Dominion of The Beast Masters

258  Storm’s Shadow

The corridor of the hotel was dimly lit, its reflective glass panels mirroring the flickering storm outside.

Sia stood by a large window, her eyes fixed on the changing clouds swirling in the sky. Light often illuminated her contemplative face as she murmured to herself.

"Is it really over? Just like this?"

Her gaze shifted to her reflection in the glass, scrutinizing her own uncertainty. Thoughts of the locker room replayed in her mind, a scene of defeat etched deeply.

Nyx sat in a corner, wiping away tears as her hands trembled, her fierce exterior replaced by quiet vulnerability. Silver lay on his side, struggling to control his breathing.

Arin leaned against the wall, her body covered in bandages, wincing with every movement. Rex sat beside her, his hand resting on her shoulder in silent comfort. Iris slumped on the ground, her back pressed against the cold tiles, her eyes dull and unfocused as if drained of all fight.

Leonidas stood at the center of the room. His expression was dark, his voice heavy with frustration as he addressed the team.

"Do what you want with the last day," he began, his tone cutting through the silence like a blade. "You've shown why you failed to hunt the unique beasts. This pain… should remind you why you must be serious next time."

His words hung in the air, heavy and oppressive. The team didn't respond, their silence speaking volumes.

Sia sighed, her breath fogging the glass as she returned to the present moment. She glanced back at the storm.

"Is that all? How could a single beast change someone that much?" Questions burned within her, but one overshadowed the rest.

Before she could dwell further, distant chatters broke her train of thought. She turned sharply, slipping into the shadows of a corridor. Mercury walked past with Kaida and Catarina, their conversation carrying through the hallway.

Kaida's voice rang out first.

"You didn't have to go that far just to show your guts. You have a toilet in your room."

Mercury hesitated, her expression slightly sheepish.

"It's not like that, if I do that there, I'll make him worry about me," she mumbled. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Catarina's ears twitched.

"Nya? Wait, don't tell me… You're sharing a room with Eratz?"

Kaida stopped in her tracks.

"Aaaah?!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock.

Mercury quickly explained.

"I know what it looks like, but trust me, it's not like that! Eratz is… protective, given my situation."

Catarina tilted her head, her tail flicking in curiosity.

"Nya? Protec... Wait… You're already pregnant, you guys aren't still playing kitten-making games, right???"

In the darkness, Sia's jaw dropped.

Mercury rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile.

"So what? It's still very early, my belly is fine... Everyone treats me like I'm already done for. I can still do anything. I'm fine, and the baby is fine too. If you keep acting like this for nine months, it's going to be hell."

Kaida yawned, stretching her arms lazily.

"Well, anyway, since we're leading, you should just surrender in the next battle. No need to try hard."

Mercury rolled her eyes with a smile, then glanced over her shoulder and flinched. Her gaze locked with Sia's, who had stepped out of the corridor, her expression frozen in shock.

Kaida and Catarina immediately noticed her and tensed, their postures shifting into defensive stances, ready for anything.

"The Frost Empress?" Catarina hissed.

"What the..." Kaida frowned.

Mercury blinked several times, her expression a mix of shock and intrigue. She raised a hand to calm her friends, her curiosity piqued by Sia's sudden and unexpected presence. Sia's voice was barely above a whisper.

"You… you're pregnant?"

Mercury scratched her head awkwardly, her eyebrows lifting in surprise. A faint chuckle escaped her lips as she tried to process the unexpected question.

"Well… uh... I guess you heard everything."

Catarina stepped forward, tail flicking irritably.

"Yeah, so what? What are you gonna do about it?"

Sia's reaction took a sharp turn.

"So you're really pregnant? You?! How??? Who could... Ah, firstly, what are you doing? Fighting in this condition? Are you insane? Do you even realize the risks?"

Mercury blinked, taken aback by Sia's outburst. For a moment, she hesitated, her surprise evident in the way her normally steady gaze faltered. Then, as the initial shock faded, a warm smile spread across her face, softening her features.

She gently placed her hands on Sia's shoulders, and tilted her head slightly, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Are you sure you want to hear how I got pregnant?" she asked.

Sia froze.

"Wha... wait, no! That's not… I mean, who could…" she stammered, her words tumbling over each other.

Mercury laughed, the sound light and genuine, cutting through the tension.

"It's not as reckless as it looks," Mercury began, her voice steady and gentle. "I'm not alone in this. It's a family effort, and I'd never waste the support they've given me."

She reached out and pulled Kaida and Catarina closer, the two exchanging startled glances before smiling faintly at her gesture.

"I'm a beast master," Mercury continued, her tone firm with conviction. "This is what I love. If I can keep fighting, I will. And don't worry, I take no unnecessary risks. If anything feels off, I'll surrender. My family's watching my back, and I trust them. For now, though, I'm fine."

Sia's gaze lingered on Mercury, her intense eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and admiration. She watched as Mercury's words carried a weight that resonated deeply, more than she'd expected.

Now, she understood. Mercury's style wasn't as flashy or intriguing as Raya's, nor was she as singularly focused on fighting as Eratz. Her strength lay in something deeper: her ability to uplift and inspire, prioritizing the people around her over her own glory.

Mercury wasn't just a fighter; she was a family-oriented person, all this talent and power was used at reduced capability because, after everything she went through, she preferred a night with her friends rather than training.

Mercury's voice pulled Sia back to reality.

"I'm heading back to my room now. But if you ever want to talk, you know where to find me." Her smile was warm, and genuine.

Sia blinked, her usual confidence faltering.

"Maybe… maybe another time," she murmured hesitantly before turning away, her footsteps slow and contemplative.

Mercury watched her for a moment before turning to Kaida and Catarina. Together, they started walking back toward their rooms, the storm outside echoing faintly through the corridor.

As they parted ways, Sia's voice drifted softly through the air.

"Looking forward to talking with you, Mercury."

Mercury glanced back, her smile lingering.

"Same, Sia."

The three women walked away, their silhouettes fading under the flickering light as the storm rumbled above,

Meanwhile in the very same hotel, Leonidas strode through the dimly lit corridor of the hotel, his expression tight with frustration. His footsteps echoed faintly against the polished tiles.

The storm outside grumbled softly, its low rumbles adding to the tension in the air.

He suddenly stopped in his tracks, his sharp eyes narrowing.

Ahead of him, a figure approached, humming a soft, almost whimsical tune that seemed out of place against the backdrop of the storm.

As the figure came closer, the faint flicker of the corridor's lights revealed Kallistra, her green eyes gleaming with an almost mischievous light.

"Where were you?" Leonidas demanded, his tone clipped. His frown deepened as Kallistra offered him a playful smile but no answer.

"Humming," she replied vaguely, her voice carrying a teasing lilt.

"That's not an answer," Leonidas snapped, his irritation growing. "Why are you always so… satisfied, even when things clearly aren't going our way?"

Kallistra tilted her head slightly, her smile unwavering.

"I told you before," she began, her tone calm and measured. "You're unsatisfied because you fail. I'm satisfied because I always succeed. We're not the same."

Leonidas's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides.

"That doesn't even make sense. What exactly are you succeeding at, Kallistra? Because from where I stand, things look pretty bad even for you."

Kallistra simply shrugged, her arms crossing loosely over her chest as she began to walk past him.

"Everything is fine now," she said breezily. "Tomorrow will make history."

Leonidas turned sharply, his frustration boiling over.

"What do you mean by that? There's no way we win. The gap is too wide. The Cosmos have everything they need to secure victory."

Kallistra paused, glancing over her shoulder with a faint smirk.

"You're mistaken again," she said, her voice carrying a cryptic edge. "I don't give a damn about who's gonna win... if there's a winner that is. "

Leonidas stepped closer, his brow furrowed in confusion and suspicion.

"What are you talking about?"

Her smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression as her green eyes seemed to glint unnaturally in the flickering light.

"My win... is that I've made sure," she said softly, "that the two orbs clash tomorrow."

The storm outside let out a loud growl, lightning flashing briefly through the windows. For a fleeting moment, Kallistra's silhouette expanded unnaturally, like the shadow of an immense creature looming over the entirety of the corridor.

The sight froze Leonidas in place, his breath catching as a chill ran down his spine.

Before he could muster a response, she turned and walked away, her steps unhurried, her song resuming softly under her breath.

 The tune lingered in the air long after she had disappeared into the shadows, leaving Leonidas standing alone, in the same place that was the palm of a hand just moments ago.