THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

Garrick took a deep breath, steeling himself as he approached the two women. His heart was pounding in his chest, but he forced his features into a calm, composed expression. As he neared, the head maid and Seraphina continued their light-hearted conversation, the headmaid's voice filled with an air of warmth and familiarity.

Seraphina, seated with an almost regal grace, smiled softly as she listened, her presence radiating a quiet power that was both enchanting and terrifying.

"Good evening, Headmaid Katrina," Garrick greeted, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him.

The head maid looked up, surprised to see him, but she quickly returned the greeting with a polite nod. "Guard, what brings you here?"

"My apologies for interrupting," he began, directing his attention to Seraphina, who now fixed her gaze on him with mild curiosity. "But the Earl has requested your presence, Lady Seraphina."

Seraphina raised a delicate brow, her expression unreadable. The headmaid, sensing the gravity of the situation, took the cue to gracefully bow out of the conversation. "It was a pleasure talking with you, Lady Seraphina. We must continue our discussion on skincare—especially the use of mana potions mixed with volcanic ash—at a later time," Katrina said, her tone light but respectful.

Seraphina nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Indeed, I look forward to it."

With that, Katrina offered a final nod to Garrick before making her way to the kitchen, leaving the two alone. Garrick could feel the weight of Seraphina's gaze on him, but he kept his composure, leading the way out of the dining room. As they exited, he exhaled slowly, relieved that the initial interaction had gone smoothly.

However, his relief was short-lived. Seraphina's voice, gentle yet probing, broke the silence. "Is there a problem, Guard?"

He froze in his tracks, his breath catching in his throat. Turning to face her, he glanced around the corridor, making sure they were alone. Once satisfied, he fell to one knee, his head bowed in deep respect. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Seraphina, the cunning seer and esteemed member of the Fingers."

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Seraphina observed him in silence, her sharp eyes assessing every nuance of his posture, every flicker of emotion that crossed his face. The silence stretched on, each passing second amplifying Garrick's anxiety. Had he made a mistake? Had he said too much? Just as the tension threatened to overwhelm him, Seraphina spoke, her voice carrying an edge of curiosity. "Why have you not approached me sooner?"

Garrick swallowed hard, his mind racing for the right words. "My deepest apologies, Lady Seraphina," he began, his voice laced with regret. "When Gareth went missing, the security within the De Gor estate tightened significantly. It has become increasingly difficult to carry out our mission, especially with David never leaving the castle."

Seraphina's expression darkened, and she raised a hand to silence him. "Hush," she commanded, her tone firm but not unkind. "These walls have ears. If you have something important to say, we must find a more secure place to continue this conversation."

Garrick nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of the situation. He stood, reaching beneath his armour to retrieve a small, intricately carved orb from his tunic. The orb was a deep obsidian, etched with faint, glowing runes that pulsed rhythmically like a heartbeat. It was warm to the touch, and as he held it in his palm, the air around it seemed to shimmer with an ethereal energy.

Seraphina's eyes narrowed as she recognized the object. "A spatial relic," she murmured, more to herself than to Garrick. The orb was a rare and powerful artifact, capable of creating a pocket dimension—a magical space detached from the physical world. "So this is how you've managed to remain hidden," she concluded, a hint of admiration in her voice.

Garrick nodded again, this time with a touch of pride. He pointed the orb toward the stone wall beside them, and with a flick of his wrist, a portal began to materialize. The portal wasn't like any ordinary doorway; it was a swirling vortex of shimmering light and shadow, the very fabric of reality bending and warping at its edges. As the portal stabilized, it revealed a solid, ancient door embedded within the stone—a gateway to a secret chamber.

Garrick stepped forward, opening the door and disappearing into the vortex, the air rippling in his wake. Seraphina hesitated for a moment, her keen mind analyzing the situation. Then, with a decisive step, she followed him into the portal, the vortex closing behind her with a soft hum.

Emerging on the other side, Seraphina found herself in a dimly lit room, the air thick with the scent of aged wood and dust. The room was small and sparse, with stone walls that seemed to press in on all sides. In the centre stood an old wooden table, its surface marred by time and use. Upon it lay a large, detailed map of the De Gor estate, its edges curled from years of handling. Surrounding the table were several figures, their faces partially obscured by the shadows that clung to the corners of the room.

As Garrick entered, the figures turned to him, one of them—a tall man with a stern countenance—stepping forward. "Did you meet with Lady Seraphina?" he began, his voice filled with a mixture of concern and anticipation. But before he could finish his question, Seraphina stepped into the light, her presence instantly commanding the room.

The man's eyes widened in shock, and he quickly dropped to one knee, followed by the others in the room. "Lady Seraphina," they greeted in unison, their voices trembling with a mix of reverence and fear.

Seraphina raised a hand, motioning for them to rise. "Enough," she said, her tone carrying the weight of authority. "There is no time for formalities. The mission has been compromised."

The words hung heavy in the air, a wave of fear washing over the group. Nivan, the man who had spoken earlier, was the first to find his voice. "Compromised? How? We have always been careful—"

Seraphina's aura flared, a surge of mana rippling through the room, silencing Nivan. Her eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing within them. "Gareth," she began, her voice dripping with disdain. "That idiot who led you all betrayed the Fingers. He thought he could sell us out for his own gain, but he was dealt with swiftly. I am here to ensure that the remnants he left behind in the De Gor estate are eradicated."

A collective shiver ran through the room as the gravity of her words sank in. The fear that gripped the hearts of those present was palpable, and one by one, they began to beg for mercy, their voices trembling with desperation. "We have not betrayed the Fingers," Nivan stammered, his face pale. "Gareth acted alone. We swear our loyalty remains unbroken."

Seraphina's gaze swept over the group, her expression unreadable. The silence that followed was excruciating, each second stretching into an eternity. Finally, after what felt like an age, she spoke, her voice cold and calculated. "Very well. If you wish to prove your loyalty, you will have your chance."

The tension in the room spiked as she continued. "Gather everyone at midnight. We will set the De Gor estate ablaze and take out David in the ensuing chaos. This is your chance to redeem yourselves—to show that you are still worthy of the Fingers' trust."

Nivan's eyes widened in shock. "At midnight? Where shall we meet, Lady Seraphina?"

Seraphina's lips curled into a faint, chilling smile. "You will meet with Stipe, another member of the Fingers, in the garden. He will lead you to the designated location. Fail me, and there will be no second chances."

With those final words, she turned and began to make her way out of the chamber. The others remained frozen in place, the weight of her command pressing down on them like a suffocating blanket. Garrick, still reeling from the turn of events, watched as she disappeared into the shadows, her presence leaving a lingering sense of dread in the air.

As the door closed behind her, Nivan turned to the others, his voice low and urgent. "We have our orders. Gather everyone. We cannot afford to fail."

The room erupted into a flurry of movement, each member rushing to carry out their assigned tasks. The fear that had gripped them moments before was now replaced by a steely resolve—a determination to survive and prove their loyalty, no matter the cost.

Garrick, still clutching the orb in his hand, took a deep breath, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. The mission had taken a dark and dangerous turn, and the stakes had never been higher. But there was no turning back now. All that remained was the path ahead, a path shrouded in fire and blood.

As midnight approached, the De Gor estate would burn, and with it, the fate of everyone involved would be sealed in the flames.