THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

The hall was vast and empty, swallowed by darkness so thick it seemed alive, curling and coiling like smoke. The only sound was the soft, shallow breathing of a little girl seated at the centre of the floor.

Her tiny frame shook as she clutched her knees tightly to her chest, her wide eyes staring into the endless shadows surrounding her. Tears streaked down her pale cheeks, glistening like drops of silver in the faintest hint of light that trickled from nowhere.

"Mother..." she whimpered, her voice barely more than a whisper, fragile and trembling. "Please... come back..."

Her plea echoed through the hall, swallowed by the blackness, and for a moment, silence answered her. But then, the shadows stirred. Slowly, they began to shift and twist, their forms morphing into grotesque figures that hovered just beyond the girl's reach. Their faces were vague, mere smudges in the darkness, yet their eyes glowed with malevolence, and their mouths twisted into cruel sneers.

"Heretic."

"Filth."

"Stain."

The words slithered through the air like poison, each accusation sharper than the last. The little girl recoiled, pressing her face into her knees as though she could hide from the barrage of insults. Her small body quaked with sobs, her cries muffled by the hands she pressed to her ears in a futile attempt to block out the voices.

"Please... stop..." she choked, her voice breaking with desperation. "Just give her back... I want my mother..."

But the shadows only laughed, the sound deep and hollow, reverberating through the chamber like a terrible symphony. They began to close in, their fingers long and jagged, reaching for her with a hunger that sent a chill down her spine.

"You cannot hide," one shadow hissed, its voice dripping with malice.

"Your blood," another whispered, its breath cold against her neck. "We demand your blood to atone... to cleanse your sins before the Sovereign of the Enchanted Veil."

The shadows swirled around her, faster and faster, their whispers growing louder, more insistent. They tugged at her clothes, her hair, her very soul, each one demanding the price of her existence. The little girl's sobs turned to wails as she clutched her knees tighter, her body shrinking beneath the weight of their hatred.

"Someone... anyone..." she cried, her voice barely audible above the storm of whispers. "Please... save me..."

Suddenly, there was a sound—a sharp crack, like shattered glass echoing through the suffocating darkness. The shadows recoiled, hissing in fury as a sliver of light pierced through the ceiling above her. It was faint at first, but it grew, splitting the darkness with its warmth.

The little girl lifted her head, her tear-filled eyes wide with hope. She stretched out a trembling hand toward the light, the only beacon in the sea of shadows. Her fingers barely brushed its edges, and for a brief moment, she felt its warmth.

And then she awoke.

Seraphina jolted upright in bed, her breath ragged and her heart pounding. Her cheeks were wet, her fingers still outstretched, reaching for a light that had vanished along with the nightmare.

The guest room Seraphina was assigned to was grand, yet eerily cold. The walls, draped in thick tapestries embroidered with golden threads, depicted heroic tales of the De Gor family's triumphs. A large, ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting soft, flickering light that did little to chase away the remnants of her nightmare. The bed she had woken in was large, with silk sheets and a heavy velvet comforter, but despite the luxury, it felt more like a cage.

After the spies had been rooted out within the estate, David had insisted she stay here, assuring her that it would be safer until everything settled. He had been right, of course. The estate had been crawling with eyes and ears that were not loyal to the family. But now, in this isolated room, away from David, she had never felt more alone.

Seraphina sat on the edge of her bed, her breath shallow as she tried to steady her racing heart. She wiped her tear-streaked face with the back of her trembling hand, whispering to herself, "I'm safe... I'm safe now."

Her words were hollow, though, barely convincing herself. The fear from her nightmare still gripped her chest like a vice, the darkness from the hall in her dream clinging to her as if it had followed her into the waking world. She rubbed her eyes and glanced around the room, trying to ground herself in reality. But no matter how beautiful her surroundings were, the loneliness gnawed at her, growing heavier with each passing moment.

After several minutes of whispering assurances to herself, she stood up, her feet touching the cold marble floor. She needed air. Something to clear her mind. Without another thought, she wrapped a shawl around her shoulders and made her way to the door, stepping into the dimly lit hallway.

The quiet of the estate at this hour was comforting, yet unsettling. She wandered aimlessly, her thoughts circling like vultures in her mind. Her hand trailed lightly against the stone walls as she walked, her heart still unsettled but calming with each step.

"I will unearth the truth one day," Seraphina whispered to herself, her eyes narrowing with determination. The secret of her father's fate was buried deep within the lies and deceptions of the House of Maven. One day, she would find it—she would uncover the truth behind what they did to her mother. They had stolen everything from her, and they would pay for it.

Her fingers clenched into fists at her sides as she walked, the resolve in her heart hardening with each step. It was fate, after all, that she had met David. He was the only one who could restore her cultivation, the only one who might be able to give her back the strength she had lost. Without him, her path would have been far darker.

But as her thoughts lingered on him, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. The cool air brushed against her skin as she realized where she stood—outside David's chamber. Shocked, she stared at the door, her breath catching in her throat. How had she ended up here, of all places?

David sat in the center of his chamber, his legs crossed in a lotus position, eyes half-closed as he pondered his next move. The thought of entering the Tower of Adversity had weighed heavily on his mind for days. It was his key to strength, his path to surpassing the limitations that bound him in this world. He knew he needed to grow stronger, faster, but the timing was everything. Was now the right moment to dive into that treacherous place?

His thoughts wavered, nearly commanding the system within him to take him to the tower. But just as the mental command formed in his mind, something stopped him. The faint creak of his chamber doors opening shattered his focus. His eyes snapped open as he stood swiftly, sensing something was off.

Standing in the doorway was Seraphina. Her normally composed demeanor was broken, her face flushed with sadness, her cheeks red and streaked with tears. Her dark hair fell messily over her shoulders, and her eyes looked lost. David's heart sank at the sight. He had never seen her so vulnerable.

Alarmed, he stepped forward, worry etching his features. "Seraphina? What's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft, but filled with concern.

Before he could say another word, Seraphina closed the distance between them, throwing herself into his arms. She nestled her head against his chest, her body trembling as she held onto him tightly. David could feel her breath, hot and uneven against him, her warmth radiating through his shirt.

"Seraphina..." David whispered, his fingers instinctively running through her silky black hair in an attempt to comfort her. His heart raced as he tried to make sense of what had caused this sudden breakdown. "What happened? Talk to me."

For a moment, there was only silence, save for the soft sound of her breathing. Then, in a hushed, broken voice, Seraphina whispered, "I want you to have me... now."

David stiffened, taken aback by her words. He gently pulled back, trying to see her face, but Seraphina only pressed closer to him, her breath growing hotter against his skin. He could feel her body trembling, her fingers clutching at his shirt as if she was afraid to let go.

David knew this day would come—he had known her trauma better than she did, understood the depth of her pain in ways she had yet to confront. But now, in this moment, as she stood before him, broken and vulnerable, it was no longer a matter of knowledge. It was real.

His heart ached for her, for the weight of what she was carrying. Without another word, David slid one arm under her knees and lifted her gently into a princess carry. Seraphina melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck as if he were her lifeline.

"If that is what you wish, then I will be yours," David purred softly into her ear, his voice steady and reassuring.

With a slow, deliberate movement, he closed the door to his chamber with his foot, shutting out the rest of the world. The room was theirs now, a sanctuary from everything outside. David walked toward the bed, his arms still holding Seraphina close, her head resting against his chest. She relaxed in his embrace, her breathing softening as he laid her down gently, her trust in him complete.

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