Dinner at the Von Schwarzenwald estate was a quiet affair, yet tension hung thick in the air. The long table, laden with rich foods, gleamed under the dim candlelight. At the head of the table sat William Von Schwarzenwald, his cold, calculating gaze sweeping over the family gathered before him.
To his right was Marcus, the eldest son, who sat with the unshakable confidence of a man who knew his purpose. To William's left was Seraphina, her expression aloof and distant as always, but her keen eyes alert to every movement in the room.
And then, at the far end of the table, was Elias.
His presence felt like a shadow, unnoticed and unacknowledged by everyone. Elias picked at his food quietly, his eyes downcast, his mind racing. The warmth of the room did nothing to soothe the cold knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach.
He had hoped to avoid this. Being in the same room as his father always made him feel smaller, weaker. Elias had never belonged at this table, and tonight was no different. His siblings had been summoned to discuss their father's latest commands, but Elias had been there only because William had demanded the entire family be present.
And as usual, his presence was little more than an afterthought.
William cleared his throat, drawing the attention of Marcus and Seraphina. Elias, still silently picking at his food, tried to disappear into the background, as he always did during these family gatherings.
"Marcus," William began, his deep voice echoing through the room, "tomorrow, you will depart for the southern border. The situation with the otherworldly beings has grown more volatile. I expect you to keep our lands secure. The external family members have already been alerted, and they will be under your command."
Marcus nodded confidently. "I'll handle it, Father. No creature will pass our defenses."
William's sharp eyes softened just slightly, a rare moment of approval flickering across his face. "Good. I trust you will not fail me."
Across the table, Seraphina watched the exchange with her usual cool detachment, her slender fingers slowly tracing the rim of her wine glass. William turned his gaze toward her next.
"Seraphina, the research you have been conducting is vital to our understanding of these beings. I expect updates before Marcus leaves."
"I've made significant progress," she replied, her voice steady, though devoid of warmth. "I'll have more for you before the night is over."
William nodded, satisfied, before turning his attention back to his plate, leaving the room to fall back into a tense silence. The clinking of silverware was the only sound, each family member consumed by their own thoughts.
Elias, sitting quietly at the end of the table, felt invisible. He had long since learned not to expect anything from these dinners. His father's approval had never been for him, only for Marcus and Seraphina. Elias was a ghost in this family—there, but never truly seen.
The conversation around him carried on without pause, focused entirely on the tasks William had assigned to his two favored children. Elias listened, trying to make sense of the strategic discussions, but his mind kept drifting back to his failed rituals—the dark, forbidden magic he had been toying with in secret.
He had felt the power grow within him over the last few weeks, a strength he couldn't explain. Each failed ritual left him with a strange, unsettling energy coursing through his veins, but he didn't know why. He had tried to follow the forbidden texts as closely as possible, but the rituals always went awry. And yet… he was still getting stronger.
But what if his father found out?
William was the last person who could ever know. He had no tolerance for weakness, but he had even less patience for disobedience. Elias had already failed him in every other way—if William discovered he was dabbling in forbidden magic, it would be over.
Across the table, Marcus spoke again, breaking Elias's train of thought. "Father, the reports from the border suggest these creatures are becoming more organized. They aren't just wandering aimlessly—they're attacking in groups."
William leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "That's why I'm sending you. I trust you will handle this threat with the efficiency required. The external family members stationed there are not capable of dealing with this alone."
"I understand," Marcus replied confidently. "I'll make sure the border is secure."
As the conversation shifted back to strategy, Elias sank deeper into his own thoughts. He could feel the weight of his family's expectations pressing down on him, even though none of them acknowledged his presence. His father had given Marcus the task of defending their territory and entrusted Seraphina with crucial research, but Elias… Elias had been given nothing.
And that stung, more than he cared to admit.
A quiet voice in the back of his mind whispered that he could change that. The forbidden magic he had been experimenting with—it could make him powerful. He had already felt its effects, even if he didn't fully understand them. If he could just figure out how to perform the rituals correctly, maybe he could finally prove his worth. Maybe he could finally earn his father's approval.
But the risks were too great. The thought of William's wrath if he ever found out chilled Elias to the bone. For now, he had to keep everything hidden. He had to pretend, as he always did, that he was nothing more than the quiet, forgotten son.
As the dinner continued, the discussion between William, Marcus, and Seraphina grew more detailed, diving into the specifics of the coming days. Elias remained silent, his mind elsewhere. The power growing inside him was becoming harder to ignore, but he couldn't afford to slip. Not with William sitting just across the table.
"Seraphina," William said, turning his attention back to his daughter. "I want the results of your research by morning. We cannot act without understanding the true nature of these beings."
"Of course, Father," she replied, her voice still cold, yet composed.
Elias's hand trembled slightly as he reached for his glass. The pressure was suffocating, even though none of it was aimed at him. His siblings always knew their roles. They fit so perfectly into the mold their father had crafted for them. Marcus, the strong, decisive leader. Seraphina, the intelligent, calculating researcher.
And then there was Elias.
The ghost.
The outcast.
As the dinner came to an end, William rose from his seat, signaling the end of the gathering. "Marcus, be ready to depart at dawn. Seraphina, report to me in the morning with your findings. Elias..." He paused for a moment, his eyes barely flicking toward his youngest son. "Stay out of trouble."
Elias nodded, swallowing the bitter taste of his father's words. William didn't even look at him as he turned to leave the room, Marcus and Seraphina following closely behind. Elias lingered at the table, staring at his half-eaten meal, the weight of his isolation pressing down harder than ever.
He had never belonged here. He had always been the invisible one—the one his father barely even noticed. But that was going to change.
Somehow, some way, Elias would find a way to matter.