The Legendary Mage (Alavin)

Dainis was a delicate lady. Her body was too frail to withstand Alavin's savage blow, and she fainted from the sheer pain. Alavin, with a grip on her neck, dragged her into the room and roughly threw her onto the bed. All of this went unnoticed.

When Dainis awoke, dawn had broken. The doors and windows of the room were shut, leaving it dimly lit. There sat three figures: Alavin, Helna, and Grima.

"You...?" Dainis was momentarily confused, then suddenly came to her senses.

"The Shadow is dead," Grima said with a stern glare. How could someone who seemed so gentle and beautiful on the outside harbor such darkness within? She was of such a young age, and what would she become as she grew older?

Dainis tried to remain calm, curling up at the far end of the bed. "I don't understand what you're talking about. The Rocke family came to aid you. Is this how you treat your benefactors?"

Alavin held a throwing knife in his hand. "I don't want to resort to vigilante justice, so you'd better tell me the truth."

"Tell you what?"

"Was it the Golden Scorch who ambushed my parents all those years ago?"

"I understand you're upset, but you can't just accuse the innocent. Let me go, and I assure you that none of this ever happened, and we will still help you rebuild the ancient city."

"Save it. I was already wary of you the day you tried to ensnare my soul, and tonight, you sent someone to capture Helna! The Rocke family pretends to be virtuous, but inside, you're full of such vile schemes —a true wolf in sheep's clothing! This is your last chance, tell me everything you know, and don't force me to extract it by force!"

"Alavin, enough! I have no idea what you're speaking of," Dainis insisted, feigning composure. Was Alavin's unaffected by her spell? Impossible! Dainis had full confidence in her soul-binding magic, and it had never failed before.

Alavin slowly rose, his gaze icy as he looked at Dainis.

"What are you going to do? Don't mess around! The Rocke family's people are all around outside." Dainis clutched her garment tightly and shrank back against the wall.

"You've missed your chance. I'm sorry," Alavin signaled to Grima and left the room with Helna.

Panic finally set in for Dainis as she watched Grima approach with a dark look and eyes filled with malice. "Don't come any closer. I truly know nothing."

"You can keep silent, but after your death, I'll bring your brother here," Grima said as she slowly advanced on Dainis. "The Rocke family is despicable and shameless. It was you who created the tragedy those years ago. You destroyed the Mallister family and Stormcast and made us suffer humiliation in the Azure Mountain mines."

"No, don't...!" Dainis screamed, struggling to escape.

Grima swung her golden lance, mercilessly piercing her.

In the courtyard.

Alavin sat with Helna as daylight fully broke and the manor bustled with busy figures. The night had passed without further chaos, easing everyone's minds.

Helna stared blankly at the yard. "Why... Why would the Rocke family do this? The Mallister family bore them no grudge, how could they strike them down?"

Over the years, she had held onto a sliver of hope that Alavin's parents were still alive and that for some special reason, they had fled far away and were afraid to return. But now, if it was truly the Rocke family who had hijacked that year's tribute, they would never have let Alavin's parents live. Were they dead? Just like that?

"We will soon find out the truth; soon, we'll know everything," Alavin said softly, his voice heavy. He had imagined various enemies, but never expected it to be the Rocke family of the Golden Scorch. Now that the enemy was nearly confirmed, he felt no relief, only a deeper anguish. Confirming the killer was the same as confirming his parents' fate.

Felir approached from a distance, eyeing Helna in the courtyard with curiosity. How was she still alive? And where was his sister, Dainis? "Have you seen my sister?"

Alavin suppressed his urge for vengeance and feigned ignorance. "No, what happened?"

"Did you hear any strange noises last night?" Felir probed, carefully watching their faces.

"Noises? Was there another mercenary attack on the city?"

"No, nothing like that." Felir sensed something was off but didn't want to overstep, so after a brief exchange, he left to search elsewhere for Dainis.