After sleeping the whole night cuddled with Arthur, Nyx has an extreme reaction.
She becomes so shy and upset with herself for having enjoyed it so much that she refuses to talk to him for the rest of the day.
But while she struggles to deal with her feelings and hides in Arthur's Nexus, he walks around the house like a proud and radiant peacock.
Arthur couldn't have received a more precious gift at such a young age. However, before he goes downstairs to have breakfast with his family, he has to make a sad sacrifice: taking a bath.
He wishes he could keep Nyx's scent on his body forever, but his mother would notice it as soon as she hugged him, and things would get complicated.
Now that Arthur thinks about it, he can't help but feel concerned. "How didn't she notice it in the bedroom?"
Despite being so loving and kind, Aria also has a protective and dominant side that can turn her into a fierce lioness at any moment.
Also, her intelligence should never be underestimated, and Arthur understands that well.
"Maybe she knew more than I realize..." He wonders.
But as nothing can be done about it now, Arthur takes a nice shower and then goes downstairs to meet his family.
Everyone is in the kitchen, his father playing with Eve while Aria finishes preparing breakfast.
As soon as Draven sees Arthur, he smiles and hugs his son. "Good morning, son."
"Good morning, father," Arthur smiles and lifts little Eve into his arms. "Good morning to you too, little bug."
"Brother!" Eve exclaims cutely and touches Arthur's nose with her tiny fingers.
Everything seems perfectly normal, but Aria can notice the slightest change in her son's demeanor.
"Don't you seem very excited today?" she asks in a casual tone.
"She knows!" Arthur panics at the thought that his mother knows about Nyx, but thanks to Liam's experience, he manages to stay calm on the outside while feeling anxious inside.
"How could I not be enthusiastic with such a wonderful family?" he replies with a genuine smile on his face.
"Hahaha!" Draven laughs proudly. "That's my boy."
Aria smiles lovingly, but her sharp eyes analyze Arthur with the precision of an eagle.
"I know you're a very good and grateful son, but there's something more," she approaches Arthur and checks his body as if searching for a hidden illness.
That makes Arthur both relieved and worried. "I think she doesn't know yet... but if things continue like this, she'll find out!"
"Mom..." He tries to speak as honestly as possible. "There's nothing wrong with me."
Aria looks deeply into his eyes and then glances at Draven. "Ah, I knew it; it's a girl, isn't it?"
"WHAT?!?" Now Arthur starts to freak out. "She knows! She really knows!!!"
He tries to stay calm on the outside but ends up instinctively shaking his head.
"Don't try to hide it from mommy," Aria speaks confidently. "You have this sparkle in your eyes..."
"Sparkle in the eyes? Is that what gave me away??" Arthur cries inside while Nyx feels proud hearing that from inside his Nexus.
"Oh," Draven seems to have thought of something. "I know what's happening."
Aria looks at Draven, and he quickly explains. "Today, we are going to fix the Carpenter family's mill, and their eldest daughter always brings a food basket for Arthur when we are around."
"That girl?" Aria asks in an annoyed tone. "Isn't she already sixteen? What does a girl that age want with my little boy?"
Draven can't help but smile even more proudly. "Don't blame the girl for being interested in our Arthur; after all, he inherited the perfect physique from his father and the stunning beauty from his mother."
Aria doesn't like how Arthur is maturing quickly and becoming less and less her innocent little boy. She wants to be able to enjoy her childhood even more, but Draven keeps encouraging him to start looking for girls already, and this makes her upset.
Draven also feels frustrated because no matter how hard he tries to be a good father to his son, Aria only seems to get more upset with him.
"So that's it?" Aria casts her eagle gaze at Arthur again. "Are you like this because of that girl?"
Arthur doesn't want to lie to his mother, so he finds a way to be honest without mentioning Nyx.
"She is pretty..." He really thought that girl had a nice look, but after meeting Nyx, his beauty standards have risen a lot.
Those standards had already drastically changed due to Aria's beauty, but Arthur never looked at his mother with anything but a loving son's eyes.
But with Nyx it's different, she awakens in him the most intense desires of a man.
Aria notices Arthur's cheeks blushing slightly and the sparkle in his eyes becoming even more visible.
She finds it strange for him to be in that state because of a simple girl, but it also makes sense since he only knows people from the village.
"Maybe it's because her body is mature like that of a young adult?" she wonders.
But of course, the reactions Aria is seeing in Arthur are due to his thoughts about Nyx and no other girl.
Aria still suspects that something is wrong; her maternal instincts are extremely powerful.
But once again, Draven intervenes to help his son. "Leave the boy alone, Aria."
She gives him a fierce look, and Draven almost backs away in fear. "I mean, everyone can see that he's very mature for his age, probably like a fourteen-year-old boy already..."
Aria isn't buying the idea, but Draven continues. "So let him enjoy these moments; after all, when he grows up fully, he may fall in love with a woman as it happened to me, and then he won't have eyes for anyone else ever."
Draven really tries his best, but Aria just shakes her head. She disagrees with him about some things but doesn't let such things reach Arthur and Eve, so they don't suspect anything.
"Okay..." Then she looks at Arthur with a loving expression. "Mommy can't stop girls from being interested in you, but you have to promise me that you'll be responsible."
Before Arthur can speak, she continues, "You can be as mature as you want, but you still have four years ahead to become an adult, so until then, you have to control yourself."
Arthur understands what Aria means; in that world, boys are considered adults at fifteen and girls at sixteen.
But that's only official, because even at those ages, they are still considered just young adults.
"I won't disappoint you, Mom," Arthur promises.
He wants to follow his mother's orders strictly, but he can no longer prevent the growing feelings that Nyx has awakened in him.
Aria hugs him and strokes his hair. "I know, my son."
Arthur can breathe a sigh of relief for keeping his secret.
He hopes to be able to tell his parents about Nyx at some point, but he simply can't do it now because of the fear of what his parents will think of him.
So he tries even harder to be the best son possible, hoping that when it's no longer possible to hide Nyx's existence, things can still be good.
After breakfast, Arthur goes with Draven to the Carpenter farm to rebuild the large windmill that was knocked down by strong winds.
The farmers in the village are simple people, and to rebuild such a large windmill, they would need ten men and probably a few days.
But Draven can do that job in a day alone, and he enjoys helping the village folks, which is always appreciated by the honest farmers.
Arthur does his best to assist his father, and the task isn't really difficult since his body is filled with energy from the incredible night with Nyx.
But he notices that it's not just his mood that is boosted; in fact, his whole body seems better than ever.
He's slightly stronger, his agility improved, and his senses sharper; everything seems better after Nyx enters his life.
As a result, Arthur ends up being much more helpful to his father than Draven could have imagined, completing the task of rebuilding the windmill before even midday.
This is a reason for Draven to be even prouder of his son, but it's bad news for the Carpenters' daughter, who tries to get closer to Arthur whenever possible.
To avoid suspicion, Arthur also approaches the girl named Margaret. She could certainly be considered a young beauty with great potential in Liam's world, so pretending to be interested in her is not difficult at all.
Arthur doesn't want to hurt the girl's feelings, so he doesn't try to give her false hope and just acts friendly while his mind is filled with thoughts of Nyx only.
Then, after Draven encourages him to accept the snacks the girl prepared with care, the two head home in time for lunch.
Arthur begins to fantasize about cuddling with Nyx every second he spends doing nothing, so he doesn't notice how enthusiastic Draven seems.
After a candid conversation with Aria, Draven calls Arthur to the backyard, leaving him curious.
"Son," Draven speaks in a gentle and proud tone. "You know your father isn't as smart as your mother, right?"
"..." Arthur is confused.
"I mean, I wasn't born with abilities similar to your mother's," Draven explains. "I don't have the gift to control mana and perform magic."
Arthur simply nods and continues to listen to his father's words attentively.
Draven looks at his son with a sorry expression. "And you take after me in that regard more than your mother."
"I understand," Arthur studied with his mother about that, and she explained that he wasn't born with the potential to be a great mage, although his mana isn't weak either.
Draven can see that his son isn't disappointed, which makes him even prouder.
"Don't worry, Arthur," he says confidently. "We may not be incredible mages like your mother, but we can be incredible in our own way."
Arthur doesn't doubt that; after all, his father is a hero admired by everyone in the village, especially his mother.
"I let your mother handle your education entirely until now," Draven explains. "She wanted to teach you the importance of studying and knowledge because those are truly necessary things..."
Draven smiles, and his expression looks nostalgic. "I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for your mother's brilliant mind."
"But in the end, we are what we are," Draven's eyes shine with golden sparks. "We are descendants of proud warriors, and our strength is our honor."
Arthur respects Draven even more because of his honesty. He's not ashamed to admit how incredible Aria is, but he also acts with confidence and pride.
Draven runs his fingers over the hilt of the sword that is always sheathed at his side. "We can't run from who we are, and we shouldn't; in fact, we should embrace the power that runs in our veins."
Arthur nods again. He learned from Aria about the power of lineages, and he shares the lineage of powerful warriors with Draven.
Until now, his father had never talked to him about such matters, so Arthur can't help but feel excited.
Draven sees the sparkle of anticipation growing in his son's eyes and is almost moved to tears of excitement.
But he maintains a serious and proud expression. "I don't want you to stop studying with your mother, but from now on, I will train you to be a warrior as well."
"Yes, father," Arthur responds excitedly.
As Liam, he only found some peace when he learned to fight, and even though, as Arthur, he has overprotective parents and a peaceful life, he can't help but want to be strong here as well.
He doesn't wish to be strong to oppress the weak but to protect the family he loves so much, which now includes Nyx.
Draven can no longer contain his excitement and starts laughing with happiness. "I'm sorry for keeping you away from a sword until now, but that was so you could have a healthy childhood."
"But you're already so mature and strong..." He is truly the proudest father ever. "So from now on, I'll teach you everything about being a warrior."
After such motivational words, Draven takes a small package from his back. It's wrapped in cloth, but by its shape, it's not hard to guess what's inside.
"Take it, it's yours," Draven tosses the object to his son.
Arthur catches it in the air and is pretty sure of what it is due to its weight. He quickly unwraps the package and finds a beautiful small sword inside.
The sword has only a thirty-centimeter silver blade, but it looks so sharp and shiny. Also, the sword's hilt is small and very comfortable.
Arthur holds the sword in his hand, and even though it's heavy, it feels perfect. It's very natural for him to hold a blade, after all, blades were Liam's specialty as an assassin.
In a few seconds of swinging the sword, Arthur quickly gets used to its weight and it feels very natural to have it as an extension of his arm.
"A custom-made sword for me?" Arthur looks at his father with eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you so much!"
Draven is so shocked to see Arthur handling the sword with such natural ease that he can no longer hear anything else.
He was sure that Arthur would like the sword because it's in their blood, but he still expected his son to take at least a few weeks to get used to the weight of the blade.
"Hahaha..." He laughs happily and proudly. "You really are the best son, Arthur!"
After sleeping the whole night cuddled with Arthur, Nyx has an extreme reaction.
She becomes so shy and upset with herself for having enjoyed it so much that she refuses to talk to him for the rest of the day.
But while she struggles to deal with her feelings and hides in Arthur's Nexus, he walks around the house like a proud and radiant peacock.
Arthur couldn't have received a more precious gift at such a young age. However, before he goes downstairs to have breakfast with his family, he has to make a sad sacrifice: taking a bath.
He wishes he could keep Nyx's scent on his body forever, but his mother would notice it as soon as she hugged him, and things would get complicated.
Now that Arthur thinks about it, he can't help but feel concerned. "How didn't she notice it in the bedroom?"
Despite being so loving and kind, Aria also has a protective and dominant side that can turn her into a fierce lioness at any moment.
Also, her intelligence should never be underestimated, and Arthur understands that well.
"Maybe she knew more than I realize..." He wonders.
But as nothing can be done about it now, Arthur takes a nice shower and then goes downstairs to meet his family.
Everyone is in the kitchen, his father playing with Eve while Aria finishes preparing breakfast.
As soon as Draven sees Arthur, he smiles and hugs his son. "Good morning, son."
"Good morning, father," Arthur smiles and lifts little Eve into his arms. "Good morning to you too, little bug."
"Brother!" Eve exclaims cutely and touches Arthur's nose with her tiny fingers.
Everything seems perfectly normal, but Aria can notice the slightest change in her son's demeanor.
"Don't you seem very excited today?" she asks in a casual tone.
"She knows!" Arthur panics at the thought that his mother knows about Nyx, but thanks to Liam's experience, he manages to stay calm on the outside while feeling anxious inside.
"How could I not be enthusiastic with such a wonderful family?" he replies with a genuine smile on his face.
"Hahaha!" Draven laughs proudly. "That's my boy."
Aria smiles lovingly, but her sharp eyes analyze Arthur with the precision of an eagle.
"I know you're a very good and grateful son, but there's something more," she approaches Arthur and checks his body as if searching for a hidden illness.
That makes Arthur both relieved and worried. "I think she doesn't know yet... but if things continue like this, she'll find out!"
"Mom..." He tries to speak as honestly as possible. "There's nothing wrong with me."
Aria looks deeply into his eyes and then glances at Draven. "Ah, I knew it; it's a girl, isn't it?"
"WHAT?!?" Now Arthur starts to freak out. "She knows! She really knows!!!"
He tries to stay calm on the outside but ends up instinctively shaking his head.
"Don't try to hide it from mommy," Aria speaks confidently. "You have this sparkle in your eyes..."
"Sparkle in the eyes? Is that what gave me away??" Arthur cries inside while Nyx feels proud hearing that from inside his Nexus.
"Oh," Draven seems to have thought of something. "I know what's happening."
Aria looks at Draven, and he quickly explains. "Today, we are going to fix the Carpenter family's mill, and their eldest daughter always brings a food basket for Arthur when we are around."
"That girl?" Aria asks in an annoyed tone. "Isn't she already sixteen? What does a girl that age want with my little boy?"
Draven can't help but smile even more proudly. "Don't blame the girl for being interested in our Arthur; after all, he inherited the perfect physique from his father and the stunning beauty from his mother."
Aria doesn't like how Arthur is maturing quickly and becoming less and less her innocent little boy. She wants to be able to enjoy her childhood even more, but Draven keeps encouraging him to start looking for girls already, and this makes her upset.
Draven also feels frustrated because no matter how hard he tries to be a good father to his son, Aria only seems to get more upset with him.
"So that's it?" Aria casts her eagle gaze at Arthur again. "Are you like this because of that girl?"
Arthur doesn't want to lie to his mother, so he finds a way to be honest without mentioning Nyx.
"She is pretty..." He really thought that girl had a nice look, but after meeting Nyx, his beauty standards have risen a lot.
Those standards had already drastically changed due to Aria's beauty, but Arthur never looked at his mother with anything but a loving son's eyes.
But with Nyx it's different, she awakens in him the most intense desires of a man.
Aria notices Arthur's cheeks blushing slightly and the sparkle in his eyes becoming even more visible.
She finds it strange for him to be in that state because of a simple girl, but it also makes sense since he only knows people from the village.
"Maybe it's because her body is mature like that of a young adult?" she wonders.
But of course, the reactions Aria is seeing in Arthur are due to his thoughts about Nyx and no other girl.
Aria still suspects that something is wrong; her maternal instincts are extremely powerful.
But once again, Draven intervenes to help his son. "Leave the boy alone, Aria."
She gives him a fierce look, and Draven almost backs away in fear. "I mean, everyone can see that he's very mature for his age, probably like a fourteen-year-old boy already..."
Aria isn't buying the idea, but Draven continues. "So let him enjoy these moments; after all, when he grows up fully, he may fall in love with a woman as it happened to me, and then he won't have eyes for anyone else ever."
Draven really tries his best, but Aria just shakes her head. She disagrees with him about some things but doesn't let such things reach Arthur and Eve, so they don't suspect anything.
"Okay..." Then she looks at Arthur with a loving expression. "Mommy can't stop girls from being interested in you, but you have to promise me that you'll be responsible."
Before Arthur can speak, she continues, "You can be as mature as you want, but you still have four years ahead to become an adult, so until then, you have to control yourself."
Arthur understands what Aria means; in that world, boys are considered adults at fifteen and girls at sixteen.
But that's only official, because even at those ages, they are still considered just young adults.
"I won't disappoint you, Mom," Arthur promises.
He wants to follow his mother's orders strictly, but he can no longer prevent the growing feelings that Nyx has awakened in him.
Aria hugs him and strokes his hair. "I know, my son."
Arthur can breathe a sigh of relief for keeping his secret.
He hopes to be able to tell his parents about Nyx at some point, but he simply can't do it now because of the fear of what his parents will think of him.
So he tries even harder to be the best son possible, hoping that when it's no longer possible to hide Nyx's existence, things can still be good.
After breakfast, Arthur goes with Draven to the Carpenter farm to rebuild the large windmill that was knocked down by strong winds.
The farmers in the village are simple people, and to rebuild such a large windmill, they would need ten men and probably a few days.
But Draven can do that job in a day alone, and he enjoys helping the village folks, which is always appreciated by the honest farmers.
Arthur does his best to assist his father, and the task isn't really difficult since his body is filled with energy from the incredible night with Nyx.
But he notices that it's not just his mood that is boosted; in fact, his whole body seems better than ever.
He's slightly stronger, his agility improved, and his senses sharper; everything seems better after Nyx enters his life.
As a result, Arthur ends up being much more helpful to his father than Draven could have imagined, completing the task of rebuilding the windmill before even midday.
This is a reason for Draven to be even prouder of his son, but it's bad news for the Carpenters' daughter, who tries to get closer to Arthur whenever possible.
To avoid suspicion, Arthur also approaches the girl named Margaret. She could certainly be considered a young beauty with great potential in Liam's world, so pretending to be interested in her is not difficult at all.
Arthur doesn't want to hurt the girl's feelings, so he doesn't try to give her false hope and just acts friendly while his mind is filled with thoughts of Nyx only.
Then, after Draven encourages him to accept the snacks the girl prepared with care, the two head home in time for lunch.
Arthur begins to fantasize about cuddling with Nyx every second he spends doing nothing, so he doesn't notice how enthusiastic Draven seems.
After a candid conversation with Aria, Draven calls Arthur to the backyard, leaving him curious.
"Son," Draven speaks in a gentle and proud tone. "You know your father isn't as smart as your mother, right?"
"..." Arthur is confused.
"I mean, I wasn't born with abilities similar to your mother's," Draven explains. "I don't have the gift to control mana and perform magic."
Arthur simply nods and continues to listen to his father's words attentively.
Draven looks at his son with a sorry expression. "And you take after me in that regard more than your mother."
"I understand," Arthur studied with his mother about that, and she explained that he wasn't born with the potential to be a great mage, although his mana isn't weak either.
Draven can see that his son isn't disappointed, which makes him even prouder.
"Don't worry, Arthur," he says confidently. "We may not be incredible mages like your mother, but we can be incredible in our own way."
Arthur doesn't doubt that; after all, his father is a hero admired by everyone in the village, especially his mother.
"I let your mother handle your education entirely until now," Draven explains. "She wanted to teach you the importance of studying and knowledge because those are truly necessary things..."
Draven smiles, and his expression looks nostalgic. "I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for your mother's brilliant mind."
"But in the end, we are what we are," Draven's eyes shine with golden sparks. "We are descendants of proud warriors, and our strength is our honor."
Arthur respects Draven even more because of his honesty. He's not ashamed to admit how incredible Aria is, but he also acts with confidence and pride.
Draven runs his fingers over the hilt of the sword that is always sheathed at his side. "We can't run from who we are, and we shouldn't; in fact, we should embrace the power that runs in our veins."
Arthur nods again. He learned from Aria about the power of lineages, and he shares the lineage of powerful warriors with Draven.
Until now, his father had never talked to him about such matters, so Arthur can't help but feel excited.
Draven sees the sparkle of anticipation growing in his son's eyes and is almost moved to tears of excitement.
But he maintains a serious and proud expression. "I don't want you to stop studying with your mother, but from now on, I will train you to be a warrior as well."
"Yes, father," Arthur responds excitedly.
As Liam, he only found some peace when he learned to fight, and even though, as Arthur, he has overprotective parents and a peaceful life, he can't help but want to be strong here as well.
He doesn't wish to be strong to oppress the weak but to protect the family he loves so much, which now includes Nyx.
Draven can no longer contain his excitement and starts laughing with happiness. "I'm sorry for keeping you away from a sword until now, but that was so you could have a healthy childhood."
"But you're already so mature and strong..." He is truly the proudest father ever. "So from now on, I'll teach you everything about being a warrior."
After such motivational words, Draven takes a small package from his back. It's wrapped in cloth, but by its shape, it's not hard to guess what's inside.
"Take it, it's yours," Draven tosses the object to his son.
Arthur catches it in the air and is pretty sure of what it is due to its weight. He quickly unwraps the package and finds a beautiful small sword inside.
The sword has only a thirty-centimeter silver blade, but it looks so sharp and shiny. Also, the sword's hilt is small and very comfortable.
Arthur holds the sword in his hand, and even though it's heavy, it feels perfect. It's very natural for him to hold a blade, after all, blades were Liam's specialty as an assassin.
In a few seconds of swinging the sword, Arthur quickly gets used to its weight and it feels very natural to have it as an extension of his arm.
"A custom-made sword for me?" Arthur looks at his father with eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you so much!"
Draven is so shocked to see Arthur handling the sword with such natural ease that he can no longer hear anything else.
He was sure that Arthur would like the sword because it's in their blood, but he still expected his son to take at least a few weeks to get used to the weight of the blade.
"Hahaha..." He laughs happily and proudly. "You really are the best son, Arthur!"
