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Chapter 201 – A Family Assembles
Chapter 201 – A Family Assembles
The air in the underground castle was thick with an unspoken weight, a quiet tension that came from the introduction of something new. The torches along the stone corridors flickered softly, casting shadows that danced against the ancient walls.
Seraphis led Veylan up the winding steps, their boots silent against the polished obsidian floors. He followed without hesitation, his new assassin’s uniform fitting him perfectly, the black mask concealing his features except for the piercing silver glow of his eyes.
For the first time, he was walking the halls of a home he never knew existed.
A place that was now his.
As they reached the upper level, the heavy iron doors of the main living hall loomed ahead. Beyond them, the rest of the family awaited.
The Living Hall
With a single, effortless push, Seraphis opened the doors.
Inside, the chamber was grand—a stark contrast to the cold laboratories below.
A massive crimson fireplace stretched along one wall, its flames flickering behind an enchanted barrier of heat-resistant glass. The ceiling was vaulted, high enough to let shadows cling to its upper reaches.
Dark velvet couches were arranged around a central table of black marble, polished to a mirror sheen. Books, artifacts, and weapons were scattered across the room, showing the many lives that resided here.
And within the warmth of this space, three figures sat waiting.
Theia.
Elowen.
Sylvaine.
The moment Seraphis and Veylan stepped inside, all eyes turned toward them.
First Reactions
The first to react was Theia.
She was perched elegantly on the edge of one of the couches, her long silver hair cascading over her shoulder. Dressed in dark robes embroidered with intricate runes, she radiated an air of composed intelligence. Her crimson eyes flickered with curiosity as she set down the book she had been reading.
“So,” she murmured, her voice silky yet edged with intrigue. “This is him?”
Seraphis nodded once. “This is Veylan.”
Theia’s gaze drifted over him, measuring him. Not just as an observer—but as someone who saw through people.
“You’ve done something,” she noted, her head tilting slightly. “He’s different.”
Veylan met her stare without flinching. “I have been given purpose.”
At this, Elowen let out a soft, amused hum.
She was lounging on the armrest of the couch, her long legs crossed at the ankles. Unlike Theia’s composed demeanor, Elowen had a more playful aura, her black leather gloves resting lazily against the hilt of a curved dagger at her waist.
“Elaborate,” she purred, watching Veylan with undeniable interest.
Seraphis answered for him.
“I gave him my blood,” she said simply.
Silence fell.
Then—
“You did what?”
This reaction came from Sylvaine, the tallest of the three, who had been standing near the fireplace with arms crossed. He was the most battle-worn among them, his deep violet cloak barely concealing the scarred leather armor beneath.
His golden eyes darkened as he stepped forward. “You took a Sleeper and bound him by blood?”
“Yes.”
Sylvaine exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “That’s dangerous.”
Seraphis merely smirked.
“So am I.”
Veylan Speaks
Veylan, until now, had remained silent—observing, studying.
But he knew this moment required words.
So, with a slight incline of his head, he spoke.
“I understand your concern,” he said, his voice level, steady. “But I am not what I was before. I was nothing. A hollow existence. A failed experiment, left to rot.”
His silver gaze swept across them.
“Seraphis gave me life. And I will not squander it.”
A beat of silence followed.
Then, Theia leaned back into the couch, her expression unreadable.
“Well,” she mused, “he certainly talks better than most corpses.”
Elowen chuckled. “Agreed.”
Sylvaine sighed. “You better not make us regret this.”
Veylan tilted his head. “I would never betray family.”
The tension in the room shifted.
Family.
It was a powerful word. A binding word. And Veylan had spoken it with certainty.
Seraphis finally broke the silence.
“We’re done questioning him. Now, I’m showing him the castle.”
The Tour Begins
Seraphis turned toward the doorway, motioning for Veylan to follow.
He did without hesitation.
The others watched them go, their expressions varying from curiosity to lingering wariness. But none of them stopped her.
They trusted her.
And now, Veylan would learn why.
A Castle Hidden Within a Cave
The underground castle was an architectural masterpiece.
As Seraphis led Veylan through its winding halls, he took in every detail—the obsidian walls, the torch-lit corridors, the massive iron doors that concealed hidden chambers.
The structure was ancient, but alive with magic.
Runes glowed faintly along the stone, pulsing with unseen enchantments. The deeper they walked, the more Veylan realized—this was not just a home.
It was a fortress.
Key Locations
Seraphis guided him through the key areas of the castle, explaining their purpose.
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The Great Hall – A vast chamber lined with banners bearing the sigil of a raven. This was where the family convened for major decisions.
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The Armory – A hidden chamber filled with weapons ranging from enchanted blades to experimental relics.
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The Library – A multi-leveled archive containing thousands of tomes, many of which held forbidden knowledge.
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The Training Grounds – A spacious underground arena where assassins honed their skills.
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The Hidden Vaults – Locked away beneath the castle, these chambers held artifacts too dangerous to be left unguarded.
Each location had its own history, its own purpose.
And with each step, Veylan’s understanding of his new world grew.
Final Stop – The Observation Balcony
At last, Seraphis led him to a balcony that overlooked the underground landscape beyond the castle’s outer walls.
Veylan stepped to the edge, staring out.
What he saw stunned him.
A sprawling cavern stretched as far as the eye could see, illuminated by massive bioluminescent crystals. Rivers of dark water wound through the stone, reflecting the soft glow of unseen enchantments.
It was a city beneath the world.
A kingdom of shadows.
His voice was quiet as he spoke.
“This place… is a fortress of ghosts.”
Seraphis stepped beside him, her silver eyes gleaming.
“It’s a fortress of survivors.”
Veylan turned to her, realization settling in.
He had not just been brought into a family.
He had been brought into a legacy.