Junyu's knees gave out.
The world tilted beneath him, and he collapsed beside Aurex's body. His hands were stained with the ruler's blood, and the cold marble floor pressed against his palms.
His breath came in broken gasps.
"How…?" he whispered.
Lightning flashed across the windows, bathing the chamber in pale white light.
"How can someone like him die like this?"
The answer never came.
From beyond the door came the sound of footsteps.
One pair.
Then many.
Fast.
Heavy.
Approaching.
And through the corridor, a voice echoed softly:
"Too late."
Junyu turned.
The chamber doors burst open.
The masked man entered first, followed by a line of armed guards. Their armor gleamed under the golden lamps, and their boots thundered across the floor.
The masked man's gaze fell upon Aurex's corpse.
For a moment, even he seemed stunned.
Then his expression hardened.
He pressed a black crystal buzzer mounted on the wall.
A deafening alarm exploded through the castle.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Massive iron gates slammed shut somewhere deep within Noctharis. Chains rattled through the corridors.
The entire castle was locked down.
No one could leave.
The alarm woke the nobles and delegates. Doors opened throughout the fortress, and a flood of guests began rushing toward Aurex's chamber.
The guards drew their weapons and surrounded Junyu.
"Lacod Junyu, step away from the body!"
Junyu raised his trembling hands.
"He was trying to tell me about my parents!"
"Enough lies."
The crowd gathered behind the guards.
Whispers spread instantly.
"Lacod Junyu killed Aurex."
"How is that even possible?"
"The Dog killed a king?"
Shock rippled through the hall.
Far away in the Devil Horns' chamber, Salim jolted awake.
His third eye pulsed once.
He looked around.
Everyone else was still asleep.
The alarm continued ringing through the castle.
Without waking the others, Salim sprinted into the corridor, pushing through servants and nobles as he followed the noise.
"What is happening?" he muttered. "Why was I on the bed?"
He reached Aurex's chamber and froze.
Junyu was on the floor, being struck by guards.
Aurex's body lay motionless nearby.
The crowd watched in horror.
Salim's eyes widened.
"JUNYU!"
He charged forward and punched one of the guards hard enough to send him crashing into the wall.
"What are you doing to him?!"
The masked man turned, fury burning behind the mask.
"He is the killer."
Salim looked directly at Junyu.
"Did you do it?"
Junyu shook his head immediately.
"No, man."
Salim stepped in front of him.
"He didn't do it."
His voice rose.
"And on what basis are you punishing him? What proof do you have?"
Before the masked man could answer, Veer Rajput pushed through the crowd.
"Why are you framing this kid for something he didn't do?"
The masked man pointed at Junyu.
"When we arrived, he was alone with Aurex's body. Tell me, Veer Rajput—why would someone like him be with Aurex at this hour?"
The crowd fell silent.
No one had an answer.
The masked man extended his hand toward the guards.
"Search his pockets."
Junyu's heart stopped.
Salim's face drained of color.
They both knew what was inside.
Junyu looked at Salim and made a small gesture with his fingers.
Stay silent. Don't say anything.
Salim clenched his fists but nodded.
The guards searched Junyu's coat.
Every second felt endless.
At last one guard stepped back, holding three objects.
The masked man's voice cut through the silence.
"What did you find?"
The guard raised them one by one.
"A blue stone."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"A purple vial."
Gasps echoed through the corridor.
"And a note."
The entire hall went silent.
Veer Rajput stared at the objects in disbelief.
"No…"
Another delegate whispered,
"The poison…"
A third voice trembled,
"He really did it."
Veer slowly looked up at Junyu, shock written across his face.
"Junyu… you actually did it?"
Junyu stared at the evidence in the guard's hands.
The blue stone glowed faintly.
The purple liquid swirled inside the vial.
And the folded note rested above them like a final judgment.
For the first time since arriving at Noctharis Isle, Junyu realized the truth.
He had not merely witnessed a murder.
He had been made the murderer.
And somewhere in the crowd, hidden among the frightened faces, the real killer was watching him.