Chapter 67 Return to the Castle

******'s POVThough he only killed some trash, they were still too strong for a young boy like him.

Why does that midget have such wonderful luck at obtaining such talent while I...?, I sighed with disappointment while my mind burned with envy.

But where did he come from and why did I not have any information regarding his existence? If he is allowed to grow, the Sangrials might welcome another monstrous expert in a few hundred years, my mood became a little depressed as this thought crossed my mind.

That little girl was already such a headache and now this boy. If I had the opportunity, I would have already finished the boy right here and now but that would disturb and spoil the grand plan and also alert the little bitch of my presence.

A cold light flashed inside my eyes. I was confident that I had set all the perfect evidence and even deeper logical explanations , so that Altheria would not find anything suspicious.

Now, that I had obtained the moon elf girl, I was one step closer to my goal. A shiver ran through my spine and goosebumps arose on my skin from excitement. I laughed quietly in the light and vanished in the darkness as if I had been never there, to begin with.

Ethan's POV

Our group of three moved in complete silence, the atmosphere heavy with tension. I could tell that the siblings' moods were off and it seemed to be an unsettling mix of betrayal and frustration.

They must have felt deceived as they thought they were schemed against by someone they had always considered beneath their notice.

I sighed inwardly, deliberating on whether to break the silence. After some thought, I resolved to share my conjectures with Virelle, but only when we were alone and without Victor's presence.

Before long, we reached the ominous gates of the Scarlet Hollow castle. The massive structure loomed as it always had, its sinister grandeur untouched by time.

The gates radiated an ancient, menacing aura that spoke of a rich, storied past filled with blood and power. Bat guards patrolled the castle walls with their usual vigilance.

High above in the distant sky, I noticed small black shapes flitting through the sunset-lit clouds. It took me a moment to realize they were giant bats. A ripple of shock coursed through me.

They were soaring far higher than I'd thought possible, gliding effortlessly under the sunlight. Creatures of darkness weren't supposed to thrive in natural light let alone revel in it.

"They are specially modified by us," Virelle explained calmly, breaking the silence as if sensing my surprise.

"Generations of research and experimentation have gone into their breeding, refining their attributes to create what you see now. They are known as Heliodark Bats. These creatures possess innate shrouding and adaptive capabilities that allow them to endure sunlight, though they retain their dark affinity.

"Of course," she added, her tone slightly matter-of-fact, "their abilities aren't comparable to true creatures of light or fire affinity. Still, they can defend themselves in ways ordinary bats never could.

The methods to breed and grow them remain a closely guarded secret, shared only among the top three ducal clans of Sangrial, Elarith, and Vael."

Her voice carried an unusual touch of eagerness which was a contrast to her earlier disinterest. I glanced at her curiously but refrained from commenting.

Victor, walking beside her shot me a brief but surprised look. It was subtle, but I caught that it carried a flicker of doubt. He was likely wondering how I could be unfamiliar with such basic information.

However, his expression quickly smoothed out, and I could see him arriving at his own conclusion that my knowing so little might be due to my origins from some distant or obscure branch of the Sangrials.

As we continued onward, no one stopped us. The castle was eerily empty, save for a handful of guards. Aside from these patrolling bat guards who easily recognized Virelle and Victor the massive halls and corridors remained lifeless.

It was as though the Sangrial family themselves had vanished leaving only shadows in their wake.

The castle's interior was a labyrinth of dark, maze-like corridors. The oppressive silence seemed to amplify the faint echoes of our footsteps. As we navigated the endless passageways, a question that had been forming in my mind finally slipped out. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire

'Lady Virelle,' I asked through sound transmission ensuring only she would hear, 'could you tell me where the main Sangrial family resides?'

I already had a faint guess about this situation but I wanted to confirm it.

Virelle's response came almost instantly. Her voice, though transmitted carried a faint air of amusement.

'Well, Brother Ethan, I imagine you've already guessed. The main Sangrial family resides in the center of Scarlet Hollow City, in a place known as the Scarlet Crown Sanctum. Their ancient family castle lies within the deepest compound of the Sanctum.

That castle is vastly different from Scarlet Hollow castle. Among the three ducal families, only the Sangrials maintain two such distinctive castles. It's a peculiar arrangement that confuses many outsiders. I would have explained the reasoning behind it but I don't have the authority and some truths are better discovered for yourself.'

She paused, her tone softening slightly. 'Also, you don't need to call me 'Lady,' Brother Ethan. Just Virelle will do.'

Her final remark caught me off guard. For a moment, her words interrupted my train of thought, leaving me both surprised and a little happy that my unintentional efforts hadn't been wasted.

I couldn't see her expression as she spoke—her back was turned as she walked ahead but I couldn't help feeling curious about what might have been on her face at that moment.

Despite my curiosity, I refrained from attempting a sneaky glance. In such an isolated and quiet setting, any attempt would undoubtedly be noticed. Besides, it would have been incredibly disrespectful.

So, I let the thought go, maintaining my composure as we continued through the darkened halls of Scarlet Hollow Castle.