Night had quietly descended upon the Valecrest Manor once more, wrapping the enormous estate beneath an atmosphere far calmer than the bloodshed and chaos that had consumed it only a day earlier, while the countless corridors, courtyards, and gardens throughout the manor gradually sank into silence as the servants completed their duties and retreated indoors for the night.
The distant sounds of guards changing patrols occasionally echoed faintly through the territory, yet compared to the tension that usually surrounded the estate lately, tonight almost felt unnaturally peaceful.
Meanwhile, high above the quiet manor grounds—
Damon stood alone upon the balcony connected to his room.
