Upon entering the council room, Eunid made no formal address. With silent determination, he approached the center table, and with a single motion, he dropped the severed head of his fallen foe, Kael.
The lifeless eyes still held an expression of shock, forever frozen in disbelief. The council mbers around him exchanged glances, murmurs of awe and curiosity building among them.
But Eunid offered no explanation, not even a glance, as he strode past them all, leaving their questions and praises unanswered.
Making his way to his quarters, Eunid allowed himself a mont of solitude. He slipped into the waiting bath, letting the warm water wash away the blood and gri of battle. The aches from the fight seeped into the water, leaving him with only the hum of victory, yet his mind remained sharp, drifting between thoughts of conquest and the weight of his family’s legacy.
The silence was soon interrupted by the quiet creak of a hidden door. From the shadowed corner of the room, a short, stout figure erged. It was the naless dwarf, now a new companion to Eunid with an unusual air of secrecy about him. The dwarf’s eyes glinted with shrewd calculation as he nodded in approval, his voice low and raspy as he asked, "So, how went the battle?"
Eunid’s lips curved into a grim smile. "Exactly as planned," he replied. The dwarf’s nod was almost one of pride, knowing the extent of the preparations they had put into this.
The truth was, the days when Eunid seed secluded, absorbed in silent brooding after his abuse at apollo’s hands had not been days of grief alone.
He had not been sad and crying in isolation; he had been strategizing, piecing together a plan with every ounce of cunning he possessed. While others believed him broken, drowning in sorrow, Eunid had been quietly orchestrating a trap, knowing that the Chastity family would soon co marching to claim their so-called "victory."
From taking right to the family, defeating his uncle and even the force sent by his family, he had all planned it out.
The disgrace and pain he had suffered had focused his mind on a triumph to regain not just his honor but to threaten the entire world.
To mark his na in their hearts and seal fear in their minds.
The dwarf had been dispatched to the mountain range weeks prior, working discreetly to lay the groundwork for their defense. Given the geography of the Diligence family’s territory, there was only one viable route the Chastity family could take if they sought to march with overwhelming force rather than rely solely on aerial assaults. And Eunid had counted on their arrogance. The Chastity family, proud and zealous in their power, would want to make a show of it, to march through the mountain path, announcing their arrival as conquerors.
The dwarf’s work was precise and deadly. He had prepared intricate traps along the route, each more exotic and dangerous than the last, so of them bordering on forbidden arts, even demonic in nature. These traps had lain dormant, patiently waiting for the Chastity family’s forces to step into their deadly snare. It was not brute force alone that had secured victory but a carefully set array of ambushes, rune traps, and misdirection that had turned the mountain range into a nightmare for their enemies.
Of course Eunid had to be certain that they would work and that was why he went to the enemy’s side.
He had gone to trigger the runes with his presence as was the condition for their activation.
So of those were runes for placing confusion in the mind and so others to make the soldiers see their worst fears and so others to make them fight one another.
Eunid had been truly ticulous.
The dwarf chuckled softly, a glint of satisfaction in his eye. "Seems the Chastity family never saw it coming," he muttered, rubbing his hands together with grim satisfaction.
Eunid’s expression was calm, though a fire burned within his gaze. "I let them know what it ans to challenge the Diligence family," he replied, leaning back into the bath, letting the victory sink in. There was much more to be done, but tonight, at least, the mountain stood as a testant to his legacy and his resolve.
The dwarf’s words struck Eunid with unexpected force. "Nora… her condition is worsening," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper, but the weight of his tone was unmistakable.
Eunid’s eyes widened in alarm, and he sat up from the bath, water splashing as he moved. He had trusted the dwarf to oversee Nora’s care, confident in his skill.
Yet hearing this, Eunid’s heart raced with urgency. Without a mont’s hesitation, he threw on his clothes and stord toward her chambers, each step filled with renewed worry.
When he reached the entrance, a cluster of maids stood near the door, faces painted with fear and concern. Their heads lowered, and they took a step back, making way for him. But before he could enter, the naless dwarf caught his arm, his face grave.
"No one can enter...," the dwarf warned, his voice edged with regret. "The divine energy in there is... too powerful. I tried to break through myself, but it forced back." He lifted his shirt to reveal a fresh scar along his side, red and raw, a clear mark of his attempt to reach her.
Eunid felt his jaw tighten. His concern only deepened as he glanced at the injury. The thought of Nora, alone and battling against such intense divine energy, filled him with both fury and helplessness. She had always been strong, but this force was sothing even she couldn’t endure alone.
"Then tell everything," he demanded, barely containing the frustration in his voice. "What happened to cause this surge? And how do we get through?"
The dwarf shook his head, brow furrowed in thought. "It’s almost as if sothing within her has been triggered, but what or why, I don’t know. All I can say is that the divine energy is not just strong — it’s volatile. If you force your way through, you could harm her, or worse..."
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