《The Beastmaster's Warpath》


 Zamels Life [1]

    In a room filled with elegance and finesse, a bed lies at its center. There, a child no older than twelve sleeps restlessly. Though the surroundings remain peaceful, the same cannot be said for the boy. His eyes flicker, sweat beads on his forehead, and his small body trembles. Time passes, yet nothing changes¡ªif anything, his condition worsens. His voice begins to sound out, fractured words spilling from his lips.


    "Stop! NO!!!" he pleads, but the nightmare neither hears nor cares.


    "I''m begging you, please stop," he cries again, but to no avail.


    Then, the vision in his mind reaches its peak. The child can no longer bear it¡ªhe screams at the top of his lungs, "NOOOOO!!!!" His cries echo through the grand room, tears streaming down his face, his faint sobs the only sound breaking the stillness.


    He tries to calm himself, knowing there is no one else in this mansion to rely on. He wipes his tears, but more quickly take their place. He covers his mouth, hoping to stifle his sobs, but his efforts are in vain.


    His plight continues for a while, but fortunately, he is able to slowly calm himself. He feels a sense of pride, knowing that this time, the wounds inflicted by his nightmares heal much faster than before.


    Coincidentally, a knock reverberates from his door, coming just after he has stopped crying. "Young sir, is everything alright?" A voice speaks out¡ªprofessional yet cold, lacking the concern one might expect with such a question.


    "I''m alright," he replies in a raspy voice, clearly accustomed to the speaker. He rubs his eyes once more, wiping away the lingering tears. Inhaling and exhaling repeatedly, he hopes it will help him regain his voice¡ªthe way he remembers it sounding.


    He gets out of bed, ignoring the aches and pains coursing through his body. Moving toward his wardrobe, he prepares to change his clothes, clearly accustomed to taking care of himself¡ªunlike other noble children. With practiced ease, he strips off his nightshirt and heads toward the bathroom connected to his room.


    The bathroom, like his room, is designed to fit the lavish tastes of nobility. The floor is covered with tiles as white as clouds, while the walls are painted gold, shimmering under the light of intricately designed orbs embedded in the ceiling. Despite its grandeur, he despises using this bathroom, much preferring the one in the training grounds. However, today is different¡ªhe has no choice but to compromise.


    This is the most important day of his life. He can''t afford to be late. He has already wasted too much time crying, and if he delays any further, he will only incur the dissatisfaction of his family¡ªespecially his cousins, who are eagerly preparing for this day.


    With that thought in mind, he begins to clean himself, using the many luxurious products he despises. Their sickeningly sweet fragrance clings to his skin, a scent he loathes more than anything. But he is a noble¡ªif only in name. He is neither respected by the maids, guards, nor butlers in this house, nor is he allowed to participate in the upcoming succession war that will follow today¡¯s event.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Today marks the long-awaited event celebrated throughout the empire¡ªby commoners and nobles alike, by children and adults. It is a day of great anticipation, for it holds the power to change lives. This event is called the "Awakening"¡ªa ceremony that determines the fate of many children who have reached the appropriate age. Zamel is one of them.


    After completing his morning routine, he walks to his door and opens it. Standing before him is a butler¡ªone of many who consider serving him a great displeasure.


    "You should have asked for my help, young sir," the butler says, though Zamel can clearly see he is forcing the words out. He doesn¡¯t even bother to hide the venom laced in his tone.


    Even after experiencing this treatment every day, it still saddens Zamel. Though he understands the reason behind it¡ªeven believes it to be justified¡ªacceptance does little to dull the sting.


    "It''s fine. I can take care of myself," he replies, attempting to mask the sadness in his voice.


    The butler nods, feigning subservience but failing¡ªor perhaps deliberately making his contempt known. "Follow me, young sir. Everyone is waiting for you in the dining room," he says before turning away, walking ahead without waiting for Zamel.


    Hearing this, Zamel smiles at the news. Perhaps this time, he will be able to speak with his mother again this month. He is only allowed to talk to her once a month, and he seizes every opportunity to hear her voice.


    He follows the butler to the dining room. Even from a distance, he can hear the voices spilling out of the room¡ªjoyful and filled with laughter, echoing through the hallway. Their excitement is palpable, bringing a small smile to his face, even though he knows it will fade the moment he arrives.


    They step into the room, though this time, no one seems to notice them. Zamel silently hopes it will stay that way, but his hopes are quickly crushed.


    "Young Master Zamel has arrived," the butler announces, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.


    Zamel is taken aback¡ªthis has never happened before. What is the reason for this? he asks himself. He thinks hard and comes to a conclusion. He can faintly guess the reason behind it¡ªit seems that one of his cousin has arranged for the butler to announce his arrival, likely as an attempt to humiliate him.


    As if something significant had happened, the lively chatter in the room comes to an abrupt halt. The people seated at the dining table turn their heads toward the door, their gazes landing on a small child.


    Zamel, the target of their stares, lowers his head in fear. Even now, he still cannot grow accustomed to their eyes¡ªcold, piercing, filled with undisguised contempt and distaste.


    "Ohhh, Zamel, you''ve finally come," a voice calls out, belonging to one of his cousins¡ªthe one he is most familiar with.


    His cousin speaks again, a smirk evident in his tone. "Can you explain why you''re late? This is the most important day of our lives. Surely you didn¡¯t oversleep? Or perhaps¡­ you wet your bed again and couldn¡¯t sleep well?"


    Everyone seated at the dining table bursts into laughter. The butlers and maids remain silent. Though they despise Zamael, they cannot openly display their disrespect in front of their masters. After all, he is still part of the household they serve¡ªand besides, the insult wasn¡¯t even that amusing.


    Zamel, the target of their mockery, lowers his head even further. This has never happened before, mainly because their family rarely dines together. And even when they do, they usually don¡¯t acknowledge his presence¡ªlet alone care whether he is even breathing.


    Their laughter continues for a while as Zamel stands awkwardly in the doorway, enduring every chuckles and giggles he hears. He knows this isn¡¯t the end of it. Once the floodgates open, the insults will keep pouring in.


    And just as he predicted, they do. The mocking words rain down on him like a heavy downpour.

 Zamels Life [2]

    A voice rang out, loud enough for everyone to hear.


    "Oh, how disgusting. Even now, you still haven¡¯t changed¡ªhow pathetic."


    The deceptively sweet voice belonged to someone Zamel was all too familiar with¡ªMerina, the only daughter of the eldest son of his grandfather, the Patriarch of this household.


    She was the same age as Zamel. At first glance, she resembled a porcelain doll¡ªher round face accentuated by a high, pointed nose, and scarlet hair that blazed like living flames. Her pink eyes shimmered, framed by long, perfect lashes, and her red lips sat between delicate dimples. Her cheeks, still carrying traces of baby fat, gave her an air of youthful charm, making her appear as a fragile, innocent flower¡ªone that people would willingly shield from harm.


    But looks could be deceiving.


    Despite her delicate appearance, Merina was anything but harmless. From childhood, she had been rigorously trained in various martial arts, honing both her body and mind to exceptional levels. Coupled with her innate talent for magic, she was a force to be reckoned with.


    She followed in her father¡¯s footsteps, and the entire family believed she would awaken as a Battlemage¡ªa formidable magic practitioner who seamlessly combined magic with physical prowess in combat.


    Before Zamel could respond, another voice chimed in¡ªthe very same one that had first insulted him.


    "Sister Merina, please be careful with your words. You might wound his delicate feelings to the point where he wets himself right here."


    A mocking chuckle followed.


    "The food is on its way, and I¡¯m famished. I¡¯d hate to lose my appetite, especially on such an important day."


    The instigator of this cruelty was none other than Ezekiel, the eldest son of one of Zamel¡¯s aunts¡ªthe Patriarch¡¯s eldest daughter.


    Ezekiel bore a striking resemblance to his mother. His sharp, well-defined features were complemented by a high, pointed nose and golden eyes that gleamed like the sun. A confident smile accompanied with a long flowing blonde hair, the kind that could make many girls swoon, was permanently etched onto his face. Like Merina and Zamel, he was also of the same age.


    Laughter erupted once more from his cousins, filling the dining hall with their cruel amusement.


    Had their parents been present, they would have undoubtedly reprimanded their children for their disgraceful lack of table manners¡ªmanners that had been drilled into them since childhood.


    But, unfortunately for Zamel, they were not here.


    At this moment, the adults were gathered in the Patriarch¡¯s office, engaged in a discussion about today¡¯s significant event.


    "Brother Ezekiel is right. It¡¯s disrespectful to act so disgustingly in front of your family¡ªespecially your younger cousins."


    "Right, right, right! That¡¯s so weird¡ªHAHAHAHA!"


    The voices belonged to the twins, Ezekiel¡¯s younger brother and sister from another father¡ªAbigail and Adriel. Yes, the eldest daughter of this household has two husbands and is married into two families.


    Like their older brother, they shared the same sharp features and striking appearance. However, one distinct difference set them apart¡ªtheir eyes. Unlike Ezekiel¡¯s golden irises, both Abigail have gray eyes and Adriel had a heterochromatic eyes¡ªone bright orange and the other light blue.


    Although they were twins, their personalities differed from one another. Abigail is a cool-headed girl that carried herself with elegance, coupled with an air of arrogance that made her look down on those she deemed unworthy or unattractive. Adriel, on the other hand, had a fiery temperament and a reckless nature that often landed him in trouble.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Like Merina, all three of them were exceptionally talented. Their older brother, Ezekiel, was highly skilled in various forms of weaponry. While he did not possess the same level of magical talent as Merina, he had an affinity for the Light Element¡ªone of the two forces categorized as Divine Elements, alongside Darkness. Despite this, his true strength lay in his combat techniques, where he far surpassed Merina. He also underwent extensive training in horsemanship, and his deep studies in military strategy made him a promising tactician. Additionally, he was a devout follower of their kingdom¡¯s war god, Laius.


    While the twins did not excel in weaponry and combat techniques like Ezekiel, they were both geniuses in magic, far surpassing their brother matching Merina.


    Abigail possessed an affinity for both the Mental and Metal elements. Mental magic belonged to a category known as Unofficial Elements¡ªa group distinct from the primary elements of Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Lightning. Though not considered a fundamental magic type, it was highly versatile. Those with this ability could manipulate and break the minds of their foes, read the thoughts of those with weak mental defenses, and communicate telepathically.


    Metal magic, on the other hand, was a sub-element of Earth, known for its formidable offensive and defensive properties. Those with this affinity could manipulate various types of metal, shaping them to their will. Abigail, having mastery over both Mental and Metal magic, was a force to be reckoned with.


    Adriel, in contrast, had affinities for Fire and Lightning¡ªtwo elements renowned for their destructive capabilities. The synergy between these elements made them exceptionally powerful when used together. If Adriel could push his abilities to higher levels, he had the potential to merge them into Plasma¡ªa rare and devastating element that carried the characteristics of both Fire and Lightning.


    These were the people Zamel faced every day. These four made his life in the household a living hell. Every day, they beat his body black and blue under the pretense of training. As if that weren¡¯t enough, they hurled all kinds of insults at him¡ªwords far too cruel for children their age.


    Although Ezekiel, Abigail, and Adriel¡¯s mother made an effort to stop her children from tormenting Zamel¡ªfinding his circumstances pitiful¡ªher attempts were in vain due to Merina¡¯s influence.


    This was largely because Merina¡¯s father never bothered to discipline his daughter for her actions. He harbored an intense hatred toward Zamel¡ªmore specifically, for the blood running through his veins¡ªand for another reason only he truly understood.


    Once again, Zamel was reminded of why he continued to endure. He kept his gaze fixed on the floor, tears pooling in his eyes. Yet, he fought to keep them from falling¡ªhe refused to give these four the satisfaction of seeing his pain.


    Slowly, he walked toward his seat, as far away from them as possible. He sat down, grasping the silverware with practiced precision. Despite knowing that no one in this household recognized his status as a noble, he still made every effort to act like one¡ªif only to preserve the dignity of their family name.


    Seeing that her efforts seemed to be in vain, Merina looked dissatisfied with Zamel¡¯s continued resistance. Wanting to provoke a reaction from him, she called out in a way that she knew would surely get under his skin.


    "So, Half-Blood, are you excited for today? You must be. After all, you¡¯ll finally become just like those loathsome bastards in the South¡ªconsidering your disgusting lineage." Her voice dripped with aggression.


    Her words echoed through the dining room, loud enough for everyone to hear. However, instead of the usual laughter and jeering insults, only a deafening silence followed.


    Unbothered¡ªalready expecting this reaction¡ªMerina pressed on.


    "Well, if people ever find out where your blood truly comes from, this family will have a field day trying to minimize the damage your very existence causes. So instead of going to the ceremony, why don¡¯t you do us all a favor? Just go to the balcony and kill yourself. That would really help us all, wouldn¡¯t it? You know that as well, right, Half-Breed?"


    Everyone at the table stared at Merina with wide eyes, unable to believe what she had just said. Although Zamel¡¯s circumstances were well known within the household, no one dared to speak of them openly. The reason was simple¡ªthe Patriarch would not hesitate to kill anyone who uttered such words aloud.


    Even the maids, butlers, and guards stationed in the room stiffened, swallowing hard and shifting uncomfortably. The weight of Merina¡¯s words pressed down on the room like a suffocating presence.


    Yet, while the air was thick with unease, one child had an entirely different reaction.


    Zamel.


    He stared at Merina with scornful eyes, burning as hot as the flames of an inferno. His grip on the silverware tightened so fiercely that, if he had the strength, he might have shattered them in his hands.


    For the first time, Zamel spoke.


    His voice, laced with pure, undiluted hatred, cutting through the silence like a blade.


    "Listen here, you little shit!"

 Chapter 3 - Zamels Life

    Zamel had never been a confrontational person. Throughout his years in this house¡ªhis entire life¡ªhe had endured suffering that most children his age wouldn¡¯t have survived.


    Despite the hatred emanating from everyone around him, from his family to the servants, he was still thankful for the fact that he was living here, even if he knew he didn¡¯t deserve it.


    He had suffered from a myriad of insults hurled at him, bravely faced the harsh beatings from his cousins. If they ever chose to spit on him or hurl filth in his direction, he wouldn¡¯t even flinch¡ªthough, thankfully, they wouldn¡¯t lower themselves to such a level.


    There was barely anything that could ignite his anger¡ªexcept for two things¡ªhis mother and his blood. Both were his most sensitive spots, and he would surely react if anyone ever mentioned either of them.


    His blood reminded him of what his mother had gone through. She would always be his greatest weakness, and the mention of one would always remind him of the other.


    Unfortunately, his cousin¡ªMerina¡ªwas well aware of this, and she didn¡¯t care nor was she afraid to use it to provoke Zamel.


    Everyone at the table shifted their gaze away from Merina and laid their eyes on Zamel, their mouths agape, their eyes widening even further.


    This was the first time they had ever seen Zamel stand up to Merina. Throughout the years they had lived in this household, they had only ever witnessed Zamel staring down at the floor or outright ignoring everything his family threw at him.


    Except for Merina, who knew just how vicious her cousin could be. Even if he was a half-breed, their family¡¯s blood still flowed through his veins. That alone was enough to make him stand out from the rest.


    It was a funny story too. Once upon a time, there was a high-ranking servant who was either too insensitive or too stupid to insult Zamel¡¯s mother in front of him. She had even heard that the servant were so derogatory that he spat in Zamel¡¯s face just to mock him even further. Although he was smart enough to do it when no one else was around.


    Just like what everyone suspected he would, he simply ignored it and walked away. The servant, proud of himself, thought that was the end of the story.


    Until the next day, when another servant found him lying on the floor in one of the storage rooms. His face was beaten beyond recognition, his body bloody and bruised to the point that he smelled of dried blood, his skin swollen all over.


    But the most terrifying thing was that his teeth and nails had been pulled out and scattered across the floor.


    The guards, suspecting this to be an act meant to intimidate the family, acted swiftly to investigate. They called all the servants for questioning, searched every nook and cranny of the mansion for any evidence, and gathered all family members in a secured room¡ªmuch to their discontent¡ªwhile high-ranking warriors stood guard and the others conducted their investigation.


    They even summoned the family¡¯s hired Mental Mage to read the servant¡¯s mind while he was recovering with the help of the household¡¯s stationed healers.


    What they discovered was not what anyone had expected.


    During the night, the servant had woken up to relieve himself and had left his room to use the servant¡¯s bathroom.


    While walking toward his destination, a quick and precise blow landed on his head, causing him to pass out.


    The Mental Mage, surprised by this revelation, continued the investigation while simultaneously relaying the details to the guards.


    The servant had regained consciousness, the pain in his head sharpening his awareness. He found himself inside one of the mansion¡¯s storage rooms. Fear instantly gripped his heart. He tried to move, only to realize he was tied up tightly.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Then, he heard footsteps approaching. He turned toward the sound, and his eyes widened when he saw his captor standing before him, their gaze filled with pure malice


    The Mental Mage relayed his findings to the investigators, and they were utterly shocked.


    The servant had been tortured for three hours straight, and the perpetrator if this whole mess was none other than Zamel¡ªwho was only ten years old at the time.


    Although he was still young, the fact that he had been able to carry out such an act wasn¡¯t surprising. After all, he had been trained from childhood in various disciplines, including weaponry, magic, and more. This training wasn¡¯t exclusive to him; all family members were taught these skills to better prepare them for the future. And in the end, torturing a defenseless servant with no combat abilities wasn¡¯t exactly difficult


    What truly baffled them, however, was that Zamel had shown no remorse¡ªnot an ounce of guilt¡ªthroughout the entire process, even when they detained him.


    Of course, the issue was buried to prevent it from reaching the public. Extreme measures were taken to ensure that everyone who knew about it was strictly instructed (or rather, warned) never to speak of it, even among themselves. The servant was also "retired" due to the injuries he sustained. Although some were skeptical¡ªcertain he had been healed¡ªthey were smart enough not to question it.


    This incident served as a lesson to every servant and guard in the household. Even if he was unwanted by the family, he still bore the name of the master they served.


    And they never forgot that fact. It had been seared into their minds. Though they continued to show their disrespect in subtle ways¡ªsuch as addressing him as "young sir" instead of "young master" or "lord" like his cousins¡ªthey never dared to cross the ultimate line.


    The room fell into an even deeper silence, so quiet that they could hear each other''s heartbeats, the subtle gulps, and the rustling of fabric. Only the guards maintained their composure due to their training, though even they shared the same unease as the servants.


    Merina, fully expecting this reaction, couldn''t help but smile¡ªa twisted grin of satisfaction. Rather than feeling insulted, she was pleased by his response. Perhaps this day would turn out to be even more entertaining than she had anticipated.


    But he wasn¡¯t done yet.


    His voice, laced with fury, cut through the silence once more.


    "You better watch your mouth, you twisted freak. You can insult every aspect of my life, but never fucking mention my blood, you brutish whore.


    This time, Merina fired back with the same vigor as Zamel,


    "Ohh, what are you going to do about it, you weak half-blooded aberration? Last time I remembered, your magic is still quite pitiful compared to Ezekiel. Even though I can barely acknowledge your martial prowess, you are still far too weak to even compare to me."


    Ezekiel, who caught a stray bullet, couldn''t help but be irked at Merina''s words. He knew his talent in magic barely passed the standard of this family, who are well-known for their magic prowess by the empire, but he was still far better than his peers. She acted like his magical capabilities were quite pitiful, and he couldn''t help but get pissed at her words. He was about to jump into their argument until Zamel¡¯s biting words cut through the tension like a blade.


    "I might not be able to beat your pathetic ass to the point of how I want it, but I will make sure that I bury this fork deep into your disgusting mouth to teach you a lesson¡ªone your bitch of a father never taught you. You act like I¡¯m the most repulsive worm you¡¯ve ever seen, yet it¡¯s clear that I surpass you in both respect and etiquette."


    The three spectators at the table couldn''t help but be flabbergasted at Zamel''s words. They knew well enough that Merina looked up to her father with the deepest respect a child could give to their parent.


    This time, it was Merina''s turn to look at Zamel with deep hatred, burning brightly like a great flame. Her hands slammed onto the table, leaving a mark. No one disrespects her father, especially in front of her.


    "At least my father talks to me and treats me like his daughter, compared to your mother, who barely speaks and can''t even look at you without getting scared."


    Zamel bit back, "HAH!! Treats you like his daughter? Impossible. That cold-hearted bastard didn¡¯t even shed a tear at your mother¡¯s funeral, let alone care about you. You''re pathetic, you motherless bitch!!"


    A collective wince swept through the room at Zamel''s harsh words. Although they were well aware of the drama within the family, hearing it spoken aloud made them wish they could erase it from their minds¡ªThey knew all too well that once the Patriarch caught wind of this, there would be consequences.


    The tension in the room became even more palpable, the anger between Zamel and Merina building to an explosive point. Everyone silently hoped that it wouldn''t pass that point, but deep down, they knew full well that fate would not listen to them, even if they begged for it.


    The two antagonists stared each other down with eyes filled with pure animosity.


    Zamel''s eyes darkened, his gaze shifting to that of a predator¡ªone that yearned to devour its hated foe.


    Meanwhile, Merina''s eyes shone much brighter, the flames within her burning glaringly, her desire to burn Zamel to ashes even more noticeable than before.