BXBX NOVEL Chapter 64: The Nexus
Nikolai realised that once Sarah trusted him fully, the barriers and walls she used to protect herself seemed to vanish. He learned that she was a much more troublesome yet brighter girl than what appeared before him. \'Her stubbornness is like a mule, though...\'
She wouldn\'t stop calling him master, despite her not having any reason to other than he made her into a hybrid.
He felt quite amused and glad that despite being loyal, she wasn\'t forced or twisted by his feelings or desires. The other squires he met felt as if they were chained to their master—even if asked to commit atrocities, they had no choice but to accept and die if needed.
\'Is it because I wanted her to have freedom when I bit her? The feeling when I started the process felt like a strange series of questions were asked in my mind rapidly, as if to mould her into something she wasn\'t. Maybe I am a failure of a vampire. Because I created such a free-spirited squire though seeing her smile that way was worth it.\'
Sarah left the apartment to collect a few items of clothing and meet various people to create her future. Nikolai neither asked for details nor gave her any trouble.
Instead, he asked her to make him lots of money.
[What do you plan to do today? I wonder if you\'ll be spending time with your wolf or kitten?]
\'When did you become such a gossip? I promised to meet Selene as she wished to take me to somewhere related to the other side of this city.\'
Although he planned to spend time with Nikita, he called her to apologise and they decided to meet the next day. The reason he felt awkward was due to the contracts they both signed and the fact he wanted to do things properly, even if temporary...
Selene was also his fiancée.
[Ah~ it\'s probably that place. I am sure you will have fun.]
Eliza seemed to have stopped using her powers to guide Nikolai due to seeing and feeling his concern, now she would only do such if needed.
Instead, they mostly spoke about general things while he tried to force the pendant to accept his Vermillion Essence in an attempt to keep her beside him even a moment longer.
\'Though it seems to be very inefficient for me right now. I need to become stronger, Eliza! I am sure you mentioned that in this world there existed true monsters and something about their origins, right?\'
[My dear Nikolai, you will likely discover a brand new world today. Please don\'t worry and take a moment\'s rest—from the night you awakened to now, have you taken a single moment to breathe? You are not a robot or a tool.]
[Please enjoy your time today!]
"I will..." Nikolai felt that she was hiding something. However, the time was close to his appointment with Selene, who would meet him at five o\'clock. \'Maybe because most supernatural beings are noctural does their time start from then, as the sun begins to set rather than morning?\'
[Hehe~ smart boy!]
\'Don\'t be so patronising! I am not a kid you know.... hmmph...\'
[Don\'t pout! Come, let\'s ride in your car and meet that girl!]
Eliza seemed to have become more positive towards Nikita and Selene after she learned of the engagement between the two of them. She would also give Nikolai advice or scold him when he made thoughts that she believed to be stupid.
Nikolai boarded his M9 Excelsior—his movements were fluid, hopping into the seat the moment the vertical doors flipped up. In a single movement, he managed to start the engine and pull out of the parking space, rushing across the path towards the exit.
\'Come to think of it... Dad seemed to be okay with the situation.\'
Today, Selene didn\'t ask him to meet her at the Scarlet Group Headquarters, but instead in the north sector of the city where most of the rich and high-class businesses lingered.
On his dashboard, a beautiful digital screen showed the city layout, map and all his car details like a video game. "It seems that the drive will take ten minutes, though why are we heading to the old kings auditorium?"
[Ah~ *whistle* Who knows?]
\'...\'
***
The drive wasn\'t long, and listening to the constant voice of Eliza made Nikolai feel relaxed. She began to open up more, teaching him about etiquette and the style of how the supernatural clans acted in public.
\'It seems despite the world becoming more advanced, with capitalism and socialism taking over the supernatural cling to ideas of nobility, kings, peasants and the like. Though to vampires it seems all humans are akin to peasants.\'
[Correct, maybe due to the fact humans are less affected by bloodline compared to us. Remember that our existence relies on the power of our abilities.]
[Though the passive faction is happy to let them wither and join humans. We can never become true humans—a beast will always be a beast at heart, no matter if he eats a vegan diet or not.]
A silent hum sounded as the M9 came to a stop, with Nikolai pulling beside the beautiful scarlet supercar that Selene enjoyed driving. \'It\'s really a pretty car...\'
"Nikolai?" Selene was sitting in the driver\'s seat as if waiting for him. She turned with a faint smile and opened the door, climbing out.
"It seems I made you wait, Selene."
"Hmph! Who would wait for you... stupid. Did you sleep well?"
Nikolai felt that Selene became strange after the visit to the Fenrir mansion.
No, he believed it started from that night at the Imperium hotel and their kiss. Though he wasn\'t a fool to believe she fell for him or anything like that over a single kiss.
\'It definitely affected her in some way.\'
"If that\'s what you say, shall I go and spend the day with Nikita instead?"
Nikolai just planned to tease her, and there was no real intent in his words. However, the eyes of Selene widened for a brief moment before she grabbed the cuff of his jacket and pulled him back.
\'Damn, she\'s strong!\'
"Can you tell me where we are going now?" Nikolai felt annoyed by the lack of information. "I did agree to meet you, but even if you want to make an official statement, I thought the Scarlet group was a better place than this abandoned....
huh?" Nikolai\'s voice trailed off because the moment they walked through the weathered and old grand entrance, it felt like they passed through a layer of jelly, yet nothing stuck to their clothes.
"Did you feel it? The barrier." Selene spoke with a calm tone. "We have entered the grounds of a very secretive organisation, Nikolai. You should remain quiet and watch your actions as much as possible."
"This place is a little spooky, but there are so many people approaching that light..."
Nikolai\'s eyes observed the auditorium that now looked brand new, the walls repaired and many beautiful flags lingered across the massive area with an expansive blue orb shimmering in the centre. He watched people approach the light, speaking to a strange hooded figure then they would vanish in the azure light.
"It\'s like magic..."
"That\'s because it is magic cast by the Jhin clan."
"The Jhin clan?" Nikolai wondered, feeling people passing by them.
However, something else happened... people who didn\'t step on the main stage where the light appeared would step through each other as if everyone were ghosts! Although they seemed able to converse, they couldn\'t touch each other till on the main stage!
[The Jhin are an ancient monster clan who have been neutral for...]
"The Jhin clan are an ancient clan who have always remained neutral. Their special magic involves space and time, and although their race lacks offensive abilities during the great purge when, humanity discovered the weakness of monsters on a large scale. During the witch hunts and wolf expulsion era of the Dark Ages, their magic helped save most of the monster race.
Thus, they are known as the custodians and guardians of all clans and races."
\'Hmmm, so the human stories about witches might be about monsters, not actual witches?\'
"Then what is this place Selene?"
Nikolai wanted to learn more. He felt a strange power drawing him towards that blue light... A sense that his goal lingered deep inside that strange portal.
Selene\'s hand wrapped around his arm, and he could feel her firm skin touching his. It felt quite natural as her cold body seemed to move closer to him, her chest pressing against his shoulder.
"It\'s a place called the Nexus, Nikolai. The place that connects all our homelands, of course not the surface but another magical world... The world that only we, the supernatural can exist, a place given to us by the gods to avoid extinction!"
"The nexus..."
"Well first let\'s go, I\'ll take you to a special place!" Selene\'s eyes seemed to shine, and her actions gave a unique atmosphere, like a girl who was allowed out for the first time, or maybe it was her first time here in a long time. \'That explains all the people whispering her name and curiosity...\'
"By the way, did you know that squires cannot enter here, fufu." Selene added, her crimson eyes glowing as she peeked at Nikolai\'s face, a smile on her lips like a playful child who wanted to know all the secrets of the world. "So one day, tell me how you managed to both awaken and avoid becoming my squire, okay?"
Nikolia noticed that Selene might have been hiding this playful and more childish side from the world above, her feet skipping towards the distant stage. He watched her in silence while collecting his thoughts before muttering to the ether. \'If you can gain my trust, I will.\'