THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

Elara's crimson gaze sharpened as David's words hung in the air. She tilted her head slightly, her fiery demeanor held in check. "Hmm, I see," she murmured, her tone curious but edged with skepticism. Her lips curled into a faint smile as she leaned forward on her desk. "And what is it that you want? Gold? Land? If it's within my power, I will grant it to you."

David shook his head, his expression resolute. "It's none of that," he said, his voice steady. "This… this is something I've been preparing for. My request is that you disappear—from the general public and from the eyes of the empire—for a time."

Elara's eyes flared in sudden fury, and her short, wavy raven hair ignited with searing flames, glowing like a storm of embers. "Do you think I am a coward?" she demanded, her voice a dangerous growl that echoed through the room. "To hide, like some cornered animal?"

The heat of her anger was almost palpable, and David instinctively tried to step back while seated. Salomonis, however, remained calm, raising his hand to placate her. "Elara," he said gently, yet firmly, "calm yourself. Remember, the boy is a seer." His golden eyes locked onto her, an unspoken warning in his gaze to remember that David was still the son of the General.

Elara's fiery hair dimmed, returning to its natural, glossy black as she exhaled sharply. She brushed an errant strand behind her ear and fixed David with a calculating look. "Fine," she said, her tone measured, though her pride was clearly stung. "Explain, then. Tell me this grand plan of yours."

David took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I have people in the capital," he began, his tone confident.

"They're under my father's mansion—now mine. I've secured them in a safe place. Until we're ready to confront the Demon, I'll need you to stay hidden. Once the preparations are complete, I'll reveal the Demon's identity. Along with that, I'll provide a strategy to take him down."

Elara studied him carefully, her sharp gaze dissecting every word, every nuance of his expression. "And where exactly would I go to hide?" she asked, crossing her arms. "Wouldn't it be pointless to retreat to the capital? Surely the Demon—or anyone with half a brain—would think to look for me there. After all, many Earls like myself own property there."

David nodded, acknowledging her point. "I'm aware of that," he replied, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Which is why, after we've made the necessary preparations, we'll be setting our sights on a place no one would dare expect." He paused, letting the weight of his next words sink in. "We'll be conquering the Eye of Ternion."

The room fell deathly silent, save for the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth. Both Elara and Salomonis stared at him, their disbelief etched on their faces.

"The Eye of Ternion?" Elara finally repeated, her voice tinged with shock. "You're mad."

Salomonis leaned back in his chair, his wine momentarily forgotten. "You do realize what you're proposing, don't you, David?"

David met their stares head-on, his resolve unwavering. "I do," he said simply. "And it's the only way to ensure victory against the Demon."

Elara's crimson gaze burned with skepticism as she leaned forward, her fingers drumming lightly against her desk. "You're suggesting we face the ruins of a god," she said slowly, her voice laden with incredulity. "I would rather confront the Demon himself.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

At least I know he bleeds. But the Eye of Ternion? That place whispers with madness. There are rumors the god slumbers there, not dead but waiting, still alive and as dangerous as ever."

David squared his shoulders, meeting her fiery gaze with unwavering resolve. "Rumors," he said firmly. "That's all they are. Ternion is dead—truly and irreversibly gone. The myths of him resting because of his so-called sacrifices to the world are nothing but fables to keep fear and faith alive."

Elara's lips pressed into a thin line as she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "And how, pray tell, are you so certain of this?" she asked, arching a brow. "Is this knowledge because of your seeing abilities?"

David nodded, his expression calm yet determined. "It is. The truth was laid bare to me, as clear as day."

Salomonis chuckled under his breath, setting his wineglass on the desk with a soft clink. "Well, I'll be damned," he muttered, shaking his head. "A capable warrior, a sharp mind, and a seer on top of it all. Quite the trifecta, boy." He leaned forward, his tone curious yet probing. "Which begs the question—why? Why go to such extraordinary lengths? Why risk everything, including your sanity, to save the Archon?"

Elara, who had been silently studying David, suddenly smirked and chimed in, "Indeed. It can't be because of my beauty, can it? Surely, David, you're not some madman driven by a hopeless infatuation with me."

David let out a sigh, his patience tested by her teasing. Ignoring her comment entirely, he spoke with a gravity that silenced the room. "The reason I'm doing this, the reason I'm asking you to trust me with a plan that seems insane, is simple. If I die, or if the Archon dies, this world will end."

The room fell silent once more, but this time the quiet was heavy, oppressive. Elara's playful smirk vanished, replaced by a furrowed brow as she tried to read the truth in David's expression. Salomonis leaned back, his usually relaxed demeanor now tinged with unease. Find adventures at empire

"What do you mean by that?" Elara finally asked, her voice softer but no less intense.

David didn't flinch under her scrutiny. "Exactly what I said," he replied, his voice like steel. "There are forces at play far greater than the Demon or the Eye of Ternion. If we fail here—if either of us falls—the balance of this world will shatter. And there will be no coming back."

His words hung in the air like an ominous storm cloud, leaving both Elara and Salomonis to grapple with the weight of his declaration.