Chapter 575: What?

The words echoed through Damian’s consciousness, refusing to fade: "You were always my king."

His mind struggled to process what the Sage had been implying with those final words before pressing the mask against his face.

’What did he mean by–’

WHOOSH

Light exploded around him, brilliant and sudden, wrapping his entire form in radiance.

His vision went completely white, reality bending and twisting in ways that made his stomach lurch.

Then the light faded.

Tap Tap

Damian’s boots hit solid ground, his body stumbling forward fractionally before catching his balance.

Snow fell around him in thick flakes, settling on his shoulders and hair.

’What...’

His gaze tracking across his surroundings with growing confusion.

A terrace stretched before him, massive and elegant, overlooking mountains that seemed familiar in a way that made his chest tighten.

Stone railings carved with intricate patterns, architecture that spoke of wealth and power, everything covered in a thin layer of fresh snow.

’Where... am I?’

His hands rose unconsciously, checking himself, making sure his body remained intact.

’Why am I not back at the Military Police Headquarters? The dreamscape collapsed, I should’ve woken up in my room but–’

"Which nephew of mine has arrived now?"

The voice cut through his spiraling thoughts like a blade through silk.

"I thought all of you were already here celebrating inside with your cousins, was I mistaken?"

Damian’s body went rigid, his breathing stopping completely.

’That... voice.’

He knew that voice, or at least his soul recognized it in a way his conscious mind couldn’t.

WHOOSH

Air displaced violently as a figure materialized directly in front of him.

Crimson hair fell past broad shoulders, secured loosely.

Crimson eyes tracked across Damian’s frozen form with something approaching curiosity mixed with confusion.

The man’s head tilted slightly, his gaze narrowing.

"Hmm?"

His whisper emerged soft but carrying clearly across the terrace.

"How strange."

He took a step closer, his eyes tracking across Damian’s body with intensity that made looking away impossible.

"You don’t seem to possess my father’s bloodline."

Another step, the movement predatory despite appearing casual.

"Tell me, little guy."

His voice dropped lower, gaining edges that suggested violence wrapped in courtesy.

"How did you bypass the wards which should allow only my family members to enter this estate?"

Damian’s mind went completely blank, all thought scattering like ash in wind.

’This...’

His gaze tracked across the features that resembled his grandfather so closely it made his chest ache.

’This... it can’t be...’

His heart started beating against his ribs.

Thump thump thump

His breathing became audible despite his attempts to control it, his hands trembling at his sides.

’No way... there’s no way... it’s impossible..’

Thump thump thump

The man’s lips curved into a smile, amusement bleeding through his expression.

"Although I know I’m the most handsome man in the entire universe..."

His tone carried playfulness wrapped in absolute confidence.

"You really need to control your heartbeat before it gives out completely."

He gestured vaguely at Damian’s torso.

"I can hear it from here, and honestly, it’s quite distracting."

Damian’s mouth opened, his throat working, trying to form words that refused to come.

His jaw moved uselessly, sound dying before it could emerge.

The man’s expression shifted fractionally, the amusement fading.

"Are you unable to speak? Did someone damage your vocal cords?"

His head tilted the other direction, studying Damian like a puzzle that needed solving.

"Or perhaps you’re just overwhelmed by my magnificent presence? That happens sometimes with younger awakeners who get to meet me."

Damian’s hands clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms.

’Calm down.’

The thought came desperate and commanding.

’Breathe. Just breathe and ask–’

"This place."

His whisper emerged rough and broken, barely audible over the falling snow.

"Where... where are we?"

The man’s eyebrows rose fractionally, genuine surprise crossing his features.

"You don’t even know where you are?"

His hand gestured broadly, encompassing the terrace and the estate beyond.

"This is the rooftop of the Bloodworth family estate."

The words landed like hammer blows, each one driving deeper into Damian’s chest.

’Bloodworth estate.’

His vision tunneled, peripheral sight fading until only the crimson-haired man remained in focus.

’I’m... I’m standing on the estate. The place where–’

"And you."

The question tore from his throat, desperate and demanding despite his attempts to sound controlled.

"Who... who are you?"

Silence fell across the terrace, broken only by wind pulling at their clothes and snow hitting stone.

The man stared at him for a long moment, his expression becoming complex.

Then he laughed, the sound genuine and carrying disbelief.

"You must be joking, right?"

His hand pressed against his chest, the gesture almost theatrical.

"Is there anyone in this world who doesn’t know me?"

His smile widened, showing teeth.

"Is this some kind of elaborate prank orchestrated by one of my nephews, I have to say the commitment to the bit is admirable but–"

"Just..."

Damian’s interruption came strangled, emotion making his voice crack.

"Tell me your name."

The man’s amusement faded completely, his expression becoming serious.

He studied Damian’s masked face for several long heartbeats, his gaze searching.

Then his posture straightened, his hands settling behind his back, his voice gaining authority.

"I am the Head of the Bloodworth Imperial Family."

A pause, letting the title sink in.

"And my name is..."

Another pause, heavier than before.

"Darius Bloodworth."

BOOM

The name crashed over Damian like a physical blow, his knees nearly buckling.

’It really is...’

His thoughts came fragmented, struggling to process what he was hearing.

’Father.’

The word echoed through his consciousness.

’How... How is this possible? How can he be standing right in front of me?’

His gaze tracked across every detail of the man standing before him.

’Am I... am I hallucinating? Is my mind creating what I desperately want to see from–’

"The mask you’re wearing."

Darius’s voice cut through his spiraling thoughts, drawing his attention back.

"It’s the same as my Uncle Murdock’s, the one he wears during official Sage business."

He stepped closer, his hand rising as if to touch the mask before stopping just short.

"But yours seems to be broken? Were you sent here by him? Is that how you bypassed the wards?"

Damian’s mind stuttered over the words, pieces clicking together with terrible clarity.

’That’s... that’s right.’

His hand rose unconsciously, fingers touching the mask’s edge.

’It’s all due to Sage’s mask, isn’t it?’

His thoughts raced through possibilities, through implications that refused to settle cleanly.

’Did it... did it bring me back in time? But how? Didn’t his mastery lay in Fate and Lightning principles? Time manipulation should be beyond–’

"What year is this?"

The words escaped before he could stop them, desperate and frantic.

"What’s the date today?"