A man with white hair and dark eyes walked through the hallway, sensing a growing aura.
He turned to face the source of the disturbance, his expression darkening.
"Who could that be, at this hour of all times?" the man muttered to himself, annoyance creeping into his voice. He shifted his direction and moved toward the source of the energy. Despite taking careful, deliberate steps, he moved with such speed that it seemed he was a blur through the hall.
As he approached, he noted the path led him toward a familiar room.
"Hmm..." The man thought as he arrived at the doorway. "It's Zelda's room... Interesting."
He tracked the aura to the door, his frown deepening.
"Does she want to blow up her room, or is she having some sort of breakthrough?" His thoughts shifted from concern to a hint of excitement, but his unease remained due to the intensity of the energy buildup.
He hurried to the door, but as he approached, he noticed something odd. There was only one guard stationed outside.
"Weren't there always two guards here?" he thought fleetingly, growing more intrigued.
"What is the Matriarch doing?" he wondered aloud, his curiosity piqued.
The guard, startled by the sudden appearance of the man, immediately felt his heart race. When he recognized the old man, he quickly bowed low, showing respect.
"Greetings, Blood Regent," the guard said with reverence.
The man nodded and acknowledged the guard's greeting before continuing, "What is she doing in there?"
The remaining guard answered without hesitation, "She is meeting with Jaime."
"So, it's not a breakthrough," the man mused aloud, his thoughts trailing. Pausing mid-thought, he moved past the guard and approached the door.
He knocked gently. Knock knock.
Inside, Jaime, who had been concentrating, immediately ceased the buildup of ether at the sound of the knock.
Zelda, too, heard the door creak, but she chose to ignore it—until she realized that the energy had abruptly stopped.
She glanced over at Jaime, noting the calmness in his demeanor. So, he's given up on attacking... she thought. But a sense of unease lingered in her chest. She had felt the sudden disturbance moments ago. Was she mistaken? She wasn't sure.
"Come in," Zelda commanded, her tone sharp yet composed.
The man with white hair and the walking stick entered, bowing respectfully.
"Greetings, Sovera," he said, his voice low but filled with authority.
Raising his head, the man's dark, pupil-less eyes locked onto Zelda. He smiled, though there was no warmth in his expression.
"It looks like you're quite busy," the Blood Regent remarked, his gaze shifting from Zelda to Jaime, who was sitting quietly beside her. The weight of his eyes seemed to increase, exuding a quiet yet palpable pressure.
elda raised an eyebrow at the sudden pressure.
"What are you doing, Blood Regent?" Zelda spoke, her tone cold and her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"Forgive me, Sovera," the Blood Regent said, bowing deeply. "I lost my composure."
Zelda's gaze turned wary as she studied him. How could you have lost your composure? she thought, her unease growing.
Jaime, who had been the focus of the Blood Regent's intense scrutiny, began to sweat heavily and tremble. Then, just as suddenly as the pressure had come, it vanished.
Phew. I thought I was found out, Jaime thought, letting out a relieved sigh.
He immediately bowed before the Blood Regent. "I can always come back if needed," Jaime said, his voice steady despite the earlier panic.
Zelda narrowed her eyes at Jaime, her suspicion deepening.
I'll just have to find another chance to get to her, Jaime thought with a malicious grin.
He began to move toward the door.
"Weren't you in a hurry to deliver a message to me?" Zelda said with a sly smirk.
In a blink, she teleported and appeared before Jaime, sizing him up with a cold expression.
"Am I someone you can just see and leave whenever you want?" Zelda's voice was icy, each word deliberate.
Jaime froze, momentarily caught off guard. Did she figure it out? he thought, panic rising in his chest.
Zelda's aura intensified as she applied pressure, walking up to Jaime.
Should I just explode? Jaime thought in panic.
As the pressure mounted, Jaime's body began to bend under its weight.
I should try to collapse... Jaime thought desperately.
And then, as if on cue, Jaime collapsed to the ground, unable to withstand the strain.
Zelda regarded him with scrutinizing eyes, taking note of his collapsed form. She could find no sign that he was faking. Was he really trying to attack me? Zelda thought, confused.
Looks like she's still in the dark, Jaime thought, scrambling mentally. I have to move fast, he remembered the Blood Regent's sharp gaze earlier, before the pressure had dropped.
"Guard!" Zelda called, her voice sharp.
The guard appeared in an instant, bowing deeply. "Sovera," he said respectfully.
"Take him to the infirmary," Zelda ordered, her eyes never leaving Jaime until he was taken away.
Once Jaime had been escorted out, Zelda turned to face the Blood Regent.
Her gaze was suspicious, her mind still working through the encounter.
"How could someone like you lose your composure?" Zelda asked, her voice dropping to a dangerous tone.
The Blood Regent bowed even deeper, his voice apologetic. "Forgive me, Sovera. I was just making sure of something."
"Making sure of something?" Zelda repeated, her brow furrowing in doubt. "I thought you were definitely going to kill him."
The Blood Regent shook his head. "No, I was waiting for him to reveal himself. But... he did well under pressure."
Zelda's curiosity was piqued. "Oh, you noticed something?" she asked, her interest rising.
"Yes," the Blood Regent said, his tone turning serious. "He is not Jaime."
Zelda's eyes widened in surprise. "He's not?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. But before she could process the revelation, her expression shifted to one of understanding.
"Looks like you've realized something," the Blood Regent observed, noticing Zelda's change in expression.
"He was acting off from the moment he entered," Zelda confirmed, her suspicion now fully realized.
"Who is he, then?" Zelda asked, her tone laced with a mix of intrigue and concern.
The Blood Regent straightened his back, exuding confidence. "He is a demon, Sovera."
Zelda's eyes narrowed dangerously, her aura flaring in response.
She teleported in front of the Blood Regent, her eyes flashing with fury.
"A demon, you say?" Zelda's voice was low, each word spoken through clenched teeth. Her fist was also clenched, the air around her thick with anger.
"Yes, Sovera," the Blood Regent confirmed.