Vortigern Palace loomed over Ravtael.
The closer they drew, the more Raven realized it was not merely a seat of power. It was a demonstration.
Every wall was too high. Every door too wide. Every detail too perfect.
It was all designed to serve as a single reminder: Here, you are small.
Kaïn looked up toward the towers. — Seriously… it's ridiculous. — It's intentional, Darius replied without breaking his gaze. It commands respect. — Or fear. — The two go hand in hand.
Raven said nothing. He observed the guards. Their posture. Their eyes. Too calm. Too sure of themselves.
—
They crossed the threshold. The interior was even worse. Golden light. Flawless floors. Immense columns. Nobles were everywhere. They talked. They laughed. They seemed relaxed. But Raven felt it instantly. Nothing was sincere.
—
— Did you see their faces? he whispered to Lyra. — Yes. — It's like they're playing a part. — That's exactly what they're doing.
—
The banquet hall was already full. Dozens of families. Eyes that lingered on them. Judging them. Weighing them.
—
Arcturus stepped forward without hesitation. Elena at his side. The others followed.
—
They took their seats. And then Raven saw him. The Duke. Kael Vortigern.
—
He sat upright, motionless. He did not speak. He observed.
—
Then their eyes met.
—
The Duke smiled.
—
A slow smile. Controlled. Cold.
—
Raven looked away. His instinct screamed: danger.
—
The banquet began. The courses were served. The glasses were filled. The music took hold.
—
Kaïn grabbed a glass. — Well… at least they know how to host. Darius placed a hand on the table. — Wait. — What now? — We don't touch a thing until Father does. Kaïn rolled his eyes. — You're a real pain in the ass. Lyra whispered: — He's right.
—
Raven watched. Always watching.
—
Then he caught it.
—
A scent.
—
Faint.
—
He frowned.
—
— Wait…
—
But in that same moment… Arcturus raised his glass.
—
— To our future.
—
Elena did the same.
—
Darius followed.
—
Kaïn smiled. — There we go.
—
They drank.
—
Raven felt his heart race.
—
— No…
—
Too late.
—
Arcturus set down his glass. Then he swayed.
—
— …What?
—
Kaïn's brow furrowed. — What is this—
—
Lyra pressed a hand to her head. — I can't—
—
Elena tried to stand up.
—
She collapsed.
—
Darius forced himself, but his legs gave out.
—
— Damn it… what is this?
—
Raven tried to move.
—
Nothing.
—
— Move… move, damn it…
—
His fingers remained frozen. His legs, dead weight.
—
But he saw everything.
—
Everything.
—
The Duke rose slowly.
—
— Finally.
—
His voice carried across the room.
—
The nobles stood up.
—
Some were applauding.
—
Others were laughing.
—
— Did you wait long? a man called out. — Too long. — Now, we can extract the Nox from the family that possesses no royal blood, yet dares to rival us. Raven was trembling.
—
— What have you done…
—
But no sound came out.
—
The Duke raised his hand. — Take their Nox and kill them. A simple gesture.
—
And the massacre began.
—
The blades came out.
—
The screams exploded.
—
— NO!
—
Raven screamed internally.
—
But nothing.
—
Not a sound.
—
—
He saw his father.
—
Arcturus tried to resist.
—
His gaze found Raven's.
—
A second.
—
Only one.
—
Then a blade decapitated him.
—
Raven felt something snap inside him.
—
—
His brothers.
—
Kaïn tried to speak. — You sons of a—
—
His voice was cut short, his throat slit as well.
—
Darius remained upright.
—
Until the very last moment.
—
Then he fell.
—
—
His mother is stripped, defiled, and executed before his eyes.
—
His sister, also in tears, defiled before his eyes by the Duke's son, a smile on his lips.
—
Their screams.
—
Their eyes.
—
—
And all around…
—
They were laughing.
—
—
— Look at him… he can't even move. — Pathetic.
—
Raven wept.
—
Silently.
—
—
Then, silence.
—
—
Garrick moved.
—
The only one.
—
— Damn it… what have we done…
—
He approached Raven.
—
— Hold on… do you hear me? Hold on!
—
He pulled him up. Dragged him from the hall.
—
— They won't get you. Not you.
—
They ran.
—
The screams behind them.
—
The guards.
—
— Hang on!
—
The night chill.
—
The horses.
—
The flight.
—
—
Then the pursuit.
—
The soldiers.
—
They were overtaken.
—
The fight was brief.
—
Garrick killed two of them.
—
Then he fell.
—
To his knees.
—
— Listen to me…
—
He was coughing up blood.
—
— There is a method…
—
He pulled out a dagger.
—
— A legend of the Nox…
—
He stared at Raven.
—
— You must abandon everything that holds you back.
—
His voice trembled.
—
— Your empathy… your kindness… everything. — You must gather all your Nox into your heart and stab yourself with this silver dagger to awaken the beast sleeping within you…
The soldiers were closing in.
—
— If you truly want to take revenge on this piece of shit world… you will survive.
—
A pause.
—
— But you will never be the same again.
—
He pressed the dagger into Raven's hand.
—
— Do it.
—
A breath.
—
— Destroy them.
—
A blade ran through him.
—
Garrick collapsed.
—
—
Raven remained motionless.
—
Then… He moved.
—
Slowly.
—
He raised the blade.
—
And drove it into his chest.
—
The world exploded.
—
A violent light tore through the night. A shockwave swept through everything. The ground shook. The air shrieked.
—
Then, silence.
—
Raven was on his knees. Blood was flowing. The pain burned.
—
But none of it mattered anymore.
—
His eyes were trembling. His mind… No.
—
Something had just vanished.
—
Permanently.
—
His voice came out. Calm. Hollow.
—
— …I don't give a fuck anymore.
—
— Justice…
—
— Bravery…
—
— All this fucking bullshit they taught me…
—
— It was all a lie.
—
He breathed with difficulty.
—
— This world…
—
— I'm going to drown it.
—
His voice hardened.
—
— I'm going to make them choke on their own cruelty.
—
A breath.
—
— I'm going to unleash…
—
— …the greatest wave of hatred…
—
— …and violence…
—
— …upon this world of sons of bitches.
—
His eyes went vacant.
—
— And I'm going to drag it…
—
— …even lower…
—
— …into the abyss.
—
His blonde hair darkened.
—
Slowly.
—
Until it turned black.
—
Abyssal.
—
Then he collapsed.
—
—
A few days later.
—
Throughout all of Ravtael.
—
An announcement.
—
"The Lightning family has been annihilated."
—
"Raven Don Lightning…"
—
"…massacred his own kin…"
—
"…before blowing himself up in a suicidal madness."
—
"A traitor."
—
"A monster."
—
—
And the world… Believed it.