Nina cast Drago a cold, distant glance. "I’ve already said it—we have nothing to do with each other anymore. Don’t come looking for me again."

Why was he here again?

Drago felt a tight ache in his chest. "What happened before... I wronged you. This time, I truly want to make it up to you."

"There’s no need. I don’t want anything from you. Leave—and don’t come back."

Nina turned and walked into the courtyard without another look.

"Nina—"

Drago stepped forward, but the mates blocked his path.

They shot him a cold look and shut the gate in his face.

He stood there for a long time, staring at the closed doors, before finally turning away.

He knew... he had lost this daughter forever.

Step by step, he walked toward the city gates, his figure seeming smaller, more hunched with every step.

***

Back inside, Nina sat in the courtyard, playing with the cubs.

The mates kept a careful eye on her expression, worried that Drago’s appearance might have affected her mood.

But seeing her laugh and play with the children, they gradually relaxed.

After a while, Mona approached hesitantly. "Lady Nina... something feels a bit strange with my body. Could you take a look?"

Nina set down Yinny and Didi, who had been playing in her lap. "Go play on your own for a bit. Mother needs to help Auntie Mona."

The cubs nodded obediently and scampered off.

Nina gestured to a chair beside her. "Sit. What feels wrong?"

Mona sat down, frowning slightly. "It’s not exactly pain... but sometimes my body feels hot, like something is moving inside me. I get this urge... like I need to release it."

She looked uneasy. "I’ve never felt like this before. I was worried it might be some kind of illness, so I came to you."

She was afraid—if something happened to her, Winny would have no one left.

Nina placed a hand near her, sending her power through to examine her condition.

A moment later, her eyes widened slightly.

She picked up a small wooden block from the side and handed it to Mona. "Try this—focus that heat inside you, gather it, and direct it at this." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

She had a suspicion.

"Alright..." Mona said uncertainly, but did as instructed.

She concentrated, drawing that restless heat into her hand—then struck toward the block.

Crack.

A piece of the wood sheared clean off.

Mona jolted in shock, staring at her hand. "I... what... how did that—?"

Nina smiled faintly. "There’s nothing wrong with your body. You’ve awakened an ability. Congratulations."

Mona’s eyes widened. "Lady Nina... is that really true?"

Nina nodded. "Try again."

Mona did.

Another clean slice came off the wood.

Her eyes went even wider. "I... I really awakened an ability?"

Disbelief flooded her face.

How? Why now?

Then suddenly—she remembered.

The red crystal she had swallowed during the struggle with Yosan.

Her body had started changing after that. That crystal... had been something Nina wanted. And she had swallowed it by accident...

Guilt surged through her.

"I’m so sorry, Lady Nina," Mona said hurriedly. "I... I swallowed that red crystal. I didn’t mean to—I was just trying to hide it, but I accidentally..."

Her voice trembled with remorse. "It must have been very precious... I’ll find a way to repay you."

Mona lowered her head, still uneasy.

A crystal that could awaken an ability—there was no doubt it was an extremely precious treasure.

Even if she spent her entire life, she might never be able to repay it. But she would still try.

Nina thought back for a moment.

So it really was because of that crystal... no wonder Yosan had been so obsessed with it. It truly was something extraordinary.

But since Mona had swallowed it by accident... perhaps it was simply fate.

And strictly speaking, it hadn’t belonged to her in the first place.

Nina shook her head lightly. "It’s fine. You ate it—so be it. There’s nothing to repay. That crystal wasn’t mine anyway."

Back then, Mona had only been trying to help her.

"How can that be?" Mona insisted, still anxious. "Lady Nina, just tell me what you want. I... I’ll do my best."

Though deep down, she knew she might never be able to make up for it.

Nina smiled. "Really, it’s nothing. Don’t dwell on it. Your ability is still new—you should practice more. When you have the means, you can use beast cores to strengthen it."

"But..." Mona felt even more ashamed.

How could Nina be so kind?

Such a precious crystal—and she didn’t even ask for compensation.

She looked at her, at a loss. What could she possibly do for someone like this?

She didn’t seem to have anything to offer.

Before she could figure it out, Odian walked over with a plate of fruit, followed by the others.

"Nina, have some fruit."

He set the plate down and peeled one carefully, handing it to her.

Nina accepted it, then picked up another and offered it to Mona. "Here, you should have one too. It’s quite good."

Mona took it with both hands. "Thank you, Lady Nina."

She felt a little embarrassed—but she couldn’t refuse something given to her.

She took a careful bite. Her eyes lit up instantly.

It was delicious!

She took another bite, then another, finishing it in no time.

It had been a long while since she’d had fruit.

Her mate was gone. She had struggled alone, raising Winny—having enough to eat was already a blessing, let alone something like this.

Nina handed her another. "If you like it, have more."

Mona accepted it shyly.

Nina pushed the fruit plate closer to her. "Take as much as you want—we have plenty. Don’t be polite."

Emotion welled in Mona’s eyes. "Thank you, Lady Nina."

Of everyone she had ever met, Nina was the kindest.

"Nina, about Barbarian City’s new lord... Have you given it any thought?" Odian wondered.

He wanted to understand her plans so they could prepare accordingly.

"Give me a moment," Nina said. "I want to bring Zena over first. She knows Barbarian City better than we do."

She asked Kith to fetch her.

Turning to Finch, she added, "Bring a few more chairs."

He went at once, and soon everyone was seated in the courtyard.

Mona shifted slightly, a little uneasy. "Lady Nina... should I leave first?"

They were about to discuss important matters—perhaps she shouldn’t stay.

"If you have something to do, you can go," Nina said. "But if not, you can stay and listen. You’re familiar with Barbarian City—if you’d like, you can share your thoughts."

In a way, Mona could represent the perspective of some of the common beastmen.

Mona nodded. "I’d like to stay. I just worry... my opinions might not be useful."

"It’s fine," Nina said with a reassuring smile. "Just speak freely."

Not long after, Zena arrived and took a seat beside Nina.

Nina briefly explained what had happened that morning.