THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

David nodded in agreement. "Indeed, my Lord."

The mention of Mage Marvel brought memories flooding back to David. The grand sage of the De Gor family, as David recalled from the \'Trial of Valor,\' was a formidable 7th-circle mage, a sage of the highest order. Mage Marvel was not only one of the most powerful magic users in the realm but also one of the few people the Earl considered family, despite the lack of blood ties. Their bond had been forged in the fires of war, during the brutal Crimson Moon conflict against the Witch\'s Order—a dark chapter in the history of the Soalrian Empire. They had fought side by side, each having the other\'s back during one of the most treacherous eras.

David knew that even within the revered halls of the Magic Association Tower, Aetherium Spire, Mage Marvel commanded immense respect. As one of the rare and powerful 7th-circle mages, his presence was a significant advantage. Having him on their side to tie up loose ends was not just reassuring—it was a decisive edge.

"I believe this meeting is concluded, unless there\'s anything else you wish to discuss," the Earl stated, his tone indifferent as his sharp gaze remained fixed on David.

"No, my Lord, that will be all," David responded smoothly, rising from his seat. He offered his hand to Seraphina, helping her to her feet as they prepared to leave.

The Earl\'s eyes flickered briefly with curiosity as he instructed, "Inform the maids to prepare a room for your guest."

David, however, had other plans. "No need, my Lord. She will be staying in my room," he revealed, his voice calm but firm.

Seraphina\'s cheeks flushed a deep crimson at David\'s words, and before she could stop herself, she blurted out, "I will!" Realizing her mistake, she quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with embarrassment.

The Earl raised an eyebrow, intrigued. This wasn\'t the David he knew. The David he remembered was uncomfortable around women, a result of a dark incident involving a certain noble house—an incident that had been hushed up, much to the Earl\'s anger. Despite their status as an earldom, the De Gor family had endured the humiliation in silence, partly because David had refused to testify.

The Lord had been furious, not just as a father but as the head of the De Gor family. And yet, here was David, confidently asserting himself with a woman of unparalleled beauty by his side.

"If that is your wish, then so be it," the Earl said, his tone measured. "You may leave. And do not forget to prepare yourself for the coming-of-age ceremony."

"I will, my Lord," David replied with a respectful bow, Seraphina following suit before they exited the room.

As the door closed behind them, the Earl leaned back in his chair, his thoughts swirling. "David, hmm," he mused to himself, pondering his son\'s sudden, aggressive change. It was a stark contrast to the David of old, but it was a change the Earl welcomed. He was genuinely curious to see how David would perform in the upcoming ceremony, especially given his recent accomplishments.

Outside, Seraphina exhaled a long, shaky breath, the tension of the meeting finally releasing from her body.

"You did well holding up," David complimented her, a hint of admiration in his voice. Facing the greatest general of the Solarian army as an enemy and walking away unscathed was no small feat.

"Thank you, my lord... If I may... huh, never mind," Seraphina began, hesitating as she looked up at David. She had been about to ask why he had gone out of his way to protect her from his father but thought better of it. Instead, she held her question back, touched by his actions and vowing silently to serve him with unwavering loyalty.

David, noticing her hesitation, couldn\'t help but tease her. "Come on, you can\'t just start asking something and then leave me hanging."

Seraphina smiled, feeling a warmth in his playful tone. "Where are we heading next?" she asked, changing the subject.

David\'s expression shifted as he considered her question. "I\'ve thought about it, and it\'s time," he said thoughtfully.

"Time for what?" Seraphina inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"To meet your sisters," David replied, leaving Seraphina puzzled.

"Sisters?" she echoed, confusion knitting her brow.

****

A huddle of nobles had gathered in a single spot along the cold, stone-walled corridor, their presence suffocating the air with an oppressive aura of superiority. They encircled a trembling maid, her slight form dwarfed by their towering disdainful stares, as if her mere existence was an affront to their lofty status.

Katrina, the head maid, had been on her way to the storage unit to receive the day\'s expected crates of produce when she was cornered by the young nobles. She had never liked them—those arrogant brats who flocked to the castle, some not even of the De Gor household yet strutting about as if they owned the place.

But Katrina was a commoner, and she had no right to voice her disdain—at least not aloud. She stood her ground before the Earl\'s second son, her eyes lowered to avoid inciting trouble.

"Head maid, perfect timing," Eric called out with mockery lacing his voice. "I was actually looking for David, that trash of the family, but I couldn\'t find him." His sharp gaze bored into Katrina. "Have you seen that scoundrel?"

Katrina\'s anger simmered beneath the surface, her hands balling into fists, knuckles turning white. \'How dare this worthless pig insult the young lord,\' she fumed inwardly. Eric, noticing her subtle shift in demeanour, found it amusing. The audacity of this lowly maid to be irritated by his words was almost laughable. Was it because he had insulted his younger brother? "Are you deaf, maid? Where is my trash of a brother?" Eric continued, his voice dripping with scorn as he tested his theory.

Katrina\'s fiery gaze finally met Eric\'s, though she still kept her emotions in check. "My Lord, if you\'ll excuse me, I haven\'t seen the young master," she replied, her voice steady despite the rage boiling within her. She attempted to step away from the cluster of nobles, but Eric\'s annoyance flared. He suddenly grabbed her by the throat, his grip tightening like a vice. Katrina, helpless against the strength of a master swordsman, struggled in vain. "You dare look at me with those defiant eyes, commoner?" Eric hissed, incredulous at the boldness of this lowly servant.

The realization dawned on him—could it be that David meant so much to her that she would change her demeanour entirely? "Ah, I see now," Eric mused aloud, lifting the struggling maid higher as a wicked grin spread across his face. "Do you have a crush on my little brother?" He burst into laughter, the sound echoing cruelly down the corridor. "How comical that the esteemed head maid would fancy a drunken fool."

But even in her dire predicament, Katrina did not waver. With all the strength she could muster, she spat out, "Stop this instant, or I will inform the Earl!" She knew that, despite Eric being the Earl\'s son, her position as head maid afforded her a certain level of respect from the Earl—her family had served the De Gor household since its inception.

Eric clicked his tongue in annoyance before tossing her to the ground, her head hitting the stone floor with a sickening thud. "Insolent filth," he rumbled, fury building in his chest. If she were a bit younger, he might have indulged his darker urges, using her as he did with the younger maids to satisfy his lust, since pursuing noblewomen was out of the question for someone of his standing.

With cold calculation, Eric raised his foot, ready to stomp on the half-conscious head maid and snuff out her defiance once and for all. "I\'ll crush you, just as I plan to challenge David and put him in his place," he declared, his voice thick with malice as he prepared to deliver the final blow.

From a short distance away, faint lights began to coalesce, forming a shimmering blue window that materialized in the air: [Inventory: FrostFang]. With a soft chime, two silver daggers appeared, their edges catching the afternoon sun, casting menacing glints as they rested in the figure\'s hand.

As he approached the scene, a palpable shift in the atmosphere froze everyone in place. Seraphina, who had been quietly observing, felt her breath hitch, her heart seeming to skip a beat as the familiar presence beside her morphed into something far more terrifying. This wasn\'t the protective aura she had witnessed in the Earl\'s office—this was a monstrous force that seeped into the corridor, suffusing it with an icy dread that clung to the air.

The man\'s aura was no longer just a shield; it was the embodiment of a predator, a creature whose mere presence made the temperature drop. With a fluid motion that defied logic, he hurled one of the daggers toward his target. The blade sliced through the air with deadly precision, a silver streak of death aimed at the heart of the commotion.

David had entered the fray, and the beast within him had been unleashed. There was no turning back now—it was time for the predator to play, to smile its cold, merciless smile as it prepared to claim its prey.

****

A/N: Ngl, I was exhausted from doing my laundry, but Sensei reminded me of my duty to my readers, happy reading y\'all.