It was Gruig.
Lazry's breath caught as if a cold hand had wrapped around his throat. He remembered the last time he saw Gruig. It was just earlier at two in the morning. Gruig had been blasted apart by the six eyed demon dog. His limbs were gone. His stomach was empty. His lungs were shredded. Only pieces of his head had been left. There was no way anyone could survive that.
But now… this Gruig was standing there. Perfectly intact. Clean clothes. Calm face. Arrogant posture.
Lazry stared at him. He did not blink. His fingers curled, feeling that something was not right.
He whispered to Butler Winston. "Is that real?"
Winston stared too. He leaned forward a little, watching Gruig's steps and expression as he spoke to a group of young Lycannis clan members. "Young master… I do not know. But… he moves like Gruig. He talks like Gruig. His mannerisms are the same. It must be him."
"But he died," Lazry whispered.
"I know," Winston whispered back. "Which is why this is strange."
Gruig continued chatting with people as if nothing had happened. Still carrying that familiar arrogance. Still making others look small with his tone. The same Gruig everyone knew.
But then Gruig stopped.
His back stiffened.
He slowly turned his head.
And his eyes locked onto Lazry.
His pupils shrank. Sweat instantly rolled down his neck.
Because Gruig remembered everything.
He remembered the moment that ancient being, Ravikus, invaded his soul. He remembered the agony of losing control of his body. He remembered Ravikus using him like a puppet. And when he died, the memories of that ancient monster all poured into him, crushing him with fear.
Gruig knew what Ravikus was.
He knew Ravikus was not just some conjurer from the past. He was one of the strongest of the Crimson Eclipse. Count Ravikus of Blood Moon Dawn. The last survivor of the Blood Moon Clan. The master of thirteen familiars. A peak level nightmare in human form.
And he died.
He died instantly… from the blast of Lazry's pet beast.
Gruig trembled at the memory. Ravikus, even in his arrogance, had shuddered in fear at the sight of the six eyed demon dog. Ravikus thought it might surpass all legendary curse beasts he had ever seen. Ravikus doubted he could even fight it. Ravikus thought if he touched it wrong, he would die.
And he was right.
Gruig felt it too. When he woke up with Ravikus's memories, he understood that he had been saved. Because if Lazry had not blasted him, he would still be Ravikus's puppet. He would still be a prisoner inside his own body. And Ravikus would have devoured everyone he loved.
Gruig's heart pounded. He was terrified, and grateful, and shaking, and lost. But he knew one thing.
He owed Lazry.
Without Lazry, he would be dead. Truly dead, swallowed by Ravikus forever.
He took a deep breath. His legs moved before he could think. He marched toward Lazry. People around thought he was going to bully him again. They whispered and pointed. Winston stiffened and stepped forward to block Gruig, but Gruig ignored him.
Then Gruig knelt.
He knelt so fast the floor echoed.
He bowed until his forehead touched the ground.
His voice was loud. It shook the entire hall.
"Gruig Lycannis greets Senior. Thank you for saving my life."
Silence cracked through the hall like thunder.
Lazry froze. His mouth dropped a little.
Winston's eyes went wide. "Young master… what…?"
The crowd erupted in confusion.
"What is happening?"
"Why is Gruig kneeling?"
"Is that really Lazry he is bowing to?"
"Did we drink too much?"
"Someone pinch me."
"I refuse to believe this."
"No way. The most talented grandson of Elder Grude bowing to Lazry? Lazry, the useless one? What nonsense is this?"
"Did he lose a bet?"
"Did Lazry bribe him?"
"Impossible. Lazry has no money."
"Then why is he kneeling?"
"Look at Gruig. He looks serious. He looks… grateful?"
"Grateful? For what?"
Gruig heard every whisper. He ignored them. His voice was steady. "Senior saved me. If not for senior, I would have been devoured by a monster."
Lazry blinked at Winston. "What is he talking about?"
"I have no idea," Winston whispered. "This is not normal. Something happened."
Gruig continued speaking loudly. "Senior must have known I was possessed. Senior purposely killed me so Ravikus would be forced to take control. And when Ravikus revealed himself, senior's beast destroyed him. Senior saved my life."
Lazry slowly turned to Winston. "Did I save him?"
Winston whispered, "No, young master. You killed him."
"I thought so," Lazry whispered.
But Gruig remained kneeling, trembling from head to toe. "Senior, please accept my respect. Because of you, I gained the memories of Ravikus. Because of Ravikus, my talent improved. And I also obtained a very powerful curse beast that Ravikus left behind after he died. You gave me everything, Senior."
"I did?" Lazry said.
"I do not think so," Winston said.
Lazry frowned. "He is scheming."
Winston nodded. "He is absolutely scheming."
Gruig stayed bowed, shaking but sincere. "Senior, please accept my allegiance."
A voice suddenly roared across the hall.
"Gruig! What are you doing!"
Everyone stepped aside as Elder Grude stormed through the hall like a furious storm. His presence crushed the noise. Even the air shook. His glare could slice steel.
He stopped in front of Gruig, teeth clenched. "Stand up this instant. Explain yourself."
Gruig lifted his head. His eyes were calm. "Grandfather, I know what I am doing."
"You know nothing," Elder Grude growled.
Gruig raised his voice. "I swear my allegiance to senior. I owe him my life."
Silence.
People gasped.
"What is going on…?"
"Lazry saved Gruig?"
"Lazry… the useless one?"
"Did the world flip upside down?"
Elder Grude glared at Lazry with confusion and fury. "Saved your life? What nonsense are you saying?"
Lazry lifted his hands a little. "I have no idea what he is talking about."
Winston nodded rapidly. "Young master is innocent. Young master does not even know why he is kneeling."
Gruig bowed again. "Senior, please accept my gratitude."
Lazry stepped back. "Stop kneeling. You are making this weird."
Elder Grude was about to argue again when a loud chime rang through the hall. A cold voice echoed from the clan servants.
"Elder Grude and young master Lazry, please proceed to the main hall. The patriarch has summoned you both."
Everyone froze again.
The room filled with whispers.
"The patriarch?"
"Why now?"
"What is this about?"
Lazry frowned. He whispered to Winston. "Why does the patriarch want me?"
"I do not know," Winston whispered. "But it must be serious."
Elder Grude clenched his jaw, grabbed Gruig by the arm, and pulled him up. He glared at Lazry with a conflicted look. "We go now."
Lazry nodded slowly.
Winston fell in behind him.
And the hall watched in stunned silence as they headed toward the main hall, not knowing that everything was about to change.