CHAPTER 513: MARK

Sinclair whisked Coco to the side, his hand resting on her arm and stared deeply into her eyes.

"Master, there’s something you need to see." The hybrid said, his gaze serious. "Mr. Kairo has a mark."

Coco’s alarmed expression faded momentarily, replaced by curiosity.

A mark? Like a symbol? What kind of mark anyway? What kind of mark could be so significant enough to stir such concern from Sinclair?

Coco’s frown deepened with concern, her mind racing to make sense of the hybrid’s words.

"A mark?" She repeated, her attention focused on Sinclair’s shaded information. "Did something happen to him before you arrived here? Is that the cause of the mark.. Or whatever you’re telling me?"

Sinclair nodded, his expression grave.

"It appears so.." He said, his gaze shifting on Kairo’s form as the young mediator leaned against the brown haired mediator, still trembling. "I found him fighting off the monsters when I saw it, but that’s not all.. There’s something odd about the mark that caught my attention."

"Alright." Coco said, her voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. "What is it? Stop being so cryptic with your words and go straight to the point."

Sinclair would have found her impatience adorable if it weren’t for the situation at the moment.

The hybrid leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I noticed a strange mark on his shoulder. Of course, I thought that it was just a tattoo or a birthmark, but no."

Sinclair paused, his eyebrows furrowing, looking like he was contemplating about something, then he continued. "It looked like a dark, intricate design, almost like a rune.."

However, Sinclair’s words came to a halt again as he shook his head, immediately correcting himself. "Actually, it’s not quite a rune. It’s more similar to the mark that hybrids like me acquire once we have received and chosen a master.."

Coco’s eyes quickly widened with understanding, a look of concern flickering across her face.

She had heard about the marks that certain hybrids bore upon being bound to a master— she’s a master of one after all, and those marks signify deep loyalty.. But why would Kairo have such a mark?

Coco’s gaze shifted away from Sinclair and toward Kairo, her worry deepening when a realization hit her.

Could it be.. Is Kairo a hybrid? Coco wondered, her heart dropping to her stomach.

"If Kairo is a hybrid.." She murmured, her voice dripping with unease. "Then... It’s quite possible that he already has a master, isn’t it?"

Coco’s chest tightened with a pang of pain, her heart aching at the possibility of Kairo belonging to another as a familiar— the mere thought of him, his presence, and loyalty tied to someone else was a bitter pill to swallow.

The thought was enough for her hands to subconsciously clenched into fists.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that Kairo should belong with her, that he belonged as her familiar instead of someone else.

Staring at Coco’s face, Sinclair’s smile became sly.

"Oh?" The hybrid chimed, mischief in his voice. "Is that a pang of jealousy I sense, master? Could it be the thought of Mr. Kairo belongs to someone else that’s causing this possessive feeling inside you?"

Sinclair’s smirk widened, his eyes watching Coco’s reaction with interest.

Coco’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted when she heard Sinclair’s words, causing her eyebrows to crease together in disdain.

She shook her head. "Jealous? Me? That’s ridiculous. Kairo is my friend so I’m just worried about him. Besides, no one could claim anyone.. That just doesn’t sound right."

Despite her denial, her voice was dripping with defensiveness along with her words.

It was like she was trying to convince not only Sinclair, but also herself, like if she didn’t say it out loud, she wouldn’t have believed herself.

Her reaction made Sinclair raise an eyebrow skeptically at Coco, though he chose not to press further because he felt like his master would explode at any given moment.

"I see.." He murmured, his tone clear with disbelief, but respecting her denial about her feelings.

Then, he quickly redirected the conversation to the matter at hand. "Anyway.. Given the situation we have right now, I have a library at home that may provide some assistance, master."

Coco perked up and looked at him. "Really?"

"Yes." Sinclair affirmed with a polite smile. "However, I won’t be able to lend much aid for the rest of the week, as I have pressing matters to attend to."

"No, it’s fine." Coco waved him off, understanding that Sinclair had his hands full. "You don’t have to trouble yourself—"

Her words were cut off as her gaze shifted toward Kairo, who seemed to slump against Heiren.

A feeling of urgency filled her chest, the sight of Kairo weakened and vulnerable frame stirring an unsettling heaviness on her chest.

Heiren’s panicked cry for Coco’s attention pierced the air, his voice filled with fear. "Coco! It’s Kairo! He’s— Kairo.. He’s unconscious! Please help me—"

Heiren started to speak, but Coco was already at their side in an instant.

With gentleness, she carefully lifted Kairo out of Heiren’s grip, her arm slipping to his waist and cradling him against her gingerly.

Coco’s gaze focused on Kairo, her heart racing as she assessed his state.

He was pale and trembling, his breathing ragged and labored, and the mark— it was bright and pulsing right under the collar of his top, making her eyes narrow into a glare.

Heiren’s eyes welled up with tears as he choked back a sob. "He.. He was saying something earlier, apologizing over and over again.. I tried to tell him that he didn’t cause any trouble, that we wanted to look for him ourselves, but then.."

Coco listened intently, her grip on Kairo tightening as she carefully swept him off his feet.

Heiren’s head shook furiously, his tears spilling freely down his cheeks as he tried to regain composure.

Coco raised a hand and caressed Heiren’s cheek. "Hey, it’s okay.. He’ll be fine so don’t cry."