THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

David leaned back against the closed door of his room, exhaling a deep breath as if trying to release the tension that had seized him moments ago. His mind raced, replaying the encounter with Count Nicalo—or, more accurately, the demon masquerading as him. The air still felt thick, as though the oppressive mana lingering from the demon's presence hadn't entirely dissipated.

Luna's golden eyes shimmered in the dim light, her gaze fixed on David. "What now?" she asked, her voice low but steady, tinged with the same unease David felt. "Do we confront Salomonis? He might know something."

David ran a hand through his white hair, his mind grappling with the layers of implications. "We have to," he said finally, his voice firm but laced with doubt. "But it doesn't make sense, Luna. Salomonis has been in this castle for years. His mastery of mana and magical detection is unrivaled—he should've sensed Count Nicalo's corruption. I didn't even need 'Celestial Wheel' to see the foul energy seeping from that thing."

Luna nodded, her clawed hands resting on the table, her posture still alert. "The demon was surprised," she mused, her lips curving slightly. "It didn't expect you to unmask it so quickly. That tells me it's used to going undetected, even by someone like Salomonis. Maybe the weird mage should know about this after all."

David frowned, pacing the room. "Or that's what the demon wants," he countered, his voice laced with suspicion. "What if it revealed itself deliberately? What if this is a trap to draw me to Salomonis, or worse—to expose me to something even more dangerous?"

Luna tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "True, but consider this: if that thing is Count Nicalo, then what happened to the real one? Does the real Nicalo even exist anymore? And if he does, why hasn't anyone noticed his absence?"

David froze, the question slicing through his thoughts like a blade. He hadn't considered that possibility. What if the demon had replaced Count Nicalo long ago? What if the real Nicalo was dead, imprisoned, or worse—used as a vessel for whatever twisted schemes this demon was concocting?

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of," David said quietly, his hands balling into fists. "If this is the demon's play, then we're already steps behind. But if there's even a chance Salomonis doesn't know, we need to tell him. He's the only one who might be able to help us."

Luna crossed her arms, her gaze softening. "Then we move carefully. No rash decisions. The demon's playing a game, and if we're not careful, we'll be the ones caught in its web."

David met her eyes, the weight of the situation heavy between them. "Agreed. Let's find Salomonis. But this time, we control the board, not the demon."

And with that, David straightened, his resolve hardening. The fight was far from over, but he would face whatever came next with unyielding determination.

David stepped outside with Luna by his side, the crisp morning air brushing against his skin as the tension from the earlier encounter lingered in the back of his mind. Before he could even take another step, a figure shifted in the shadows near the hallway corner. Startled, both he and Luna turned abruptly, their postures defensive, only to see Mariana stepping forward hesitantly.

"Mariana?" David asked, his voice tinged with both surprise and suspicion. "What are you doing here?"

Mariana fidgeted under their gazes, wringing her hands. "I... I was hiding from my uncle," she confessed sheepishly, glancing toward the closed door behind them. "I was waiting for you."

Luna's golden eyes narrowed, her suspicion evident as she tilted her head slightly. "Were you eavesdropping?" she asked, her voice sharp, though her curiosity seemed to overpower her irritation. "Did you hear anything from inside?"

Mariana's face flushed, and she looked away, embarrassment colouring her expression. "I tried," she admitted, her tone reluctant. "But I couldn't hear anything. Normally, as a Swordmaster, my senses are sharper than most, but this time... it was like the room was completely silent. I couldn't even sense voices."

David felt a cold sensation crawl down his spine, an unwelcome chill that made him clench his fists reflexively. It had to be the demon's doing—some sort of barrier or concealment spell to ensure their conversation wasn't overheard. The realization only added to his unease.

Before he could dwell further, Mariana's demeanor shifted, her embarrassment melting into determination. "Anyway," she continued, her tone lightening, "if you're not busy, I was wondering if I could show you around the coast before the ceremony starts. It's one of the best views around here."

Luna crossed her arms, her tone flat as she replied, "I don't think that's a good idea right now. We have more pressing matters to handle."

David raised a hand, silencing her protest with a calm but firm gesture. "Actually," he said, looking at Mariana thoughtfully, "that's not a bad idea. It gives us a chance to talk." He didn't elaborate, but his intent was clear—to probe Mariana for any information she might have about her uncle and whether she'd noticed anything unusual about him.

Mariana's face lit up with excitement, and her earlier nervousness seemed to vanish. "Great!" she said, her enthusiasm infectious. "There's so much I want to show you—and maybe," she added, her voice lowering slightly, "you can teach me something about how to get stronger."

As they began to walk, Mariana led the way down a quieter corridor, gesturing for them to follow. They descended a set of stone stairs that spiraled toward the castle's lower levels. Before reaching the main entrance, Mariana turned sharply and guided them toward the stables.

"Wait here," she said, darting inside. Moments later, she reappeared carrying two simple but elegant cloaks. She handed one to David and the other to Luna. "It's best if we avoid drawing too much attention," she explained. "The coast is usually quiet, but with the ceremony coming up, there might be more people around than usual."

David nodded, donning the cloak and pulling its hood over his head. The fabric was light yet sturdy, offering just enough coverage to obscure their faces without hindering their movements. Luna followed suit, though she cast a wary glance at Mariana as she secured the clasp of her own cloak.

"Lead the way," David said, his voice even.

Mariana grinned, her excitement palpable as she began to guide them out of the castle and toward the path that led to the coast. As they walked, David's mind churned with questions. He needed to know what Mariana had observed about her uncle—anything that might explain how long the demon had been in disguise or whether the real Count Nicalo still existed.

For now, he would play along, masking his concerns with measured composure. Whatever secrets lay ahead, he intended to uncover them, one step at a time.