refused to be disturbed by the rude guest.

”That’s stalker behavior, Kupkha. Not a good look on you.”

”Well, what can I say? I do love the attention of femboys. Especially the one born from the Vermont family,” the rude guy suggestively wriggled his eyebrows at the calm man.

The man’s eyes sharpened; he glared at the brown-haired man and threatened, ”Call me a femboy again and I will gut you, Kupkha spawn. I won’t wait until the tournament to do so.”

”Hot.”

The so-called ’Kupkha spawn’ smirked, placing a hand on his chin, looking dreamy as he stared at the face of the delicate-looking man whose surname was Vermont.

”Seriously, if you’ve got nothing better to do, don’t bother me. I was enjoying some peace and quiet before you appeared out of nowhere and chased it away.”

”Aww, I’m sorry, Julie. Why don’t we go somewhere else private where we can have some peace and quiet? Together, I mean.”

A sharp metal gleam suddenly shone, aimed at the brown-haired man’s throat. A pristine white dagger with a venomous yet elegant edge appeared in the calm man’s hand out of nowhere, threatening to stab the other’s throat.

”Never call me that again. My name is Julius Regulus Vermont. You’d do well to remember that, Kupkha spawn. Make this mistake again, and I will ensure that this dagger pierces your throat regardless of where you are.”

The Kupkha spawn raised both of his hands in mock surrender, but the grin on his face showed otherwise.

”Alright, alright. Julius it is. Let’s put this away, hmm? These hands shouldn’t be holding something so dangerous; you might cut your fingers with it.”

For someone who sounds insufferable, the brown-haired man’s actions were very gentle and coaxing towards Julius.

”And to be fair, I told you to call me Eric, but you never did. You insist on calling me ’Kupkha spawn’; I’m just following your lead. If you’d call me by my name, then I’d use yours. Simple, isn’t it?”

”Ugh. What do you want? Why do you keep bothering me?” Julius snatched his hands away from the rough and callous hand of Eric, acting disgusted and creeped out.

Eric’s eyes shone and his smile widened.

”Oh, I think you know exactly what I want. And I’m a very determined man.”

Hearing these shameless words, Julius’ ears reddened in rage. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly.

He gave Eric a hate-filled glare before marching out of the room.

Eric didn’t look offended, not even in the slightest. He just sent Julius away with his gaze and stayed seated.

”Oh, Julie...you’re not getting away. I told you, I’m a very determined man. I’ll chase you to the ends of the world if need be just to get you.”

Another person entered the room. His arrival was on time to hear the words of Eric as Julius left the room.

”Boss, I don’t think he paid before he left. Should we...?”

”Handle it. We’ve got the money.” Eric waved his hand dismissively, staring at the chair that Julius sat upon before he left, entertaining some ideas.

”You know, Boss. I don’t get you. Why him? I thought you were, uh...straight?”

Eric raised his head and gave his lackey a leveled gaze before saying, ”I am. Straight, that is.”

”But...but...Julius is...oh, OH!!! He is—”

”Shh...keep that to yourself,” Eric smirked. ”Don’t let the Vermonts know that you’re aware of that, or else you’d be gone by tomorrow. And don’t let them know that I know too; they will wage war with my family if they do.”

”I understand, Boss.” The lackey nodded repeatedly, blanching at the prospect.

He was about to leave the boss to settle the room’s bill, but before he did, he reminded Eric of something:

”Still, even if that’s the case, you’re a Kupkha, Boss. And you’re bothering the heirs of your respective clan. Please, be careful in your pursuit of love, Boss.”

The lackey didn’t wait for his reply. He left the room to pay the bill, leaving Eric alone with his thoughts.

”Oh, no need to remind me, alright. I’m aware. I’m fully aware, and I hate it.”

”But what’s a man to do when he’s in love? Specifically a man such as me?” Eric stood up, his eyes blazing with passion as he remembered something.

”After that night we shared, there’s no way I’d let another man get filthy hands on you, my precious Julie. None!”

**

”Good day to you, Alden Silverye.”

”And to you as well, Charles Atelier.”

The two men, Alden and James, held eye contact for about a minute before...

”Pfft!”

”Skknrt!”

”AHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!”

...both of them burst into uproarious laughter. They both fell to the floor clutching their stomachs with how hard they were laughing.

”What the heck!? Please, let’s never do that again,” Alden mentioned as their laughter started fading.

”Dude, you literally started it,” Charles said, sitting up and wiping the tears at the corner of his eyes. ”I thought you were here for official business or some shit? Made me all nervous for nothing!”

”Alright, alright, sorry. I was just messing with you. I didn’t mean it, I promise.”

They went silent for a bit, both letting out their last chuckles before continuing their talk.

”Whew! Holy shit, I needed that. Thanks, by the way,” Charles said once he calmed down.

”Don’t worry about it,” Alden casually uttered, passing a bottle of water to the other. ”Why, though? Was your family putting some pressure on you about the tournament?”

Charles snorted before nodding. ”Yeah. They said that I should defeat you, Kupkha, and Vermont to remind everybody who’s the real leader of the four Ancient Martial Families. Tch. As if. They’re still being delusional after so long.”

”I see,” Alden nodded, before resting his back on the chair. ”Not to talk shit about your clan, but they’re really, uh...”

”Shameless, I know. It’s in our blood; don’t be surprised. Just because we were once named Kings once upon a time, they think that still has merit up to this day. I’m tired of their shit. I’m starting to think that it might be better if I just left the family and never looked back.”

”You want to be disowned?” Alden raised an eyebrow at that. He never heard Charles admit this out loud before.

”It’s sounding very tempting the longer I stay with them.” Charles doesn’t dare to confirm it right away, but he really was tempted.

Alden stayed silent. He didn’t want to give Charles anymore ideas because he might be blamed for it. But at the same time, he’s worried about his friend.

”Well, whatever you end up doing, just remember that I’m here for you.”

”Bro, don’t flirt with me right now; I’m vulnerable. I’ll suck your soul out if you don’t stop.”

”Fuck off! I’m trying to be a good friend here, and you’re making it weird!”

Both of them laughed at their antics. When their laughter died down, Charles raised another one of his concerns. .

”Even if, by chance, I did want to win this tournament, it’s very unlikely to happen. Not because there’s you, Vermont, and Kupkha in the way, but because of the Four Heavenly Kings of Central City.”

Alden’s eyes glazed over at the mention of that name.

The Four Heavenly Kings of Central City, heirs of the Ancient Martial Clans.

Seraphina Whitelock of the White Haven Clan.

Elena Frostmere of the Far North Clan.

Lucian Skyrend of the Heaven’s Reach Clan.

And last, but definitely not the least, Adrian Arclight of the Sword Saint Clan.

They are the undisputed strongest amongst the youth of Central City. Be it talent, resources, dedication, reputation, and so on, none of them lacked anything. They were born to stand above the rest and the cream amongst the crop of this whole city.

With them at the top, the rest could only compete for the 5th spot.

”Sad to say, my family’s so deep into their own pride and privilege that they won’t accept any excuses. Ugh, the more I think about this, the more I want to be disowned,” Charles groaned, seemingly wilting to his chair.

”Weren’t there five Ancient Martial Clans, though? I saw people debating about the fifth, but I can’t remember what they’re called. Do they have a representative?” Alden put on a thoughtful expression.

”Oh, you’re talking about the Banished Arms Clan.”

”Yeah! That’s the one.”

”Don’t worry about them. Last I heard, they were struggling to meet their monthly expenses. They are an ancient clan for the sake of age and history. They’re not really strong like the other clans. They haven’t produced any geniuses, either. So yeah, they probably don’t have a representative.”

Charles sure sounds certain in his assessment.

Only if he knew...