THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

In the dim glow of his private workshop, Salomonis worked tirelessly through the night, his fingers deftly maneuvering small gears, magical conduits, and intricate mechanisms. The room was alive with the soft hum of enchanted machinery, the occasional spark lighting up his furrowed brow.

On the long wooden table before him lay the prototype of the airship he had envisioned during his recent conversation with David. Despite the progress he had made, an air of frustration hung heavy in the space.

Salomonis pushed his round spectacles up the bridge of his nose, peering intently at the magical core stabilizer he had been attempting to fuse with the propulsion array. His tools clinked against the metallic frame as he worked, his brow deeply furrowed. With a muttered curse, he pulled back, letting the enchanted parts fall into place with a soft clatter. The fusion was unstable, lacking the crucial component to synchronize the mana flow.

"Blast it!" he growled, throwing his glasses onto the table with a sharp clink. He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Just one piece... one bloody piece is all I need to complete this marvel."

He rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of sleepless nights and relentless experimentation bearing down on him. His tea, forgotten, sat cold on the table beside him. Lifting the cup, he took a sip, grimacing at the bitter taste but allowing the lukewarm liquid to settle his fraying nerves.

His thoughts drifted to David. The young noble was proving to be a confounding enigma. How could someone so young, the supposed last-born of the De Gor household, possess such keen insight and mysterious abilities? Salomonis had witnessed David's uncanny knack for perception firsthand. The boy's ability to see through layers of deception and discern hidden truths was unlike anything he had encountered.

"Seer abilities…" Salomonis murmured, tapping a finger against his tea cup. "But that doesn't add up. The De Gors would never suppress such talent. It's illogical—no gain comes from hiding potential, especially in someone as unremarkable in status as the last-born."

The thought unsettled him. If David's abilities weren't suppressed, then what? Had they somehow gone unnoticed? Or had David developed them through means Salomonis could scarcely imagine? Either way, the possibilities gnawed at him.

He stood, pacing the room, his boots echoing against the stone floor. His gaze wandered to a detailed sketch of the airship pinned to the wall. "Should I show him this?" he muttered, his fingers tracing the lines of the drawing. "Perhaps he might see something I can't. But then..." He hesitated, clenching his fists. "Sharing too much could risk exposing my own vulnerabilities."

Salomonis's thoughts wandered further, to his bloodline and the curse that came with it. He could sense corrupted mana—an unfortunate gift that had saved his life countless times but cursed him with constant vigilance. It was this ability that had alerted him to the presence of a demon within the castle. For four years, he had played a dangerous game, evading the creature's attention while gathering the tools to face it.

A cold shiver ran down his spine as he remembered the first time he had felt its vile presence. It wasn't just any demon; it was cunning, patient, and far more dangerous than the mindless beasts most thought of when they heard the term. Its mana clung to the air like a shadow, suffocating and insidious, yet never quite revealing itself.

"Four years," he murmured to himself, gripping the edge of the table. "Four years of this cat-and-mouse game. If only I could harness the Eye properly…"

His gaze flickered to the small, ornate box resting on a high shelf in the corner of the room. Inside it lay the Eye of Solomon, a relic he had inherited but barely understood. It granted glimpses of power and insight but came with a price. Salomonis clenched his jaw, his reflection staring back at him from a polished surface.

The Codex of the Sea. That was his ultimate goal. He had scoured ancient texts and pieced together fragments of knowledge, all pointing to the codex as the key to unlocking the Eye's full potential. If he could find it, perhaps he could turn the tide against the coming storm. The demon's presence was no accident, and he had no doubt that it was only the precursor to a larger threat.

"Prepare for the raid," he reminded himself, his voice a low growl. "And find the codex."

Taking a deep breath, he turned back to his workbench, his frustration momentarily abating. He needed to refocus. The airship was more than just a marvel of engineering; it was a symbol of hope and defiance against the chaos looming on the horizon. Yet, despite his best efforts, progress was slow.

Salomonis sat down, picking up a delicate mana crystal and examining it under a magnifying glass. His hands moved with practiced precision, but his mind remained restless. The thought of visiting David lingered, an idea he couldn't entirely shake off.

"Perhaps…" he mused, setting the crystal down. "Perhaps it's time to test the boy's mettle in another way."

His thoughts flickered back to the demon. Its presence weighed heavily on him, a constant reminder of the stakes. If it discovered his plans—or worse, the Eye—it could all come crashing down. Yet, the more he thought about it, the more he realized that David might be a piece in this intricate puzzle he hadn't fully considered.

Taking a deep breath, Salomonis stood, adjusting his coat. He cast one last glance at the airship prototype, his eyes narrowing with determination.

"Just one more piece," he muttered. "And perhaps... David holds the key."

With renewed resolve, he left the workshop, the hum of magic and machinery fading behind him.

Salomonis moved through the castle's shadowy corridors, his steps measured and deliberate. The faint echoes of his boots bounced off the stone walls as the early morning light streamed through narrow windows, illuminating the intricate tapestries that lined the halls. His thoughts churned like a storm, but his face betrayed nothing.

Reaching a grand oak door adorned with silver filigree, he paused briefly, then knocked firmly. The silence that followed was almost deafening, heightening the tension that hung in the air. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever awaited on the other side.

"Come in," a feminine voice called, smooth yet laced with a weariness that even power could not conceal.

Salomonis pushed the door open to reveal the Archon of Warfare, seated behind a grand mahogany desk piled with scrolls and parchment. Her dark hair was tied back in a simple braid, her usually piercing gaze softened with fatigue. She barely glanced up from the list she was scrutinizing, likely the final guest roster for the banquet later that evening.

"I knew I'd find you here," Salomonis remarked, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

The Archon's lips curved in a wry smile, though her eyes remained on the parchment. "I hardly have the luxury of wandering the castle, Salomonis. Now, speak your mind quickly—unless, of course, you've finally mastered the Eye and can rid me of this accursed sickness."

Salomonis inclined his head but quickly shook it. "Not yet," he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "But I may have found a way forward."

The Archon's gaze snapped up at that, her sharp eyes locking onto him. "If this is another half-baked theory, I have no time for it. My patience with you grows thin."

Salomonis raised a hand in a calming gesture. "Before you reprimand me, hear me out. This time, I need your approval to involve someone in the plan—someone who may hold the key to unraveling the Codex of the Sea and unlocking the full potential of the Eye."

The Archon leaned back in her chair, her fingers drumming against the desk. "Who?"

"David De Gor," Salomonis said firmly.

The Archon froze for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she leaned forward, a single brow arching as she spoke, her tone low and questioning. "Again with that boy's name. What is it about him that has both of you so fixated, Salomonis?"

Salomonis frowned, clearly caught off guard. "Fixated? What do you mean by both? David's intellect and abilities—his knack for uncovering truths and deciphering the unknown—are unparalleled. If anyone can help find the Codex and uncover the truth behind your sickness, it's him."

The Archon studied him for a moment, her eyes narrowing. "You speak as though you've known him for years. Do you?"

Salomonis shook his head slowly, confusion creeping into his features. "No. I've only recently encountered him, but his talents are undeniable. Why do you ask?"

The Archon sighed, rubbing her temple. "It's... nothing. Tell me your plan. Convince me why I should trust this boy with something so vital to our survival."

Her tone suggested skepticism, but a spark of interest glimmered in her gaze. Salomonis took a deep breath, preparing to lay out his case.

THIS CHAPTER UPLOAD FIRST AT NOVELBIN.COM