Chapter 25 - Unknown

In a desolate area, troops wearing black nano-tech suits could be seen cleaning the dead bodies of their counter parts.

Their counterparts were humanoid creatures with elongated ears, claws and fangs.

Aside from those slight and obvious differences, these creatures were basically inextinguishable from humans.

As the nano-tech clad soldiers cleared the corpses, a soldier clearly affiliated with them ran past into the tent nearby.

Inside the tent, piles of dead bodies of these humanoid creatures could be seen, stockpiled ontop of each other.

On top of these dead bodies was another soldier who looked to be around his late teens.

In his hand was a light saber. The soldier upon seeing the young man untop of the dead bodies immediately saluted him.

"General". The young man with red hair and eyes turned to face the soldier with eyes of apathy and asked, "What?"

"Sir, the Marshal has summoned you- no, all the generals." The soldier said with panic in his eyes.

The red-haired young man narrowed his eyes at the soldier's words. "All of them?" He asked.

"Yes". The soldier nodded his head vehemently. "Why?" The red-haired soldier asked again, curiosity in his voice.

"Sir, that's um..." The soldier's voice trailed off with hesitation apparent in his tone.

"Speak". The red haired soldier said in an authoritative tone.

"Sir. The Denoir house." As soon as the red haired soldier heard the name "Denoir", he rushed toward the soldier, gripping him by his shoulders.

"What about the Denoir House". He asked, panic setting in.

"They- They've been declared as traitors".

***************

In an unknown location, two figures could be seen standing.

The air was thick with an eerie stillness, broken only by the faint rustle of their dark robes as they shifted.

Their faces, obscured by shadows were unreadable, but their presence was unmistakably ominous.

The first figure fidgeted restlessly, his body movements erratic, like as if they were battling some inner turmoil and was just barely keeping it in check.

The second figure on the other hand, was more composed, though their posture was peculiar, their head tilted slightly to the side as if listening to some distant, unheard melody.

Then suddenly, a third figure emerged from the darkness, his arrival silent but his presence commanding.

The other two immediately bowed their heads in deference, their earlier demeanor subdued in the presence of this new figure's arrival.

The third figure stood tall, his aura dripping with authority, and an almost palpable sense of power.

Then clearing their throat, the second figure began to speak.

"The boy", they began, their tone eccentric, and almost sing-song, "I saw him today. Shouldn't we... do something about him?" Their head tilted further, as if the question were a puzzle they were trying to solve.

The first figure snapped to attention, their voice sharp. "Do something? Do something? Really? Of course we should do something! He's a threat! A danger to us all! No way we can just let him roam around like that!"

Their words tumbled out in a frantic manner as they gestured wildly.

The second figure chuckled softly, a sound that was both amused and unsettling.

"But what if he's not a threat? What if he's... something else entirely? Wouldn't that just be fascinating to watch?"

"Fascinating?!" the first figure spat in clear anger. "This isn't some experiment you know? We have to act before he becomes a threat we can't handle!"

The third figure remained silent, allowing the other two to carry on with their argument.

After a moment, he raised a hand, and the bickering ceased immediately. His voice when he spoke was calm but firm.

"Enough. For now we will not act rashly. For now we will keep an eye on the boy. Observe him. Learn more. But do not interfere. Not yet anyway".

The first figure opened their mouth to argue but a simple glance from the third figure silenced them.

The second figure simply nodded, their eccentric smile returning. "As you wish." The second figure said, their tone almost playful.

With that the third figure turned and disappeared into the shadows as silently as they arrived.

The other two remained for a moment longer before they too disappeared into the darkness, leaving the place as still and silent as it was before.