A knock came on the door to which Liora was locked. Upon looking out to see who it was, she found her father. Her mood was more angered than her lonely moments in her room, and she wished he would disappear from her sight. Unexpectedly, he arrived with a tray of food for her, knowing she would be angry.
"I brought you some porridge; eat it while it's still hot," he urged. Liora, however, remained silent, wrapping her arms around herself and gazing out the window. Sighing, Lysander continued, "I had to do it to prevent you from getting hurt again. It was your mom's last wish to keep you safe."
Her mother had died when she was ten, entrusting Lysander with the responsibility of protecting their daughter from danger. Lysander felt like he had betrayed his wife's trust when Liora was brought back home unconsciously from the demon realm, so he had locked her up to keep her safe while searching for Arion.
"You're my daughter and your mom's child. I can't bear to see you hurt again, so I had to take drastic measures," he said.
Liora shifted her gaze gently to him. With the apologetic expression on her dad's face, it made her feel terrible.
She unwrapped her arms and walked to him, "I...I am sorry father. I didn't know that's the case."
Lysander smiled, caressing her hair.
Afterwards, Liora asked to be released from the lock-in.
Lysander agreed to release her from her room but on one condition, that her movement would still be limited to the sect.
Liora accepted, thinking it was better than being alone in her room all day. She had one more request – to send a search team to find Arion.
Lysander agreed as well and sent four powerful disciples to search for Arion's body in demon realm.
Liora wasn't allowed to leave Heka sect, except when summoned to the palace for compensation. Merrick, Amara, Caelum, and Darian accompanied her to the palace. After being addressed by the emperor, they visited the Ten Billion Magical Closet, a place where magical treasures were kept and powers were cultivated into objects.
Back at the palace walkway, they discussed their compensation. Darian mentioned the thrill of receiving a thousand years of magical power. Liora appeared cheerful despite her confinement and worries about Arion.
Amara was about to ask when Merrick inquired about her well-being.
"Are you feeling better now?"
"Yes, sure," she replied in a smile. Afterwards, silence settled awkwardly among them.
Sensing Caelum's decision to depart, the atmosphere shifted, and in that moment, Valerian, the crown prince, made a sudden appearance.
"Your highness!" They all greeted, bowing their heads.
"At ease," Valerian said and they all dismissed the bow. He said, "Nice work done. Father is delighted alot about your success and I'd like to invite you for a drink if you don't mind."
"Oh, not at all, Your Highness," said Amara, smiling.
In the dimly lit, smoke-filled room, a man sprawled agitatedly on the floor, his tortured moans mingling with the haunting sound of a ringing bell. The black powder surrounding him gradually transformed into ominous fumes.
Thorian increased the bell's pitch, wiping the man's memories and turning him into a monster.
Beside Thorian stood the Silver King, dressed in rare silk worn only by the royal family. Thorian used the bell to control the transformed palace guard.
"Is he an Enthralled Shadow now?"asked the Silver King, bewildered. And Thorian nodded.
The man, otherworldly the monster, had sharpened fangs and darkish cornea. He had an unsettling demonic demeanor around him, unable to control his feelings.
"What is your wish, king?" Throrian asked. The Silver King asked for a torrent of magic, and Thorian obeyed, commanding the man to kill as many people to get their magical stone.
The man then vanished into the air.
Arion trained atop a mountain with his spell-coated sword, attempting to master self-control over his powers. Frustration set in when he accidentally killed a a flying bird. The man appeared, asking if Arion wanted to relieve some stress. Arion felt the man was mocking him.
Later, they went to the market, where the man showed Arion food ingredients. Arion questioned why the man bothered when it was easy to cook with magic.
The man introduced himself as Chen Corwin but suggested Arion call him Master Chen. Arion agreed.
His lips curled into a smirk as he found no need in knowing his name.
"I see you have grown softer than before when I read your mind," the man inquired. Arion looked away and then the man said. "Later you will know that I am actually more important than I seem to be...."
Screams interrupted their shopping as the Enthralled Shadow appeared. Arion urged Master Chen to help then he charged to the monster.
Upon grasping his sword, Master Chen swiftly slashed the right side of the monster's abdomen, causing green blood to ooze out. With a flourish, he delivered a powerful blow to the monster's neck, rendering it unconscious. Subsequently, Master Chen vanished with the creature's body, leaving Arion behind.
Arion shrugged nonchalantly, "Well, I can find my way back on my own." He teleported to the wood thatched house. Little did he know the Heka disciples saw him.
Back in the house, Arion found the unconscious body of the possessed monster. Master Chen explained they needed to examine it to learn more about Arion's family's death.
Although he gave Arion a hint, he didn't notice it.
Arion received a pouch containing the black powder used to possess the man.
"Guard it well. It may be useful one day.'
In the quiet surroundings outside, the four disciples arrived, their determined eyes scanning the area in search of Arion. To his surprise, Arion noticed their gaze fixated on the house. It was almost unbelievable; the realization slowly dawned on him that Master Chen had mistakenly lifted the invisibility shrouding the house.
The disciples entered the room without knocking. The unconscious body was no more there at the.....
The disciples knelt down, bowing to Master Chen.
"Master, how have you been?!"
Arion was baffled by the disciples' respect for Master Chen.
"I told you, didn't i?" Master Chen grinned. "I told you I am far more important than I seem to be, but you didn't believe."
"Who are you?" Arion questioned.