The serpent slithered forward, its scales shimmering with rising heat, as even the snake seemed tired of holding back its fire. The crowd gasped, some backing away. I could tell none of them had the Mana to defend themselves.

I felt a strong grip on my arm. Astraya squeezed it. "What are we going to do?" she whispered.

I didn't know. Nothing had prepared me for this. What if we got into serious trouble, having just heard him admit he was from a royal family? Should we wait for Dad? Should we stop her... Should she just allow him to burn the board? We could clearly get another one, right? Before she did something reckless? So many things clogged my mind. Think, Astraga, think.

But before I could even finish the thought and make my final decision, Astraya was already running forward to Granny Maera's aid.

Wait, what is she thinking? We literally don't know how the outside world views us. For Dad to lie to the old lady, imagine being in front of a royal now? Crap, not good.

She joined Granny, standing shoulder to shoulder with her, hands spread wide.

"Stop!" she shouted. "You can't do this!"

Greyjoy blinked in disbelief. He lifted his hand, instantly halting his Mana Beast's fire. He looked from Granny to Astraya, assessing them from head to toe. "Granny, why drag your grandchild into your madness?" His voice rose with irritation. "Get out of the way, both of you."

All I could do at that moment was watch as everything happened so fast.

"Please," Granny said softly, tears brimming. "My son is still missing, and most of us here don't have the money to make new posters. The time and money required is too much for me to bear. It has been this way for five years now; most of our money goes to tax. Wouldn't it be best to solve these cases first, before burning away the last memory we have of them?"

Greyjoy's patience snapped. "Don't you have another grandchild this one right here?" He pointed toward Astraya. "Go live quietly with her, old woman, and you, granddaughter, take your granny away she's losing her mind! It appears you aren't her favorite. And taxes are also felt by these people; don't go acting as though you are the only one who pays them, Granny, or I will report you to the State personally."

"No, we aren't moving from this place. If not anything, let the people decide what they want to do with the board." Everyone looked at Astraya, and murmurs began to surface, agreeing with her. It was their board; if not anything, let them decide, not him. Greyjoy could feel the defiance from the agreeing crowd.

For once, my talkative sister was no longer silent; she was back. She stood firm, unflinching, the firelight flickering in her eyes.

Greyjoy sneered. "Why are you the only ones protesting? If she doesn't move, she'll join her grandson soon enough."

Harl, the officer, nervously interjected. "My Lord, you must be joking! She is just like that when it's matters of the board."

Greyjoy turned on him. "Harl, if you know her and value her life, I suggest you tell her to step aside!" His eyes glowed red, and so did his Mana Beast's.

Harl's face, from where I could see, looked terrified, as though he had seen the devil himself in flesh and bone. He immediately walked up to Granny Maera. "You need to step aside! He isn't joking! And you, little girl," he whispered to Astraya, "your actions are noble, but move aside. He will do it, and nobody will get justice for your deaths."

Greyjoy called out, his voice sharp. "Harl! You want to burn alongside them? Step aside now!"

Harl stammered, his body fidgeting. "Oh, sorry, my Lord!" He then whispered to Granny Maera, "Move aside, for freaking sake!"

"Please, stop this," Astraya finally said, her voice trembling as she saw the despair in Harl's eyes. "This board every last one of those faces on this board means everything to these people. Burning it will only make forgetting them much easier—"

"Enough! I didn't ask you for advice. Burn in hell, for all I care!" Greyjoy roared, his eyes glowing fiery red.

That was it. The last straw. My body moved even after all my thinking; the urge of me feeling like a coward ate me up while I watched. But not anymore. If a fight was what he wanted out of this situation, that is what he would get.

I stepped beside them, the three of us now standing in front of the board. Greyjoy paused again. "Two?" he sneered. "You have two grandchildren, and you're worried about one? The more reason why I should burn you!"

"We are not related," Astraya stated clearly, nodding at me, "but that doesn't mean we'll stand by and watch you destroy something this important to these people."

The young man, Greyjoy, looked us and Granny Maera over again. "Oh, yeah, come to think of it, your outfits do look different a familiar attire, hmm. Not from around here, then, are you? Are you from the capital, Manyblood?" he drawled, his eyes squinted slightly. His gaze fell to the emblem on our coats. "A rose emblem."

I quickly confirmed, "Yeah, what about the rose emblem?"

"Not a Bearmount, then," he smirked. "I don't know what kind of education you two got at home, but let me clue you in. People who have the heart emblem are of royal status, but flowers, I would say, represent high status, but nowhere near the Five Royal Families. You understand social hierarchy now, kids?" he spoke down to us as though he wasn't a child himself. He was clearly enjoying explaining his status.

"You know what? Let's make it interesting. The rose emblem hasn't been something I've seen before. Why don't you tell me your family name, as we could even be closely mutual tied families." He tilted his head, eyes glinting with curiosity. "Tell me your names. Your family name. If you're someone truly important, worth my time and respect, I won't burn the board, and I will walk away. In fact, I will even apologize to these poor people of Blackroot." He gave an air of confidence, sure we couldn't match his expectations.

Immediately, everyone hoped we were high-status, close mutual families with this arrogant idiot, and we became the center of attention. Astraya and I exchanged a glance. I could read her expression like a book, but which family name should we actually call out—Mother's or Father's? I did remember... Oh, I knew which family name I could use to make him feel we as well had high status.

"The Ashborn family," we said in unison.

Greyjoy scoffed, the amusement vanishing instantly. "Never heard of it." His irritation was palpable. He gestured, and his massive snake Mana Beast lowered its head, charging a fireball.

"Wait! Wait!" I quickly shouted. What did he mean he hadn't heard of the Ashborns? I mean, I thought they would at least be a big name.

"Clocks ticking! I'm getting really impatient!" Greyjoy snapped. Astraya's face was the perfect interpretation of surprise. Both of us usually rated the Ashborn family so highly, but knowing how Father had been so heavily respected since we got here, it was only natural we called the last name I could think of...

"What about the Fula family?"

Greyjoy froze. The coiled snake paused its charge. The young man's face, moments ago arrogant, was now etched with raw terror. Why would he be this scared? Did we really underrate the Fulas that much?

"The Fulas!" he spoke with reverence. "The strongest family in Manyblood? That answer only to the King directly?" He looked utterly terrified, immediately dropping to one knee in a deep bow, and his Mana Beast followed suit, scraping its massive head to the ground.

What was this... could it be? Were the Fulas that powerful? Only answering to the King?

Astraya and I felt a rush of confidence. "Good. Show some respect," Astraya said, her voice firm, as she smirked. The tables had turned. We moved away from the board

I looked around. The entire crowd was in shock; many still didn't know what to do, but if Greyjoy had bowed his head, they, too, would follow suit, their heads now bowed deeply to us. Some whispered that they'd never heard of the Fula family, but the collective reverence for the Fula name was undeniable, especially in Greyjoy.

"Please, I apologize for my manner. I didn't know your status. May I know your full names? Did you come here alone?" he asked, trying to recover his composure.

My sister, already enjoying the shift in power a bit too much, straightened. "I am Astraya Fula, and my brother is Astraga Fula my elder brother."

"Oh, I see. Truly an honor to have you here."

I started to speak, "About this board—"

He immediately raised his hand. "Say no more! I shall return the board back to its rightful place and begin my mission here. The Fulas shall see my results and hopefully help tell the King about my work." He gave a strained grin, already trying to sound humble and ambitious. It did feel good to have the tables turned on this arrogant bastard.

Granny Maera, her guard completely down, quickly tried to pull us aside. "I'm sorry for getting you this much attention! I didn't know you two and your father were such important figures in Manyblood. Let's just wait for your father as he returns the board now. Thank you so much! If not for you two standing up against the young master, I couldn't just imagine what I would do."

"No, no, it's okay, Grandma. Please, let's just focus on helping you as much as we can," I replied.

"You are good kids. I'm so proud your parents didn't raise you to be like most royals. Thank you," she said, backing up Greyjoy and covering our view, pressing her cheek gently against mine to show her gratitude. "Now let's see them return the board, and I will treat you to a fine—"

Before she could finish, three strong men grabbed our arms tightly, holding us down. At the same moment, a jarring, hard laugh erupted—a laugh so devious it showed no restraint. Greyjoy was on the ground, almost rolling and forgetting his attire and status, tears streaming from his eyes as he kicked the dirt.

"You really believed that?" he choked out between gasps of laughter, wiping a tear from his eye. "You thought your family was really higher than mine? I do know some Fulas. And they help do my family taxes! Oh, I think we have a Fula that cleans horse sh*t on my family estate!"

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