"Do you think we need your consent?"
Raiden clicked his tongue, irritation flashing across his face.
Fray shrugged again.
"You do."
He tapped the papers once with his finger. "Disownment isn't valid unless both parties agree. That's the law, y'know."
His gaze lifted meeting Lloyd's eyes without fear. "Unless you're accusing me of a crime… this is just ink on paper."
"Being a pathetic F-rank is already a crime!"
Raiden yelled, stepping forward, his voice rumbling with anger.
"Raiden."
Alexis spoke calmly. He finally turned his head and looked in Fray's direction in a sharp and almost assessing gaze. "I never knew you did your studies," he said in his usual unreadable face.
Fray scratched the back of his neck, his smirk fading into something more tired.
"Well, who knows how life can change," he said quietly. "It's good to study beforehand."
Lloyd's cold gaze locked onto Fray.
"Fray Fenrir, do you really think I can't accuse you of a crime?"
"Legally, no," Fray replied. His tone was steady. "But who knows what dark paths you have." He paused, then lifted his hand and rubbed his fingers together, making a clear money sign. "So let's settle this with money, without dragging this out so much."
"Shameless punk," Lloyd hissed through clenched teeth.
"Eeh, don't be like that." Fray shrugged, looking almost carefree. "Who do you think I learned this from?"
"Thousand runic," Lloyd said coldly, crossing his arms over his chest.
Fray tilted his head. "Come on. I did not ask to be born. I was just the result of you, my parents, having pleasure. Add some more."
"FRAY!!!"
Lloyd almost yelled as his aura poured out with murderous intent. The pressure slammed into Fray's body. It felt like his whole throat was burning, his lungs tightening, his eyes stinging as if they might tear apart.
Fray struggled to keep his face calm as he clenched his jaw, his nails digging into his palm.
"Ten thousand runic," he said, forcing the words out. "Just give me that much, and I will walk away from your lives."
"Give him that, Father."
Alexis spoke while leaning back in flat, uninterested tone, as if discussing something trivial.
Lloyd looked like he wanted to argue, no, to punish Fray right there for his words. His fingers twitched. But after a moment, he inhaled sharply and calmed himself, slowly retracting his aura as the crushing pressure faded from the room.
"Ten thousand runic, that is. Sign the papers."
Lloyd said it before plopping back into his chair, already done with the matter.
Runic was the main currency of the Yorha Kingdom. With ten thousand runic, one could at least rent a good small house and cover basic needs for around six months. Seeing Lloyd agree so easily, Fray let out a quiet sigh.
I should have asked for more.
As he signed the papers, which both Lloyd and his mother already signed, he officially cut ties with his family. Without waiting any longer, he turned and walked toward the door.
"Wire the money to my bank account."
After saying that, he left the room.
Once outside, he let out a huge sigh, his shoulders finally dropping. The pressure that had been crushing his chest loosened. Finally, he was out of that suffocating room.
He slipped his hands into his pants pockets and walked down the corridor. His steps slowed as he took a good look around, memorizing the walls, the pillars, the quiet luxury of the place. He understood that this would be the last time he would walk through this mansion.
Then he heard soft footsteps following behind him.
"Wait, Fray."
A gentle voice called out. Fray stopped and finally looked over his shoulder.
"Yes, sis?"
But before he could say anything more, a cold sensation crept up his spine.
His shadow… moved.
Something dark stirred within it slowly.
His beast.
Fray moved his attention to his shadow, watching it stretch long across the polished floor as the corridor lights followed him. But Ellie Fenrir interrupted him.
"Fray, are you okay?" she asked, her face filled with worry. "Sorry… I was not able to do anything."
He looked at her slender figure.
Ellie Fenrir, the top beauty of the Yorha Kingdom. Well, besides that title, she was not much in the family either. She was spared from being disowned only because of her beauty's value. That was the cruel truth of it.
Man, I myself am quite a handsome fella. The world is so unfair.
"Yes, I am alright," he said, ruffling his own hair lightly, brushing it off like it didn't matter. "Then I will leave, if that's all."
Ellie tried to say something more, her lips parting slightly, but Fray had already turned away and left. To Fray, her concern felt like nothing more than pity. Something done out of obligation. He doubted she even felt real sadness anyway.
His smartphone vibrated in his pocket.
He checked it and saw that Lloyd had wired the money. After picking up his already packed small backpack, Fray finally stepped out of the damn cold mansion of the Fenrirs.
Standing outside, he looked back.
The mansion was truly huge when seen from the outside, towering and silent like a monster made of stone. He left the household completely as he finally stepped onto the main road.
The streets were filled with towering buildings stretching into the sky, vehicles rushing past with glowing lights, and people enjoying their evening, laughing and walking freely.
Standing at the road crossing like a damn idiot, Fray sighed inwardly.
The noise of the city rushed past him, people brushing by without a second glance.
Well, anyway…
He had already gone through the process of finding a new house. Pulling out his phone, he finally dialed the number he had saved earlier.
"Hello, it's me, Fray. Did you clean up the house? I would like to rent it from now on."
He spoke calmly while looking up at a huge screen mounted on one of the towering buildings, displaying the faces and achievements of top beast tamers.
Fray sighed again as he finally hung up the call.
Some people had the luxury of bonding with higher-grade beasts, while others suffered deep in the pit with lower grades, or even without one at all. The difference between heaven and dirt was decided in a single awakening.
A chill suddenly ran up his spine.
Fray felt his shadow stir again, faintly twisting beneath his feet. He lowered his gaze and stared at it for a moment, tired more than surprised.
"Seriously?" he muttered. "You can just leave me too. Not like I can do anything with you anyway."
His voice was quiet, almost resigned.
His beast, whatever it was, he hadn't even seen it yet. It didn't come out even at the ritual ground, where every beast tamer awakened when they reached the age of eighteen. While others roared and shone, his remained silent.
He waited a little longer, watching his shadow, expecting another stir.
Nothing came.
It was as if it had gone completely silent again.
Well, whatever.
After that, Fray finally walked through the busy streets, slowly leaving behind the noise and lights. The area became quieter, almost rural compared to the city center. He stopped in front of a three-story building, old but sturdy.
Instead of going up, he turned and climbed down the staircase leading to the basement.
"You are here," an old man said as he finally noticed Fray.
"Hello, sir. I am Fray, the one who called you," Fray replied with a polite smile on his face. Then he looked around the place, and something close to displeasure ran through his expression, but it quickly disappeared.
It was a long corridor with dark-colored walls. Moss had grown even in the corners of the ceiling, giving the place a damp, forgotten feeling. On one side of the wall, there was a single door that was the entrance to his new house.
The house number board was slightly disheveled. When the door opened, it let out a sharp creaking sound, dust flying into the air as if it hadn't been touched in a long time.
I asked them to clean it, didn't I?
"Ya can use the furniture," the old man said, clasping his hands behind his slightly hunched back. "Remember, pay on time. Here's the key."
He threw a key in Fray's direction. Fray barely caught it, blinking in surprise.
"And no women at night," the old man added, pointing an accusing finger at Fray.
Fray froze, completely dumbfounded. "Eh?"
"No drinking, no barking, no-"
"Sir, wait, wait-" Fray waved his hands with a confused look. Why the heck would I even bark?
"Absolutely no smoking!" the old man continued, not letting Fray interrupt him. "Sleep early!"
With that, he turned and started walking toward the staircase, leaving Fray behind in the empty, dust-filled room.
"What in the world-"
"NO CURSING!"
Fray almost fell backward as the old man suddenly yelled from the staircase, poking his head out like a turtle peeking from its shell before disappearing again.
"Y-yes," Fray said.