Chapter 24: The Appearance of

When Adrian and Valdrin arrived in the village, the king's guards were already waiting for them. They stopped the two and informed them that the king wanted to see them immediately before escorting them to the palace.

Inside, they found the king standing with several village ministers. Anger was etched across their faces as Adrian and Valdrin stepped forward and stood before him.

The king fixed his gaze on Valdrin. "We received a report from the Village of Souls. They claim that you two attacked and killed two of their people. Is that true?"

Valdrin raised a hand, surprise flashing across his face. "You received the news that quickly?"

The king's expression remained cold. "You're one of my finest soldiers, Valdrin. Why would you do something like this? Didn't you know we signed a peace treaty with them? Why risk everything we've built and put our agreement in jeopardy?"

Valdrin's brows drew together. "You're mistaken. I didn't attack anyone. I was defending myself and those with me."

The king let out a scornful laugh and pointed toward Adrian. "And you risked our peace for this boy? Why didn't you simply leave him behind and return? Have you forgotten the treaty? Why should we protect an outsider when you could have walked away and left him to deal with his own problems?"

Valdrin's expression hardened. "Don't you understand, Your Majesty? Those two attacked us after sensing the immense energy within Adrian. They tried to kill him and take that energy for themselves."

He stepped forward, his voice firm. "If anything, they were the ones who violated the peace treaty—not us."

Silence settled over the room.

One of the ministers glanced at the king before speaking with open resentment. "Ever since this boy came to our village, one disaster after another has followed."

Adrian's gaze locked onto him. It was clear that his presence was no longer seen as a mere inconvenience. To them, he had become a threat.

The king studied the minister for a moment, as though his words had begun to take root.

"Tomorrow, I'll send a message to the Village of Souls and apologize for what happened."

Valdrin's anger flared.

"If you apologize to them, you'll only prove that we were the ones in the wrong."

The king's voice rose. "Aren't you in the wrong, Valdrin?"

Valdrin said nothing. He simply met the king's gaze with a cold, angry stare.

"We don't solve every conflict by drawing blood," the king continued. "You could have handled the situation without getting them killed, and you know that."

His voice lowered as he added, "This is the first time you've ever disappointed me, Valdrin."

The king turned his back on him. "Now, leave. You and the others."

Valdrin and Adrian returned home, the anger still etched across Valdrin's face. As soon as they entered, Dan approached them.

"Why did the king summon you?"

Valdrin didn't answer. He was still lost in thought, while Adrian remained silent, choosing not to press him. After a moment, Adrian turned to Dan.

"Come with me. I'll tell you in your room."

A few hours later, a knock echoed through the house.

Valdrin went to the door and opened it. One of the Nerathion guards stood outside and bowed respectfully.

"The Commander-in-Chief requests your immediate presence."

Valdrin nodded, then closed the door and turned to Adrian and Dan.

"Let's go. It seems another emergency has come up."

A few minutes later, the three arrived at the guards' headquarters. The place was bustling with soldiers rushing through the corridors, while orders rang out from every direction. An uneasy tension hung in the air.

As soon as Valdrin entered, one of the battalion commanders approached him and began speaking in a formal tone. His rank within the guards was clearly higher than Valdrin's. Yet something about the man's behavior was strange. Every so often, he would pause and cast a lingering glance at Dan, as though the boy's presence had caught him completely off guard.

When the conversation ended, Valdrin returned to Adrian and Dan.

"A body has been found inside the commander's house... on his bed."

Adrian's brows furrowed. "Do they know who it belongs to?"

Valdrin shook his head. "No. That's why the Commander-in-Chief summoned me. He wants me to identify it myself."

He paused, then added, "He said I'd be shocked when I saw it."

Adrian immediately raised his head. "Then we'll go with you."

Valdrin sighed. "I asked for that, but they refused."

"Why?" Adrian asked.

Valdrin fell silent for a moment before looking directly at him.

"When I asked why... they told me I would be the one to decide..."

Inside one of the rooms, the body lay on a wooden table, covered by a dark blue cloth. Valdrin approached slowly, one of the battalion commanders standing beside him. The commander gripped the edge of the cloth and slowly pulled it away.

At first, Valdrin showed no reaction. But the moment his eyes fell upon the face beneath the cloth, his eyes widened. Shock flashed across his features as he stumbled a step backward, unable to believe what he was seeing. Then, without a word, he turned and rushed out of the room.

His gaze immediately fell on Adrian and Dan, who were waiting outside. He stared at them for a moment before suddenly turning around and hurrying back inside. He looked at the body again, as if hoping his eyes had deceived him, then slowly raised his head toward the battalion commander.

"How...?"

The commander let out a quiet sigh. "That's why we summoned you. We thought you might know the answer."

Valdrin fell silent. For once, he had nothing to say.

Outside, Adrian and Dan waited anxiously. A moment later, the door opened and Valdrin stepped out. His expression had returned to its usual calm, but his eyes betrayed something he was trying to hide.

Adrian stepped forward. "Who does the body belong to?"

Valdrin remained silent for a moment before answering, "Don't ask me. I won't tell you."

Dan frowned. "Why?"

Valdrin looked at him. For a brief moment, sorrow flickered in his eyes before he quickly concealed it.

"Because... you two shouldn't know."

Adrian stared at him in confusion. "Then why were we summoned in the first place?"

"They thought the body had something to do with you," Valdrin replied. "But it turns out they were wrong."

Silence settled between them. Valdrin then approached Dan and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, forcing a faint smile.

"Come on. Let's go home. You need to rest. Maybe some food will help you feel better."

Adrian glanced at him. "What will you do with the body?"

"Its appearance here can't be a coincidence," Valdrin replied. "There has to be a reason behind it. We just haven't found it yet."

He paused before continuing, "That's why we'll keep the body here and prevent it from decomposing until we uncover the truth."

The three returned to Valdrin's house. By evening, the village had fallen into complete silence. Only the gentle wind could be heard rustling through the trees, while the moon disappeared behind the clouds.

Suddenly, Adrian opened his eyes. Dan was still asleep beside him. Adrian quietly sat on the edge of the bed, then rose and slipped out of the room without making a sound.

He crossed the wooden hallway and headed toward the door. Just before his hand reached the handle, Valdrin's voice came from behind him.

"Where are you going at this hour?"

Adrian stopped but didn't turn around. "I'm going out for a while. I need to think."

Valdrin watched his back for a moment before saying, "All right. But don't wander too far from the village."

After a brief silence, Adrian slowly turned his head. "Don't worry. I won't be long."

He left the house and continued walking, gradually moving farther from the village until its lights vanished behind the trees. He walked for several minutes, his steps steady, as though he already knew exactly where he was headed.

At last, he stopped before a massive pit that plunged deep into the earth, like a dark mouth waiting for him.