Dominion of The Beast Masters

The morning sun bathed the city in a warm glow as Mercury and Milo made their way to Cassie and Roger's apartment.

The building stood tall and modern, with large windows reflecting the sky.

Potted plants decorated the balconies, and a small garden full of colorful flowers welcomed them at the entrance.

Mercury took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. She wasn't used to family gatherings, especially not ones like this. Milo, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with energy.

"This place looks so big... I bet I could summon all my monsters inside!" Milo exclaimed, his eyes wide as he gazed up at the building.

"No, you don't, but Yeah, it's something... Must be where all the money is going."

"Absolutely!" he replied, grinning from ear to ear.

They entered the cozy lobby, where a friendly doorman greeted them with a nod. The elevator ride to the tenth floor was quick, and soon they stood before a door with a cheerful home sweet home mat.

Before they could knock, the door swung open to reveal Cassie, her face lighting up with a bright smile.

"Nailed it, Mercury! Milo! So glad you could make it!" she said warmly, pulling them both into a gentle hug.

Her energy was infectious, and Mercury felt some of her nerves fade away.

"Come on in," Cassie said, stepping aside. "Make yourselves at home."

They entered a spacious apartment filled with natural light. The living room was cozy, with comfortable sofas, colorful cushions, and family photos lining the walls. The aroma of something delicious cooking wafted from the kitchen.

Roger appeared from around the corner, wiping his hands on a dish towel. His kind eyes crinkled as he smiled.

"Welcome! It's great to finally meet you both."

"Thanks for having us," Mercury replied, shaking his hand.

"Yeah, thanks!" Milo added enthusiastically.

Just then, Colin peeked out from behind a doorway. Her eyes brightened when she saw them.

"Hi, Mercury. Hi, Milo," she said softly.

"Hey, Colin!" Milo waved."Your home is really cool!"

She smiled gently.

"Thank you. I'm glad you could make it."

Eratz emerged from his room.

"Took you long enough, You two didn't get lost, did you?"

Mercury rolled her eyes playfully.

"Never let Milo know where you go before arriving. We lost one hour at home."

"I was looking for my sandals!" Milo complained.

Cassie clapped her hands together. "Alright! Who's up for helping me in the kitchen? We're making a feast!"

"I'll help!" Milo volunteered eagerly.

"Perfect! Follow me," Cassie said, leading him toward the kitchen. "We'll start with the dessert. Do you like baking?"

"No, but I like eating."

As they disappeared into the kitchen, Roger turned to Mercury.

"Would you like something to drink? We have lemonade, iced tea..."

"Lemonade sounds great, thank you," Mercury replied.

"Coming right up," he said, heading toward the kitchen.

She waited until he disappeared to lean on Eratz.

"Beer."

"Under the bed."

Later, Milo made a beeline for Colin. They quickly set up a card game on the living room floor, settling into the friendly banter of siblings, with a single pattern.

"You're going down again!" Milo announced, setting his cards.

Colin's jaw fell in disbelief, laying down her card, a dragon.

"... How can an elf beat a dragon?"

Milo smirked, flipping his final card. "Because the dragon's in love with the elf."

Colin blinked, dumbfounded.

"That doesn't even make sense!"

"That's what a loser would say! Haha!" Milo teased, sticking out his tongue.

"You... You grade schooler!" Colin shouted with the softer voice possible, pouting.

Milo looked offended, puffing up his chest.

"Leave my grades out of this!"

Mercury couldn't help but laugh at the adorable exchange as she watched from the couch.

Soon, it was lunch. Cassie guided them all into the kitchen to help setting the table.

The air filled with laughter, light-hearted teasing, and the scent of food.

"So, Eratz," Roger said with a playful grin, "how long before you introduce us to Mercury officially?"

Eratz raised an eyebrow, staying calm and mature as always.

"As long as it takes to see Colin introduce a thug to you."

Roger made the mistake of visualizing it and grimaced, but the idea alone also made Eratz grimace slightly.

"Actually... never mind. She doesn't have a boyfriend, right?"

"Does a male friend count?"

"... Who?"

Dinner was a real highlight. The table was filled with dishes, many of them with a sugar taste. Ishtarian food had a unique flavor profile, something that Mercury hadn't fully expected.

Roger leaned over with a smile.

"We made separate plates if you're not up for the traditional stuff. It can be... Surprising."

Mercury waved it off.

"No, I want the real thing. I'm part of you today so I want to eat like you."

She took a bite of the sugary-spiced dish and blinked in surprise.

"Okay, I get it. This is why you're obsessed with sweets."

Eratz just gave her a smile.

"I'm not obsessed, just honest."

As the day was winding down, Mercury and Milo were getting ready to leave.

Cassie, however, wasn't having it.

"Why don't you two just stay the night? We've got room."

Roger chimed in with a smile.

"It's no trouble."

Mercury hesitated.

"I don't want to impose..."

"You!? You don't want to impose?" Eratz gave her a teasing look.

She gave him a playful punch on the arm. There was a bit of debate about the sleeping arrangements, and meanwhile, Milo and Colin returned to their card game, the rivalry growing more intense, until Milo lost for the first time.

"I want my revenge!" Milo shouted, his eyes glinting.

Colin, arms crossed and smug, leaned back with a satisfied grin.

"I refuse."

Milo looked at her, almost in disbelief. "What? Why?"

"Because I won, losers have no opinion. That's what you said."

Cassie giggled from across the room.

"If we don't stop them, they're going to go at it all night. I think this will solve the bedroom question?"

Mercury, who had been watching with mild amusement, suddenly realized something.

If Milo and Colin stayed at this all night, she might end up sharing Eratz's room.

However, Eratz, calm as ever, stood and scooped up Milo in one swift motion, coughing lightly.

"That's enough, son. We go."

Milo flinched, realizing what Eratz meant. "Oh... Fine... I'll go with Eratz," he muttered, resigning himself to defeat.

Mercury let out a small, exasperated sigh, slightly annoyed, followed a louder sigh from Cassie and Roger.

After bath, Mercury and Colin were in Colin's bedroom, in their pajamas. The room was quiet as Mercury sat behind Colin, brushing her hair.

Colin, leaning back against Mercury, reached out absentmindedly, her hand brushing against Mercury's chest.

Mercury blinked, slightly startled but didn't say anything.

Colin then moved her hand to Mercury's stomach.

"C-Colin?"

"Are you feeling okay? After the battle?"

Mercury was a little surprised, but quickly smiled down at her.

"I'm fine, Colin, I'm tougher than that."

"I hate seeing you being hurt, I don't want others to say that you or big bro lost..."

"Come on, I'm telling you it's ok. It happens to lose, I'm not bothered. It's not the first nor the last time."

Colin looked up at her, eyes wide.

"You know... I'm glad you're here, not just for training. I like being with you too. You're very nice... so... If you want...

I guess I can share my big bro with you. Just this once."

Mercury's heart softened at the words, a warm feeling spreading through her. She ruffled Colin's hair playfully.

"Thanks, Colin. That means a lot."

The two of them settled in for the night, the bond between them growing stronger with each little interaction.

In the opposite room, another bonding was taking place. Eratz and Milo had settled down in bed but were watching the first episode of 'We go', a little girls' show. Eratz was completely engrossed while Milo hummed the opening music.

The warmth of the family day left a lasting impression on Mercury. For the first time in a while, she felt completely at home.

This wasn't just a family day or a temporary escape, this felt like she was truly part of something special, like she'd found her place in the world.

Meanwhile, back at the academy hotel, the atmosphere was entirely different. A group of girls huddled together, giggling over a picture of Eratz from his last match, his back and pecs exposed.

"Wow, look at him now," one girl whispered. "He's so hot."

Another girl nodded eagerly.

"Seriously! Do you think we could meet him again? I mean, we were all in the same academy, he might remember us."

As they strolled through the hallway, their conversation was interrupted when they accidentally bumped into Lisa. They quickly apologized, then one of them hesitated before speaking up.

"Hey, Lisa, weren't you and Eratz good friends? Do you guys still keep in touch?"

Lisa paused, her expression tightening for a moment before a strange smile crept across her face.

"We were close... Very close. But... a lot of people turned their backs on him... And now that he's famous..."

The girls exchanged puzzled glances.

"Come on, we just want to congratulate him," one of them said, brushing it off. "Why are you so defensive? Besides, you've got Kenny now, right?"

Lisa's smile faltered slightly, her fingers clenching the strap of her bag a little tighter.

"... Kenny?"

The girls seemed unfazed by the tension in her voice, ignoring of the events of the previous days.

"Then what's the problem?" another girl asked. "You should totally help us meet him again! I mean, you two were close, right?"

Lisa looked down for a moment, her mind racing, emotions swirling between guilt and denial.

"I don't know if he'd want to meet me again. A lot happened."

The girls exchanged confused looks, one of them stepping closer.

"But if you were good friends, he'd understand. Maybe you two should get back in touch."

Lisa's gaze flickered as memories of her betrayal resurfaced. She forced a smile.

"Maybe... maybe we should get back in touch," she repeated, her voice shaky. "It's been a long time now."

One of the girls beamed.

"Exactly! No big deal. Let's set something up."

Lisa hesitated, her smile stiff and forced, but she nodded slowly.

"Yeah... I'll think about it."

In his hotel room, Kenny sat frozen in front of the TV, his wide eyes glued to the screen as Eratz's victory replayed over and over. Each shot of Eratz, each cheer of the crowd, sent a shockwave through his chest.

"He's not supposed to be successful..." Kenny muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief. "This... isn't possible... This is unfair..."

Crystal stood beside him, her gaze void.

"Eratz was always different, It's only natural that he'd rise again to the top. He did it at the academy already."

Kenny's fists clenched, his face twisted with frustration.

"No, he cheated. He must've cheated again."

Crystal leaned in, her voice dropping to a soft, chilling whisper.

"Of course, he cheated. That's why he was expelled, right? Because he was never any good... just a cheater."

Kenny's body stiffened, his breath catching in his throat. His eyes looked the ground.

Crystal leaned even closer, her eyes staring straight at him, a few centimeters between their heads.

"It's funny, isn't it? He falls, and suddenly you're at the top. Everything just... worked out so perfectly."

Kenny's mind raced, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Shut up..." he whispered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Crystal smirked, her voice cold as ice.

"Or maybe... maybe it wasn't a cheat? Maybe it was set up for you? Eratz falls, and you rise. Convenient, don't you think?"

Kenny's face hardened, his mind spinning.

"I didn't... I didn't do anything wrong..."

Crystal's smirk grew wider, her eyes spiraling.

"Didn't you? You were just there, ready to take his place. But that's not the problem... you're weak, Kenny, too weak to defend yourself... think about me, think about Lisa... what happens if she turns back to him?

He's successful, Kenny. She doesn't need the academy if she can go back to him. What if she clears her conscience? What if she says something?"

Kenny's stomach dropped, panic seizing him as the thought took root.

Crystal's voice lowered further, her lips almost brushing his ear.

"If you don't get stronger, Kenny, Lisa might leave you. She'll go back to Eratz. And you? You're the perfect scapegoat."

Kenny felt like the room was closing in around him, the weight of her words suffocating. He couldn't breathe.

Crystal straightened up, her gaze cold and detached.

"Your life depends on it."

With those final words, she turned on her heel and left the room, leaving Kenny alone in the crushing silence.