Reinforcements were able to detain Cid and suppress his abilities without any resistance.

Bambi stood frozen, staring in disbelief.

Then she started screaming at Cid.

“You killed him! You wanted that to be me, didn’t you?! You wanted to kill me?!”

Cid kept his head down.

“I can’t believe you have that much hate in your spirit… that you would do this!” Bambi sobbed.

I pulled Bambi into a hug.

I didn’t know what else to do.

I could see Cid watching Bambi with a look I couldn’t explain…

But it didn’t look like hate.

--————————————————————

My father paced the floor while I lay on the lounge as my mother gently ran her delicate hands through my hair.

She had just finished helping me wash the blood…

…and Naroh’s insides…

…out of my hair.

Neither she nor my father had barely spoken a word after I came home and told them everything that happened.

After I walked Bambi home to her mother, she told me that Cid wasn’t just an Emerald EyE…

He was a mixed Emerald.

One of the strongest in the entire city despite being so young.

I told my parents that as well.

Neither of them could hide the worry that spread across their faces.

My father stopped pacing.

He looked at my mother…

Then at me.

“Euphoria… I…”

“Dad, please don’t. I love EyEU, and this happened off campus.”

They looked at each other.

“I’m not unstable, and I would NEVER do anything like that. He was completely unhinged the moment he walked up. It was almost like… he didn’t care about anything. He came looking for trouble.”

I looked directly at my father.

“Space King put out a horrible, vague announcement demanding that powerful mixed EyEs be taken into custody, but gave no explanation. You obviously know more… and you still won’t tell me? Even now?!”

Silence.

It was so quiet…

You could hear a pin drop.

I stood up, pulling away from my mother.

“Honestly… both of you! You know what’s going on, and it’s MY life! Why won’t either of you tell me?!”

“Euphoria, please calm down.”

My mother stood, trying to hug me again.

I stepped back, glaring at them both.

Suddenly…

The bell my father had installed to alert us whenever someone approached the house rang.

All three of us looked toward the massive monitor.

Sure enough…

Someone was approaching.

Lion.

--————————————————————

I stood downstairs in the guest hall while Lion spoke with my father.

“Yes, sir. He demands your presence immediately… He expects you within the next five minutes,” Lion said sternly.

I looked at my father.

He nodded, kissed my mother, then hugged me before kissing my forehead.

“We’ll talk more when I get back.”

Then he walked out the door and took off.

Lion nodded politely to my mother and me before turning to leave, closing the door behind him.

“Mom, I’ll be right back.”

I darted outside before she had time to respond.

I caught up to Lion because he was walking unusually slowly…

Almost like he knew I’d come after him.

“Lion, why is your dad calling my dad this late at night?” I demanded.

Lion kept walking.

“You should know. Weren’t you there?”

“It’s about Cid killing Naroh?” I asked, stunned. 

I saw Lion’s face twitch with anger.

“Cid wasn’t like that… Yeah, he had a temper, but… he wouldn’t do no shit like that.”

He practically spat the words.

I wasn’t even sure he was talking to me anymore.

I stayed quiet.

The whole thing was strange.

“Are you okay?”

His voice softened.

I’d never heard him speak that gently before.

It almost made me blush.

“Yeah… I’m fine. Confused… but fine. Bambi’s pretty messed up, though.”

“I can imagine. Her and Cid were really clo—”

“He tried to punch her.”

I cut him off.

“Naroh stepped in.”

Lion stopped walking.

He turned toward me so fast it startled me.

“What?!” he shouted.

I stared right back at him.

“Nah… that doesn’t fucking make sense. He was mad about EyEU, sure… but he would’ve never done that to her.”

“Well… he did, Lion!” I snapped.

“If Naroh hadn’t stepped in… I would’ve been cleaning Bambi’s insides out of my hair! Naroh saved her life!”

I hadn’t even realized I was crying.

Lion’s face softened again.

He looked completely confused.

Honestly…

So was I.

Neither of us spoke for a while.

We were already a good distance from the tower.

He reached over and gently wiped the tears from my eyes.

For once, he didn’t say anything.

He just took a deep breath and looked at the sky.

“I just want you to know…”

“You’re not the only one whose parents leave them out of everything.”

I looked at him.

“How did—”

He smirked.

“Oh… you got them good ears, huh?”

I laughed and playfully shoved him.

“Just making it a fair trade.”

He winked.

“Hmph.”

I smiled.

“By the way… there’ll be an announcement first thing tomorrow morning. EyEU is closed until further notice.”

Murders were not so common among the EyEs.

Especially not with Gold and Emerald EyEs.

“Yeah… I figured.”

Lion stared at me for a moment.

Long enough that I had to look away.

“There’ll be an early morning gathering, too.

Will you be there?”

“Damn right. I want to know what the hell is going on.”

I clenched my fists.

Lion nodded.

“Come on.”

“Let me walk you back home.”

“My father will be expecting me.”

—————————————————————-

Bright and early, EyEs of every nation filled the Royal Concourse.

I sat near the front beside my mother.

Father never came home.

I could hear my mother pacing the tower all night.

Soon, Space King and Queen Naytra stepped before the crowd.

Moments later, I spotted my father taking his place just behind them.

My mother noticed him too.

She quietly sat a little straighter.

The entire concourse fell silent.

Space King looked across the crowd before speaking.

“As many of you have already heard… our kingdom suffered a terrible tragedy last night.”

His voice echoed throughout the concourse.

“One of our own lost their life.”

He paused.

“To the family who lost a son… you have the deepest condolences of your King and Queen.”

The silence grew even heavier.

“Six months ago I made an announcement that confused many of you.”

“I understand that.”

“I also understand many of you have questioned why certain mixed EyEs were ordered to be brought under royal supervision.”

My heart started to drum. 

He let the murmurs spread before continuing.

“The decision was not made lightly.”

“For months, my most trusted ally has worked tirelessly investigating an alarming pattern.”

He gestured toward my father.

“We have observed an increase in violent instability among certain mixed EyEs.”

The crowd immediately erupted into whispers.

Space King raised a hand.

The concourse quieted again.

“At this time… we still do not know the exact cause.”

“However… last night’s tragedy has made one thing abundantly clear.”

“We can no longer afford to wait.”

His expression never changed.

“Effective immediately, every mixed EyE within our kingdom will undergo evaluation.”

“Those whose instability is determined to pose a danger to themselves or others will be placed under royal supervision until further notice.”

Questions immediately erupted throughout the concourse.

Some angry.

Some frightened.

Some demanding answers.

Space King simply turned.

Queen Naytra followed beside him.

My father remained expressionless.

His face was stone as he quietly followed behind them.