Child from the Dungeon

( Present Timeline. )

[ Unknown Place. ]

" Ahh... " Tenebrae says as he drinks another Dragon Blood again.

He drinks it, pouring in to his glass like fine wine. As always.

" Damn, me drinking Dragon blood is addicting. " ｂ𝚎ｄｎ𝚘ｖ𝚎ｌ.𝚌𝚘ｍ

" Was it because the 'Drake'* in the Black Merchant's place way back then, if I remember? " Tenebrae asks himself for his addiction.

" Seriously, Lord Tenebrae... " Investigator Richard Trazer coming behind him.

" You feast on this all because you once feast on a Drake? " Richard asks, feeling disgusted as he now knows what's the reason behind the attitude.

" Yeah... " Tenebrae replies.

" I don't know if this addiction is already beyond comprehension or not, but I could finish this from one Dragon each day. "

" Despite the 'Dragon Slaying' Richter House would definitely disagree with me for this one, if they found out. " Tenebrae sarcastically says this as he then remembers Duncan and Donovan.

" Hmph, those two must've had a good time. " Tenebrae take the last sip of the glass.

" Lord... " Richard calls Tenebrae.

" Yes... "

" I have been wondering... "

" Is the thing you drink is 'sterilized'? " Richard asks, finally wondering about it as he uses his logic.

" Hmmm? " Tenebrae hears it while offering his glass to Richard's sight.

[ Trace Magic: Trace Abnormalities ]

Richard try to trace any abnormalities from the glass, he sees nothing which made him confused, for surely a fresh raw blood from a creature's body would have some intoxicating bacteria.

"( There's no bacteria there... )" Richard says as he witness it.

" See any 'abnormalities'? " Tenebrae asks as he then puts his glass away.

" If you're done asking about my condition, then would you mind leaving? " Tenebrae asks Richard which Richard thoroughly obeys.

"( Whatever you say, Milord... )" Richard leaves as he feels he's not needed there.

After the guy leaves, Tenebrae then walks towards the Balcony, witnessing a building form afar, a building filled with tubes.

" How long does it take them? " Tenebrae asks as he sees the tubes.

" Well, no wonder. "

" After all, their samples is brutally butchered by Duncan back then*. "

" As they were torn to shreds, I had to draw all energies to collect and search for the lost ones. "

" *Sigh* You really know how to overdid things hey, Duncan? " Tenebrae asks as he sees the tubes.

" My army will be prepared soon. "

" But for now, it's time find the perfect time. "

" First, the Elves are dealt by 'Draven'. A great help from him as always. "

" For I always knew those Elves would be trouble, hence why I try to manipulate them at first, but it seems I no longer need to, now those Elves can't easily mark their destined realms again. " Tenebrae smirks.

" The other one is Yidhra, that beast... "

" I once thought she would be a brute arsenal, but... "

" The Dark Core instead make her wilder, so I decided to dispose that annoying one. "

" After all, her mind is too primal to even controlled with. " Tenebrae yawns.

" But again, I have to thank Draven to deal with it, it spare me so much energy. "

" Speaking of annoying people... "

" Somehow it reminds me of Ardun from the Warblade Guild., my older pawn "

" That remote country brute... " Tenebrae remembers him.

" Well, at least his brute had some fun in it. "

" But I already predicted that one to be short-lived, despite his time is longer than I expected at first. "

" Yet again, I have to thank Duncan again for doing it, he killed him, yes? " Tenebrae recounts it.

" Ah, if I only had a spare time. "

" But, there is no time to spare for my next path, doesn't it? " Tenebrae asks, suddenly looking at his back.

" I see your getting used to the Dark again, my friend. " Tenebrae asks to the one behind him, as he comes out from the Darkness.

" How's your trip? " Tenebrae asks the person.

" Duncan Richter-Grimshaw? " Tenebrae says as the person revealed himself as Duncan, who silently infiltrate his place.

" Thanks for the greeting. " Duncan sarcastically responds as he sees the building filled with tube from his sight angle.

He sees it and sees Tenebrae again, silently staring at him.

" Tenebrae, look. "

" I don't care whatever you're plotting, I don't give any f*k. "

" You want to continue your fight with 'Draven' in the night, fine, you can have it. "

" You want to brutally experiment the dragons with your magic, or perhaps torturing many beastial slaves, I don't care... " Duncan tells him as he moves his hand put in his jacket's pocket.

" But let met tell you this. "

" Months after this, my son, Donovan will prepare for the 'Elysium Haven Academies National Mage Tournament'. "

" As I speak this, he's been training after winning against his mates in the school for the rights to participate alongside some potential others. "

" Even though, I often see some try to attack him outside the Academy, which happened to be dealt quickly. " Duncan tells which made Tenebrae get's gist.

"( Wait, you mean? )" Tenebrae asks as he hears it.

" But aside from that, I will straight to the point. " Duncan quickly continues without any pause.

" Tenebrae! " Duncan says as he glares at him.

" You better keep my family out of this, out from whatever your plot is. " Duncan says to Tenebrae so calm and fiercely.

Hearing that, Tenebrae was in awe, he was silent for a while and then chuckles.

" I see, I see... "

" I get it then, hahaha! " Tenebrae laughs loudly after hearing it while Duncan still keep his calm.

" I see now, you're still adept in using 'it'. "

" The darkness. "

" It's still within you, yes? " Tenebrae asks which Duncan didn't respond.

" Not answering, Dun? "

" Fine then. "

" With your silence, I can assume it was a yes. "

" And since it was a 'yes', I should also assume you know it all while doing your job? " Tenebrae asks again to Duncan.

" My, my, no need to keep your calm towards me, I want no harm. "

" But, harm will come, if we happen to cross path. "

" Speaking of crossing path, the 'Elysium Haven Academies National Mage Tournament'... " Tenebrae says it and thinks for a bit.

" I believe I had a prey there. " Tenebrae tells Duncan.

" A prey that I believe to bring trouble in the 'Tournament' Donovan will enter. "

" I'm warning you this, Duncan. "

" Make sure you watch closely, if you want to keep your family safe. "

" You know my cue of arrival, right? " Tenebrae asks which Duncan silently receives it and turns his back on him, preparing to leave.

" Hey, Duncan! " Tenebrae calls Duncan in midst of his leave.

" How's your 'skin'? " Tenebrae asks suddenly to Duncan as he stops his steps.

" I've seen you wearing long-covered clothes, these days... "

" Is something wrong? " Tenebrae asks which Duncan replies by looking back at him with his silent sharp eye stare, leaving him, returning to the dark he came from.

* Duncan leaves. *

" And there he goes. " Tenebrae chuckles.

" Always leave before ordered, aren't you? " Tenebrae smirks.

" Guess, I'm not the only one sneaky one, here, kukuku... "

__________

Extra:

* 'Drake'.

He means the one in Chapter 215 " Spin-Off Vol.1 'Dark Stranger ': Dark Stranger In Royal House Part 2 ".

* After all, their samples is brutally butchered by Duncan back then.

He means his family in Chapter 217: Spin-Off Vol.1 'Dark Stranger ': Dark of the Night