Chapter 24 – The Shadow Unveiled
The chamber was still.
A thick silence hung in the air like a noose waiting to tighten. Chris sat in the far corner, shrouded by the powerful rune magic: Concealment of Istar. His aura, his presence—his very breath—vanished from reality.
He was no longer there. And yet, he watched everything.
His eyes gleamed in the darkness, fixed on the door.
"Come on… take the bait."
And then—he did.
A shadow slipped into the room, moving like a serpent through the void. The figure cloaked himself in a weak concealment spell, barely passable to the average guard—but not to Chris.
The assassin crept in with slow, calculated steps, eyes scanning the room for signs of life.
"He should've been here…" the man whispered, voice low and impatient.
The moment dragged on.
Minutes passed.
No one appeared.
Then the assassin froze.
A cold shiver ran down his spine—an instinctual scream from deep within, the kind that only killers and prey feel.
"No. Something's wrong. This… this is a trap."
He turned, heart pounding, preparing to flee. But his legs stopped moving.
Someone was standing in front of the door.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Cloaked in the shadow of magic so potent that even the air vibrated with pressure.
The assassin's eyes widened in horror.
It was the Duke.
Valerius Celstrius, head of House Celstrius. A man whose name alone could silence armies.
And more than that—a confirmed mid-8th circle mage. There were less than a dozen like him in the world. And the assassin was barely above the 4th circle.
This wasn't a battle.
It was an execution.
"Wha—How?" the assassin stammered. "You—this wasn't supposed to—"
His weapon slipped from his hand, clattering to the ground.
He dropped to one knee, sweat pouring from his brow.
"I… I surrender!"
The Duke didn't move.
His eyes glowed faintly with restrained fury.
"You dare enter my house… and attempt to kill my son?"
The chamber pulsed with magical pressure. The walls trembled.
The assassin fell fully to the ground, breathing hard, barely able to form words.
"I-I didn't mean— I was only sent! I swear!"
Suddenly, the air shimmered again, and from the shadows…
Chris appeared, stepping out of concealment with calm, cold precision.
"You're late," Chris said flatly. "I expected you ten minutes ago."
The assassin's face twisted in shock.
"You?! You—!"
Chris raised a hand, and Igeris appeared behind him, flaring with quiet flame. The spirit's expression mirrored his contractor's.
"You walked into my web willingly. Now talk."
The Duke looked at his son—no words were exchanged, but understanding passed between them.
Chris had not only predicted this… he had orchestrated it.
"This time," the Duke said, voice low and deadly, "you answer to both a father… and a Duke."
The assassin knew—
there was no escape now.