The night was peaceful.
For once, there were no battles, no assassins, and no nobles plotting behind closed doors. Just the quiet of Elden Castle, the flickering of lanterns along the hallways, and the distant chatter of guards on patrol.
Ryle leaned against a stone railing, watching Thea and Seraphina spar in the castle gardens. The two had become fast friends, training together like they'd known each other for years.
Maybe, just maybe, things will stay calm for a while.
Then, a scream shattered the night.
The Scream of the Damned
It wasn't a normal scream.
It was raw, twisted, inhuman.
The moment it echoed through the castle halls, Ryle and Thea bolted toward the source, moving at full speed.
"Sounds like it came from the second floor!" Thea called.
"Then let's move!"
They raced up the staircase, weaving through startled servants and confused guards. The closer they got, the more wrong the air felt—thick with an unnatural, suffocating pressure.
Then they saw her.
A noblewoman floated in midair, her body writhing unnaturally. Her eyes were completely black, her veins bulging as dark energy surged through her. Her mouth stretched open in an unnatural scream, her back arching as if something inside her was trying to tear its way out.
Ryle instantly recognized her—
The same woman who mocked Seraphina earlier.
But that didn't matter.
Because he also recognized what was happening to her.
This is Emily's doing.
A Voice in the Darkness
Thea drew her daggers, her stance tense. "Ryle, what the hell is this?!"
"Corruption magic. It's turning her from the inside out." Ryle's eyes burned with fury. "If we don't stop it now, she's going to—"
Before he could finish—
A voice rang out from behind him.
"MR. STRONGEST JOURNALIST, USE THIS SWORD!"
Ryle didn't hesitate.
A weapon flew toward him—a sleek, steel longsword, the blade shimmering with a faint silver glow.
Ryle snatched it midair and slashed forward.
The sword carved through the black aura surrounding the noblewoman—severing the corruption in an instant. The dark energy shattered like glass, and the woman collapsed, her body limp and trembling.
But it wasn't over.
Cleansing the Castle
A wave of darkness surged through the castle, twisting through hallways, seeping through the walls.
Ryle gritted his teeth.
Damn it. Emily must have planted this curse throughout the entire castle!
With a single motion, his black dragon wings erupted from his back.
"Stay with him," he ordered Thea. "I'll handle the rest."
Then, he launched into the air.
Wind howled as Ryle shot through the halls, slashing at every trace of corruption.
The black energy lashed out like tendrils, clawing toward him, but he burned through it with dragon fire. His wings carried him through the castle like a shadow, moving faster than the eye could track.
Slice. Burn. Purge.
One by one, the corrupted veins of dark energy were severed and destroyed.
Servants and nobles gasped as Ryle cut away the creeping darkness, cleansing the castle of Emily's twisted magic.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last wisp of black smoke vanished into nothing.
The corruption was gone.
The Mystery Man
Ryle landed back in the hallway, exhaling as he folded his wings.
His gaze immediately snapped toward the sword in his hand.
It wasn't just any weapon.
It was strong. Too strong.
Ryle narrowed his eyes. "Who gave me this?"
A casual voice spoke from behind him.
"Hey, Mr. Varek."
Ryle turned sharply.
Seraphina was smirking. And beside her, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, was a tall man with silver hair and sharp amber eyes.
He looked utterly unfazed.
Ryle gripped the sword tighter. "Who the hell are you?"
The man grinned.
"Varek Durnath. Prince of the Durnath noble house."
A prince.
And yet, something about him felt far more dangerous than his title suggested.