Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

The corridors of the imperial palace were more crowded than usual, not just with people, but with attention. It was something invisible, yet palpable, as if every glance, every whisper, and every step carried the same common theme, the same name repeated in different tones—curiosity, respect, fear, admiration. Kael Scarlet. Now not just a name. A title. A weight that spread throughout the world in a matter of days, like wildfire in a dry field, impossible to contain once started.

Two days.

That’s all it took.

Two days since the declaration echoed, since every witch in existence heard it, since that information began to spread almost uncontrollably among kingdoms, cities, and villages. And now... there was no turning back. No more anonymity. No more silence.

Kael walked down that corridor with firm steps, but clearly less at ease than usual. It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t insecurity. It was unease. A specific kind of silent irritation that came from someone who simply... didn’t ask for it.

Beside him, Exelia walked with impeccable posture, as if this setting were exactly where she had expected to be, each step measured, each movement elegant, like someone who not only accepted the new reality but understood it perfectly.

Even so, even inside the palace, there were stares.

Servants trying to disguise their gaze.

Guards who stood firm, but were too attentive.

Some even lowered their heads slightly as they watched him pass.

Others simply... observed.

Because, in the end, everyone knew.

Everyone knew exactly who he was now.

Kael let out a low sigh, running a hand through his hair as he continued walking, clearly bothered by the constant level of attention, something that simply hadn’t existed before.

"Two days."

He murmured, more to himself than to Exelia, but loud enough to be heard.

"Only two days and I can’t even walk anywhere anymore."

Exelia chuckled softly beside him, a gentle, almost amused laugh, like someone who had expected exactly that kind of reaction.

"Welcome to royalty."

She replied naturally, turning her face slightly to look at him.

"There was a global announcement, Kael. It wasn’t exactly something that would go unnoticed."

He glanced sideways at her, clearly impatient with that perfectly valid logic.

"I went unnoticed before."

He said, with a slight tone of complaint.

"Now it seems like every single person in this place wants to analyze me as if I were some kind of... spectacle."

Exelia tilted her head slightly, maintaining a discreet smile.

"You are."

The answer came simply.

Directly.

Effortlessly.

Kael made a small sound through his nose, something between a sigh and a resigned denial, turning his gaze forward as he continued walking.

"Great." "Exactly what I always wanted," he murmured.

There was a brief silence between them, but not an uncomfortable one. Exelia seemed completely at ease, while Kael simply... dealt with the situation as best he could within what remained of his patience.

After a few steps, he spoke again.

"I missed you."

The phrase came casually, almost thrown into the air, but still sincere.

Exelia blinked once, slightly surprised, before letting out a small, more genuine smile this time.

"You did?"

She asked, with a slight hint of amusement in her voice.

Kael shrugged.

"It was easier when you only showed up occasionally."

A short pause.

"But I didn’t want you to suddenly become my personal advisor."

Exelia laughed genuinely this time, lightly bringing her hand to her lips as she walked beside him, clearly finding humor in the direct—and somewhat contradictory—way he put it.

"Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly your decision."

She replied, still lightly.

"Nor mine."

She looked ahead again.

"But, if it helps... at least now I can be closer to you."

Kael glanced at her again, this time a little longer, analyzing how she said it, as if trying to decide whether to comment or just let it pass.

Finally, he just sighed.

"It would be better..."

He began, running a hand through his hair.

"...if it didn’t involve me being king."

Exelia didn’t answer immediately.

But the small smile that appeared on her lips carried something more subtle now.

"Unfortunately, you can’t separate the two things."

She said calmly.

"You’re not just Kael who became king."

She turned her face slightly towards him.

"You’re the king because you’re Kael."

He was silent for a moment after that.

Not because he didn’t understand.

But because he understood perfectly.

And that... didn’t help.

They continued walking, turning down one of the main corridors that led to a more secluded area of ​​the palace, where the movement lessened, but the feeling of importance increased. It was there that decisions were made, where conversations like the one they were about to have truly mattered.

Kael looked ahead.

And then he saw her.

Hela.

Standing further ahead, as if she had been waiting for them, her posture as firm as ever, her eyes attentive, analyzing the approach with that same calculated intensity that never changed.

Kael slowed his pace slightly.

Not out of hesitation.

But out of recognition.

"Here we go."

He murmured, almost to himself.

Exelia simply kept pace beside him, completely calm.

"Now the fun part begins."

She replied softly.

Kael let out a small sigh.

"I highly doubt it."

But he kept walking.

Because, whether he liked it or not—

Now he no longer had the luxury of avoiding this kind of conversation.

The door opened with a low, controlled sound, revealing a spacious room, less ostentatious than the rest of the palace, as if that space had been made not to impress, but for direct decisions and conversations that couldn’t get lost in excessive formalities. The lighting was soft, filtered through tall windows, and in the center was a long table where Hela was already positioned, leaning on one hand, like someone who not only waited, but was already analyzing even before the conversation began.

Kael entered first, without ceremony.

Exelia followed closely behind, maintaining her usual impeccable posture, but now with a different detail—her presence there was not merely as a visitor or ally. It was... official. And that completely changed how the atmosphere reacted to her.

Hela slowly raised her gaze.

Her eyes passed over Kael first.

But stopped on Exelia.

And remained there for a second longer than necessary.

A slight arch of an eyebrow.

Curiosity.

Perhaps even... a little surprise.

"That’s... interesting."

She commented, straightening up slightly, crossing her arms as she observed Exelia more closely, clearly recognizing who she was without needing a formal introduction.

"It’s not every day you see the Witch King walking around with the Witch General as if she were..." she paused briefly, tilting her head slightly, "...a secretary."

The tone wasn’t offensive.

But it definitely had a hint of slight provocation.

Exelia didn’t react.

Not a muscle.

But the corner of her lips moved minimally, as if she were... accepting the remark.

Kael, on the other hand, didn’t seem at all interested in elaborating on it.

He simply shrugged, walking further into the room as if the comment were irrelevant.

"She is one."

He replied, simply.

Directly.

Effortlessly.

She made a small, vague gesture with her hand.

"My ’grandmother’—whom I don’t even know if I can call her—decided that she would now accompany me as my advisor."

Hela blinked.

Once.

Slowly.

Processing.

And then she released a small puff of air through her nose, something between a suppressed laugh and a genuine reaction to it.

"Of course she decided."

She murmured, shaking her head slightly.

"Eleanor isn’t exactly the type of person who makes suggestions."

She looked at Exelia again, this time with a slightly more evident trace of respect.

"She doesn’t mess around."

Exelia inclined her head slightly in response, accepting it without exaggerated pride, but also without denying it.

"Definitely not."

There was a brief silence, but unlike the previous ones, this one was more functional—like a context adjustment. Everyone there knew that this conversation wasn’t about titles or positions, even though they were present in every word.

Hela turned her gaze to Kael.

And this time, her focus shifted completely.

More direct.

More objective.

"About what you asked for."

She began, walking slowly to the table and placing both hands on it, her fingers spreading slightly across the surface as if marking territory before getting to the main subject.

"Help sending the letter."

Kael nodded slightly, without interrupting, his expression neutral, but clearly attentive now.

"To the Vampire Kingdom."

Hela continued, looking directly at him.

"You don’t just want to show up there."

It wasn’t a question.

It was a statement of fact.

Kael tilted his head slightly.

"No."

Simple. "I want them to know I’m coming."

A brief pause.

"But not exactly when."

Hela narrowed her eyes slightly, analyzing this.

"So you want to provoke... without relinquishing control."

Kael shrugged.

"Something like that."

Exelia watched silently, but her eyes moved between the two with precise attention, clearly following every nuance of the strategy being constructed there.

Hela moved slightly away from the table, crossing her arms again as she began to pace back and forth, slow, thoughtful steps.

"Sending a formal letter to the Vampire Kingdom..." she murmured, more to herself than to them.

"That in itself is delicate."

She stopped.

And looked at Kael again.

"Now, sending it in your name... as King of the Witches..."

Another pause.

More heavy.

"This isn’t just a warning."

Kael held her gaze.

"I know."

Hela tilted her head slightly.

"This is a diplomatic statement with the potential for war."

"I know."

The repetition wasn’t irritating.

But it was certain.

Exelia finally spoke, her voice calm but firm, filling the space with a clarity that didn’t compete with Hela’s, but complemented it.

"And that’s precisely why it needs to be done correctly."

Hela looked at her.

Interested.

"I imagine you have a suggestion."

Exelia didn’t hesitate.

"The letter should be formal, respectful in structure... but absolutely inflexible in content."

She took a small step forward.

"No direct threats. But with implications impossible to ignore."

Kael glanced at her sideways.

"That is, diplomacy."

Exelia smiled slightly.

"Efficient diplomacy."

Hela let out a small, low laugh.

"I like that."

She moved closer to the table again.

"I can guarantee the letter will be delivered."

She said, now returning completely to a practical tone.

"Not by conventional means. It won’t go through traditional diplomatic routes."

She placed one hand on the table again.

"It’ll go straight to someone who matters."

Kael tilted his head slightly.

"Who?"

Hela gave a small smile.

"Someone who can’t ignore it."

A pause.

"Nor pretend not to have received it."

The silence that followed was short.

But full of understanding.

Because that meant only one thing—

The letter wouldn’t just be delivered.

It would be... felt.

Kael nodded.

"Great." Simple.

Direct.

Hela then tilted her head slightly, observing him more closely now.

"And the content?"

She asked.

"Do you already know what you’re going to write?"

Kael was silent for a second.

Thinking.

Then he answered.

"Yes."

A short pause.

"Something simple."

He looked directly at her.

"I’m going."

The silence that followed was... heavy.

Exelia didn’t interrupt.

Hela didn’t either.

But the small smile that appeared on her face this time...

It wasn’t light.

"Simple."

She repeated.

"And absolutely chaotic."

Kael shrugged.

"It works."

And, at that moment—

It really did work.