Chapter 116: The Ties That Bind
Chapter 116: Chapter 116: The Ties That Bind
Chapter 116: The Ties That Bind
The morning sun cast a bright, warm glow over the rebuilding streets of Bastion Seven.
Nyx Vespera and Lucien Vaelmont walked side by side through the busy merchant district. They were both dressed in normal, stylish civilian clothes, completely blending in with the crowds.
They had trained and fought together for months. There was no awkward tension between them.
"We have the daily commodities and the travel rations," Lucien said, checking the parchment list Draven had handed them earlier.
"We just need to grab the high-grade mana potions and the regional maps," Nyx replied smoothly.
CLINK!
Nyx tossed a small bag of credits onto the counter of a nearby alchemy stall. The merchant quickly packed a wooden crate full of glowing blue vials. Lucien effortlessly picked up the heavy crate and put it in his inventory.
"That is the last of it," Nyx said, brushing her dark hair behind her ear.
"I have to make a stop before we head back to the villa. You can return first."
Lucien smiled politely and shook his head.
"Oh come on! We are a team," Lucien insisted gently. "I will accompany you. It’s not like I have to be anywhere urgently at this moment right now."
Nyx let out a amused sigh but nodded. She led him away from the bustling merchant center and deep into the poorer, rundown districts of the Bastion.
They arrived in front of a large, weathered stone building. A faded wooden sign hung over the door.
Sunshine Orphanage.
CLATTER!
The front doors flew open before they even reached the porch. A dozen children in worn clothes sprinted out of the building.
Nyx completely dropped her cold, assassin persona. She was extremely energized.
A genuine smile spread across her face as she knelt down, hugging the children who eagerly swarmed her.
She doted on them like a loving big sister.
A little girl with pigtails suddenly stopped. She pointed a tiny finger at Lucien, who was standing quietly at the side looking at the happy children surrounding Nyx.
The little girl gasped.
"Godmother!" the little girl screamed at the top of her lungs, turning around and sprinting back inside the orphanage.
"Godmother! Nyx brought a boy home!"
Lucien coughed awkwardly into his fist, a faint blush creeping up his neck. Nyx simply rolled her eyes and laughed.
A small boy with messy brown hair pushed his way to the front of the group. It was Max. He glared up at Lucien, completely pouting.
Nyx was his childhood crush, and he did not want to see her stolen by some shiny noble.
"Hey! You cannot just take Big sis away from me! You shiny guy! You have to defeat me first!" Max puffed out his chest and threw two clumsy punches into the air.
Nyx smirked. She tapped her finger against the dirt.
FWOOSH!
Her shadow suddenly detached from her feet, sliding across the ground and harmlessly wrapping around Max’s ankles like a dark snake.
"Ah!" Max yelped, jumping backward in pure terror. He fell on his bottom.
Nyx chuckled softly and dispelled the shadow. She walked over and ruffled his messy hair.
"Do not act so tough," Nyx smiled warmly.
"Just do your best and believe in yourself, Max. I will be back soon."
Max pouted and asked, "You just came and you are leaving even faster! When will you be back now?"
"I do not know! But I will definitely come back for you all. Don’t worry about me and eat some good food, okay? If you want to be a strong hunter like me, then you need to eat your veggies!"
Nyx stood up. She handed a heavy pouch of her tournament prize money to the orphanage Godmother to ensure the children were well fed.
"So? Enjoying yourselves?" asked Nyx as she saw Lucien playing with the children and asking there curious questions.
"Well, you can see for yourselves." He got up as he replied.
"I didn’t know you were from this orphanage." he asked as he had seen a different sight of the cold and ruthless assassin he had known.
"Yes. Don’t know who my parents are, but from what the godmother told me I was abandoned at the doorstep of this orphanage with an envelope full of cash and a letter from my parents which had my name. Nothing more, nothing less. This orphanage is the only family I have now." she said as she looked at the children playing among themselves.
Lucien heard her. He felt her pain as it reminded him of his Late father.
"I get it. It is hard sometimes, but looking at you, it doesn’t feel like you don’t need any words of encouragement."
"Like you know how to talk to a girl!" Nyx asked him.
"Hey! I have talked to girls, alright?" he retorted.
"Oh! Tell me the girls you have talked to other than the ones in our class." Nyx probed straight into his soul.
"Well, it’s my mom-" he tried.
"Hahahaha! He says his mom! I cannot believe this!" Nyx lost it!
"Oh stop it! How many boys have you talked to?! All the time I have seen you is being in the shadows or talking to the girls. Oh and little Max does not count!" Lucien was embarrassed. He started spouting words and he knew he was just trying to save whatever respect he had left to protect.
But Nyx just could not answer back at all. He had shot from miles away but he had hit the shot.
"..."
"Don’t tell me?! And you are here mocking me about it." Lucien paused as he saw certain death looming beside him.
"Uh.. umm... My mom makes the best food in the world, you know? Would you like to have some dinner some time?" He was desperately trying to change the topic. He knows how bad Nyx can be when she is enraged. He had seen her fight and he cannot take any chance.
"I will spare you today! I will be looking for the dinner, but I think you are missing something as well." she said as she put her dagger back in her ring.
"I apologize! That was inconsiderate of me!" He said as bowed down in the most respectable way possible.
"There’s no need for all that! And I am sorry as well. See you tomorrow, then!" Nyx said as she disappeared in the shadows.
"I fucked it up, didn’t I?" he sighed.
---
Several miles away, inside the quiet library of the Apex Villa, Draven Mordis stood over a massive wooden table.
A glowing holographic map of the world illuminated his face.
Draven stared at the coordinates for Bastion Four and Bastion Five. His pitch-black eyes calculated every possible route.
’The Shadow Assassin’s Labyrinth and the Silver Knight’s Armory,’ Draven thought silently.
’Nyx and Lucien deserve a massive power up. They are going to need those Mythical Legacies for the upcoming war. Sometimes, I feel like this shit is getting out of hand.’
A dark, knowing smirk crossed his face.
He remembered the plot of the original web novel. In the original timeline, Lucien succumbed to his hatred. He joined the Cult of the Eternal Eclipse in a desperate search for revenge against the Capital. Lucien had abandoned the right path, eventually crossing blades with Nyx in a fight to the death.
But Draven had changed everything. He had stepped into the light. Now, the Silver Knight and the Shadow Assassin walked together as loyal teammates.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Heavy, urgent fists pounded against the front doors of the villa.
Draven dismissed the holographic map. He walked through the silent halls and opened the door.
A Vanguard Knight stood on the porch. He did not speak. He simply handed Draven a thick, black envelope sealed with dark red wax. It was a direct, urgent summons from Lord Commander Helion Goldmane.
Draven slipped the envelope into his coat pocket.
The time for preparation was over.