Chapter 614: Chapter 615: A Chat With A Faceless Entity Its form was like the darkness itself, yet no matter how much Godric tried, he could not make out what it was. He was unsure if it was male or female, unsure of its face, unsure of its shape. All he knew was that it had spoken to him, and it was here. A bipedal figure, a presence that stood out even against the suffocating shadows. He sighed lightly. He was a veteran of the demon wars; he had seen horrors summoned and unleashed on the battlefield. Monstrous demons, abominations born from summoning magic gone awry, tearing through both ally and foe without distinction. This entity had spoken. So, it was man. That alone was enough for Godric to judge. He picked up the bottle of alcohol, bringing it to his lips and trying to gulp it down. However, it was empty. He turned the bottle upside down as if to confirm the fact, then sighed again, shoulders slumping with the weight of tired resignation. "An assassin... huh... haven’t gotten one of those in a while..." He glanced at the faceless entity standing in the darkness, its presence looming but calm. "At least not in the citadel that is my family’s seat of power... no one is that brazen..." The faceless entity remained silent at first, then it moved—not to kill Godric, not with the swiftness of an assassin’s blade. Its calmness was unsettling. This was not the enemy it had pictured when it came here. He was too calm. Too confident. Or was it disregard? The entity’s decision was strange. It picked up a bottle and two glasses from a shelf, stepping past scattered bottles on the floor. Without a word, it placed the bottle in front of Godric and then sat opposite him. Godric glanced at the bottle with a faint smile. "Soltheon 5560. Excellent choice. I see you are a creature with a refined palate." Acting as the host in his own chamber, Godric poured the wine into both glasses. He lifted one, swirling it with an amused smile. The faceless entity picked up the other glass, savoring the fragrance of the fine wine. Even though he had come to kill Godric, it seemed both assassin and target had misplaced priorities. Still, Godric could not help but be moved by this confidence that bordered on arrogance. He raised his head, staring at the moonlight streaming through the tall windows into the room. "You know, if I made a loud sound you would be dead in seconds..." His gaze was calm, almost romanticizing the atmosphere. He wasn’t wrong. Damon knew well that the last time he had used Faceless and his shadow clone, his own grandfather, the Grand Duke, had been able to strike and destroy him in less than a second from another section of the castle. Why would the Grand Duke of House Ravenscroft fail to do so as well? He was very capable of it. The residence of a Grand Duke was like the maw of a dragon—one might enter, but never leave. "Why haven’t you... " Damon sat there as the faceless entity, his presence bending perception itself. His calmness impressed Godric. "It’s never too late to do so..." Godric replied, taking a sip of his drink, his body reeking of alcohol. "No, it is.... I can kill you faster than you can call for help. Or rather, faster than your help can arrive." Godric’s expression did not change. His eyes were calm and hollow. Damon had seen that look before, and he understood it. He had seen that same emptiness in his own eyes. "Are you not afraid to die..." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚 Godric’s expression shifted suddenly, as if he had just realized he was staring at a kindred spirit. "I was... for a time... but now I am more afraid of life and its tribulations." The entity spoke. Damon’s words made Godric’s eyes glimmer faintly with emotion. He whispered under his breath to the faceless entity. "I’m so tired... of life’s tribulations... and its trials. Should living not be a happy affair... and then you realize... most of it is just suffocating... hardship... with moments of true joy being fleeting. You’re crushed under the weight of expectation the world has placed on you." Damon took a heavy gulp of wine, the fragrance spreading across the air. Godric lifted his glass again as if he were sharing a drink with a friend, rather than death itself. "It’s easy to tell a nameless, faceless person your problems... you must have kept them in your heart for so long..." Those words made Godric chuckle lightly. "I suppose it does...." Damon exhaled deeply, his breath carrying the faint scent of wine. "Someone once told me life was a turbulent ocean with small islands of joy. I do not doubt her words, for she was very wise... however, finding those islands is quite difficult. Most often, we are trapped in that turbulent sea, just trying to stay afloat." He smiled faintly at Godric, though whether the smile was real or just something Godric’s weary mind painted on the faceless figure, he could not tell. "Though killing you will bring me to the dry shores of joy... if only temporarily..." Damon slowly stood from his seat. "I really hate when my enemies have depth. Not just one-dimensional characters I can hate..." Godric smiled, reaching toward the sword that hung on the wall. "I apologize for being a bother..." Damon shook his head. He knew full well the moment he clashed with Godric, the entire castle—especially those old monsters among the higher ranks—would know instantly. Godric narrowed his eyes as the sword flew into his hand. "I never caught your name..." The faceless entity chuckled. "I am your sins, catching up to you." As soon as he said this, Godric’s eyes trembled. His form faltered, shaken, and that single opening was all Damon needed. He raised his hand. Godric took a defensive stance. But what happened next was unexpected. From a shadow behind Godric, sharp claws emerged, slashing across his back. The guttural growls of a lesser demon followed, its barbed tail piercing through his chest, impaling his heart. Godric staggered forward as alarms blared throughout the castle, the demon’s presence sending the wards into frenzy. He fell, blood spilling across the floor as the lesser demon loomed over him, its mouth stained crimson. "Death by the hands of a lesser demon... how fitting for you..." Godric gasped, coughing blood that dripped down his chin. "Yes... it is quite fitting..." The sound of footsteps rushed down the hall, voices drawing closer. ’Sorry, Xander... let’s talk some other time...’ Those were the final words of Godric Ravenscroft. Damon dismissed the lesser demon, its form fading back into his shadow. Reaching forward, he pulled Godric’s heart free, holding the still-bleeding organ in his hand as the doors slammed open. Xander froze in horror, his hands trembling as knights filled the chamber behind him. His gaze fell on the open, lifeless eyes of his brother. It was as if time had stopped for him, that moment stretched forever. "Brother..." As if to add insult to injury, Godric’s body began to dissolve at the faceless entity’s feet. Devoured by its dark power. "How dare you kill a warrior like my brother...!!" Xander’s scream was hoarse and choked with grief. He charged forward as armor materialized across his body, a spear manifesting in his grip. His helm formed, covering his tear-stricken face as his rage consumed him.