bookpub Chapter 97: [We’ll see who hunts whom]
Chapter 97: [We’ll see who hunts whom]
Chapter 97: [We’ll see who hunts whom]Several days had passed.
The construction of the new Duke’s residence was nearly complete, its foundations strong and veiled in enchantments. Once it was livable, Kael and his companions moved in without ceremony.
General was focused on preparing the army, training soldiers with relentless discipline. The air around the barracks was thick with the rhythm of drills and the sharp ring of steel.
Nyra had relocated to the Church of the Night Goddess, where she had been appointed High Priestess.
Under Kael’s approval, the once solemn church was transformed into a full-fledged orphanage—its sacred halls now a refuge for the forgotten and abandoned.
Selene, meanwhile, was buried in legal work—duties that should have fallen to Kael but were instead conveniently handed off to her....
Estate papers, royal correspondence, land rights—she handled it all with quiet efficiency, though not without occasional muttering about her "useless Duke."
And Kael?
Each morning, he pushed himself relentlessly, mastering rank-3 spells with growing precision.
By night, he immersed himself in the Dream Realm, learning the elusive and sacred Dream Dance.
He had already invited Selene into the realm once, sharing the rank-3 spells with her.
***
Kael sipped his tea in silence, the steam curling gently in the morning light.
The newspaper lay open on the table before him, its headline grim:
Another Missing in Duskwither Forest.
His eyes lingered on the words before he sighed, folding the page with a tired motion.
He turned to the stack of letters beside him—most were routine.
A few bore the seal of the War God Temple.
Again.
He broke the first wax seal lazily. As expected, it was another summons—formal, insistent. They wanted him to reside within the temple walls, to "embrace his role" as their Chosen.
He tore it in half without a second thought.
Selene stood nearby, arms crossed.
"It’s not easy to reach anyone inside the War God Temple, Kael. You do realize that?"
Kael nodded slowly. "I do."
She had been
Selene’s amusement vanished.
She straightened, her expression turning still.
Yue, standing beside her, narrowed her eyes faintly.
Both sensed the change in the air.
Kael didn’t speak.
He stepped toward the small side table, held the letter over a candle’s flame, and watched as it caught.
The wax melted, the parchment curled inward, blackened, then crumbled into ash.
Without a word, he turned and disappeared into his chambers.
The minutes that followed were quiet.
Then Kael returned—cloaked in formal attire.
Dark velvet lined with silver trim, the crest of House Drenlor glinting against his chest. His hair tied back, boots polished, blade at his side.
His face was composed.
Cold. Regal.
He paused at the threshold, eyes sharp, unreadable.
"Let’s not keep them waiting."
And with that, he walked toward the hall—each step measured, as if going to war.