Fifteen Day Later


    Darkness.


    Lucian’s mind was drifting.


    A voice called to him.


    "Didn’t I tell you?"


    A cold, inhuman chuckle.


    "Give me your body… and I’ll make you strong."


    The whisper slithered through his mind.


    "Right now, you’re weak. I can take over… No, don’t wake up. No—"


    Lucian’s eyes snapped open.


    Lucian’s breath was ragged, his vision blurred.


    His body was covered in bandages, pain radiating from every limb.


    He felt weak.


    So weak.


    Then—


    “LUCIAAAAN!!”


    Kane''s voice cracked with relief as he burst into the tent.


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    Lucian barely had time to react before Kane was at his bedside, grabbing his shoulders.


    His eyes were red, his hands shaking.


    "You idiot… YOU ALMOST DIED!"


    James entered soon after, his voice quivering.


    "Thank you… thank you for saving my life."


    Lucian stared at him, speechless.


    He never expected gratitude.


    All he could do was offer a small, exhausted smile.


    But deep inside—


    He felt something strange.


    Something wrong.


    Later that night, an attendant entered the tent.


    "The Duke wishes to see you."


    Lucian, still sore and weak, forced himself up.


    Inside the Duke’s office, the air was tense.


    The Duke’s eyes studied him.


    Lucian fidgeted, feeling uncomfortable under that sharp gaze.


    "How are you feeling?" the Duke finally asked.


    Lucian hesitated.


    "I’m… fine. Thank you for saving my life."


    The Duke didn’t respond.


    Instead, he leaned forward.


    "Do you remember… what happened that night?"


    Lucian blinked.


    He thought back.


    He remembered running… fighting… getting beaten.


    He remembered falling.


    Then—


    Nothing.


    Just… darkness.


    Lucian shook his head. "I only remember until I fell."


    The Duke’s gaze hardened.


    He said nothing, but Lucian felt something shift in the air.


    Something cold.


    Something suspicious.


    The Duke dismissed him.


    But as Lucian left the office, he didn’t see the three officers behind the Duke.


    The men who had witnessed the slaughter.


    The men who saw him rise from the dead and massacre an entire army.


    "Not a word," the Duke ordered.


    They nodded.


    But deep inside—


    The Duke was watching.


    Because whatever Lucian was…


    He was no longer just a boy.


    Something else had awakened.


    And the Duke wanted to know what.