In the Dungeon:
Raven was chained to the wall, his body weak, and his eyes barely open. He was completely drugged, as if his mind had left his body. One of the guards approached him and asked in a low voice:
Guard 1: "Are you the Masked One, or your friend who died?"
Another Guard: "Don't waste your time. He won't answer. To prevent him from using magic, we injected him with a substance that makes him unable to activate his powers. It weakens him and keeps him from speaking. In about two hours, he will start to speak. His magic will begin to return, but don't worry, it will take at least six hours for it to fully recover."
Hours passed, and Raven could barely see. Everything around him was blurry and distorted. His eyes felt heavy, and his body ached from all the blows he had taken.
Two hours later, the guards entered the dungeon again. They began asking questions, but Raven remained silent, as if he didn't understand anything. One of the guards said angrily:
Guard 1: "Listen, we're not wasting any more time. He has to speak."
They began torturing him mercilessly, but Raven remained silent, not uttering a word. Without food or water, Raven began to collapse. Every time he fell, they would revive him and continue the torture. His body was covered in blood, and he begged for water, but no one responded.
Three days passed. One of the guards said:
Guard 2: "We've broken every bone in his body, but he still won't say anything. This is strange."
His body was drenched in blood. He groaned, asking for water, but still, no one responded. The days dragged on, and Raven was on the brink of collapse.
On the eleventh day of torture, the dungeon remained eerily silent, except for the occasional muffled sounds coming from Raven's broken body. He was on the verge of breaking.
In the Everin Family's Mansion:
Head of the Family: "Why haven't they killed him yet? Why haven't we heard anything? I'm deeply worried. If he mentions our family name, we'll be in big trouble."
Advisor: "This is very strange. He's been tortured, beaten, and whipped, and still hasn't said our name. Does he think he'll be released? There's no other explanation."
Head of the Family: "I hope he doesn't confess. I wish he dies from the torture without revealing anything. I won't do anything for now. Every decision I made hastily has only led us into bigger problems. Since he hasn't confessed, that's good for now. Let's wait."
Day 15 – An Unknown Fate
In Everin Mansion:
The head of the Everin family paced back and forth, anxiety consuming him from within. His eyes narrowed sharply as if he were seeing a ghost haunting him. Suddenly, he slammed his fist on the table and spoke in a tense voice:
Head of the Family: "I'm going to see him! I can't live with this fear any longer—we must do something!"
The advisor raised an eyebrow calmly, leaning back in his chair before speaking in a measured tone:
Advisor: "Calm down and think… If you go, what will you say? You can't act recklessly now."
The head of the family responded without hesitation:
Head of the Family: "I'll tell the Prime Minister he must be executed immediately!"
The advisor exhaled, concern flickering in his eyes.
Advisor: "I just hope this doesn't create another problem... But if you insist, I'll accompany you."
At the Government Headquarters:
The Prime Minister sat behind his luxurious desk, his gaze cold and unreadable as he looked at the Everin family head. Then, he spoke with firm authority:
Prime Minister: "Why do you want him executed? I've already decided to release him."
The Everin family head's eyes widened slightly in shock, though he quickly masked his reaction and forced a polite smile.
Head of the Family: "What if you handed him over to me instead? I can make him talk, and you'll get the information you need."
The Prime Minister tilted his head slightly, considering the offer before responding:
Prime Minister: "I'm too busy these days. I'll give him to you, but on one condition—do not kill him. He's still too young to die."
A shadow of a sly smile appeared on the Everin family head's face as he confidently replied:
Head of the Family: "Agreed!"
Back at Everin Mansion:
Raven was thrown into a private cell within the mansion. His body was still suffering from the wounds of relentless torture, and his energy had yet to fully return. However, his mind was clear enough to understand what was happening around him.
Standing outside the cell, the Everin family head watched him with a gaze full of contempt before turning to his men.
Head of the Family: "Prepare yourselves—we move tonight."
Deep in the Forest – Midnight:
A carriage rumbled through the dark, winding forest path, stopping at the very place where Shin had lost his life. The wind howled through the trees, whispering eerie secrets of the night.
Raven, still bound, stood weakly as the Everin family head stepped closer, his voice low and cold.
Head of the Family: "I have many questions, but I don't have the energy to listen… and you don't have the strength to answer."
Suddenly, the advisor grabbed his arm, leaning in to whisper cautiously:
Advisor: "Stop! Defying the Prime Minister's orders will cost us dearly. I have a better idea—one that lets us get rid of him without dirtying our hands."
The Everin family head glanced at him curiously before asking:
Head of the Family: "And what would that be?"
A sly grin spread across the advisor's face as he explained:
Advisor: "We take him to the sea, throw him from the highest cliff, and claim that he escaped—jumping in fear of us."
A low chuckle escaped the Everin family head as he murmured:
Head of the Family: "Brilliant idea! Though… we won't get to watch him die."
Advisor: "It doesn't matter—no one survives that sea."
On the Cliffside – Above the Raging Sea:
Twelve hours had passed since Raven was taken from his cell. Now, he stood at the edge of a towering cliff, overlooking the furious waves crashing below, the sea appearing as though it were opening its mouth, ready to swallow him whole.
What they didn't realize was that his magic had started to return—slowly, but surely. Though exhausted and weak, he was regaining his strength.
The Everin family head stepped forward, staring at him with disdain before speaking in a voice laced with satisfaction:
Head of the Family: "You've caused us too much trouble, Raven. This is the best ending for someone like you… Throw him in."
Without hesitation, the men grabbed Raven and hurled him off the cliff, sending him plummeting into the darkness below.
For a moment, the Everin family head watched the sea, then turned and said nonchalantly:
Head of the Family: "Let's go. We have bigger problems to deal with… like our mounting debts."