Samiel's father, grandfather, and grandmother looked on in shock. His father, Lord Solon, stared at the boy before him—his son, or what was left of him. The weight of the declaration hit him hard. Samiel had never once allowed his mother to suffer, not even the smallest sadness, and now, for her to faint like this... It could only mean that their child was truly gone. Solon's face twisted with grief, the realization slowly sinking in.
Lord Magnus, Samiel's grandfather, clenched his jaw, his age-old wisdom tempered by the crushing loss of his grandchild. He wanted to scream, to rage, but he remained silent, watching helplessly as his grandson was replaced by a demon.
Helene, Samiel's grandmother, however, looked past the grief. Her sharp eyes studied the boy before them. For a long moment, she said nothing, her gaze piercing into him. And then, without a word, she nodded, as if coming to some grim conclusion.
