A low, warning growl resonated from Fenrir’s chest. “Fá út.” (“Get out”).

This order was for them both. Sani hesitated, then bowed before leaving. Hyeon wasn’t sure what to do, so he did the same thing reluctantly. This “royal wolf” just attacked him… and now he had to give respect?!

The large doors closed behind them. Sani told him, “He’s a little touchy if his family members’ names are mentioned. I wouldn’t recommend it.”

That is what’s most important right now?

Hyeon was still peeved. “I need the contract I signed.”

“Of course.” Sani lifted his hand. Smoke wisped from his palm. The contract appeared from thin air. Hyeon grabbed the papers and immediately skimmed through them. 

“This is the same thing I saw in the car. You mentioned before that the contract looks different for humans and…” He forgot the term.

“Dýr,” Sani reminded.

“Right, that. This seems like a standard contract and doesn’t say anything about performing those services.”

Sani’s ears twisted backward from guilt. “I admit what just occurred was very… forward. I’ve never seen the Master use that particular ‘area’ for soul mana or energy extraction. Still, you’ll understand why he needs it generally from a dýr after you examine the conditions. There are many different parts of the soul that you need to memorize since it’s common knowledge for your kind. As a reminder, the soul pieces are written in the contract.”

Hyeon scoffed a little and waved the contract. “There’s nothing here about souls, sál, or whatever it’s called! How am I supposed to understand if I can’t see it?”

Sani tapped his foot impatiently. He was tired of explaining everything. “It’s possible that your inner animal side hasn’t emerged yet, although rare for your age. Most likely, your genes were suppressed after being separated from your family. Dýr families don't give up on their own under any circumstances and are extremely close-knit to keep the bloodlines alive. Your parents and other members would’ve helped activate your animal characteristics to develop. But you didn’t have that support, which could have delayed it. It’s not something any of us can help you outright, but just being here could help influence you.”

“I recommend you spend time in your room for the remainder of the day and try to look at the contract. Think about what you’ve seen and experienced here so far. I might pull tricks on others, but even I don’t mess around with binding contracts. Where you came from isn’t clear, but your soul is very strong. This is all-new now, but you can read it with determination and…” Sani paused. He held up his hands and gestured to make a pretend rainbow. “Imagination.” 

We’re making cartoon references now? “Just take me to my room, please.”

Sani was trying his best not to laugh while escorting Hyeon from the dismal castle area to the servant’s quarters. 

He finally got ahold of himself and coughed. “You'll have a probation period starting tomorrow morning with a trainer. For the remaining time today, just rest and try to read your actual terms and conditions.”

When they went around the corner, a series of doors looked similar to a hotel hallway. They stopped at one near the end. 

“Well, this is your room. Your suitcase should be inside. I’ll be around to review your work performance.” Sani began to leave when he abruptly stopped and mentioned, “Oh, and watch out for snakes around here.”

“Are they venomous?”

“Not exactly, but they do have an insane bite.” With that, he left Hyeon alone.

Right...

When Hyeon opened the door, Nammi immediately greeted him and demanded to be on his shoulder. “Who brought you here, girl?” 

Of course, she was a cat, so her only response was her loud purrs. Hyeon stretched his back and shoulders. “Let’s unpack, shall we?” 

The room itself was surprisingly spacious. It was the size of an apartment but separated into three rooms and a bathroom. There was a bedroom, kitchen, and living room, all fully furnished. Despite being in a weird beastly afterlife, the apartment was updated to fit modern times. 

He unpacked stuff, made a sandwich with the food provided, and microwaved instant oatmeal for Nammi, her favorite treat. After he sat down, he thought about how it would be a good chance to review that contract and his predicament. Hyeon had trouble believing he wasn’t human. There weren’t any weird circumstances that would make him think otherwise. If true that there was no chance to enter this realm without “animal blood,” then perhaps...

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

Hyeon jumped at the loud sound. Sani left not too long ago, but maybe he forgot something. He opened the door. It wasn’t his manager. Two people were waiting for him, one of whom he recognized as Eli from earlier.

The second person seemed to be a servant—like Eli—since they both wore uniforms. Being incredibly stunning must be a common theme around here. He was smaller compared to Hyeon and had navy blue hair, but his brown eyes and devious smirk were looking for trouble. His face was youthful, and his short height made him look… adorable. Interestingly, he didn't have any significant animal traits to indicate what he was.

“So this is who they hired?” he questioned Eli, emphasizing to make it insulting. “The dýr who will bring diversity? What was his name, friend?”

Eli responded, “I don’t remember, Imoogi.” 

So Imoogi is his name?

"My name is H-Hyeon. Is there anything I can help yo—”

Imoogi scoffed. “You’re kinda pitiful, aren’t you, H-Hyeon?” he mocked. 

Hyeon hated dealing with jerks who made fun of him. Imoogi didn’t seem so cute anymore.

“You already met Master. Where's your insignia?” 

It was then that Hyeon noticed Eli and Imoogi had tattoos on their inner wrists. Before he could get a good look at the designs, Imoogi gripped his left forearm and examined it, his fingers digging into his skin. A bruise would be left later. 

“What you doing?” Hyeon tried to pull away, but Imoogi held on tighter. 

“Look, Eli! His insignia hasn’t appeared. Hey, H-Hyeon, does that mean you’re human? Wouldn’t that make you the first freak they let in here? Are you even like us?” He smiled spitefully, eyeing his new “prey.”

At the mention of the word freak, Hyeon was transported back to when he was in elementary school. 

The group who always terrorized Hyeon surrounded him during recess. They shoved him to the muddy ground in the middle of their circle. Sometimes, playing a “game” was fun, where they’d hurl insults and names until he cried. 

Hyeon gathered his knees to his face, not caring that grimy, wet dirt smeared across his cheeks. One by one, they took turns going around the circle, each kid saying something mean.

“He’s weird.”

“His parents were murdered.”

“He should’ve died with them.”

“He’s a freak.”

“A freak.”

“Freak!”

Hyeon managed to yank his arm back. He looked down at the ground, clenching his teeth together. “Fucking asshole and his goat.”

Did I really say that?!

A hand grabbed a fistful of his shirt and dragged him roughly out of the apartment. Eli slammed Hyeon’s back into the wall with a loud THUD. Sharp horns pointed at his throat. They were both hostile. Their eyes seemed to… glow. Seeing this strange frightened him.

Imoogi stood closely next to him. “You need to understand where you rank amongst us. You’re the bottom-feeder looking for a handout just like the other little half-humans that come through here.”

As he talked, he rolled up his long sleeves. Hyeon saw that he had a snake tattoo. The tail started to coil around his right forearm and disappeared under his shirt.

Is this the snake I was told to avoid?

He tried his best to speak up. “W-we’re all freaking adults here, snake.”

Imoogi cocked his head to the side with wide, emotionless eyes, giving him an unhinged look. “Is that so? This one has some balls. You should know that Eli is a Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, not a goat. Get your species right. As for me, I’m much scarier than a snake.” 

He unbuttoned the top of his shirt and pulled the collar down. The other end of the tattoo stopped above his nipple, which was the head of a wingless dragon. “Like I said, you need to remember your place.”

Eli still had him pinned against the wall. While trapped, Imoogi grasped Hyeon’s wrist and pushed back the sleeve. 

“Would you like to see if you’re human or a half-breed, Mr. H-Hyeon? If you’re human, nothing will happen. But if this works… perhaps you could consider it a welcome gift from me.”

He started to struggle. “Just let g—!”

That bastard pressed his lips against Hyeon’s inner wrist. The supposed “dragon” parted them, lightly suckling there. His small fangs just barely touched the skin, leaving noticeable nicks. They disappeared when Imoogi ran his forked tongue over them, wet noises loud.

Hyeon wanted to punch this guy, but his body felt frozen in place like a spell as Imoogi kept watching him, demanding his submission to remain still. Saliva trickled down his arm, dripped to the floor.

“Mew.”

At the little sound, Imoogi broke that dangerous eye contact that kept Hyeon hostage. “Shit!”

Quickly, Eli let go of Hyeon’s shirt, and both jumped back.

Hyeon cradled his wrist to his chest. Bunch of jackasses. 

I will definitely try to avoid them! And tell Sani! This is crazy!

Imoogi hid behind Eli. “What is that?” 

“I… I don’t know. I don’t like it.”

Nammi was under the doorframe. She looked at the two unwelcome guests. Since she had just eaten her oatmeal treat, bits and pieces dribbled down her chin. She started tottering towards them. They stepped several lengths away, their faces written with a mixture of disgust and uncertainty.

The cat hissed. It surprised Hyeon. She rarely did that to people. 

Though I guess they’re not people, are they?

At the warning, they cursed and scurried out of the hallway, leaving Hyeon alone with his adorable spitfire. She wobbled inside the room triumphantly. After he shut and locked the door, he hurried to clean his arm in the sink… and stopped at what he saw. Water washed over a tattoo-like mark on his wrist.

“If you’re human, nothing will happen. But if this works… perhaps you could consider it a welcome gift from me.”

Whatever Imoogi did…

It proved one thing that Hyeon couldn’t deny. He didn’t have any tattoos before this. Did that mean… he wasn’t human?

What does this symbol mean?