Temple of the Demon Lord of Wishes

Chapter 113 The Cruelest Act (7)

The candlelight flickered against the dimly lit walls of the Summanus estate, casting elongated shadows across the tense gathering.

Heavy breaths filled the chamber as the family sat in uneasy silence, their minds weighed down by the words that had reached them just hours prior.

Nathan stood at the head of the table, his sharp eyes scanning the faces of his family members.

"Nathan, have you heard about it?"

A voice broke the silence, trembling with unease.

"That Wretched Woman has spoken a prophecy...! She claims Reves will bring about the downfall of the Ten Throne Holders!"

A collective shudder passed through the room.

"W-what do we do?"

A distant cousin spoke, voice unsteady.

"Although the Eighth Throne Holder is protecting us, the others will not sit idly by! They will find a way to destroy us, no matter what!"

Murmurs of agreement spread through the room, anxiety rising like a tide.

Fear twisted their expressions... fear of what was to come, fear of the unseen forces that dictated their fates.

Then, soft footsteps echoed through the corridor.

A small figure appeared at the entrance of the room.

Reves, no older than seven, stood there with wide, innocent eyes, his soft voice breaking through the tension.

"Dad? Mom?"

His head tilted slightly, confused by the oppressive air in the room.

The boy's presence sent a wave of unease through the gathered family members.

Their gazes fell upon him, their thoughts turning dark.

Colin, Reves' third uncle, clenched his fists beneath the table, his breath growing heavy.

Then, as though something within him snapped, he shot up from his seat and unsheathed his sword, its metallic glint catching the dim candlelight.

"This is all because of you!"

Colin's voice was filled with raw desperation, his grip on the hilt tightening.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?! Because of you, our family is marked for death! The Throne Holders will come for us! They will erase every last one of us from existence!"

Reves flinched, his small body trembling under the weight of his uncle's fury.

His innocent confusion quickly morphed into fear as he took a hesitant step back.

"Colin, put that sword away!"

His older brother barked, stepping protectively between Reves and their uncle.

"Are you out of your mind?!"

"Out of my mind?!"

Colin scoffed, his voice cracking.

"I am thinking clearly! If we kill him..."

He swallowed thickly, desperation shining in his eyes.

"If we kill Reves, then maybe the other Throne Holders will let us go!"

A hush fell over the room.@@@@

Then, voices erupted... cousins, aunts, uncles...

Some murmuring in agreement, others shouting in protest.

The chamber was a storm of discord, accusations and fears clashing like thunder.

Reves' breath came in shallow gasps.

He didn't understand.

Why were they looking at him like that?

Why was his uncle pointing a sword at him?

His small hands clenched at his sides as his vision blurred with unshed tears.

And then...

A sharp whistle cut through the chaos.

A metallic spear shot across the room with blinding speed, piercing through Colin's leg.

Colin let out a strangled scream as he collapsed onto one knee, his sword clattering uselessly against the stone floor.

Blood pooled beneath him, his face contorted in agony.

Ian snapped, his voice raw with grief.

"They're all gone! We don't have time-"

A shadow loomed behind them.

Ian spun, his blade slicing through the smoke, barely blocking a spear aimed at Reves.

The impact sent him staggering.

More masked figures emerged, closing in.

Ian clenched his jaw, adjusting his stance.

"Reves, listen to me! You have to run!"

"No! I won't leave you!"

"Damn it-!"

Ian blocked another strike, but the enemy's numbers were overwhelming.

"You think I'm gonna let them get you too?!"

Ian shouted.

'These dang cunning foxes... they waited till dad was out of the house to attack!'

He thought.

Flames burst through the walls, roaring with the same fury Ian had in his eyes.

He shoved Reves toward the exit with all his strength.

"Run! Run and don't look back!"

Reves stumbled forward.

The last thing he saw before turning away was Ian's defiant grin, standing tall in the inferno, blade raised against the darkness.

He ran.

He ran until his legs gave out.

And he never looked back...

...

Reves ran until his legs gave out, until the glow of his burning home was swallowed by the night.

His lungs ached, his vision blurred, but he didn't stop...

Not until he collapsed onto the damp ground.

When he woke, he was lying beside his father.

Nathan sat still, his hands resting on his knees, his face unreadable.

The dim glow of a dying ember flickered over his features, making him look both strong and impossibly tired.

Reves turned to him, his body shaking. In a hoarse whisper, he told him everything.

Nathan just nodded.

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No questions.

No anger.

No visible grief.

But Reves saw it... the slight tremble in his lips, the way his hands clenched too tightly.

He wasn't crying, but that restraint told Reves everything.

After a long silence, Nathan finally spoke, his voice steady.

"Sleep. I'll find a way to hide our identities soon..."

Reves didn't argue.

He didn't ask what came next.

He simply curled up, letting exhaustion take him.

Time passed. Minutes? Hours? He couldn't tell.

Then...

A murmur.

So soft he almost thought he imagined it.

"Don't leave me too, Reves..."