Chapter 31: Beneath the Clan’s Banner
Ashen stood motionless, the air around him thick with silence. A strange weight settled in his chest, cold, unfamiliar. For the first time, he had taken a life.
No... not with his own hands.
It was Lauren who had died, and the death had been orchestrated by him. The plan, the manipulation, it was all his doing.
He was supposed to be just a character in the novel. A name on a page. A Character to entertain readers.But now, watching her lifeless body, a horrifying thought gnawed at his mind.
What if this world weren’t just fiction anymore?
What if he had killed a real person?
Ashen inhaled sharply, held his breath for a moment, then slowly released it. The panic subsided, replaced by a grim resolve. He couldn’t afford hesitation, not here, not now.
Raven’s death had already thrown the story into chaos. If he wanted to survive in this world, he had to keep control. His knowledge of the original plot was the only advantage he had.
He had to stick to it. Use it.
Next was Kaal, the first true villain of Volume One. Once Kaal was dealt with, the storyline would start to stabilize. With Raven gone, all Ashen had to do was take his place. It was ruthless, yes, but necessary.
In the shadows, Ashen whispered to himself, his voice barely audible.