"Young master, it's getting late for dinner. It's not good to keep everyone waiting. You should get ready, young master," Alena said hurriedly to Nyx, her voice tinged with a mix of urgency and respect.
"Oh, it's almost dinner time? I almost lost track of time. Let me take a bath first, then I'll go for dinner," Nyx replied, glancing at the clock. He couldn't believe how quickly the afternoon had passed.
"I will prepare some clothes for you, young master," Alena said, bowing slightly before she turned to arrange Nyx's attire. Her movements were quick and efficient, a testament to her many years of service.
After a few minutes, Nyx emerged from the bathroom, wearing only a short towel around his waist. His perfect muscles glistened with droplets of water, his black long hair cascading over his shoulders, and his eyes, like deep black holes, reflected an intense allure. His sharp nose and fair skin made him the epitome of peak handsomeness.
As Nyx stepped out of the bathroom, he noticed Alena standing there, her gaze fixed on him, lost in his charm. She had seen Nyx many times before, but his recent transformation had added an almost ethereal quality to his appearance.
"Alena, where are my clothes?" Nyx asked, snapping her out of her reverie.
But Alena didn't respond, still captivated by Nyx's presence.
"Alena!" Nyx spoke louder, breaking her trance.
"Ah, young master!" Alena replied hurriedly, her face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly regained her composure and said, "I will help you dress, young master." She took out a new black shirt and began to assist Nyx in putting it on.
"Your old clothes won't fit anymore, so I brought you a new outfit," Alena explained as she helped Nyx into the shirt. She then took out a pair of trousers, knelt down, and bashfully said, "Young master, let me help you with these." She removed the towel, her face turning an even deeper shade of red, and quickly helped Nyx into the trousers. "Young master, you are ready. Everyone is waiting for you in the dining hall," she said and hurriedly ran away.
"This girl," Nyx thought, amused by Alena's lively demeanor. He began to walk towards the dining hall. As he approached, he noticed many servants busy preparing dinner. Upon seeing him, they hurriedly saluted, "Good evening, young master." Nyx acknowledged them with a nod, and they resumed their work, whispering amongst themselves about his new appearance.
Entering the dining hall, Nyx saw seven seats around the table, with six already occupied. In the main chair sat a man with a regal bearing, King Matthew Darkheart. Beside him was a woman with a gentle, royal presence, Queen Zephyrine Darkheart, his parents. Opposite them sat a man with a wild, warrior-like aura, Warrick Darkheart, Nyx's uncle and his father's brother. On the right side of the table were Nyx's two older brothers, Lio Darkheart, who had a warrior's presence, and Harvey Darkheart, who exuded a scholarly aura. On the left side sat a beautiful woman with a fierce, wild charm, like a dragoness, Evelyn Darkheart, Nyx's adopted sister. The empty chair beside her was for Nyx.
Seeing everyone present, Nyx greeted them, "Hello, Father and Mother."
Hearing Nyx's voice, everyone turned towards him, surprised by his new look.
"Oh my god, what happened to my baby boy?" Queen Zephyrine exclaimed, standing from her seat and rushing to Nyx. She inspected him closely, making sure nothing was wrong. Satisfied, she bombarded him with questions, "What happened to you, Nyx? How did you change so much? Is everything alright?"
Nyx smiled warmly, hugging his mother. "Mom, nothing happened to me. It's due to the awakening of my bloodline that I changed this much."
"It's good that you are fine. I was so worried about your health," Queen Zephyrine said, returning to her seat with a relieved expression.
King Matthew spoke up, "How did your bloodline awaken a second time? How did you fall unconscious? Come here, let me check your body."
"Father, I felt like something hit my head, and I fell unconscious. When I woke up, I felt my bloodline had awakened again, and my body had changed," Nyx explained, walking over to his father for an examination. King Matthew held Nyx's wrist, using his divine consciousness to inspect his body. As the tendrils of divine consciousness entered Nyx's body, King Matthew's face showed surprise, and he began to laugh.
"Good, good! Your bloodline has become even purer than mine. Our Darkheart family will have a powerful warrior," King Matthew declared proudly.
Hearing this, Uncle Warrick asked, "Is it true, big brother? My nephew's bloodline is purer than yours? Come here, Nyx, let me check as well." Nyx complied, allowing his uncle to inspect him.
After examining Nyx, Uncle Warrick also laughed happily. "It's true! Your bloodline is indeed purer than your father's. Come, sit here and tell your uncle how this happened."
Nyx took his seat beside Evelyn and recounted, "When I was out hunting, I saw a small meteor coming towards me. Then, I lost consciousness." Nyx chose not to mention his dream and the black crystal in his dantian, feeling it best not to worry his family with these details.
Everyone wore thoughtful expressions. King Matthew spoke again, "Whatever happened, it's good that you are okay and that your bloodline has become purer. Let's eat dinner."
"Yes, it's good that little Nyx will become more powerful," Lio and Harvey echoed, laughing heartily as they began to eat.
Evelyn gave Nyx a sidelong glance and said, "It seems brother has forgotten me. He didn't even greet me. Looks like he needs some training."
Nyx shuddered at the thought of Evelyn's training sessions, where she would always push him to his limits. "Hi, sister," Nyx said nervously.
"Hmm, it's good you still remember your sister. Tomorrow, I will see how much strength you have gained after your bloodline awakening, or if only your appearance has changed," Evelyn replied in a teasing yet elder-sisterly tone.
Their exchange made everyone laugh. Queen Zephyrine turned to King Matthew, "Dear, it's good they both seem to like each other. We should consider marrying them. They are both past the marriage age." Despite Evelyn being their adopted child, the family had always seen her as a perfect match for Nyx.
"Mother!" Nyx and Evelyn shouted simultaneously, their faces turning red with embarrassment.
Seeing this, everyone laughed and continued eating dinner. The room was filled with warmth, laughter, and the joy of family. Nyx, despite his new changes and the mystery of his bloodline awakening, felt a deep sense of belonging and love as he shared this meal with his family.
King Matthew addressed Nyx again. "You mentioned a meteor, Nyx. Did you see anything unusual about it before you lost consciousness?"
Nyx shook his head. "No, Father. It happened too quickly. One moment I was hunting, and the next, I saw a bright light and felt an impact. When I woke up, I was different."
Queen Zephyrine sighed, her worry lines softening. "It's miraculous, really. To think that an event like that could bring about such a profound change in you. We should be thankful for your safety above all."
"Indeed," King Matthew agreed. "We'll need to keep a close watch on any future occurrences like this. The safety of our family and kingdom depends on understanding these phenomena."
The conversation continued as the family enjoyed their desserts, the atmosphere a mix of light-hearted banter and serious discussion. Despite the gravity of the situation, the love and support of his family made Nyx feel more determined than ever.
As the evening drew to a close, King Matthew raised his glass. "To family and to our future. May we face whatever comes our way with strength and unity."
"To family," everyone echoed, raising their glasses in unison