THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

David took a deep breath, attempting to ground himself. His mind still reeled from the eerie encounter with the mysterious entity—a being of terror that seemed to exist outside the bounds of reality. But he couldn\'t let himself dwell on it now. Whatever that entity was, whatever "Chronomancer of the Tapestry" truly meant, it would have to wait. Right now, he had to focus on the Earl and the unexpected turn his role coronation had taken.

They descended deeper into the dimly lit passageway, the air thick with the scent of aged stone and something faintly metallic. Only the soft echo of their footsteps broke the silence. The Earl strode ahead, his figure tall and commanding, the military uniform a stark white against the darkness.

At last, they emerged from the corridor into a spacious chamber. The Earl\'s private office. David had only ever seen this room a couple of times before, but it felt as if its atmosphere had transformed entirely. Thick, velvet curtains draped over grand windows, and tapestries depicting the family lineage adorned the walls, capturing the proud history of the De Gor bloodline.

The Earl crossed the room with practiced ease, making his way to an ornate wooden desk situated near the back. David\'s gaze was drawn to the intricately carved details on the desk—images of soaring eagles, and an ancient tree with roots that seemed to extend endlessly.

Once at the desk, the Earl turned to face David, his expression softened, though his gaze remained intent. "David," he began, his voice steady yet laced with an unmistakable weight. "There are things within these castle walls that only the head of the family knows. After my passing, you, along with your brothers, will be entrusted with these secrets—passages, histories, and alliances that have safeguarded our lineage for centuries."

The Earl\'s hand slipped into a hidden compartment beneath the desk. With a quiet click, he drew out a key—a golden key with wings crafted at the hilt, so delicately etched that they almost seemed to flutter in the dim light. He held it out to David, its polished surface gleaming faintly.

"This," he said, "is the key to the family vault. It will grant you access to the treasures and relics that hold the power and history of our ancestors. Only a De Gor may wield this key, and only when they have proven themselves worthy, as you have today."

David\'s fingers closed around the key, feeling its surprising warmth as though it pulsed with its own life force. The weight of it felt both reassuring and daunting—a reminder of the responsibilities now resting upon his shoulders.

The Earl\'s eyes softened further as he looked upon his son, a rare tenderness in his expression. "This is more than just a family heirloom, David. It is a symbol of trust and faith."

David nodded, absorbing the moment, his earlier apprehensions over the strange encounter now quietly fading into the background. This was his world, his legacy to uphold.

The Earl gave David a nod, his eyes glinting with a sense of pride and anticipation. "Very well," he murmured, "for now, use the key to open a mechanism hidden behind the wall of books."

David looked around, somewhat bewildered by the seemingly ordinary rows of ancient tomes lining the walls. Each book looked centuries old, worn but meticulously maintained, their spines embossed with gold lettering that detailed the rich history of the De Gor family. The Earl approached one section of the shelf with purpose, his fingers gliding over the edges of the books before stopping abruptly.

"Look closely here," he instructed, pointing to a nearly invisible slot embedded between two thick volumes. David leaned in, finally spotting a small keyhole, cleverly camouflaged among the dusty bindings. His heart raced slightly as he brought the golden key with the winged end closer, aligning it with the hidden mechanism.

With a soft click, the key slid into place. The moment David turned it, the entire wall of books groaned and trembled, shifting with a mechanical hum. The shelves split in two, parting to reveal something far more imposing—a massive, ornate vault door.

David stared, taken aback by the intricacy and majesty of the door now in front of him. It was a circular masterpiece of engineering and craftsmanship, towering and mesmerizing. Gilded with lavish, intricate designs, the door was adorned with golden embellishments that intertwined in complex, almost hypnotic patterns. These patterns glimmered in the dim light, reflecting like a myriad of stars against the dark steel base of the vault. A dense network of polished metal rods, almost resembling spokes in a wheel, circled the core of the door, each engraved with delicate filigree and symbols David could barely make out.

Around the edge of the vault, thick metal bolts gleamed, each one precisely fitted, adding to the door\'s foreboding grandeur. They looked immovable, and yet their sheer presence conveyed a sense of latent power—an unspoken warning that this vault was not to be opened lightly. The center featured a smaller, circular hatch, secured with even more elaborate locking mechanisms, as though protecting something precious beyond measure.

David reached out instinctively, his fingers brushing over the cold, unyielding surface of the vault. He could feel the history and gravity of his lineage in every inch of that door.

The Earl\'s voice broke his trance. "This vault has been in our family\'s possession for generations," he said quietly, his tone reverent. "It guards the legacy of the De Gor bloodline… a wealth of knowledge, artifacts, and power that few even know exist."

David turned to him, curiosity burning in his eyes. "What lies inside?"

The Earl smiled faintly, his gaze unreadable. "Treasures beyond what most can imagine. But the true value lies in what those treasures represent—strength, knowledge, and the endurance of our lineage. Only those who are worthy may access what lies beyond this door, and today, you have proven yourself."

David felt a strange sense of awe mingling with a sense of responsibility. He nodded, understanding that this was more than just an inheritance—it was a rite of passage.

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The Earl placed a firm hand on David\'s shoulder, his expression unwavering. "Step aside, boy," he instructed. David obeyed, moving to the side as the Earl stepped closer to the massive vault door. A subtle shift occurred around the Earl—an aura unfurling from him like invisible threads, filling the air with an intense pressure.

David watched in awe as the aura seemed to weave itself into the intricate patterns on the vault door, causing the golden embellishments to glimmer with renewed life.

With a low rumble, the vault door responded to the Earl\'s command, each bolt and rod moving as if alive, clicking into place with a satisfying finality. The Earl glanced back at David, a faint smile on his lips. "Not just anyone can open this vault. Only those of De Gor blood may attempt it—but that\'s not all. To command the vault, one must break through the ranks of a King-ranked swordsman and step into the Monarch-ranked realm."

David\'s brow furrowed, his mind racing. Monarch-ranked? This was a term he had never encountered before. In his training, he had learned about various stages and ranks, but the Monarch realm was a revelation—a mysterious height of power he hadn\'t known existed. He wondered how much strength lay in that realm, and what challenges he would need to overcome to reach it.

With the door fully opened, the Earl gestured for David to follow. The air within the vault was dense and cool, carrying the faint scent of ancient metals and old magic. As they stepped inside, the first room came into view—a sight that took David\'s breath away.

Rows upon rows of chests lined the room, each brimming with glittering gold coins, some spilling over the edges in shining heaps. Soft glows emanated from enchanted crystals embedded in the walls, casting an ethereal light that bathed the gold in hues of emerald and sapphire. The coins gleamed, catching and refracting the light, creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere of wealth and splendor. It was as if they had entered a treasure room straight from legend.

David could hardly contain his astonishment. "This… this is just one part of the De Gor fortune?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The Earl chuckled softly, nodding. "Yes, just a portion. We\'ve taken steps to diversify over the years. The De Gor wealth is spread far and wide, not merely hoarded here. But this—this is our family\'s heartbeat, the core that has sustained us for generations."

After a moment of allowing David to take it in, the Earl guided him to another door at the far end of the room, leading them into a chamber even more intriguing. Here, weapons of all shapes and sizes were displayed with reverence, each placed on a pedestal or neatly organized on shelves. Swords, axes, spears, and maces, all exuded a latent energy, humming faintly with enchantments that hinted at great power.

"Go ahead," the Earl said, nodding toward the weapons. "Take a look. These are tools and relics of our lineage. Some have been wielded by your ancestors in legendary battles."

David moved through the room, admiring each weapon\'s craftsmanship and the weight of history they bore. But as he examined each one, a peculiar thought tugged at him.

Could the system have weapons even more powerful than these?

It was a curious notion, and he wondered if it was even worth choosing one of these weapons when the system\'s resources might offer something far superior.

Just then, a faint chime echoed in his mind, and the system\'s familiar interface flashed before him, but this time with a message unlike any he\'d seen before.

"[A trace of divinity has been detected.]"

The words made David\'s heart skip a beat. He looked around, unsure of what to expect, when his gaze landed on a faint golden thread of light, barely visible but pulsing with an undeniable lure. The thread seemed to beckon him, guiding him deeper into the room until he reached a pedestal draped in shadows.

There, resting upon it, was a stone unlike any other—a crimson crystal, pulsing with an otherworldly glow, as if alive. It was small, almost unassuming at first glance, but up close, David could feel an intense aura radiating from it. The stone seemed to breathe, an ancient heartbeat that resonated with his very soul.

Without realizing it, his hand inched closer, drawn to the mysterious artifact as if by some unseen force.

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A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you\'re enjoying the novel so far. This shameless author has a small request—if you\'re loving the story, please recommend it to yourfiends, it would be the dream if a lot more pple read my book and if my big supports will it, magic castles can do the same.

Look forward to the monthly shoutouts on 31st.

Happy reading mates.