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Shadows of Betrayal

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Aletheon and his generals left after receiving the king's permission. As they walked through the long palace corridors, a heavy silence filled the air—none of them dared to speak until they reached their private meeting room.

Once they closed the door behind them, Aletheon glanced at his generals one by one before beginning to speak in a low but sharp voice:

"Alright, we have two clear options. First, we can investigate the locations where there have been reports of suspicious movements recently. However, I doubt those places will be of much use, as this threat seems far more organized than mere random activity."

He then turned to Darcyan, the strategic planner, who was always meticulous in analyzing such situations.

"Darcyan, what do you suggest?" Aletheon asked seriously.

Darcyan, who was always careful in his assessments, remained silent for a moment, staring ahead as he traced his fingers in the air, as if mentally constructing a plan. Then he answered:

"If you're asking for my opinion, I believe we should focus on uncovering the true roots of this threat. We need to follow the clues found with the corpses in the hall. There's something strange about those messages. There were no signs of a struggle—the situation was marked by an eerie calm and patience. We might be dealing with infiltrators from within the kingdom or even outside forces, but it's unlikely that an entire kingdom is behind this."

Aletheon nodded. "Agreed. That means we need to investigate a sect or an organization operating in the shadows. But where do we begin? Do we focus on the individuals who were near the victims, or do we search in locations that might be connected to them?"

Ragarath, the family's swordsman, glanced at the others and said in his usual sharp tone, "I prefer investigating the individuals first. If something is off, it will show in their behavior. They might have information—or perhaps even hidden reports."

Valinor, who was well-versed in handling politics and warfare, interjected, "But don't forget—some people are skilled at hiding their intentions. We need to monitor places with a high volume of visitors or suspicious activity. We can't rely solely on questioning people."

Aletheon nodded in understanding. "Then we'll begin by investigating locations tied to political movements within the kingdom while also monitoring individuals who may be connected to the incident. We need an intelligence network that gathers every possible lead on this threat."

Then he turned to Velaria, his trusted general in matters of magic. "And you, Velaria? What do you think about the magical aspect of this? Do you sense any strange energy that could be linked to the threat?"

Velaria, always attuned to the arcane world, replied in a calm voice, "So far, I haven't noticed any obvious signs of dark magic. However, we cannot overlook the possibility of cults that excel at concealing their magical traces. It would be wise to examine ancient records and investigate any magical signs or unusual events from the past."

Aletheon looked at his generals with appreciation and said, "Each of you will lead a team based on your expertise. Ragarath, I want you to investigate those closest to the victims—look for any clues about their interactions or suspicious activities. Valinor, focus on locations tied to political and economic movements. Velaria, search the old records and examine any magical traces that might be linked to the incident."

Finally, he turned to Darcyan and said, "As for me, I'll focus on uncovering any hidden evidence. I won't leave a single stone unturned."

With the tasks assigned, Aletheon ordered the investigations to begin immediately. They all knew that time was merciless and that this endeavor could be more dangerous than anything they had faced before.

Ragarath went straight to the royal guards who had discovered the corpses. Entering the guards' quarters, he found some leaning against the walls while others sat in the corners, all tense and unsettled. It was clear that the incident had deeply affected them. The air was heavy with unease, and some of the guards cast hesitant glances at him, as if afraid to speak about what they had witnessed.

Ragarath approached one of the guards, a burly middle-aged man with a thick beard and hazel eyes filled with experience. He placed a firm yet gentle hand on the man's shoulder and asked,

"Tell me, what did you see? What were the bodies like?"

The guard replied cautiously, attempting to appear composed despite his visible tension,

"The bodies were... strange, sir. They were human, but not in the way you'd expect. Their eyes were almost empty, as if they had lost all consciousness, yet they remained open—vacant, as if something else was inside them. Their skin was unnaturally pale, the colors seemed off, and some of them had deformed limbs, as if they had been unnaturally stretched."

Another, younger guard, with a softer voice, hesitated before adding,

"But… there was something else. Something eerie. Their movements… they were unnaturally fast. Some of them tried to flee when they saw the guards, as if they were reacting under some kind of influence—perhaps magic. At first, I thought it was just an ordinary incident, but there was something very unnatural about those corpses."

Ragarath narrowed his eyes. He knew that the royal guards rarely showed fear—unless they were facing something beyond explanation. He pressed further,

"Did you notice anything unusual about their appearance?"

The first guard looked away as if reluctant to recall the details, then finally spoke,

"I understand what you're asking. Some of the bodies… didn't look entirely human. There was something off about them. They didn't seem fully formed—some kind of strange deformities, or perhaps what we call half-breeds. Their features weren't fully defined, slightly distorted, and their skin was thicker than usual. And considering their unnatural eyes and erratic movements, I can't be certain, but this suggests they weren't entirely human."

Ragarath lifted his gaze, piecing together the details. This wasn't just a conventional attack. These corpses bore signs of something far more complex than he had anticipated.

"Do you have any suspicions about who might be behind this?" he asked, pressing the uneasy guard.

The younger guard hesitated, then glanced at the bodies lying in the corner of the room before answering,

"Yes… but we don't know for sure. They could just be pawns for something greater. These half-breeds… there could be a group serving dark forces or a hidden cult—something far more destructive than we imagine."

Ragarath pondered for a moment before nodding. "Alright, we need to investigate this further. Stay in place—I'll document this information and get back to you with further instructions."

With that, Ragarath stepped out of the room, lost in thought. He now understood that these corpses might be the key to unraveling the conspiracy lurking in the shadows—and that the kingdom's guards might be standing at the heart of the danger without even realizing it.

Meanwhile, Valinor, the army's tactical leader, took his men to the kingdom's political gathering spots, where influential figures and council members often discussed royal affairs. The hall buzzed with whispers and debates, as everyone was preoccupied with the new threats looming over the kingdom. This was the perfect place to gather information—secrets often unraveled within such political circles.

Without hesitation, he spread his men throughout the crowded areas and political cafes, instructing them to gather any useful intelligence. But as he carefully observed the atmosphere, something unusual caught his eye in a secluded alley nearby.

He saw the king's envoy, Valerian—a man known for his sharp features and the quiet demeanor that often hid deep secrets—dressed in a heavy cloak that concealed most of his appearance. Valerian moved swiftly through the narrow alley, as if trying to avoid detection…