The manor appeared to swallow Kieran in darkness. He could feel the dampness of the carpet beneath his shoes. Dark spots adorned the thick carpet lining the walls, and red stains marred the family portraits. The metallic scent of blood lingered in the air.The creaking of the wood from the family room fireplace only reminded Kieran of how silent the manor was. He promptly ascended the stairs, trying not to dwell on why the banister felt rough and dusty in his hands.Then he saw the family room door wide open. A small fire in the fireplace greeted him, along with his parents' clasped hands as they leaned back in their comfortable chairs.Kieran breathed a sigh of relief. "Pa, Ma, I brought a souvenir from Grandma's..." He pulled out a box of cookies from the paper bag he held while briskly walking towards his parents' warm chairs. His words were interrupted as the connection of their clasped hands broke, and they slumped lifelessly. Kieran's gaze lifted, noting his mother's excessively

Kieran drew his dagger. This time, he wasn't as confident as before when he fought against Dravon. Uncertain of his ability to defeat the invisible monster with a dagger, he hesitated. Nevertheless, facing the creature with the hiltless swords he carried was not an option he favored.Somehow, Kieran could sense the hunger and hatred of the monster. He could feel the dark cravings of a dead soul. In an instant, the creature arrived before him, claws digging into his shoulder, causing Kieran to wince in pain. His hand trembled as he gripped the dagger. Hatred and anger erupted within him as despair and past grievances seized control."You killed my parents," Kieran whispered. He closed his eyes. If he couldn't see the monster, then he didn't have to see. The monster swiftly moved past him. Kieran's body spun, his dagger slashing in a clockwise motion. As the blade's tip hit something soft, Kieran's lips curled into a heartless smile. He focused on his sense of hearing and touch. His bo

Dravon removed his estate cloak, draping it over his arm as he entered Duke Zephyr's warmly lit manor. A maid approached, walking alongside him."How is the little girl?" Dravon inquired. They strode confidently towards the western wing of the manor, where Dravon's prepared chambers awaited."She has just fallen asleep, Your Highness," the maid replied with a peaceful smile, one of the reasons Dravon preferred this manor over his own in Central Palace. Here, the maids didn't harbor undue fear of their master.Arriving in the cozy room with a large canopied bed and a flickering fireplace, Dravon stood by the bedside. He observed the peacefully sleeping two or three-year-old girl, hands resting beside her head. His gaze softened as he noticed the pendant with the name 'Lunabelle' around the little girl's neck."Your current fate is similar to what I experienced in the past," Dravon whispered faintly. He then smiled at the maid. "Please keep an eye on the little girl every two hours. I'l

Lotus Palace, two years ago."Kieran, don't embarrass me at a time like this," The reprimand was nothing more than a whisper, yet it felt like a slap to Kieran's feelings.Kieran placed his fork beside the slice of strawberry roll cake he couldn't indulge in. The silent gesture oddly caught the attention of Princess Silvanna, seated at the edge of the table, causing her to pause from her meal and glance in his direction. "I told you I couldn't accompany you today, Pa," Kieran whispered to him. "Today is crucial for me.""What activity could be more important than accompanying your father to learn the actual duties of a Duke?" his father retorted angrily.Seated across from Kieran, William Zephyr wiped his mouth with a napkin, looking sour as if witnessing something inappropriate. This intensified Kieran's anger, prompting him to groan and push his chair back. He left the dining hall of the Lotus Palace abruptly, disregarding all the important figures present. Suddenly, Kieran just wan

Two weeks later.Darkness had imprisoned Umbravale in the shadows of fear for too long. As dawn approached, the city felt frigid, echoes of claws on walls and roofs, accompanied by the sounds of children's fearful moans. Valorthorn's cruelty took on new forms in maintaining their newfound city.A figure cloaked in black ran swiftly through the cobblestone streets. His raven-blue hair gleamed under the moonlight. Portraits of his face adorned posters distributed throughout the land of Valorthorn, yet no Umbravale resident dared to venture out at night, never discovering his presence in the city.From various directions, the dead souls began to pursue him like piranhas. The figure unsheathed a gleaming sword in the darkness, creating distance to assess his adversaries. As the dead souls swiftly attacked, he swung his sword, slicing through two at once. A chilling aura erupted from the fallen, sending shivers down his spine. However, he started to relish the sensation.Moving forward, he