Ethan's POV
The revelation left me momentarily stunned. The Eterna Nexus had once again proven its worth, peeling back layers of information about Virelle with ease.
I couldn't help but marvel at how effortlessly it unravelled the mysteries of a person and weaved together fragments of their existence from just a projection.
It wasn't the first time I'd used the Eterna Nexus to uncover secrets though not all attempts had been fruitful. I remembered when I'd tried to probe into the enigmatic depths of Master Nyx's identity. T
he Nexus had provided only sparse details of her unique species and traits but nothing substantial about her family, name or origins. Frustrated back then, I'd asked the Nexus for clarification and I still remembered its cryptic reply,
[Successor's power is too inferior to the Dragoness. The Eterna Nexus lacks the energy required to trace the details about her.]
That explanation had brought clarity to me though it also reinforced the unfathomable gap between my current self and Master Nyx's strength.
Now, however, the Nexus had unveiled Virelle's lineage and background with startling efficiency. As I absorbed the knowledge, my gaze flicked to her swaying figure ahead of me.
Her talent was extraordinary, bordering on the legendary grade and her lineage was equally impressive. She was the daughter of the Crimson Deluge Duke, disciple of the only female Duke among the vampires and a student of the prestigious Abyssal Sanctum.
But I soon frowned as my thoughts drifted to the engagement of Virelle with the eldest prince of the Malakar Lineage, the ruling family of the Empire of the Abyssal Dominion.
According to my estimation, it could rival the Luminous Cradle Empire of Dark Star Continent boasting a good number of powerful experts.
A dark glint flashed through my eyes. It mattered little who her fiancé was or how formidable their empire might be. The woman I desired would be mine and no obstacle whether man, empire or fate could stand in my way.
A chilling aura emanated from me at that moment, one far too intense for someone of my age. It was the resolve of a soul that had known regret and now sought to seize everything it yearned for.
My musings were interrupted by a sweet but indifferent voice that sliced through my thoughts.
"Would you like to tour the city first or rest for the day in your accommodation in the Scarlet Hollow Castle?"
Her voice was calm and precise. There was no warmth in her tone but it didn't bother me.
"I would like to tour the city first."
She nodded, acknowledging my choice without comment and resumed walking. I followed her down the castle corridors, my mind sharpening to take in every detail.
The passageways were labyrinthine, the stone walls damp and etched with strange eerie symbols that seemed to pulse faintly in the dim light.
The air was heavy and laden with an oppressive aura that clung to the skin like the touch of unseen wraiths. Each step echoed faintly in the silence giving me a rhythmic reminder of the ominous nature of this place.
After some time, a faint light shimmered in the distance marking the end of the corridor. As we approached, the vast expanse of a grand doorway came into view. I
t was guarded by two imposing figures clad in blood-red armour. The guards stood motionless, their presence as silent and foreboding as the castle itself.
They bowed slightly to Virelle but showed no reaction to me. Their lack of acknowledgment was unsurprising. They were well-trained, disciplined soldiers whose focus was unwavering. Yet, my soul sense discerned their strength revealing that both guards were at least at the Elemental Sea Realm.
We stepped beyond the doorway into the courtyard where the shadow wyvern had landed earlier. The ground and the walls were marked with blotches of dark red stains giving the area a weathered, ancient appearance.
The castle itself loomed over the peak of the mountain, a monolith of dark stone that pierced the sky. As we stood on the edge of the peak the winds whipped against us with ferocity. The sunlight bathed the scene in a surreal glow but its warmth barely reached us through the icy gusts.
Virelle stood a step ahead with her silhouette framed by the brilliance of the sun. The wind tugged at her red robes outlining her lithe form with tantalizing precision.
We lingered there for a moment, gazing at the vast expanse of the surrounding mountains and the Stygian woods beyond. The peaks stretched endlessly, jagged and foreboding shrouded in mist and mystery.
Virelle broke the surreal moment and began descending to a lower peak. I followed her without hesitation.
The path was steep and narrow but our steps were sure. As we approached the precipice of the next cliff, a large cave entrance revealed itself.
Without a word, Virelle stepped into the darkness and I followed closely behind. The cave sloped sharply downward the air growing cooler and more oppressive with each step.
We quickened our pace, relying on our movement techniques to traverse the depths. Virelle's figure blurred into a blood shadow and I matched her speed effortlessly, my own form merging with the darkness like a ghost.
Her expression betrayed a flicker of surprise as she glanced back likely noting my ability to keep up. While she might have expected some level of skill from me as the disciple of the Nightshade Dragoness, it seemed I had still managed to exceed her expectations.
The path grew darker and narrower with the silence being broken only by the faint sound of our movements. After nearly an hour, the tunnel came to a dead end.
Virelle stepped forward with her hands glowing with blood-red energy as she pressed them against the wall. She patted the surface five times in a pentagonal pattern, each touch precise and deliberate.
The energy pulsed faintly and a blood-red pentagon materialized on the wall before vanishing as though it had never existed.
To my astonishment, the solid rock wall dissolved revealing a narrow tunnel that hadn't been visible moments before. My soul sense had detected nothing, yet here it was an entrance concealed so expertly that even my heightened senses had been deceived.
Virelle stepped into the passage without hesitation, and I followed. The cramped tunnel pressed in on all sides, its walls close enough to brush against if I weren't careful. The darkness was absolute, but I navigated it with ease my senses attuned to every shift in the air.
After several minutes of walking, the tunnel opened up and a sudden burst of bright light filled my vision.