THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

His eyes fluttered open, groggy and confused, as a holographic window appeared before him, casting a soft glow across the room.

"[Talent growth has been applied]," it continued, leaving David blinking in disorientation.

Seraphina lay beside him, her breathing steady and soft, still in the embrace they had shared throughout the night. She had wept uncontrollably earlier, her tears a testament to her fears and the burden she carried. David had comforted her, holding her close, offering the quiet strength she so desperately needed. Now, as they lay entwined, one found peace while the other\'s mind raced with unanswered questions.

"[Host level is too low to distribute high talent ranks]," another message blinked in front of his groggy eyes.

David rubbed his face, trying to shake off the lingering drowsiness. The pieces of the puzzle began to fit together, and his heart pounded in anticipation of what was unfolding.

Seraphina shifted slightly in her sleep as David disentangled himself from her. Her warmth lingered on his skin, but his focus was entirely on the system messages flashing before him.

"[Talent ranks have been applied to the three targets]," the system stated, "[Note: Talents can be upgraded as the host\'s level increases.]" The words sent a jolt through him, and in a moment of realization, three names surged into his mind: Katrina, Shay, and Vivian.

His body moved on instinct, throwing the covers aside as he scrambled out of bed, his heart pounding in his chest. "Wait, what\'s happening?" David whispered to himself, his mind spinning in overdrive, struggling to piece together the implications of what the system had just told him. His body tensed as a sense of urgency swept over him.

His sudden movements disturbed Seraphina, who stirred from her sleep. She opened her eyes groggily, catching sight of David\'s strained expression. Her instincts kicked in, and she rose from the bed, her eyes full of concern. "David… what\'s going on?" she whispered, her voice laced with worry.

Ignoring the question for the moment, David hurried towards the door, his mind racing with thoughts of the three women who had just undergone a significant change. Draven, who had stood guard throughout the night, immediately bowed and stepped aside as David approached the door.

Without hesitation, David swung open the heavy doors, a sense of dread mingling with the urgency in his chest. Seraphina, unwilling to be left behind, followed closely, her heart pounding just as fast.

Something had shifted, and David knew they were on the cusp of a transformation—one that would not only change the lives of Katrina, Shay, and Vivian but could reshape the course of their intertwined fates.

The sun had long since dipped beneath the horizon, casting the De Gor estate into twilight. David stood in the dimly lit corridor, a mixture of worry and frustration etched across his face. He had no idea where his lovers were or what was happening to them, and the uncertainty gnawed at him. His thoughts spiralled, each one more frantic than the last.

"David, talk to me," Seraphina\'s soft voice cut through his panic, her hands gently cupping his face, forcing him to focus. Her eyes searched his, full of concern as she tried to calm him down. "Please, tell me what\'s going on."

"I need to get to Katrina… and two other maids," David replied, his voice tight with urgency. There was no time for explanations, but he knew that whatever was happening to the three women was crucial.

Something had changed, and it was deeply connected to him. Seraphina could see the weight of it in his eyes, and though she didn\'t fully understand, she trusted him.

Just as David took a step forward, two maids came rushing from the far end of the corridor. Their footsteps echoed off the stone walls, quick and frantic. "Hurry! We need to find the head maid!" one of them urged, her voice breathless with anxiety.

Before the maid could finish her sentence, she slammed into David with full force, sending herself sprawling onto the floor with a painful thud. "Ouch!" she groaned, clutching her head as she struggled to sit up.

"Sandy! Are you okay?" her companion asked, crouching down to check on her.

David, momentarily startled by the collision, quickly extended a hand to help Sandy up. The other maid, who had been silent until now, suddenly realized who they had just bumped into. Her eyes widened in shock, and her breath caught in her throat. Her heart pounded so violently against her chest that she thought it might burst.

"Why in the goddess\'s name are you just standing...?" Sandy began to snap, still dazed from the fall, but her words faltered as her gaze locked onto David\'s piercing blue eyes. Fear instantly gripped her. She knew the stories about him—about how merciless he had been in the past. Her throat went dry, and all thoughts of defiance vanished.

"Young master… please spare me," she stammered, taking a nervous step back, her hands trembling as she lowered her gaze. Her companion followed suit, shrinking back in terror.

David\'s expression softened. "It\'s okay, there\'s nothing to apologize for. It was just an accident," he reassured them, his voice surprisingly calm. Both maids blinked in disbelief, completely taken aback by his gentleness. This was not the David they had heard about, the one with a temper as sharp as a blade.

Before they could fully digest his demeanour, David\'s tone shifted, becoming serious. "Why are you two in such a rush?" he asked, his eyes narrowing with concern.

Sandy, still a little shaken but sensing that David wasn\'t angry, swallowed her fear and answered, "Forgive us again, young master. We were heading to the Earl\'s office to find the head maid. Two of our colleagues… they collapsed suddenly," she explained, her voice trembling with worry.

David\'s stomach twisted. He knew exactly what was happening. "Are your colleagues Shay and Vivian?" he asked, his voice steady but tense.

Sandy\'s eyes widened. "Yes! How did you know, young master?" she asked, genuinely shocked. It was as though David had already known about the events unfolding in the estate before she had even spoken.

David now knew where Katrina, Vivian, and Shay were, but he found himself in a dilemma. Each of the women was likely experiencing the same fate—collapsing due to their forced awakening—and he couldn\'t be in multiple places at once. The weight of the situation pressed down on him, and his mind raced.

He had to make a decision quickly. He knew Katrina had most likely collapsed too, and with each passing second, his anxiety grew. He couldn\'t let any harm come to them.

Seraphina, who had been watching David\'s troubled expression, gently reached out and took his hand. Her touch was warm and grounding. "Is there anything I can do?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with concern. Though she still didn\'t fully understand the situation, she trusted David enough to offer her help unconditionally.

David looked at her, gratitude flooding his heart. She was been a pillar of support, but at this moment, her calm presence was exactly what he needed. Without hesitation, he made up his mind. "Take Luna and go to the Earl\'s office," he instructed, his voice decisive. "Find Katrina. Most likely, she\'s collapsed too."

Seraphina nodded without question. Their shadows trembled for a brief moment, a signal that Luna had already shifted from David to Seraphina\'s side, ready to assist. Seraphina gave David one last reassuring look before turning on her heel and setting off down the corridor.

The two maids, Sandy and her companion, who had witnessed the exchange, were left in shock. What did David mean by the head maid collapsing? Panic briefly flickered across their faces as they tried to digest the gravity of the situation. But David didn\'t give them time to linger in their confusion.

"Lead me to Shay and Vivian," he ordered, his tone sharp and commanding. Sandy flinched but quickly composed herself. She had intended to suggest fetching the head maid first, but something in David\'s eyes stopped her. There was a fierceness, a determination in his gaze, that made it clear any arguments would be futile. He looked like a man who would tear through anyone who stood in his way.

"This way, young master," Sandy finally said, her voice subdued as she turned to lead him toward the female quarters. Her companion followed closely behind, casting nervous glances at David as they walked.

As they moved through the dimly lit corridors, David\'s thoughts churned. He silently prayed that the awakening wouldn\'t cause too much chaos. He could only hope that their bodies could handle the shock of it. If anything were to happen to Katrina, Vivian, or Shay because of this sudden, forced growth, he knew he would never forgive himself.

The corridor twisted and turned, each step toward the female quarters feeling like an eternity to David. His heart hammered in his chest, his mind filled with worry. He wasn\'t sure what state he would find them in, but he had to remain strong. His power had done this, and it was up to him to fix it.

"Here we are," Sandy said, stopping abruptly in front of a door. The tension was palpable. David could feel it radiating off the maids. He pushed the door open without hesitation.