Praise broke out almost imdiately.
"Madam Cornelia is fair," Hall said first, planting a fist over his chest as he bowed deeply. His voice was loud, steady, and full of conviction. "No one can say otherwise."
Zed followed, his usual sharp tone softened by respect. "Yes. Fair and decisive. The Moonshade Family would not stand where it is today without you."
Around them, murmurs spread like ripples through water.
Approval. Agreent. Relief.
Many of the Blood Knights had expected chaos after what happened. Instead, Cornelia had cut through it cleanly, assigning bla and punishnt without hesitation.
Cain stayed silent, his head lowered, shoulders slumped. To everyone else, he looked humbled, even ashad.
Inside his head, he was floating.
Fair. Yes. Very fair. You hear that? I am being punished fairly. This is excellent. Everything is proceeding beautifully.
He sounded sarcastic and his eyes were even rolling.
Damn it! I need to get away from her! I don’t care how hard her punishnts are; to , they feel like nothing but a tickle. The real torture is the blood pact; it makes extrely attracted to my wives! Damn it!
Cornelia inclined her head slightly, accepting the praise without indulgence. "Enough," she said calmly. "If there is nothing else—"
"There is," Cedrick said suddenly.
The camp went quiet.
Cedrick stepped forward, slow and deliberate. He did not look at Cain. Instead, his gaze stayed fixed on Cornelia, careful, respectful, and asured.
Cornelia’s eyes narrowed just a fraction. "What is it, Captain Cedrick?"
Cedrick hesitated, as if choosing his words with extre care. "Regarding Cain’s punishnt," he began. "While your judgnt is unquestionable, there may be... a more suitable arrangent."
Cain’s heart skipped.
Oh? He thought, barely containing himself. Go on. Dig your grave.
Cornelia did not interrupt him. She simply watched.
Cedrick cleared his throat. "You are... busy, Madam. Your duties span the entire family, the Vanguard, the Blood Knights, and external threats. Training Cain personally would demand ti and focus."
Hall imdiately stepped forward, nodding. "Captain Cedrick has a point. Madam’s training is intense. It requires constant supervision."
Zed crossed his arms. "And Cain’s body is... fragile right now," he added carefully. "He nearly died. Forcing him into your regin might be excessive."
William, who had been silent until now, shifted uneasily before speaking. "If the goal is correction and discipline," he said, "then perhaps he should begin under soone... closer to the soldiers."
Cornelia’s gaze sharpened. "Say what you an."
Cain looked at them as if he knew what they were planning.
Cedrick inhaled slowly. "What we an is this," he said. "Rather than training directly under you, perhaps Cain should be placed temporarily under Soldier Captain William."
Cain nearly laughed.
Yes. Yes. That’s it. Separate . Lower . Put under another authority. Fra . Isolate . Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. This is what I am talking about! You make so proud! Very proud!
William stiffened. "I did not ask for this," he said quickly.
Cedrick turned to him. "You didn’t need to," he replied smoothly. "Your discipline is strict. Your thods are thorough. You understand the struggles of common soldiers."
Hall nodded. "If Cain trains under William, he will learn humility."
Zed added, "And responsibility."
William frowned, clearly uncomfortable. "I am not certain—"
"It is only temporary," Cedrick cut in. "Until he regains strength and proves he can follow orders."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Cain kept his eyes down, his face carefully blank.
Inside, he was practically vibrating.
Yes. Please. Convince her. I beg you. This is everything I want. Put in the hands of people who already dislike . I know what you are planning. Go sche! Let mistakes be blad on . Let them accuse of things I didn’t do. This is destiny. Ah! This Overgod is overjoyed! I want to dance in a pool of blood!
Cornelia’s expression did not change, but her eyes cooled.
"No," she said flatly.
The word landed like a blade.
Cedrick’s jaw tightened. "Madam—"
"No," Cornelia repeated, her voice firm. "Cain’s punishnt is my responsibility."
Hall stepped forward, his tone earnest. "Madam, we only wish to lighten your burden."
Zed nodded. "And to ensure fairness."
William swallowed. "I fear that if he fails under your training... the consequences will be irreversible."
Cornelia turned fully toward them now, her presence pressing down on the camp like a gathering storm.
"Do you think," she asked quietly, "that I would choose a punishnt without considering the consequences?"
Silence.
Cedrick bowed his head slightly. "Of course not."
"Then why persist?"
Cedrick lifted his gaze, eting hers with sothing dangerously close to resolve.
"Because this concerns the morale of the Vanguard," he said. "If Cain is trained under you, so may believe he is being favored."
Cain’s inner voice scread.
Yes. Yes! Say it louder!
Cornelia stared at Cedrick for a long mont.
The air felt heavy, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
"Favored," she repeated softly.
Hall nodded quickly. "It would appear that way to so."
Zed added, "Even if it is not true."
William looked torn. "Perception matters, Madam."
Cain nearly applauded in his head.
These traitorous fools are doing better than I expected. Reviving them was the best decision I’ve made in centuries.
Cornelia’s eyes flicked to Cain.
He remained kneeling, silent, compliant, the image of a man too weak to even defend himself verbally.
Inside, he was screaming encouragent.
Co on. Join them. Agree with them. Let them take charge. Let rot sowhere inconvenient.
Cornelia looked back at the captains.
"Enough," she said.
Her voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it.
"I will not entrust my husband’s punishnt to anyone else."
Cedrick opened his mouth to speak again, but she raised a hand.
"This discussion is over."
A ripple of tension ran through the ranks. So knights exchanged glances, uncertain. Others lowered their heads, accepting her decision.
Cain’s inner celebration stumbled.
Tch. So close.
But before he could sink into disappointnt, sothing changed.
At first, it was not that noticeable. Like a faint pressure in the air. A warmth that did not belong to the campfires.
Hall blinked. "Do you feel that?"
Zed frowned. "Mana?"
William looked down at his hands. "Wait..."
Cedrick’s breath caught. His aura flared suddenly, blood-red energy rippling outward.
"What is happening?" Cornelia asked sharply.
The answer ca too fast.
All around the camp, Blood Knights gasped. So cried out. Others dropped to one knee as power surged through their bodies.
"I—I broke through!" soone shouted.
"My mana is stabilizing!"
"I can feel it. Sixth stage. I reached the sixth stage!"
Laughter erupted. Shouts. Cheers.
Aura flared everywhere, overlapping, colliding, rising like a tide. Knights who had been stuck for years felt barriers shatter. Troops who had barely reached the fifth stage suddenly surged forward.
"Fifth to sixth Blood Infusion!"
"Seventh stage! I reached seventh!"
"My aura... it’s stronger!"
The camp exploded into chaos, joy and disbelief mixing in equal asure. So knights laughed hysterically. Others dropped to their knees, crying openly.
Cornelia’s eyes widened.
This was no coincidence.
She scanned the area, her senses sharp, her mind racing.
Hall stared at his hands, trembling. "Madam... I—"
"Sixth stage," Zed whispered, awe in his voice.
William looked pale, overwheld. "I was stuck for three years."
Cedrick clenched his fists as power surged through him, his aura stabilizing at a higher level.
"This... this shouldn’t be possible."
The Blood Knights roared in celebration. The sound echoed into the night, fierce and triumphant.
Cain slowly lifted his head.
Sothing was wrong.
Very wrong.
He felt it then. The subtle pull. The echo of his own power, rippling outward, feeding back into those bound to him.
Oh.
Oh no.
His inner voice went very quiet.
Of fuck.
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