THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

David exhaled a weary sigh, his mind racing as he stood outside the advisory council chamber. His once carefully planned day had spiralled out of control. What began as a simple task to prepare for the coming-of-age ceremony had morphed into a looming confrontation with the noble elders of Aethelwarin.

He had intended to remain on the sidelines, letting the intricate web of Ternion's politics play out without his interference. But now, his fate was intertwined with the estate's future, and ignoring it was no longer an option.

As he leaned against the stone wall, his thoughts whirled in a chaotic mess. The idea of standing still and allowing the world to collapse around him grated on his instincts. He belonged here, in Ternion, and he wasn't going to idly watch its downfall.

He rubbed his temples, the dull throb of an impending headache creeping in. What would the elders demand of him? The ancient council was known for their manipulative tactics and probing questions, so David knew he needed to tread carefully.

"I hope this interrogation goes smoothly," he muttered under his breath, though he wasn't naïve enough to believe it would. Rarely, if ever, did things go as smoothly as one hoped in this world. He weighed his options—telling them everything was out of the question. But spinning a web of half-truths? That was equally risky. The elders were sharp, perceptive. One slip, and they'd see through any lies.

As he tried to map out various scenarios in his head, a clear, authoritative voice rang from behind the chamber doors, abruptly ending his frantic mental preparations. "David De Gor," the voice announced, cold and formal. "You may now enter."

The weight of the moment pressed down on him as he reached for the heavy wooden doors. His hand hesitated for a heartbeat before he pushed them open. The massive doors groaned in protest, revealing the grand interior of the advisory chamber. Ornate tapestries draped the walls, and the elders sat in a semi-circle, their eyes trained on him with piercing intensity.

"The Earl will see you now," the voice echoed once more, signalling the conclusion of his brief reprieve. David straightened, his heart pounding in his chest, but his expression remained composed. Each step toward the centre of the room felt like an eternity as he prepared to face the influential figures seated before him.

As he moved forward, David couldn't shake the growing unease that gnawed at him. These were not men to be trifled with. The council held the power to make or break him, and he had to navigate their questions with precision and care. His future, and possibly Ternion's, now hung in the balance.

David stopped in the centre of the grand chamber, his eyes scanning the room. He immediately recognized Elder Maison, the cunning politician who often cloaked his motives behind a pleasant demeanour. Beside him sat Elder Scroll, a man known for his vast knowledge of history and battle strategy. The other two elders, however, were unfamiliar to David.

One was a slender figure dressed in a lavish purple cloak, his long grey hair cascading down his shoulders like a silver waterfall. His eyes glinted with sharp intelligence, and his lips curved in a thin, unreadable smile. The other elder, in stark contrast, was a towering man with a muscular build. His black long coat gave him a foreboding presence, and the eyepatch over his left eye only added to the air of intimidation he exuded.

At the far end of the room, on a raised platform, sat the Earl. His throne pulsed with a faint crimson light, almost as if it had a life of its own, an eerie glow that gave off a subtle sense of authority. The Earl's gaze was intense, watching David with an inscrutable expression. His aura commanded respect, and the silence that hung in the room felt like a heavy blanket, suffocating the air with tension.

Without warning, the Earl's voice cut through the quiet, deep and commanding. "Elder Luviania, begin."

The slender man in the purple cloak stood, bowing gracefully to the Earl before turning his attention to David. His movements were deliberate, his eyes never leaving David's as he spoke. "David De Gor," he greeted, his voice smooth but laced with authority. "It has been some time since we last saw you. You have grown... considerably."

David inclined his head slightly, acknowledging the elder's greeting but keeping his emotions in check. He had learned long ago that showing any sign of vulnerability in front of these men would be a mistake.

Elder Luviania's eyes twinkled with amusement as if he could read David's guarded thoughts. "However," he continued, his tone shifting to a more serious note, "we shall dispense with pleasantries. You have been summoned here not for idle talk but for matters of great importance."

David remained calm, his gaze unwavering as he met Luviania's stare. "Of course, Elder Luviania," he replied, his voice measured. "I am here to answer whatever questions you may have."

Luviania smiled faintly, pleased by David's composure. He took a step forward, his purple cloak rustling softly with the movement. "Very well. Let me not delay any further." His eyes flickered to the Earl for a brief moment before settling back on David. "You see, the council has noticed your... involvement with certain affairs that do not go unnoticed. You have a certain... influence. An influence we would like to understand better."

David's heart skipped a beat, but outwardly, he remained calm. He had expected this. The council was never one to overlook anyone who held sway over the events within the estate. Still, he needed to tread carefully.

"I understand," David replied carefully. "I only seek to serve the estate's best interests. Whatever actions I have taken, they have been for the good of Ternion."

"That remains to be seen," Elder Luviania mused, his voice almost playful. "But we shall discuss this in more detail shortly." He gestured toward the Earl, who leaned forward slightly, the crimson glow from his throne casting a shadow over his sharp features.

"It has come to our attention," Elder Luviania began, his sharp gaze fixed on David, "through the Earl's briefing, that significant events have unfolded in the town of Willowmere and have even reached the main house." His words hung in the air like a blade waiting to drop.

David nodded, his expression steady. "Yes, that is true," he confirmed, maintaining his calm demeanour, though he could feel the weight of the room pressing in on him.

"Good, good," Luviania muttered, almost too casually. But his tone quickly shifted as he leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Now, enlighten me, why is it that you always happened to be at these locations just in time to stop these incidents?"

The question struck the room like a bolt of lightning. Elder Maison's eyes widened in shock, his lips parting in disbelief. "What kind of question is that, Luviania?" he demanded, his voice rising with tension. The council had agreed beforehand to inquire about the spies and the entity that had attacked the garden, but Luviania was going off-script, digging deeper than expected.

"It is simply a question, Elder Maison," Luviania replied, his voice a chilling contrast to Maison's heated outburst. "The boy has nothing to hide, correct?"

Maison's face reddened, veins pulsing at his temples. David had saved his reputation by uncovering the fingers in his town, and he wasn't about to let Luviania undermine that. Just as Maison was about to retort, another voice rumbled through the chamber, low and commanding.

"Let the boy answer," Elder Tyron, the man with the eyepatch, spoke for the first time. His deep voice carried a finality that left no room for argument. His arms were crossed, and though one eye remained closed, the other burned with quiet intensity. Maison reluctantly fell silent, his fists clenched in frustration.

David, watching the exchange unfold, had anticipated such a question. He met Elder Luviania's gaze without flinching. "My involvement in these incidents is not by chance," David said calmly. "I was the main target of assassination."

"Ah, yes," Luviania murmured, as if he already knew the answer. "But that still does not explain how you, a mere awakened, managed to stop forces that even challenged us."

The elder's words were laced with doubt, his curiosity thinly veiled beneath layers of suspicion. He was fishing for something—something beyond David's explanations.

David straightened, feeling the tension in the room rise as all eyes turned toward him. His heart pounded, but his voice remained steady. "Because I seek one thing, Elder Luviania," he began, his aura subtly shifting, like a predator revealing its fangs for the first time. "To surpass the great general of the Solarian Empire."

The boldness of his declaration rippled through the chamber. Elder Maison blinked in surprise, while Tyron's single eye gleamed with interest. Luviania, though still skeptical, couldn't suppress the flicker of intrigue that crossed his face.

David had drawn a line in the sand. The room fell silent, each elder weighing his words, the challenge hanging in the air.

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