Chapter 208: What Human Egg?

Zyra pointed an accusing finger at the bruise, her eyes wide with total disbelief. "That was me? In my sleep?! No way. You’re making that up!" Nobody had ever told her that she was a restless sleeper.

"I am not making it up! You were struggling with something in your dream. Maybe you should start taking nerve calming tea before bed. I know running things here cannot be easy and you are a hunted woman, so there are a lot of things on your mind." Hunter said to her gently.

She dismissed the topic with a wave of her hand and walked over to the vanity table. "Anyway, look at this."

Sitting in the middle of a clear glass bowl, nestled neatly on a bed of dried leaves, under the warm light of a lamp, was a big, strange egg. Clearly, someone was trying to hatch it. If it were breakfast it would be in the kitchen by now. This egg was surrounded by energy stones of different colors. You did not decorate your breakfast like this!

Hunter pointed at it, keeping a cautious distance. "That is what I wanted to talk to you about. Why is there a beast egg in our room? Where did you steal it from, Zyra. It’s making me uncomfortable just staring at it. It is radiating an energy of some kind. Whatever beast is in there, it is not ordinary."

He had already drawn to the conclusion that it was a high rank beast and maybe, she was nurturing it. In five years, she would pay to enter a resonance pool and hatch it.

Zyra didn’t answer right away. She walked over to the dressing table, took a small crystal bottle of Nurturing Serum and carefully dropped two dark blue drops onto the shell. The egg absorbed the liquid instantly, glowing with a soft, warm light for a split second.

"It’s not a beast egg," Zyra said calmly, setting the vial down. "It’s a human egg."

Hunter’s eyebrows shot up so high they almost hit his hairline. "A_ a what?" He laughed. He would have continued to laugh if he didn’t recognize the seriousness on her face.

"Beauty gave it to me." She added.

Hunter blinked. "Well that explains so many things. What is Beauty up to now? Was it a reward?" He leaned in closer, stared at it for three long seconds, and then backed up again. "I knew it! I knew it was something freaky! Do you know what is inside, I mean it cannot be a human_ or could it be an alien species?"

"Don’t ask me, Beauty works in mysterious ways." Zyra said, shrugging. She looked at him with a mischievous grin. "Hey, why don’t you help me nurture it? If you help me care for it, maybe I’ll share whatever comes out of it with you."

She leaned against the vanity, tapping her chin. "Beauty told me that the more it’s nurtured with energy and nurturing serum, the faster it hatches."

Hunter let out a sharp, scoffing laugh and shook his head in absolute disbelief. "The crazy things you make me do," he grumbled, though a reluctant smile crept onto his face. "Fine. I’ll feed the damn thing or whatever. But mark my words_ I want none of whatever is inside." Secretly, he thought to himself, it will depend on what comes out. Why else am I helping you?

"You might regret those words in future." Zyra patted his back.

He looked back at the egg and visibly shuddered. "Human egg_ ridiculous! Humans are not hatched. Beauty is playing a prank on you. I will keep an eye on your egg baby, but I am not playing daddy."

Zyra just shrugged, picking up her serum bottle with a light chuckle. "Sure, Daddy Hunter."

He rolled his eyes in response.

****

Meanwhile in Neemchester, all the members of the Kaelion clan and their relatives had all successfully made it into the sky station bunker called Sanctuary of the skies. Achilles was right there with them; after all, his mother was Alessa Kaelion and this gave him full access to the family’s safest haven. Already, he was bored.

There was not much to do in the colossal fortress suspended in the upper atmosphere, anchored by anti-gravity pylons and shielded by blue energy shields, supported by energy stones. Everything about every bunker in the Sanctuary of the skies was built on Somnivore technology.

From the outside, it looked like a floating city gleaming white and gold, with many observation decks. For the rich, there were opulent suites with wide windows, gardens under artificial sunlight, and banquet halls with holographic chandeliers.

They survived on oxygen recyclers, soil less plant and fish farms, and water purification systems tucked behind the luxury systems. Residents could sip wine while gazing down at earth’s chaos: floodwaters swallowing houses and beasts fighting for survival.

Achilles was waiting for the real drama to start. People like this did not come together without glasses breaking and cursing. For now, a group of young noblewomen were surrounding Lita, giggling behind their silk sleeves and calling her an "abandoned bride" right to her face. Wealthy gossip was always top-tier entertainment_ as long as you weren’t the one getting roasted in the center of the room.

What made it ten times worse for Lita was her complete lack of backing. She was the only low-born standing in the entire bunker. Even the clan’s serving staff came from respectable second-class families! They too, avoided her like the plague, stepping back with sneers while laughing in her flushed, embarrassed face. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

Watching from a distance, Achilles let out a soft chuckle. Serves her right for hurting Zyra, he thought bitterly. Feeling a wave of petty satisfaction, he adjusted his link band, snapped a few high-quality pictures of Lita’s miserable expression, and instantly sent them off to Zyra.

Satisfied with his good deed for the day, Achilles strolled over to the over filled wine bar and took a seat.

He was just about to order a light drink when a familiar voice smoothly called out from right behind him. "Cousin? It has been a long while."

Achilles smiled softly. He knew that voice anywhere. He turned his head and saw Elliot standing there. The man smirked, sliding onto the bar stool right next to him.

Before Elliot could even order, the bartender poured him a heavy glass of the strongest, hardest spirit on the rack.

Achilles winced as the pungent aroma of alcohol hit his nose. "Woah. Why are you knocking back the hard stuff? Aren’t you a newlywed man? Shouldn’t you be drinking sweet wine?"

Elliot scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. "Fuck off, Achilles."

As Elliot reached for his glass, his eyes caught a glimpse of something on Achilles’ wrist. His gaze narrowed on the strange link band. Reaching out, Elliot traced his fingers over the sleek surface. "What’s this?"

"Ah, this?" Achilles pulled his arm back with a smug grin. "Just something cool I managed to snatch off the black market."

Elliot’s eyes flickered with instant interest. This has to be one of those high-grade supplies Mother was talking about. "Can you put me in touch with the seller?" Elliot asked, his voice dropping an octave. "I’ll pay a heavy price. Name any amount of energy stones."

Achilles sucked his teeth, letting out an annoyed tch. "Elliot, you know pretty well how the black market works. Everything is strictly anonymous. I don’t know who the seller is, and they definitely don’t want to be found. I don’t care where it came from, only that I have it and you don’t."

Elliot’s pretentious smile quivered for a moment.