Chapter 122: Priscilla
"Betas are the cherished partners of alphas, the crown jewels of our Empire."
In Kestrel’s living room, there was a big TV showing a famous show from the Empire. It told the story of an ordinary beta guy who married a rich alpha girl.
A group of singers sang lovely songs about love, thanking the Tower and the Queen for all the good things. A good-looking beta guy, wearing a spotless white outfit, looking pure and innocent, entered the wedding hall, guided by a fancy alpha girl.
After they got married, he had to deal with his moody wife, mean words from her family, and unwanted attention from a younger relative. But after all the tough times, he finally made his alpha wife fall in love with him.
"Why do they keep showing stuff like this?" Priscilla wondered, looking away from the TV. "I grew up listening to these tales, thinking they were real..."
Her voice faded a bit, lost in her thoughts. Priscilla and Kestrel used to be super close. But after getting married, having two kids, the challenges of being in a rich family, a husband who didn’t help much, and tons of tiny issues, Priscilla felt stuck.
Now, she barely had time to visit Kestrel, especially since Kestrel was about to leave for a risky place.
Locky came in with tea and some snacks for Priscilla. He was really polite and seemed comfortable.
With more people visiting Kestrel recently, Locky became braver. He even said hello to Priscilla.
As she enjoyed her tea and snacks, Priscilla looked at Kestrel’s backyard. The garden needed some work, but it had roses that blossomed even when it was cold. In the past, Kestrel’s house seemed lonely and sad. Now, it felt cozy and welcoming.
Priscilla saw that Kestrel had changed as well. As a kid in the Tower, she was mostly by herself, having just one friend. But after she left, it looked like she made lots of friends. She had a helper, a gardener, visitors all the time, and was always the life of the party.
On the other hand, Priscilla...
Handing Kestrel some notes, Priscilla said, "I did some school work on the Eyehole when we were in the Tower. I used new information and fixed it up for you."
She reached out and held Kestrel’s hand, saying, "Kestrel, it’s not safe there. Be careful."
Priscilla’s hand was cold. When Kestrel gripped it, she seemed to squeeze a little hard. Maybe it was because she had been training a lot. Priscilla seemed surprised and took a sharp breath.
Everything got super quiet.
"Did he hurt you?" Kestrel said, not showing any emotion. The room felt so silent, like even the smallest sounds were hiding.
Priscilla tried to act as if nothing was wrong, but she knew Kestrel could see right through her. Growing up together, and as betas, they shared a special bond, knowing each other’s feelings without words. All Priscilla could do was lower her eyes and lightly bite her lip.
Before visiting, her husband, knowing she’d be seeing Kestrel, had glared at her, saying, "I’ve told you to stay away from Kestrel. She was left by her fiance, but she’s always with all those alphas. She’s not a proper beta."
Biting her tongue to stop a retort, Priscilla said, "Kestrel hasn’t done anything wrong. She’s helped so many people, even in the Polluted Zone. Why isn’t she a good beta?"
It was unusual for Priscilla to stand up to her husband. Betas are taught to be calm and patient.
But he snapped, grabbing her hair and hitting her hard. The pain was intense, and it took her moments to gather herself.
"I heard some royal guards were fighting for her attention," he sneered. "You’re probably jealous, right? Wishing you were like her?"
Priscilla blinked away tears. She did envy Kestrel for her strength and freedom.
"It’s always like this," Priscilla whispered, her voice shaky. "I feel trapped, Kestrel. I just wait, hoping things will get better."
When they first married, he was kind. But as time went on, he realized he was in total control because of his physical strength.
When someone gets that kind of power, sometimes they show their true colors.
On TV, the story continued with the beta facing challenges and eventually finding love. A song played, making emotions soar.
"You can defend yourself," Kestrel said, holding Priscilla’s hand. "We’re not weak. We’re just as strong."
Priscilla hesitated, drawing her hand back. "He’s an alpha, Kestrel. He’s so much stronger. I can’t... I’m not like you."
"But you can learn," Kestrel said. "If you want to, I can teach you."
Underneath her calm words, Kestrel was filled with rage.
The tendrils are yelling:
"I’m so mad."
"Use what Kaworu taught."
"Make him think twice."
"Make him regret."
"Let him know your strength."
"Show him you’re in control."
"Don’t let him walk over you."
"But be careful."
Kestrel accompanied Priscilla out of her house, strolling side by side through the garden filled with overgrown shrubs and fallen leaves. As they reached the entrance, Kestrel looked at Priscilla and said, "Remember, if you ever decide to learn and I’m still here, you can always come to me."
Priscilla was like a sister to Kestrel, but she knew she couldn’t make decisions for her. Every person has the right to decide their own path and how they want to live.
Priscilla, with her head hanging low, looked defeated. Just as she was about to step out of the gate, she spun around and clutched Kestrel’s hand tightly. "I want to learn from you, Kestrel. Show me how we betas can defend ourselves against those intimidating alphas."
Kestrel responded, possibly with a hint of a grin, "Alright, come train with me for the next few days. But be warned, it won’t be easy and some might judge you and call you an ’improper beta’."
...
Days later, during one of Ren’s trips to Kestrel’s home, he noticed a majestic swan rise gracefully from the courtyard and take flight, its silhouette shimmering against the sun. This was the psychic incarnation of Priscilla, embodying freedom and strength.
It made Ren recall memories of the young girl who had been whisked away. The girl, around six or seven, had the psychic incarnation of a magnificent bird, its feathers blazing like fire.
He pondered if he would ever witness that young soul soar so freely again.
Reaching Kestrel’s door, he asked, "All set to leave?"
Kestrel appeared, having swapped her elaborate beta dress for more rugged, travel-friendly clothes. A dark backpack hung from her shoulders, her long hair neatly braided. A gun was strapped to her side, and a sharp dagger was fastened to her wrist.
After bidding farewell to her loved ones, she embarked on her quest, determined and unafraid.
In the days before this journey began, Ren was swamped. His days revolved around intense training and strategizing, and by night, Brandon would covertly introduce him to some key figures. When discussing the queen and the Tower, these people dropped all usual formalities. Their conversations were filled with a sense of urgency, a collective ambition driving them.
"We need to uncover the real reason the Queen is interested in the Polluted Zone. The Hades Stone can’t be the whole story; there’s something we’re missing."
"It’s like we’ve always been kept in the shadows about her true intentions. Lately, her actions seem more rushed, as if she’s running out of time."
"Stay on your guard out there. The zone is treacherous."
"As for the beta, she can handle herself when things get tough."
"Some think she’s speaking on behalf of the Queen."
But Ren was certain that Kestrel had no association with the royalty. If she did, she would’ve exposed Ren during their encounter in the Earl’s mansion.
Ren chose to remain silent on the topic of his relationship with Kestrel. He wasn’t keen on letting too many people in on the secret of their bond.
"Should we be heading this way?" Ren asked, looking over at Kestrel. "There’s an blimp today that’s bound straight for Polluted Zone 338. We can use our passes to get on board."
"We aren’t headed to 338," Kestrel interjected. "I want to drop by the East Shore outpost first."
"The East Shore?" Ren’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. While he was assigned to support Kestrel’s decisions, her spontaneous changes often caught him off guard.
"I’ve been missing that place a bit, and I want to see it again," Kestrel explained, making a last-minute adjustment to their route. "Plus, I believe we need some genuine combat training."
Practicing with Kaworu and Locky wasn’t an option for her— she cared about them too much to ever harm them. But the East Shore? There were so many even matches for her there and she could go to some smaller Polluted Zone, too. It was perfect for some real-time training.
Always keenly observant, Kestrel sensed there was someone or something in the air, pushing for her to head to the Eyehole. The fact that a blimp was prepared to leave on the exact day they had planned seemed suspicious. Operating a blimp wasn’t cheap, needing a considerable amount of energy stones. They wouldn’t be used unless it was something major.
Even though she wasn’t clear about all the details, Kestrel didn’t appreciate being pushed around. If they wanted her to hurry, she’d do the opposite.
"Is this change alright with you?" she looked at Ren, seeking affirmation.
He nodded, "Real battle scenarios are the best for training."
Ren’s fist tightened and he bumped it lightly against Kestrel’s, a sign of solidarity and encouragement between fighters. They both recognized the need for more hands-on combat, better teamwork, and thorough prep to safely navigate the treacherous Eyehole and make it back as a team.
...
Outside the outpost, Birdie, spotting Kestrel with her backpack, suddenly sprouted wings and rushed to her, wrapping her in a tight embrace and spinning her joyously.
"Kestrel, the stories about you have been swirling around! Unlocking the Erdtree’s Polluted Zone? That’s legendary! Everyone’s bursting with pride."
"Raymond told me he’s thinking of signing up for the Imperial Nexus guards. Says he hopes to meet you there."
"Oh, and Olivia! My little one hasn’t stopped chattering about you. You have to come over for dinner, please."
"Hey, Kestrel! Tegnell used to tiptoe around you, but now? He can’t stop talking about how much he misses the grooming you offered."
People from all directions flocked around Kestrel, bombarding her with updates, invitations, and conversations, immersing her in a whirlwind of affection and recognition.
