Something Immortal

16: The Other Side

Kali had known from the beginning that Som had been spying on them, and the Strigoi brothers were helping him. Kali was appalled those two bloodsuckers would even consider assisting someone after being aware of the present status of the Strigoi empire.

"Excuse me! Dragon Prince is coming through," as soon as they arrived at the place, this good friend of his started announcing his title for the world to hear.

"Cut the bullshit," Kali murmured next to Rattanon, who was visibly having fun. "You enjoy saying that, don't you?"

Rattanon gave him a smirk, "Yes. It rolls in the tongue, don't you agree? Hey, Kla Han! Are you still alive?"

The barmaids of Klannad were all seductive forest creatures that belonged to the Hulder clan. They were few of them in Asturia, and so they decided to settle in Old-eldill. For a sacred beast like Kali and his friends, they may seem beautiful with indistinctive inhuman features and animal tails, as well as skin that resembled a hollowed-out tree. But no matter how gorgeous they were in a mysterious sort of way, Kali could never be attracted to them. It was only fortunate that they seemed fascinated by the Werecats and were attached to Kla Han like pins to a magnet.

Kla Han was the Crowned Alpha of the Werecat clan, and as soon as they entered the bar, his thick dark brow creased, and his golden eyes burned brighter.

"Get up," Kali simply said as he approached him. He wasn't the type to mince with words and hated barking orders. Even the title "Dragon Prince" irritates him. And knowing this personality of his, Rattanon stepped forward to explain.

"Uhm, ladies. We'll be taking our friend here. We'll treat you again next time!" He then hooked his arm to Kla Han's forearm and dragged him forcefully. Kali watched this charade indifferently before walking to follow them with hands behind his back.

"What took you guys so long?" the dog complained right away as soon as they were out of earshot and headed straight to the carriage drawn by six dark unicorns.

Kali felt his gaze but didn't reply. The Dragon Prince ordered the coachmen to drive so they could return to the academy on time.

This carriage and horses were a gift from his older brother, Kyro. The Dragon King wasn't very fond of his younger brother's habit of transforming into a Dragon and using himself as transportation. Even if Kali could turn invisible in the sky and fly as fast as the wind making it impossible for the naked eye to see, Kyro would remind him constantly to stay on the ground.

It made Kali unhappy as a child. As he grew older, his temper gradually soothed down. He began to understand that their enormous size was among the many reasons why the other races feared them. Kali also started not minding his brother's many silly gifts, not to mention he had developed a fondness for the dark unicorns, naming them in his pleasure and even had a smith fashion an armor to fit their rather masculine body perfectly so they would not draw attention when outside of their territory.

"You look happy," Kla Han noted. Aside from his brother, only he and Rattanon could sense much of Kali's feelings despite the lack of much-needed facial expression.

When Kali remained silent, Rattanon teased, "He's in a good mood."

The corner of Kali's lips curved upward, but he didn't bother denying this accusation. "Not a lot of things in this world can turn your mood good. Is it Som?" Kla Han persisted in knowing and even mentioned the name.

"Of course, it is Som!" Rattanon added. "Why are you even wondering? The husband will only be in a good mood because of the wife."

Despite the continuous chaffing of Rattanon, they were quiet on the journey back to the academy. The night was also getting colder, making all three of them yawn. When the silence became too much to handle, Kla Han decided to raise a serious issue to pass the time.