Tenebras quietly prepared himself inside his room. He wore a light black cloak that helped him blend into the darkness. For a moment, he stood by the window, looking at the silent castle.
But inside him, there was no silence.
Memories burned in his mind like fire.
Memories of his mother...
Memories of his kidnapping...
And memories of the man responsible for all of it.
His father.
Tenebras clenched his fist until his fingers trembled.
"Tonight... I'll see him," he whispered bitterly.
He didn't know what he would do when he finally faced him.
Would he shout at him?
Would he try to kill him?
But he was certain of one thing.
The hatred in his heart had grown too heavy to bear.
He slipped out of his room and moved through the dark corridors like a shadow.
High above one of the hallways, Silva stood quietly.
He noticed a small movement below and saw Tenebras sneaking out of the castle.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So... you decided to go."
Silva already knew about Prince Jack's wedding. He also knew that the head of the Novera family would attend the ceremony.
So he immediately understood why Tenebras had left.
The boy had gone to face his father.
But Silva didn't stop him.
He simply watched as Tenebras disappeared into the night.
Tenebras soon arrived at the royal palace where the wedding celebration was being held.
The palace was illuminated by hundreds of torches. Light reflected from the massive white walls while music and laughter echoed throughout the grand courtyard.
Everyone was celebrating.
But for Tenebras...
This night was not about joy.
It was about confrontation.
He observed the area from behind a stone wall.
Security was extremely tight. Guards stood in nearly every corner.
"Getting in won't be easy..." he murmured.
He slowly moved through the shadows, using pillars and long curtains as cover.
He passed a table filled with food without being noticed, then hid behind a massive marble statue.
His heart was beating hard.
Not from fear.
From anger.
Only one thought filled his mind.
Where is he?
Where was the man everyone called
The Lord of House Novera...
But Tenebras no longer saw him as a father.
While observing the hall, Tenebras heard a quiet conversation behind one of the pillars.
He moved closer.
It was the King of Salimar speaking with a young man from House Krio.
The king was tall, with gray hair and cold eyes that carried the weight of authority.
The Krio heir had sharp eyes and a cunning smile.
"Is it true, Your Majesty?" the young man asked quietly.
The king replied calmly.
"Yes... what people say about Sharihan Island is not just legend."
The young man paused before asking again.
"So... the secret is still there?"
The king did not answer directly.
Instead he said,
"Some secrets... are better left buried."
Tenebras' eyes widened slightly.
Sharihan Island...
But he could barely focus on the conversation.
He didn't care about secrets or politics.
All he wanted was to see his father.
Even if it was only for a single second.
But suddenly-
His shadow fell under the light of a nearby torch.
"There's someone there!" a guard shouted.
The soldiers turned instantly.
"Catch him!"
In that moment, Tenebras felt anger and frustration surge inside him.
He moved like an arrow.
Jumping over a table, sliding beneath a curtain, and pushing one guard aside, he sprinted through the back corridors.
The guards chased him, but he disappeared into the dark alleys outside the palace.
He finally stopped in a narrow alley, breathing heavily.
Then he punched the wall.
"Damn it..."
He had come so close.
Yet in the end...
He hadn't even seen him.
For a moment, he simply stared into the darkness.
Something heavy pressed against his chest.
Then he whispered coldly,
"It's fine..."
"There will be another day."
Meanwhile, in another part of the palace, a private meeting was taking place between the great noble families of the Kingdom of Salimar.
Seated around a long table were:
Dam Jams, the head of House Jams, a massive man with a thick beard and scars covering his face.
The Lord of House Krio, a thin man with fox-like eyes.
The Lord of House Kars, a tall man with cold and distant eyes.
Lady Veradis, calm yet commanding in presence.
The King of Salimar.
And finally...
The Lord of House Novera.
He sat silently.
But his mere presence filled the room with tension.
Across the kingdom, he was known by one name.
The Butcher.
Each noble had one of their children standing behind them.
Though they spoke calmly, distrust lingered in their eyes.
This wedding was not merely a celebration.
It was a political gathering that could shift the balance of power among the great families.
Eventually, the wedding ended without any visible conflict.
But darkness waited outside the palace.
As the guests returned to their homes, Dam Jams' carriage traveled along a mountain road.
Inside the carriage sat his daughter Toria Jams beside him.
She was a strong young woman with short red hair and sharp eyes like her father.
Three guards escorted them.
Suddenly-
The horses stopped violently.
Four figures emerged from the darkness, dressed in black with their faces hidden.
"Your journey ends here, Dam Jams," one of them said coldly.
Dam stepped out of the carriage.
Though he had lost one leg in a past battle, the aura around him was terrifying.
He grabbed his massive sword and smirked.
"Only four?"
The battle exploded instantly.
Swords clashed in the darkness as sparks flew through the air.
Dam fought with overwhelming strength, forcing one attacker back with a single powerful strike.
Toria joined the battle with a shout.
She was fast and skilled.
But one attacker seized an opportunity and struck her from behind.
She collapsed, unconscious.
The three guards fought bravely, but one by one they fell.
Soon...
Dam Jams stood alone.
Despite his injuries, he continued fighting like a raging storm.
His sword moved like a whirlwind.
But there were four enemies.
After a long battle...
They finally landed a fatal blow.
Dam fell to one knee.
For a moment, he looked toward the sky.
Then his body collapsed onto the ground.
The news of his death quickly reached his son Trido Jams.
The following morning, a grand funeral was held for the fallen lord.
The King of Salimar ordered an immediate investigation into the attack.
Toria was questioned after regaining consciousness and described the attackers.
That same day...
Trido Jams was officially declared the new head of House Jams.
Only one month remained before the Noble Heirs Tournament.
As for Tenebras...
When he returned to the castle that night, exhaustion was clear on his face.
He entered his room and slowly closed the door.
Sitting on the bed, he thought deeply.
He had failed to see his father.
But another idea slowly formed in his mind.
The Noble Heirs Tournament.
If he won that competition...
He would stand before all the great families.
And before his father.
A cold smile slowly appeared on his face.
Then he whispered quietly,
"That day..."
"I won't be the weak child anymore."