Nuu descended the mountain, savoring the cool night breeze as it brushed against his skin, sharpening his senses with its gentle touch. The stillness of the night was broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves from below. Yet, as he continued, a strange sound pricked his ears.
He stopped, listening intently. There it was again—a muffled voice, then the sound of heavy breathing. Curiosity flickered within him. This area was forbidden; only those with explicit permission ever ventured here. Who would risk coming to such a secluded place, and for what purpose?
With a quiet resolve, Nuu moved toward the source of the sounds, his steps light and deliberate. He wove his way through the trees, rounding the thick trunk of one, until he finally stopped. His heart lurched as he took in the scene before him.
In the shadows of the grove, hidden just out of sight from the main path, he saw Amin standing motionless, facing away, his shoulders tense.
Tears traced silent paths down his cheeks. Nuu's gaze shifted, and he froze, stunned by the sight that met him.
In a secluded corner of the mountain road, hidden by shadows and silence, two figures were entwined in a forbidden embrace.
It was Madame Olivia and Sadi, tangled together beneath the branches of a towering oak. Olivia clung to the rough bark, her fingers digging into it as Sadi's grip tightened around her waist.
They were oblivious to everything beyond each other, lost in a reckless passion, unaware of the silent witness lurking nearby.
From a distance, her son watched, his heart sinking with every muffled sound. Olivia's whispered pleas, her gasps breaking through the stillness, made the betrayal unbearable. He felt both a searing anger and an overwhelming grief as he tried to process what he was seeing.
"Hurry, Sadi," Olivia hissed, her voice laced with urgency. Desperation twisted through her words, yet Sadi seemed rooted, unmoved. He met her gaze with a look that was equal parts defiance and longing, a flicker of something deep, something unsaid, lingering in his eyes.
"Don't rush me…" His voice was soft, wrapped in a quiet nostalgia that clung to each syllable. "You don't know how long I've waited for this," he murmured as if speaking to the ghosts of the past rather than to her.
Olivia's face tightened, her lips pressing into a thin line, but he could see the trace of memory flickering in her eyes, a slight betrayal of her steely resolve.
"You miss them, too," he continued, his tone steady but gentle, as though daring her to acknowledge the truth they both carried, heavy and unspoken.
"Admit it…You miss those wild seaside nights," Sadi whispered, his voice barely audible.
The silence stretched, thick between them, as the echoes of the past pressed into the present. She looked away, unwilling—or perhaps unable—to let him see how his words unraveled her.
The words hung in the air, lingering with a raw intensity. "Look at our lad, Raja... he looks just like me when I was in my youth!"
Olivia's hands tightened, and her breath caught in her throat. Sadi's gaze softened as he watched her, an almost wistful sadness in his expression.
"I never asked you to tell him," he added, his tone softer, nearly vulnerable. "But you know it's true…"
Sadi's words hung heavy between them as he moved closer, his eyes blazing with the thrill of rekindled desire. Olivia bit her lip, her body trembling as her buried feelings surfaced.
In the darkness, Amin's fists clenched as he fought the urge to confront this bastard who had shattered his world in mere moments.
Beside him, Nuu sensed his turmoil and placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, a silent command running through him: Return.
Amin's face twisted with anguish, his heart warring between his duty as a son and his master's words.
He wanted nothing more than to strike down Sadi, daring to claim kinship with Raja. Yet, he pushed the thought aside, forcing himself to remember the one who would get hurt the most was his dutiful father. It was impossible to accept this stranger's words, let alone share them with his brother. Not now. Not ever.
Then, without a word, Amin turned away, his steps unsteady, as if each one were a battle against the weight crushing him.
Why did Amin return? He had only come to check on Lord Nuu. They had waited an hour with no show.
At this moment he truly wishes to not have volunteered to come fetch Lord Nuu.
Yet he did and bore witness to such a cruel discovery, not once did he take his mother to be such a woman.
As Nuu approached, the two figures, oblivious to his presence, were tangled in betrayal. His footsteps were sharp, and the sound made them startle apart, scrambling to cover themselves.
"No need to panic," Nuu said, though his tone and smile only deepened Olivia's worry.
They were trapped. There was no escape, no way to feign ignorance—especially not with Sadi, his member still marked by the traces of their encounter, and Olivia, fully exposed. What could she say? What lie could she spin to cover this scandalous scene?
"Get dressed," Nuu commanded, his tone sharp.
Moments later, both stood before him, fully clothed, their heads lowered in shame.
"Sadi," he said slowly, "not only have you betrayed the man who vouched for you, but you've dishonored his wife and brought disgrace upon this estate. Do you realize that I could strike you down right here, along with the adulteress?"
His words were sharp as ice, slicing through the silence. Both Sadi and Olivia shuddered, their knees buckling as they collapsed, begging for mercy.
Sadi's voice cracked with desperation, pleading not to be cast out, while Olivia trembled, her hands clasped together as she promised to do anything to make amends.
"How long has this been going on, Madame Olivia?" Nuu demanded.
He was testing them, but there was an undercurrent of amusement in his gaze. He didn't truly care about their moral failings—how could he when he had his sins? He wasn't any better than Sadi.
"About a week, since we reunited," Olivia's voice was barely above a whisper.
Nuu gave a bitter chuckle, "Phi would surely be disappointed! It might be best to execute you both here and save him the trouble."
"Lord Nuu… please," Sadi choked out, struggling to keep himself composed. "Stay your hand."
Nuu's smirk deepened, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Very well," he drawled, relishing their despair. "Stop your sniveling. Not a moment ago, you were brimming with vigor, mounting another." He paused, letting his words hang in the air like a noose. "Or was I mistaken? Was it not you?"
Nuu narrowed his eyes, studying Sadi's face.
"As Milord said… it was indeed this lowly one," Sadi replied, his voice barely a whisper, filled with shame.
"Hmph…" Nuu's disdain was palpable. "I'll give you a chance to atone—if you truly seek redemption."
He stepped closer, his shadow falling over Sadi like a storm cloud. "Request an annulment. Tell Phi everything. I'll give you a moment… to think it over."
A heavy silence settled around them, thick with unspoken threats.
Olivia's face turned ashen, her eyes dimming, her expression as dark as coal. Beside her, Sadi wore a look of dread, as if he had swallowed something foul.
He knew Phi's temper well—if they confessed, there would be a price to pay, and it would be steep.
They returned after a few moments, their faces ghostly pale. "Anything but that..." they whispered, almost in unison.
Nuu sighed deeply. "You're not as smart as I thought, Olivia. If you're so eager to have your back blown, there are plenty here who would gladly oblige." He said, clicking his tongue in disapproval. "And yet, you choose his cousin. Are you that dissatisfied with your marriage?"
"..."
"No need to look at me like that," Nuu continued as they made their way toward the manor. "I have no intention of blackmailing you—you're both adults. But you'll owe me a favor, one I can call in at any time.
For the next few months, you're to devote your time to your husband. If I catch you with him again…." Nuu gestured toward Sadi, "I'll expect you to serve every man over the age of eighteen on this estate until the Thornbrick City of Commerce is fully developed. Am I clear?"
Both hurriedly nodded like a chicken pecking the ground.
"Start working on the airship as if your life depended on it!" With that, Nuu turned and walked inside, leaving the two of them in stunned silence.
None felt more shocked than Olivia. She had even prepared herself to offer more if he asked, though she realized that even as he looked at her, he had no desire for her. As a woman, that stung.
Two hours later, Nuu concluded his lecture to his apprentices. "Oh, before you're dismissed—has anyone figured out the answer to the questions from our last session?" His gaze swept across the room, only to meet blank stares, as he expected.
"Amin, pull yourself together," Nuu said, aware of the reason for Amin's distracted state. Amin quickly apologized, brushing off the concerned looks from Yeli and Menos.
"Alright, let's concentrate," Nuu continued.
"Master, I think a named blade varies by person. My father has a warhammer, and it carries a name, yet I have seen others without," Yeli chimed in.
"That's quite observant, Yeli. Menos," Nuu turned to the young man, "I'm slightly disappointed. You've lived with us and in a city where Practitioners are abundant, yet you couldn't come up with an answer. Are you going to wait for Yeli and Amin to answer every time?"
"It won't happen again," Menos said, reflecting on Nuu's words.
"Good. As Yeli mentioned, not all who wield a blade obtain a name, because the weapon itself must accept its master.
In the case of your father and myself, our weapons have become a part of us. This only occurs when you're able to truly grasp Aura."
With a flick of his hand, Nuu summoned his Bonari directly from his palm, the blade appearing without the need for a sheath. His apprentices stared in astonishment.
"This is one of the privileges of owning a Named Blade," Nuu explained. "It's not about bloodlines, but compatibility.
Not everyone who wields a weapon can truly bond with it, in both mind and body. When you and your sword become one, you'll feel its presence, no matter where it is.
To wield such a blade, one must first become a Grand Knight and earn the weapon's acceptance. Of course, exceptions exist—like Phi. When a weapon truly desires its wielder and willingly submits, a profound moment of enlightenment occurs.
In such rare moments, an individual might achieve a breakthrough or develop a technique uniquely suited to them. These moments, however, cannot be forced. So abandon any notions of such fantasies.
If there's one lesson you should learn from me, it's this: avoid unnecessary battles. And when possible—run."
"Did you face similar situations yourself?" Menos asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Good question," Nuu replied, pausing thoughtfully. "I have, in life-or-death circumstances. But it's too early for you to concern yourself with that. Until you can manifest your aura, don't even think about it."
He hesitated for a moment before adding, "The hag who forced me to awaken Bonair... I still remember it like it was yesterday. Sunshear. A crazed woman who could channel a fragment of the sun's power, much like the legendary Sun Giants. She reduced an entire village to a charred wasteland with a single strike."
The group collectively inhaled sharply. The vivid image of such destruction sent a shiver through their spines—a mix of awe and a pang of deep, unrelenting hunger for strength.
"That's all for today's lesson," Nuu concluded. "Next week, we'll delve deeper into Manifestation of Aura. Until then, focus on practicing your Meditation Techniques and maintaining your daily training regimen. And remember to take a day to rest."
As the group began to disperse, Nuu called out, "Amin, stay behind for a moment."
Once the others were gone, Nuu motioned for Amin to sit down. To his surprise, Amin made a plea, his voice earnest and tinged with desperation. He begged Nuu not to tell his father about his mother, imploring his master to forget what he had seen.
Nuu, in a generous mood, offered Amin a bit of guidance.
"Thank you, Master!" Amin said gratefully as he hurried out.
Not long after their departure, Nuu left the first floor and headed upstairs. His visitor should have arrived by now. As he moved through the manor, trays of food hurried past him toward the West Wing. "It seems Yvette came tonight as well," Nuu murmured.
As he made his way to his side of the manor—the bedroom where his wife and consort usually stayed—he couldn't help missing them. They wouldn't return until next week; in fact, all the women important in his life had gone on vacation.
"You've certainly made yourself at home, Xena," Nuu said, stepping through the threshold.
In a swift motion, he held Xena by the neck.
"Why are you so rough?" Xena protested, banging her slender hands against his chest—only to have her delicate lips stolen in a kiss.
"You protest every time, yet you can't get enough!" Nuu laughed, giving her a playful smack.
"You still wear such conservative clothing…" he teased, finally letting her go as she caught her breath. Only then did she take a seat on the couch.
"I take it you're not going to change your mind and stay with us," Nuu said, his playful tone fading.
"I've done what was asked of me, and sadly, none of those mortals showed any real talent," Xena replied.
He sighed. "I guess it can't be helped. So, even if I made you my concubine, you still wouldn't stay?"
Xena's gaze softened. "I have dreams of my own, and I miss my homeland. It's been two decades, but I still yearn to return. I don't want to be tied down. I want to travel, to see everything the world has to offer…."
Thanks to your generosity, I didn't become a slave. I do feel bad for leaving, but…" She paused, a slight sadness in her eyes. "You'll be fine. You have two beautiful wives."
Nuu fell silent, lost in thought.
"Alright, I'm not the kind of man to force a woman to stay... However, don't carry out whatever scheme Yvette has in mind!"
It was Xena's turn to look shocked.
"There's no need for that face," Nuu continued with a knowing smile. "She's an open book. Of course, she'd ask you to reach out to them, and you—being the generous person you are—would agree, out of gratitude."
Xena stayed silent, absorbing his words.
"When dawn comes, I'll escort you halfway. But for tonight, won't you keep me warm?" he asked, his expression softening into a hopeful grin.
"You—" Xena began, exasperation flashing in her eyes as she rolled them skyward.
A divine being, one untouched by the mortal sensations of cold or heat, asking to be warmed? It was almost too much.