Wendy raised an eyebrow as she accepted the neatly wrapped package. Is he giving me one of the items he purchased from the auction? she thought, glancing between the others, who were already eyeing their gifts with a mix of intrigue and excitement.
Wrong. The only one excited was Serena. There was only a neutral expression on Nyx's face. She eyed the package with a bit of skepticism in her eyes.
Nyx carefully peeled back the wrapping with steady hands, taking her time. Serena, however, couldn't contain her excitement and ripped into hers without a second thought. Wendy unwrapped hers more slowly; her movements were much more graceful and refined.
Soon the three girls finally unwrapped their presents.
Serena gasped as her eyes fell on a sleek, intricately crafted bow made of shimmering azure metal that seemed to ripple like liquid under the chandelier's light. The limbs were adorned with faint runes that glowed softly, and its string radiated a faint chill.
"This… is beautiful," Serena whispered, running her fingers along the bow. She could feel the power resonating from it, as if the weapon were alive. "An Icebound Arcane Bow…" she read with a slightly dazed expression as the weapon description appeared before her eyes.
Item: Icebound Arcane Bow (Emperor Tier)
Description: [A masterfully crafted bow forged from Starlight Frostwood and tempered in glacial springs. The limbs are adorned with shimmering runes, enhancing precision and damage. When activated for 150 MP, the bow can unleash Frostbite Arrows that slow targets by 30% for 5 seconds and deal bonus ice damage. The bow passively increases the user's agility and accuracy by 15%. Its string is infused with a perpetual cold essence, making it virtually unbreakable and highly responsive to the user's intent.]
Serena's hands trembled as she held the Icebound Arcane Bow, her eyes lighting up like stars as she exclaimed, "This is... incredible. I can feel its power even without activating it! Dammit, I want to test it out right now!"
"Maybe tomorrow," Nox quickly said. "It's already too late."
On the other hand, even Nyx's neutral expression cracked slightly as her sharp gaze fell on a radiant, gleaming shield. It was large but surprisingly light as she lifted it effortlessly.
Item: Sanctified Aegis (Emperor Tier)
Description: [This shield, forged from Celestial Mithril and blessed by the Light Pantheon, radiates an aura of protection. It absorbs 20% of incoming damage and redirects it into a Holy Shockwave upon activation for 200 MP, dealing damage to nearby enemies. The shield also passively enhances the wielder's stamina and regeneration rate by 25%. Intricate golden engravings depict the eternal battle between light and darkness, serving as a reminder of the paladin's duty to uphold justice.]
"Hmph, it's not bad," Nyx said unimpressed, though a satisfied smile appeared on her face as she read the description of her item. From the description alone, she could tell Nox had selected this weapon with her class in mind. She felt warmth in her heart, but of course, showing it to this silly brother of hers was the last thing she would do.
"Huh, what did you say?" Nox feigned as if he didn't hear her, which made Nyx's cheeks burn.
Nyx quickly shot Nox a glare, her cheeks slightly flushed. "I said it's not bad. Don't make me repeat myself," she huffed, though the corners of her lips twitched as if suppressing a smile.
Nox shook his head. "Tsk, tsk, very ungrateful."
Meanwhile, Wendy unwrapped her package to reveal a striking set of armor that immediately captured everyone's attention.
The armor shone under the chandelier's light, its dark red plates lined with simple gold and black edges. Each piece looked solid and strong, built for both protection and battle. The shoulder plates had flame-like patterns, while the chest piece glowed faintly with fiery symbols.
Item: Infernal Vanguard Armor (Emperor Tier)
Description: [This armor, forged in the volcanic forges of Mount Ignis, offers unparalleled protection and offensive capability for a swordfighter. It passively reduces physical damage by 25% and enhances strength and endurance by 15%. When activated for 200 MP, its ability Flameguard Barrier creates a protective shield of fire, damaging enemies in melee range and absorbing incoming attacks for 10 seconds. The armor also provides resistance to fire-based attacks, ensuring the wearer can withstand even the fiercest infernos.]
Wendy's eyes softened as she ran a hand along the chest plate, feeling the warmth that seemed to emanate from the armor itself. Despite her usual composure, a small smile crept across her face. "It's perfect. Strong, reliable, and practical," she said, looking up at Nox with gratitude shining in her eyes.
"It suits you," Nox said, a hint of pride in his voice. "As a swordswoman, you are always exposed, so I wanted to make sure you had something that could offer slight protection in case enemies slipped past your blade."
There was deep silence for a while. Then Wendy did something that shocked everyone. She suddenly hugged Nox.
"Huh?" Nox's eyes widened slightly as he suddenly felt Wendy's chest press against his.
"Thank you," she sniffed.
Then, a moment later, he felt his clothes grow moist.
He slightly raised Wendy's head and saw tears in her eyes. Nox was confused and couldn't help but blurt out in a low voice:
"What is it? Why are you crying?"
"I'm sorry," Wendy sniffed as she pulled herself back and wiped her tears with the back of her palm. Then she said while glancing down and gripping her clothes, "It's just that, after my mom, you're the first person to give me a gift without asking me for anything in return."
"Well, I don't want anything in return. All I want is for you to protect yourself with this," Nox said in a firm voice as he flicked a tear from Wendy's cheek.
"Nox, you remember what I told you about my father, right?" Wendy suddenly said out of the blue.
The atmosphere changed all of a sudden. Wendy had told Nox about her sour relationship with her father. He had learned about how she and her mom were abandoned and how he selected a wealthy woman with a royal background over them.
"What about him?" Nox said with displeasure on his face.