Drago hesitated.
Although Nina had been taken to Sin Beast City, she hadn't gone there of her own will. By rights, she shouldn't have been punished.
But he disliked this daughter of his. She was utterly useless and brought him nothing but embarrassment. Now, she had lost even her last remaining value. Even if she was his own flesh and blood, he no longer wanted to keep her.
In any case, he still had Mido. And Leah had only ever been with him and his younger brother—there was still time for him to have more daughters in the future.
Drago made his decision quickly. "Yes. There's no need for further proof. The area around Sin Beast City is filled with lowly sin beasts and wandering beasts. Since Nina consorted with them, she no longer deserves to remain in Spirit Stone City. However, since she wasn't there of her own will, I sentence her to exile in Savage Wasteland City."
After all, she was his biological child. Sparing her life was the last mercy he was willing to show. As for how long she would survive—that would depend on her own fate.
Savage Wasteland City was barren and backward. Demonic beasts and mutated beasts frequently appeared there, making it extremely dangerous—no better than Sin Beast City in many ways. The only slight advantage was that it was still governed by beastfolk, with some semblance of order. Beastfolk guilty of lesser crimes were often exiled there.
Suddenly, fragments of memory flashed through Nina's mind—scenes of Drago playing happily with her when she was little.
"Come, Nina, sit on Father's shoulders. I'll take you out to play."
"Nina, look—Father bought you a little dress."
...
In her memories, Drago had been gentle and loving. Those had likely been the happiest days of the original Nina's life.
In that instant, Nina seemed to feel the same deep, childlike longing for parental affection.
Her heart clenched painfully. She pressed a hand to her chest. "Father… are you really going to exile me to Savage Wasteland City?"
"Yes," Drago replied coldly. "From this day on, consider that I, Drago, never had a daughter like you."
"And you?" Nina turned to Leah. "Do you have nothing to say?"
Nina had fallen to this point, yet Leah hadn't spoken a single word. Her attention was fixed entirely on Lina, as if Nina had nothing to do with her at all.
"My daughter is only Lina," Leah said indifferently.
Nina's heart finally went dead.
So this was what they called family?
One personally pronounced her sentence. The other stood by and watched without emotion.
Since they didn't care whether she lived or died—since they had abandoned her—then whatever bonds this body once had with them were now completely severed.
There was no need for her to argue anymore.
She was alone and powerless. Staying here would only invite further harm. Leaving now was the wiser choice.
As for Lina—what she had done would be repaid one day, with interest.
"Fine. I'll go to Savage Wasteland City," Nina said, her eyes icy. "Father. Mother. This is the last time I'll ever call you that."
She then turned to the other beastfolk of Spirit Stone City. "You all saw it. You all heard it. Today, they were the ones who abandoned me first. From this moment on, I, Nina, have nothing to do with Drago or Leah anymore."
With that, Nina turned away resolutely and walked toward the city gates, step by step.
With every step she took, she felt a little lighter, as though something heavy was slowly drifting away on the wind.
At this moment, the beastfolk of Spirit Stone City felt less disgust toward Nina—what replaced it was sympathy and pity.
As Drago and Leah watched Nina's retreating figure, a sudden tightness seized their hearts, as though something precious had vanished forever, never to return.
Drago frowned and summoned two guards, ordering them to escort Nina to Savage Wasteland City.
The moment they passed through the city gates, Nina suddenly smacked her forehead. Oh no—she'd forgotten to pack her things. She was wearing nothing but a set of ragged clothes and had nothing else with her.
Just as she was wondering whether she should go back, the guards simply grabbed her and took off into the air.
Nina: ...
"Uh, brothers, could you take me back so I can pack a few things first?" Nina tried to negotiate.
"The City Lord ordered us to take you to Savage Wasteland City immediately. No delays," the guards replied, flying even faster.
Nina thought about it and sighed. Forget it—just a few clothes. Nothing valuable anyway.
Along the way, she shamelessly pestered the guards until they stopped by a nearby tribe. From there, she managed to scrounge up some white crystals and bought herself a few new sets of clothes.
Beast crystals were the currency of the beast world. Their value differed by color, ranked from lowest to highest as: white, black, blue, green, yellow, purple, and red.
Beast crystals were not only used as currency for trade; they also served other purposes. Blue crystals and those of higher rank could help males enhance their strength, while green crystals and above could extend a female's lifespan and preserve her beauty.