Far away from the Myriad World of Races, on the fringes of the Venia Galaxy, lay Nocturne Prime—the second main stronghold of the Eternal Nocturne Clan, a world forged from eternal night and ancient blood.
Nocturne Prime was a colossal planet, larger than most stars, its surface a tapestry of crimson oceans that glowed with trapped moonlight, vast continents of black crystal spires piercing blood-red skies where three crimson moons hung eternally.
The air was thick with the scent of iron and roses, mana so dense it manifested as perpetual mist that swirled in silent vortices.
Cities of gothic obsidian and living shadow stretched for thousands of kilometers, fortresses that breathed—walls pulsing with vampiric essence, towers crowned with blood-crystal domes that harvested lunar power. Vampiric beasts prowled the wilds, tamed or allied, while the clan's legions trained in arenas where night never ended.
It was a world of beauty and terror—eternal twilight, silent storms of blood-rain, and an aura that suppressed all but the strongest light.
Four months had passed since Raven returned to Nocturne Prime.
She sat cross-legged in her private chamber—a vast room of black marble veined with crimson, walls adorned with ancient blood-runes that hummed softly, a massive canopy bed draped in shadow-silk, windows opening to the eternal crimson moons.
Her aura wrapped her like a cloak, dense and refined from relentless cultivation. She meditated, bloody eyes closed, black hair flowing down her back.
A soft knock.
Her SSS-ranked maid—Ellie, pale and elegant in crimson livery—entered with a bow.
"Third Princess, the meeting with the elders and your family approaches. Shall I prepare your bath?"
Raven opened her eyes, nodding. "Yes. Thank you, Ellie."
She rose, dismissing the maid with a gentle smile, then entered the adjoining bathroom—a cavernous space of black marble and blood-crystal, a massive pool fed by heated mana springs that steamed with rose-scented mist, mirrors framed in silver fangs reflecting the crimson moonlight from high windows.
Raven undressed, slipping into the water with a sigh, the heat soothing muscles tense from cultivation. She leaned back, black hair floating like ink, bloody eyes staring at the ceiling.
The meeting loomed.
The elders, at the late stages of Peak Stellar Sovereign, spoke with voices like ancient tombs. Her parents, Early Void Emperor and while her ancestors were even beyond that. Liam was scarred yet venomous. Liora, the Second Princess and an Early Stellar Sovereign, was cold, flawless, and ever watchful.
Results mattered in the Nocturne family. Raven, least talented among seven, had always delivered. But this mission—the stolen artifact, months away, returning with nothing but stories of a mysterious man…
Ash… he had told her he'd be here by the time she arrived. She didn't know entirely how—not knowing his mana sense could cover most of the galaxy.
But… where was he?
Worry gnawed—soft, unfamiliar, curling in her chest like smoke.
"Ash… where are you?" she murmured, voice echoing faintly in the steam. "You said you'd be here…"
Raven sank deeper into the heated mana springs, the rose-scented water lapping at her collarbones, black hair floating like ink on the surface. Steam curled around her, the crimson moonlight from the high windows painting her pale skin in blood-red hues.
She closed her bloody eyes, letting the heat soothe tense muscles.
What would she tell them?
She could speak of the Crucible, the realm, the Astral Clan.....
But how much truth?
How much to hide?
The clan valued results.... She knew that well, but this time… her results were tied to him.
A soft splash behind her.
Warm breath on her neck.
"Miss me, love?"
Ash's teasing voice—low, warm, unmistakable.
Raven spun, water splashing, bloody eyes wide in shock.
He stood in the pool behind her—wings folded, white hair damp from steam, blood-drop eyes gleaming with that familiar lazy amusement.
Completely bare, bronze skin glistening, smile sharp and fanged.
"You—!" she started, heart racing.
He pulled her close before she could finish, lips claiming hers in a kiss that stole breath and worry alike.
It was hungry, possessive—her arms wrapping around his neck, wings rustling as she pressed against him. Heat built fast, water churning around them, steam thickening.
Hands roamed.
Breaths mingled.
The kiss deepened, bodies entwining.
Time blurred.
-----
Later—much later—they emerged from the bathroom, Raven in fresh crimson robes, hair still damp, cheeks flushed. Ash beside her, dressed in casual black with rose-pink accents, wings hidden, arm around her waist.
She leaned into him, worry gone.
"Ready for your meeting?" he asked, voice teasing again.
Raven smiled, bloody eyes soft.
"With you here? Always."
They walked toward the elders' hall.
Ash smiled as they walked down the corridors. Before coming here, he had of course used his Eyes of First Dawn. He wasn't stupid enough to believe that he could walk in here without any issues, so he was prepared for it...
[Master, you almost forgot to even come here. You should thank me properly!] Elysia teased in his mind.
'Well, you're not wrong my Lovely Nexus... However, are you sure the plan will work?' He asked internally.
[Of course.... just be sure to maintain your focus and don't lose your cool.]
They walked toward the elders' hall, corridors of black marble veined with crimson runes stretching endlessly, torches of eternal blood-flame flickering in silence. The air grew heavier with each step—ancient power seeping from the walls like the breath of sleeping titans.
Servants and guards they passed froze mid-motion, eyes widening at the sight: Third Princess Raven, arm linked with an unknown man—bronze skin, white hair, black wings with rose-pink veins, aura calm yet vast as a hidden void.
Whispers died unspoken.
Shock rippled—guards gripping weapons tighter, maids bowing deeper, but no one dared voice the question burning in their gazes.
Who was he?
Ash smiled through it all, hand warm on Raven's waist.
They reached the massive doors—obsidian carved with the Nocturne crest, pulsing faintly with blood essence.
The doors parted on their own.
They stepped inside.
-----
The chamber felt like walking into an amalgamation of power—ancient, timeless, devastating. The air itself pressed down, thick with the weight of eras: crimson moonlight filtered through a domed ceiling of living shadow-crystal, floors of black jade etched with runes that whispered of forgotten wars.
Thrones of blood-throne wood ringed a central dais, each radiating auras that warped space—Late to Peak Stellar Sovereign elders seated like silent judges.
The Patriarch and Matriarch at the head—Early Void Emperor presences like bottomless abysses. Liam, scarred but seated, aura flaring subtly. Liora, Second Princess, Early Stellar Sovereign beauty cold as winter night.
All eyes shifted to Ash.
An unknown intruder.
Silence fell—oppressive, deadly.
Ash smiled through it all, calm as dawn.
He turned to Raven, leaned in, and kissed her cheek boldly—lingering, warm, possessive.
Gasps rippled.
Liam's aura flared dangerously.
The Patriarch's eyes narrowed to slits.
Ash pulled back, smile widening.
"A nice night we're having, isn't it?," he said lightly.