Chapter 26: You Are the Monster, Daemon
Markus Ravenna was thirty-five years old. He had mastered the First Sense at twelve, the Second at twenty-two, and the Third at thirty-four. He was one of the most formidable swordsmen in the Sword Clan, and therefore he was not in any danger at all even if Daemon seemed to have much more chi than him.
"DAEMON! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!"
Markus smiled.
"Oops, the patriarch seems quite angry."
Markus turned around with a teasing smile. Dorian, the patriarch of the clan, was advancing into the courtyard accompanied by several elite guards.
Dorian observed the scene with a cold gaze.
"I apologize for the reckless actions of my nephew. I take full responsibility."
Markus kept his smile.
"Do not get so involved, patriarch. Lord Daemon has just killed one of my men."
Dorian stared at Markus without blinking.
"I understand. He will be punished according to the clan charter."
Markus bowed respectfully.
"I trust the impartial judgment that keeps our clan united through all trials..."
Dorian signaled the guards.
"Take him! And send his servant to the infirmary."
The guards immediately surrounded Daemon. He let himself be taken without resisting.
"Patriarch, I..."
Dorian raised his hand to interrupt him.
"Just shut up Daemon..."
...
The late afternoon sun entered through the narrow window of the empty room where Daemon was being held.
The room was sober, furnished only with a table, two chairs, and a bed without sheets. Daemon was sitting on a chair, his hands resting on his knees, staring at the floor.
He was not in a dungeon, but the door was guarded from the outside.
The door opened.
Dorian entered first, closely followed by Kristian. The patriarch closed the door behind them. The atmosphere immediately became heavy.
"Have you gone mad?" Dorian exploded as he advanced toward Daemon.
Daemon did not stand up. He remained seated on the bed, his hands still on his knees, and looked up at his uncle. "I am not mad, uncle. Markus captured my servant and—"
"A servant is worth the life of a guard?" Dorian interrupted. "Do you even hear yourself speak? You are going to drive me crazy!"
Daemon clenched his jaw. "That guard may have participated in Luna’s torture. He deserved—"
"Nothing." Dorian planted his index finger on Daemon’s chest. "He deserved nothing. The clan law says no one can be executed without a trial. You grew up in this clan and you know the rules."
Daemon looked down at his uncle’s hand, then back up.
"The rules?" he said in a calm voice. "You are talking about the rules now?"
Dorian took a step back. He passed a hand over his face, as if to chase away the fatigue.
"You have barely started using chi, and this is what you cause," he said. "Who could have helped you?"
Daemon stood up.
"It is with my patience and my sacrifices that I was able to unlock my energy center," he said. "Should you not be happy for me?"
"Happy?" Dorian chuckled. There was no joy in that laugh. "Do you know why no clan openly attacks the Sword Clan?"
"Because you are one of the strongest."
"No." Dorian shook his head. "It is because we are united. The four families: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn, form a single bloc. When one of us is attacked, the others respond. When one of us makes a mistake, the others protect him." He approached Daemon.
"You, in a single day, want to destroy this unity... You should have remained as you were."
Daemon turned around abruptly. His golden eyes blazed.
"Remain as I was?" His voice rose. "Always playing the fool? The clown of the Sword Clan?" He approached Dorian, challenging him with his gaze. "Is that my destiny?"
Then he sighed while shaking his head. "I suppose you knew I could die at any moment, didn’t you?"
Dorian grabbed him by the collar.
"You said it well," he said in a low and threatening voice. "It is your destiny. Stay out of politics. Live your carefree life."
"Carefree?" Daemon let out a bitter laugh. "You call that carefree? Ten years of not being able to do anything. Ten years watching others train, progress, become strong. Ten years of being a shame to my father." He placed his clawed hand on Dorian’s wrist. "That is what you call living?"
Kristian wanted to intervene, but no sound came out of his mouth. He remained there, watching his father and his cousin confront each other, powerless.
The conversation grew more heated. The words became harsher, the gazes colder. Daemon felt tears of anger and frustration rising in his eyes.
"You know what I think, uncle?" he said while tightening his grip on Dorian’s wrist. His claws threatened to come out. "You are no different from Persephone." His voice broke. "You are nothing but monsters."
Dorian released him, took a step back, and looked at him for a long time.
"Monster?" he repeated. "You want to know the truth? Then I will tell it to you." He took a deep breath. "Do you know why your mother sealed your chi core?"
Daemon blinked. "What the fuck does that matter? Anyway, All Tryna get me down."
"It is because you have the Mark of the Beast."
Silence fell over the room.
Kristian and Daemon remained frozen, their eyes wide.
"What?" Daemon murmured.
Dorian approached him. He placed a hand on his nephew’s shoulder, then slid it toward his bandaged arm, the right arm, the one with the black claws.
"Daemon..." he said in a softer voice. "You are the monster. The calamity that will cause the end of the world. Your mother sealed your chi core to protect the world." He lifted the bandage, revealing the claws and the 999 mark. "Did you think I had not noticed?" He looked up at Daemon. "You are already starting to transform into that calamity."