The entire chapter consisted of Choi Jonghyun's tormenting speech, the battle within Seungcheol, and Liltih's manipulation through whispers.
Pls be prepared!

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Chapter 17: isolation

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Seungcheol sat quietly in the shadowed room as darkness settling over him. He glanced at the calendar on the wall, noting that he'd suffer two days in near-total isolation. The only sounds were the three daily knocks for his meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He was left to manage everything himself, both physically and mentally. Lilith didn't speak much after he dreamed of setting her free. Although he'd asked for a guide, a little signal, all he received was dead silence.

He tried calling Joshua once. But he cut the LINK rapidly before it could reach the other side. He missed him, wondering how Joshua felt after he'd left. He'd wanted to apologize for going without a word—Joshua had tried to stop him, though the effort had been in vain. Now, Seungcheol was at a loss for what to do; nobody understood him, and the thought of Joshua suffering the curse tore him apart. Out of all the magical places in Carat Land, only the Choi family mansion offered him a glimmer of hope.

The mansion did bring him hope. Lilith had appeared in his dream, promising to help him grow stronger, strong enough to defeat Choi Jonghyun. If he succeeded, all the power within the house would be his.

Sometimes, he'd receive messages from Mingyu, saying that Joshua was getting better and that Minghao had created a temporary cure thanks to the information in the magic scroll. Mingyu kept hoping Seungcheol would return soon, reminding him that he didn't have to fight alone.

Seungcheol used to say the same to Joshua, telling him he wasn't alone in his fight. But he'd never imagined one day he'd make the same choice, fighting through his dark days in isolation. He knew Joshua would blame him when he returned—that was something he could already see.

But as Seungcheol rose from the wooden chair, blinking to refocus on reality, he was all alone. He'd chosen this battle alone, for Joshua's sake. Whoever had targeted Joshua with that curse, he'd vowed to destroy them. No one else had to sacrifice themselves on this path with him.

Choi Jonghyun was the first mountain he'd have to climb. So, he waited. Patiently.

A knock interrupted the silence, followed by a childish voice from outside his room.

"Young master, are you awake?"

Seungcheol recognized the voice—it was Ruby, one of Choi Jonghyun's loyal guardian creatures. As the daughter of a Cyclops, she claimed to have been born from one of her father's toes, which explained her petite frame. With a single large eye, short ginger hair, warm brown skin, and oversized feet, Ruby had an appearance as unusual as her origins. Despite her century-long life, her voice held a youthful tone, forever carrying a hint of innocence that belied her age.

"Young master?"

"I'm awake," Seungcheol replied, his tone tough and dry.

"Master wants you to join him for dinner."

Seungcheol's eyes narrowed at the mention of dinner with the master of the house. He knew better than to trust Jonghyun's invitations; they always came with hidden intentions. But if he refused, he'd show weakness—and that was something he couldn't afford.

He paused before responding, his voice low and resolute.

"Tell master I'll join him," he said, his tone betraying neither warmth nor hesitation. "But remind him," he added, his voice like ice, "I'm here on my terms, not his."

Ruby shifted uneasily, the floorboards creaking under her oversized feet.

"Understood, young master," she replied, a quiver of nervousness in her childish tone.

Seungcheol sat motionless for a moment before finally standing, making his way to the wardrobe to prepare for dinner. Every choice he made—even his clothes—had to be calculated. His father despised any trace of youthful defiance, anything that made Seungcheol look like a reckless boy. Choi Jonghyun demanded sophistication, so Seungcheol would give him exactly that. He selected a suit and tie, washed his hair, and carefully adjusted each detail. Dressing felt less like a routine and more like preparing for battle.

Joshua's voice surfaced in Seungcheol's mind, soft yet unmistakably clear.

"You're different. You're not like those kids."

The memory felt close, like he could reach out and touch it. It brought him back to one of their first deep talks. Joshua had confided in him then, saying he could never fully fit in with the privileged crowd—kids who looked down on him simply for being Foreign-blood.

Seungcheol remembered asking him, "What do you mean, different?"

They had been on the rooftop of their dorm, a private place Seungcheol had taken them to using a teleportation spell. Sitting side by side, their shoulders brushed ever so slightly, sparking an unspoken intimacy that lingered in the quiet between them. Joshua's lips had parted just a bit, inviting and soft, and every time Seungcheol stole a glance, he felt an overwhelming urge to close the gap and kiss him. Though he fought against it, the feeling was undeniable, a truth that pulled him in.

Yet now, as he stared into his own reflection, Seungcheol wondered if that difference Joshua saw in him had faded. Had he, somewhere along the way, become someone Joshua would struggle to recognize—maybe even despise? Watching himself in the mirror, it felt like he was letting go of something crucial, as though he were unanchoring himself from everything steady and letting himself drift.

A thought, hazy at first, began to take form in his mind. Slowly, it gained clarity, piece by piece, until it grew into something unavoidable. It whispered,

What if... what if I become a monster?

.

The question lingered, haunting Seungcheol even as he sat at the dinner table.

Across from him, Choi Jonghyun's gaze was sharp, filled with layers of doubt and judgment that weighed heavily in the room. His father maintained a stiff, restrained demeanor, but to Seungcheol, it felt like a shadow wrapped around him, ready to pull him into the darkness surrounding Jonghyun's presence. The dim glow of candlelight cast a golden haze across the room, bathing the furniture in a warmth that felt more like a disguise than comfort.

The grating scrape of a knife against the plate's surface cut into his nerves, amplifying his tension until his head began to throb. He found himself silently wishing for the meal to end, anything to break free from the suffocating quiet.

"Have you thought about what you've done?" Choi Jonghyun's voice cut through the room like cold steel, sharp and precise, his gaze heavy with unspoken criticism.

Seungcheol swallowed back a dry cough, forcing himself to reply, "Yes, Father."

Jonghyun's gaze lingered, piercing and assessing, as though weighing Seungcheol's every syllable for weakness. A faint, skeptical hum escaped him as he took a slow sip of his wine, savoring the pause before he continued "And what about that Foreign-blood boy? Have you considered what needs to be done with him?" A thin smirk forming at the edge of his mouth.

The words sank into Seungcheol like a taunt, each one pressing against his patience like a blade to his ribs. His back went rigid. He clasped his hands together beneath the table, forcing himself not to react. "And what exactly would you have me do, Father?" His voice, though calm, held an edge.

Jonghyun raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. He set his glass down with a faint clink, his movements cold and controlled, before responding, "I expect you to behave as the future Grand Duke should. With focus and discipline. Our family legacy has always been built on power and strength." He paused as his gaze sharpened, catching Seungcheol's expression. Eventually, he said, "You will continue that tradition."

Seungcheol held his gaze, feeling the weight of his father's words press down on him, "Why?" he asked, his voice a low murmur, almost defiant. "We already hold more power than half the noble houses."

Jonghyun's brow knitting with a slight sneer as his expression hardened. His mouth a tight line of irritation. "It's wartime, Seungcheol. We do not uphold our family's name with mere influence. It is forged in dominance. You, are expected, to be the finest warrior of your generation. And you are going to be."

The demand left Seungcheol feeling trapped, his chest tight with suppressed anger. His gaze dropped momentarily, then he looked up, his eyes darkended. "A warrior..." he began, his voice like a tremor under the mask of his calm expression. "Do I even deserve that title?"

"Do you even remember how I got that title?" His voice was steady, controlled, yet brimming with a restrained bitterness. "I never had the vision. I didn't even take the classification test. You brought me back, cast your spell, and suddenly I was 'a warrior.'"

He straightened, his gaze unwavering, his words pointed. "It's–not–real. I'm just a fraud."

The silence that followed was thick, charged with a tension that held them both still, Jonghyun's eyes darkening and calculating. "I supposed that by now, you would've learned just how lucky you are," Choi Jonghyun stated, his voice like ice.

Seungcheol's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Am I?" He knew the answer all too well.

Jonghyun's gaze narrowed. "Did you really think you could bring The Prince into my mansion, call for a doctor, and do all of it without my consent? You thought I'd be so preoccupied with the auction that I'd miss The Prince's visit—with some wealthy country boy, and"—he paused, his voice dripping with disdain—"a Foreign-blood?"

Seungcheol's mind was screaming, begging for this to stop. But he held his silence.

"Did you actually believe, even for a second, that you could fool me?" Jonghyun's voice rose, sharp and scornful. "You nearly sabotaged my auction. Almost tarnished our name. And then you have the audacity to return to MY home, asking for help—for a filthy Foreign-blood?"

Seungcheol's hand trembled as he dropped his fork, forcing himself to keep his composure. He swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "Can you please... just stop."

Jonghyun's smirk was infuriating. "Oh? Nothing to say in your defense?"

Seungcheol looked down, his voice strained. "You wouldn't listen anyway."

"One chance," Jonghyun said, his tone merciless. "You'll return to that school and end whatever sordid romance you have with that muddy friend of yours."

Seungcheol clenched his fists, the silence stretching as he swallowed the surge of anger rising within him.

"Do you hear me?" Jonghyun's impatience grew.

No answer.

"I said, do you hear me?" His voice thundered.

Seungcheol's control snapped. He lifted his gaze, his eyes filled with a quiet fury. "You're a monster," he spat.

Jonghyun's eyes flashed, stunned by the defiance. "What did you just say to me?"

"You're a monster," Seungcheol repeated, his voice steady.

Jonghyun's expression hardened, his gaze drilling into Seungcheol with a cold, unyielding anger. "A monster? If that's what it takes to protect this family, then so be it," he said, each word slow and sharp, like the edge of a blade. "Have you forgotten how I molded you, gave you strength, ensured you would be more than a useless child clinging to sympathy?"

Seungcheol felt his nails dig into his palms under the table, but he refused to flinch. The memories Jonghyun alluded to—of relentless training, the nights he spent recuperating alone, his father's distant, unyielding gaze—washed over him, sharp and bitter. Yet he pushed them down, replacing his fear with a firm resolve. Joshua's face, his calm smile, surfaced in his mind, steadying him like an anchor.

Jonghyun leaned forward, his voice a steely whisper. "Do you think anyone else would bother tolerating a half-hearted warrior who wastes time chasing after the unworthy? Think carefully, Seungcheol. There's only one path here, and it's time you commit to it—" He paused, letting his words settle. "Or suffer the consequences of weakness."

Weakness... Think carefully, Seungcheol. There's only one path.

Seungcheol met his father's stare, a slight tremor in his hand betraying his anger and disgust. "You've made it clear, Father," he said, keeping his voice steady. "But your threats don't make you strong—they make you a coward, hiding behind power to control everyone around you. I won't be part of that."

Jonghyun's eyes narrowed, his lips pulling into a thin line. "One last chance, Seungcheol. Abandon this foolish attachment to that Foreign-blood.Return to school and focus on becoming the warrior I created you to be. I won't tolerate another disgrace."

Seungcheol felt a lump rise in his throat, the weight of his father's words pressing down on him like an iron vise. But he couldn't—wouldn't—let it break him. He took a slow breath, steadying himself.

"I'll go back," he said finally, "but not because you want me to. And I'm not ending things with Joshua." His voice was soft but resolute, each word carrying the weight of his decision.

Jonghyun's face twisted with fury, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his glass. "Then don't expect any mercy when you fall," he spat.

Without waiting for a response, Jonghyun stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor as he stormed from the room. The doors shut with a final, echoing thud, leaving Seungcheol in the heavy silence.

As the tension slowly ebbed, Seungcheol released a shaky breath, his mind racing. He had defied his father, but at what cost? Looking around the dimly lit dining hall, he felt the weight of his choice. Yet, despite the dread swirling in his gut, a glimmer of something else stirred within him—determination.

In that moment, he made a silent promise. He would become strong, not in the way his father wanted, but on his own terms.

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Back in his room, Seungcheol let out a long breath, finally alone with his thoughts. He made the LINK to Mingyu, trying to keep his thoughts together as he waited for the other side of the line.

"Seungcheol?" Mingyu's voice was soft but carried an edge of concern. "Where've you been??? Are you okay???"

"My father..." Seungcheol hesitated, his hand tightening. "He kept me here. Locked me in, basically."

Mingyu sighed, frustration evident even over the line. "That explains it. But listen, you should come back. Joshua's getting better, and... he's asked about you."

The mention of Joshua made Seungcheol's resolve falter for a moment. A wave of longing pulled at him—his place was there, with his friends, with Joshua, far from the cold scrutiny of this house. He swallowed, ready to agree when a voice, smooth and chilling, drifted into his mind.

"You cannot give up."

The voice was unmistakable.

Lilith's presence filled the room like a shadow, wrapping around him, pressing gently but insistently on his thoughts.

"You're stronger than this, Seungcheol. Don't let this moment define you. If you go back now, you'll prove nothing but your own weakness. You're meant for more—unlock what's inside you."

Seungcheol's fingers tensed, and his heartbeat quickened as her words seeped deeper. He struggled to resist her influence as Mingyu was speaking again, unaware of the turmoil building on the other end of the line.

"Seungcheol, you there?"

He blinked, shaking off the fog that Lilith's voice had left behind. "Yeah... I'm here. I'll think about it, Mingyu. I'll let you know soon." His voice sounded distant, even to himself.

There was a pause, then a quiet, "Alright. Just... don't be so hard on yourself. Don't take too long. You belong here with us."

When the LINK ended, Seungcheol sat in silence, feeling Lilith's presence linger. Her words replayed in his mind, feeding his doubt. He closed his eyes, as if he could block her out, but her voice was already embedded in his thoughts, urging him to break free, to claim a power he hadn't yet dared to tap into.

"Teach me,"  That was what he had said to her in his dream, and he still remembered it. But when he woke up, he felt like it was too risky and surreal.

For now, he felt caught between two worlds—his own desires and his father's expectations. As Lilith's voice lingered, he wondered if there wasn't a third path– a more righteous path. What if there was only one path that led to something darker... something undeniably powerful.

..

Hours blurred into one another, night spilling thick and heavy across Seungcheol's room as moonlight draped faintly over him, casting silver on shadow.

..

He stared at his own reflection, jaw clenched, eyes cold, something dark and fragile in the set of his mouth. Lilith's voice slipped into his mind, a quiet, haunting melody, drawing the fine lines between resolve and regret, between love and wrath—until all that was left was the shadowed outline of a choice that might just consume him whole.

"You can break free, Seungcheol," she whispered, her tone unwavering and coaxing. "All the power you need is already in your grasp—don't waste it by turning back."

He closed his eyes, the image of his father's disdainful glare flashing through his mind, each memory sharpening into something more painful, more venomous.

Choi Jonghyun had controlled every aspect of his life, molding him into an image that served the family, draining his spirit. And tonight, he had dared to sneer at the one person Seungcheol held close.

Lilith's words seeped deeper, entwining with his own thoughts. "He's kept you as a pawn in his game, holding you back, feeding you lies about duty, about honor... but where has it left you?"

A coldness settled over Seungcheol's expression, his hand gripping the edge of his desk until his knuckles turned white. He could see the answer so clearly now—the only way forward, the only path to freedom.

"You're right," he whispered, barely recognizing the sound of his own voice. It was low, resonating with a sense of finality. He could feel his anger transforming, no longer just a fire inside him but something alive, something powerful, something he could use.

His decision crystallized in that moment, steeling him with a sense of purpose. He would end this—end his father's reign over him. And for the first time, the thought didn't terrify him; it exhilarated him.

He had to kill his father.

I had to kill my father.

As he turned toward the door, Lilith's voice echoed one last time, a smile apparent in her tone. "This is the beginning, Seungcheol. Show him who you are."

With each step, the weight of hesitation lifted, replaced by an eerie calm.

- tbc -

I honestly don't know what to say after dedicating an entire chapter on Seungcheol's mental breakdown...
I could have sped up the table's turn, but I thought it would be better if we did it gradually, like a proper building for this transition.
So, yeah, Seungcheol is definitely(or maybe not?) going to kill his father. We'll get to that in the next two chapters (?). Because I also have the "friends at Serene Hightower" storyline to build up. ToT

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Oh, and when Seungcheol mentions his father's spell that let him skip the classification test:
You may recall that Seungcheol didn't show up when all student gathered in the Great Hall; he did not officially appeared during the chapter until Joshua woke up.
In the following chapter, Joshua had questions about Seungcheol's absence but was too shaken by the vision to bring them up.

Now we got the answer to his absence. ^_^