Chapter Two: The Runt Family
The meeting hall was lit by the flicker of ancient torches, their flames dancing upon stone walls engraved with a history that no longer feared anyone. A long table of dark wood stood in the center, carved with the family crest: Runt.
At the head of the table sat Parathium. Seventy years of age, with hair as white as bone and a face bearing the hardness of a man who had witnessed the rise and fall of generations. His eyes were steady… weary, yet unbroken.
To his right sat the eldest son, Kara. Forty-nine years old, his black hair streaked with silver. His frame was broad, his fists clenched as if the table were the only thing keeping him from exploding.
To Parathium's left sat Ram, the second son. Thirty-nine years old, his features were calmer, but his eyes moved incessantly—calculating, measuring, assessing.
At the opposite end sat Thor, Parathium's brother. Sixty-six years old, with thick white hair and a back as straight as a spear despite his age. His gaze was sharp, the look of a man who never stopped fighting, even while seated.
Beside them sat Thor's sons: Neptune (33), dark-haired and composed; and Saqr (22), the youngest there, his eyes burning with a fire he had not yet learned to conceal.
Near the middle sat Jamie (25). His thick beard gave him a stature beyond his years, yet he was the most silent among them.
At the very end, as if they were outside the frame of the picture, sat John and Robert. Only twenty years old, wearing suits still stained with blood and torn from battle. John was unnervingly calm… while Robert made no effort to hide his tension.
A heavy silence reigned… then it shattered.
Kara struck the table with his fist.
"This is an injustice!" His voice echoed through the hall like a slap. "The Empire wants to annihilate us for no reason? What in the hell is this?!"
The torch flames flared violently, as if responding to his rage.
Thor growled, leaning forward: "Damn them… do they want to destroy the entire order? If they start with us today, tomorrow will be someone else's turn."
Ram raised his hand slowly, his voice low but decisive: "We have no time for shouting. If the threat we face is real… then we must prepare for a confrontation."
Then, John spoke. His voice was quiet, but it struck like an arrow.
"How do we prepare?" He raised his head slowly. "They are the Empire. Our strongest members are barely at the peak of the Seeker rank. Any direct confrontation… is suicide."
All eyes turned toward Parathium.
The old man sighed deeply, then spoke: "We will seek support from the other lower-tier families. We will stand together… and endure."
Jamie finally looked up.
"It's useless." His voice was cold… painful. "None of those families know the truth. This news is known only to a narrow circle of the high authorities." He paused, then added: "And if we lead the resistance… we will be the first to die."
Robert gave a short, bitter laugh: "So what then? We commit mass suicide?"
Jamie clenched his jaw. He knew the next moment would make him hated.
"I received an offer… from the Pharaohs family."
Silence fell. Even the fire seemed to quiet down.
Parathium raised his head slowly. "Go on."
Jamie took a deep breath. In his mind, the image of his fiancée flashed before his eyes—her eyes, her voice, her trust in him. He felt as though he were stabbing her in the back even before he spoke.
"Because of my engagement to their daughter… they said if we become their subordinates, they will protect us."
Kara couldn't contain himself, but Parathium erupted before anyone else.
"Damn it!" He stood up abruptly, his voice shaking the hall. "Who do they think they are?! We will never accept! I would rather die! I inherited this family from my father… I will not see it humiliated!"
Jamie gripped his hands tightly, his voice cracking: "Father… a single person in the Legendary class is enough to wipe out all third-tier families like us."
Robert stood halfway up: "I'm with my father. I refuse humiliation."
John… smiled. A small, barely visible smile.
"And I am with Jamie."
Heads turned toward him.
"We must protect the lineage," he said with deadly calm. "We grow stronger… then we rebel."
Jamie was shocked: "Rebel? Against what? Are you mad? The Pharaohs are equal to the Empire!"
Thor struck his cane against the floor: "This… is the most logical solution for survival."
Neptune nodded slowly: "I agree."
Kara looked around, for the first time without an answer.
As for Jamie… he felt his heart bleeding more than any battle. He had betrayed his fiancée before betraying his name. He had betrayed himself… in the name of the family.