The night was deep and dark, a gentle breeze tapping against the window, yet inside the study, only the candlelight glimmered faintly.
Duke Calvin sat alone in a high-backed chair, his fingertips flipping through a thick stack of urgent battle reports from the Imperial Secretariat.
The edges of the parchment still bore the scorch marks peculiar to rapid delivery, indicative of their urgent transmission.
His gaze swept calmly over the post-battle summaries, but his fingers paused slightly upon seeing a particular piece of information.
"Gaius Calvin, severely injured in the Battle of Doomsday Nest, Fighting Energy depleted, nervous system disintegrated, now in a long-term coma... currently in a vegetative state, unable to awaken."
For a long time, only the ticking of the wall clock could be heard.
Duke Calvin lowered his head, his long fingers gently rubbing over the words "deep coma" and "consciousness sealed"...
