Evolution of the Ruined Heir - Chapter 243: Drah’Morr
Chapter 243: Drah’Morr
He pondered her question briefly.
“I am Malakai,” he said simply. Announcing his full name felt stupid.
If they had any idea he was someone important, who knew, they could use his life to make a statement to the outside world.
And if the Fourth Pulse didn’t cover it up, the Sanguine Clan would likely storm in and wipe the Gor’Mekhai out.
Still… his life would already be lost by then.
Grath’Mekhai nodded slowly. “Malakai… I would like to offer you another apology for the rough treatment you experienced bringing you in. Zhul’kor will undergo a strict penance for his conduct.”
“Grath’Mekhai—” a voice started, but she raised her hand again, cutting it off.
“Enough,” she said coldly.
“We try not to seem like savages, and yet you all continue proving them right. We are not savages. We are a people. And we have our ways. Our way is not to attack others blindly.”
The man, Zhul’kor, Malakai assumed, gritted his teeth and sent a dark glare in his direction.
Malakai ignored it and focused on the aged woman.
‘Hmm. How should I respond?’
His mind worked quickly.
It would seem that not all was as bad as he had thought. He had assumed, considering their strained relationship with the city, that it was a kill on sight policy for all invaders.
He sent a glance to the side. Grunde was still unconscious.
‘Good,’ he thought. ‘I have to handle this before he wakes up.’
Grunde had lost control before they were put under. The current gathering was filled with hostile faces, and the only Gor’Mekhai Malakai could see who were even the least bit passive were the coven head and Luna, Grunde’s lover.
“Speak, Ashskin! You are being addressed by our Grath’Mekhai!” one of the men seated on a throne suddenly said, and Malakai felt an aura press down on him.
‘A Bloom,’ he realized instantly.
But the pressure vanished just as quickly, as Grath’Mekhai turned her glare toward the man. Then she looked back at Malakai, waiting patiently for his response.
He glanced around again. There were more than ten figures seated on thrones.
‘Does that mean they’re all Blooms?’
‘That’s more than ten Grade 4s…’
Malakai shuddered at the thought. If war ever broke out between the Sanguine Clan and the Gor’Mekhai, it wouldn’t end without devastating consequences.
He exhaled slowly and met the aged woman’s gaze. The calmness in his eyes didn’t waver.
“Why did you kidnap us?”
Murmurs instantly erupted across the hall.
“How dare you speak to the Grath’Mekhai like that?”
“Silence the Ashskin!”
“He insults our coven head!”
A raise of Grath’Mekhai’s hand silenced them once again.
“I can assure you, it wasn’t our intention,” she said. “The Gor’Mekhai do not attack unless threatened. We value peace.”
Her gaze shifted slightly toward Grunde.
“It is to my knowledge that your companion lost control and was about to attack my people.”
“He only did that because they threatened us to follow you,” Malakai said calmly, gesturing to Lina and Luna behind the aged woman. It was half a lie, but his heart rate remained steady.
He was glad he wasn’t surrounded by Sanguine Blooms, people who could read the pulse of a lie.
Grath’Mekhai’s brow furrowed. “Is this true?”
Lina quickly bowed and began to speak.
“Grath’Mekhai, Vasha kor thun…”
But she was cut off immediately.
“We will speak of this later,” the aged woman said, then turned her focus back to Malakai.
“It seems my child has offended you,” she said. “She still has much growing to do. I hope you’ll pardon her.”
Malakai didn’t push. He gave a simple nod.
“Now that we’ve cleared that out… we’re visitors, not prisoners, right?”
“Yes.”
Malakai gestured toward his bound hands and feet.
Grath’Mekhai waved her hand, and suddenly, he felt his restraints loosen.
‘What?’ He glanced down and saw the ropes sliced cleanly apart.
‘I didn’t even notice anything.’
He cleared his mind, settling back into focus. There was still one question that weighed on him, one that would determine how he proceeded from here.
“Why were we… invited here?”
“For the Drah’Morr,” Grath’Mekhai answered instantly.
Malakai’s face reflected the confusion blooming inside him.
“You should start by explaining what the Drah’Morr is.”
“The Drah’Morr,” she said slowly, “is a sacred contest the Gor’Mekhai use to settle disputes. When one refuses to follow a ruling made by the coven, the Drah’Morr is the way to challenge that decision. It is our tradition. It is our law.”
Malakai frowned. “And how do I fit into this?”
“You have been chosen as a champion to participate in the Drah’Morr. It’s an honor.”
‘Huh?’
Malakai blinked. He scanned the faces of those seated, waiting for the moment they would burst out laughing. It had to be a joke. Right?
Only Lina seemed to be fighting back a smirk.
“There has to be some kind of mistake,” Malakai said. “Not only am I not one of your people, I don’t think I’ve ever had a dispute to settle.”
“You are correct,” Grath’Mekhai replied. “You will not be representing yourself… but someone else.”
“Who?”
“My daughter.”
She waved her hand, and Luna stepped forward. Her gaze met Malakai’s, it was apologetic, but firm.
‘She’s responsible for this.’
A coldness flickered through Malakai, but he reeled it in.
“I don’t have a say in this?”
Luna’s expression dropped, but Malakai didn’t look at her again.
“Of course you do,” the aged woman said. “But wouldn’t you like to know what the dispute is about first, before you decide?”
Malakai considered it for a moment. At the very least… he was glad he had a choice.
He gave a slow nod.
“Then continue.”
“For reasons best known to the coven,” Grath’Mekhai began, “it is forbidden for our people to form relationships outside the coven. My daughter, Luna, has broken that law, and formed one with your companion over there.”
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle.
“When the coven ruled to end the relationship between them, Luna invoked the Drah’Morr… and you have been chosen to represent them.”
Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com
