The revelation

The room was thick with an oppressive tension, the air itself distorted by the clashing auras of destruction and calm. Zelda's presence radiated overwhelming force, shaking the very foundation of the chamber, while the Blood Regent countered with a composed, almost serene energy. The opposing forces collided, sending waves of ether rippling outward, cracking the furniture and threatening to tear the room apart.

Despite the apparent equilibrium, it was clear Zelda held the upper hand. She smirked, her sharp eyes gleaming with amusement. "You've grown stronger, Raky," she acknowledged with a nod.

But then, with a mere thought, she intensified her aura.

The weight of her presence bore down on Raky like an ocean crushing an ant. His breath hitched, and his knees nearly buckled under the sheer magnitude of her power.

Suddenly, the walls of Zelda's chamber responded. A mark etched into the stone—composed of intricate, ethereal glyphs—began to glow, radiating a soft, white light. The protective runes activated, forming a shimmering barrier in an attempt to contain the overwhelming force. However, even the ancient enchantments struggled to mend the cracks forming along the walls, barely managing to hold back the devastation caused by their clashing energies.

Zelda, noticing Raky's struggle, lost interest in him. Her mind drifted elsewhere, focusing on something far more troubling—the revelation of a demon's presence in the human domain.

A demon had been right in front of her, and she hadn't even realized it. The thought unsettled her. She shook her head in frustration, her golden eyes narrowing.

"Are you certain he's a demon?" she asked, her voice edged with doubt. Her gaze bore into Raky, scrutinizing him as if she could extract the truth by force alone.

Raky swallowed hard, his face pale from the weight pressing down on him. "Y-Yes... Matriarch..." he stammered, barely able to hold himself upright. His limbs trembled, and beads of sweat gathered on his forehead.

Zelda's piercing gaze remained locked on him. "And what led you to that conclusion?"

Raky opened his mouth to respond, but his body was nearing its limit. His vision blurred, his strength waning. Sensing his imminent collapse, Zelda sighed and withdrew her aura, releasing him from its crushing grasp.

"Haaah… haaah…" Raky inhaled deeply, greedily drinking in the air, his chest rising and falling in rapid succession.

"Speak," Zelda commanded, her tone as cold as steel.

Raky took a moment to compose himself, wiping sweat from his brow before answering. His expression darkened. "He has a mark—like bite marks—on the side of his neck."

Zelda's brow furrowed. "A bite mark?"

"Yes," Raky confirmed grimly. "It's the mark of a parasitic demon—creatures known for enslaving their victims by infesting them with their spawn. I've encountered their kind before in my younger years."

Zelda's mind raced. "Parasitic demons… That's new," she muttered, tapping her fingers against her arm in thought.

"Of course, similar marks could be caused by other creatures—certain insects or beasts, perhaps?" she added, voicing her skepticism.

Raky frowned, considering her words. "I've encountered no such creature that leaves a mark like this, Matriarch. But if you wish, we can observe him further to be certain."

Zelda fell silent, scrutinizing Raky's face. The weight of her gaze made his skin crawl. She was evaluating him, measuring his certainty against her own doubts.

Raky's hands clenched into fists, his breath slowing as the silence stretched on. The stillness was suffocating, a moment before an unseen storm.

Time will tell if he's telling the truth, Zelda thought. But she would not take unnecessary risks.

"Keep watch on him," she finally said, her tone decisive. "If he truly bears the mark of a parasitic demon, we will deal with him accordingly."

Raky exhaled in relief, bowing his head. "Understood, Matriarch."

Zelda turned away, her mind already calculating the next steps. If demons were infiltrating the human domain, then something far more sinister was at play—and she intended to uncover the truth before it was too late.

The tense silence was broken by Zelda, who finally spoke.

"Then I have to take care of this pest before he causes any damage to the family."

The Blood Regent immediately objected. "Sovera, how about we keep a close eye on him instead? We should find out if there are others like him and what their plan is."

Zelda considered his words, weighing the risks. After several moments of thought, she finally relented.

"Fine. I'll agree to your plan, but if I see him doing anything that endangers the family, he will be dealt with."

Satisfied, the Blood Regent bowed slightly before leaving Zelda's room.

Left alone, Zelda leaned back in her chair, deep in contemplation. Had she made the right choice? She sighed. "I'll just have to keep a close watch on him," she muttered to herself.

Her expression darkened as another thought crossed her mind. "And I need to notify Aron of the trouble he brought home. He was too reckless," she thought, disappointment evident in her features.

Determined, she stood up and left her room, making her way to find Aron.

Meanwhile, in the dining hall, Aron and Chloe were seated at the table, enjoying a moment of calm.

"Did you feel that, honey?" Chloe asked, glancing at Aron.

"Yeah, I felt it. Probably someone breaking through. Since there was no explosion, that means it was handled," Aron replied nonchalantly.

As they spoke, a maid entered, carrying trays of steaming food. The rich aroma filled the room, causing Aron to salivate. Without hesitation, he stretched his hand out to grab a piece of meat—only for Chloe to smack it away.

Aron blinked in confusion. "What was that for?"

Chloe crossed her arms, an annoyed look on her face. "You're not the only one eating. Don't just shove your hands into the food like a barbarian."

Aron chuckled, rubbing his hand. "Someone forgot their manners in battle," Chloe muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Sorry, Mom," Aron said sarcastically, flashing a playful grin.

Chloe's brow twitched. "Looks like someone isn't really that hungry after all," she shot back, clearly irritated by his remark.