the truth

In the small, yet exquisitely designed room. Lilian sat facing Garmond, who kept observing her, his gaze not leaving her for a second.

'Do I know her? Is she related to my family in anyway?' A lot of questions were running through his mind, but he could only keep quiet and hear what she had to say.

With a deep breath, she began, "My real name is Aliya Valera, granddaughter to the late Emperor Castan"

Garmond's eyes quickly brightened up.

"Castan's Granddaughter?" He asked again.

"Indeed" She nodded calmly with a reply.

"I was able to tell you were a member of the family after I noticed the distinct marks of red on your hair. Over the years, my family kept a whole documentary on yours. I don't know why but my grandma seemed to be too obsessed with your family and she kept talking about them, especially lord Garmond" she said, reminiscing over her dead grandma.

"And what did she say?" Garmond asked.

"She said that a member of the family would return after forty years, specifically she said that Lord Garmond would return to rid this world of the evil entity that has come to rule" She answered, then taking a deep sigh, which seemed to be one of disappointment she continued.

"We waited for so long, yet. There was nothing, no one from the Ravenspare family was seen. It seemed like grandma was only making untrue prophecies. We had lost hope, well that was until I saw you" Her eyes gleamed brightly.

"....." Garmond was left speechless, he didn't know how to take the information. So now he was in some kind of prophecy book? Well thinking of it his transmigration had to be for a reason.

'But how did she know?'

"Did she ever make mention of how she knew about this?" Garmond asked, yet again. He had finally gotten the chance to join the strings and know exactly all that had happened after his death.

"No, she didn't. Whenever she was asked, she would just keep quiet, and after a while my parents thought she was just blabbing, probably traumatized by the death of grandpa" sadness clouded her features.

"Castan died, how?" His face contorted with a frown. Magic was a strange thing he couldn't understand, and he was aware that Castan as at then, despite the little mana in their world and generally a huge lack of magicians.

He had self-taught himself and gained a nearly perfect mastery of the art, at least to a level where he could use it to stop ageing.

Aliya shivered slightly, as though hearing the question made her have a really bad memory.

Her expression went solemn.

"I didn't experience it myself but dad told me he was drained, body and soul, by the same Emperor who rules over us now" The words barely escaped from her lips, as she bit them in anger.

Garmond as well tightened his fist, not only did he lose his son but his best friend as well. To the same being.

"And there was no track of any member of the family since then" He continued, not letting out. The information was important in knowing what steps he would take next.

"Indeed, Gary the son and Theresa the wife died in the battlefield on that day, along with Lord Garmond. Athena the daughter and Kenny the uncle have not been seen. It was as if they all disappeared on that very same day"

"Theresa died, when was that?" From his memories it was clear that she was the one who ended him. Ariana mentioned earlier that Azazel must have had a hand in it, however, he still had his doubts.

"According to dad, she died facing off against the Demon, right before lord Garmond stepped in" Her words downed on him.

He felt heavy weights on his shoulder, he had lost everything!

Nothing was left, friends, family, Nothing!

He tightened his fist so hard, that he drew blood from his own skin.

"Why, why, why did I deserve all of this?!" Garmond was unsure how to react to the whole message. The worst thing was, he couldn't remember meeting Azazel until that fateful day. He had done nothing, nothing at all to the figure! Yet he had taken everything away from him.

"I'll make sure I have his head" He growled in a low voice. A strong killing intent erupted from his body.

It made the air thick with pressure. His bloodlust emitted a thick miasma, that made Aliya almost unable to breath.

As though reacting to his feelings, the sword shock violently letting out an ear-splitting sound.

"Garmond! Control yourself! You're Killing the young lady" Ariana said, quickly pulling him back to his senses.

He looked to the floor to find Aliya's deadly pale figure, barely able to breath.

"I'm sorry" He quickly apologized, but the tone he used, was one that lay in contrast to the message he was trying to pass on.

He was still angry, and it was clear from the tone. Coupled with that, he wasn't the best at expressing himself or controlling his emotions.

"We'll continue this discussion later, I would love to have a good night rest. Same time, I wouldn't want to be of inconvenience to you" Garmond said, standing up, and with a gentle gait befitting for a king, he walked towards the door.

He made a quick stop in front of the door, after pulling the knob, "I'm sorry" He said, this time, with genuinely true feeling.

Reina stared at his retreating figure, as she loosened her grip on her neck. She had been trying so hard to breath under the choking air.

"He might actually be able to save us all" She said, a hint of amazement in her voice. He had merely moved a muscle, yet, he left her grovelling on her feet.

He was totally on a different league!

"You have reached the peak of the adept level!" Ariana was indeed shocked, his little outburst had somehow pushed him all the way to the threshold between the adept level and the next.

However, Garmond didn't seem interested in the good news. With all the air of negativity swirling around him, he needed to get a shut eye.

As he entered his room, without uttering any other word he lay on his bed. Looking up into the white ceiling, Garmond took a deep breath.

"I'll grow strong enough, strong, till I'm able to bring this empire back to what it once was."

After steeling his resolve, he was more determined to continue with his masochistic training, even if it meant breaking every bone he had left! So far it would still heal

With all the thoughts that were running wild in his mind, Garmond had no idea when he had succumbed to the natural order.

"Azazel, what made you go to such heights?" Ariana's voice rang through the dark space.

Meanwhile, in a small, empty room. A dark room with shadows dancing on the walls as flame flickered on an oil lamp.

A figure sat with his legs crossed, His properly sheathed black sword sat gently atop his legs.

Suddenly, his eyes shut open, a mix of shock and curiousity on his handsome face.

He shot a glance through the open window at the brightly glowing moonlight. A frown creased his forehead.

"That bloodlust now, was it some kind of beast? It didn't seem human. Did the beast somehow find it's way through the veil?" He pondered.

"No, it couldn't be a beast, it was too close to the dormitory. The kids should've reacted" He accessed.

"Then what was it?" He was left without answer to his question. "Oh well, I guess I'll find out later" He said, scratching his silver hair.

With similar questions were two others.

"Hmm, that's strange. Where did such beastly bloodlust emit from?" A figure covered in a cloak asked.

"It would probably be from one of the beasts in the hunt area" Reina shrugged nonchalantly.

"I doubt, but it doesn't seem to be much of a problem now. It shows no threat. But if it comes up again. Kill whatever is bringing it up." The cloaked figure ordered.

"So back to the main reason why I'm here. Those you were all handed over to Melina, none of them have the ability to wield magic right?" The figure continued.

"Yes, they will be turned into abominations. Compatibility and success rate differs, but I believe one of them should handle it quite well" Reina said, as she sat on the chair, facing the figure. Her tightly fitted leather trousers showed her curves perfectly, but it failed to decimate the role she was playing.

"So who picked your interest this time? It's rare to have your eyes on someone" The cloaked figure asked.

"Should that be a compliment?" she asked with a chuckle.

"Indeed, you have quite the eye for talent and I definitely had to compliment you on that" he said, with a steady voice.

"Thank you then. To answer the question, the person who I had my eye on, was, Trevor Gurtan."