Chapter Thirty- One

Marco’s POV

My father's words reverberated through my being, echoing like a thunderclap in the deepest recesses of my soul. They shattered the fragile cocoon of confidence that had started to envelop me, leaving behind a disorienting sense of uncertainty and fear. I struggled to find my voice, my words stumbling out in a disjointed manner as I attempted to grasp the full implications of his revelation.

"But... but why?" I stammered, my voice quivering with a mix of disbelief and apprehension. "If Swiftclaw poses such a grave threat, shouldn't we be compelled to use every ounce of our power to eliminate him?"

A solemn expression crossed my father's weathered face as he reached out, placing a gentle hand on my trembling shoulder. In that moment, his touch held both comfort and gravity, as if he were trying to impart a lifetime of wisdom and burden upon me.

"Marco, my son," he began, his voice carrying a weight that matched the heaviness of his gaze. "There is a dark secret that inter