"If I had to say, that day when I said that he rejected me, that was both a lie and truth because, in reality, I wanted to become his woman that day by sedating him the aphrodisiac I stole from your room..." Niera’s expression blushed in shame as she closed her eyes and confessed, "But he didn’t take advantage of me and sent me away! I chose to believe in him for this reason alone!"
"You! What a foolish thing to do!" Nero Alstreim displayed an angered expression on his face.
He was wondering if his wife had kept it inside to put a break to that nightly affairs but to think that his daughter had stolen it and even went as far as to use it on Davis Alstreim. That aphrodisiac was not deadly enough to make them craze for lust, but it was more than enough for two youngsters to give in to their strange emotions as they start to make out, desiring each other’s flesh.
He looked at Davis in confusion and wondered how this youth was able to resist such an enticement. Moreover, he was proud of his daughter’s beauty that he knew that she would shine like a gem even in the Alstreim Family but to think that he didn’t take advantage of her.
He didn’t understand.
"I’m sorry, father, but that was why I was able to garner an answer from him and told you all to not offer the sacrifice. Of course, Davis never had any intention to kill us. He just said that he would leave us here if we made the wrong decision, but I still couldn’t help but reveal the answer. Even then, he didn’t scold me..." Niera’s voice trembled, but she tried her best to get her intent across.
She wanted her father to know that he didn’t mean any harm, and there was no need for them to be hostile against each other. Nero Alstreim placed his hand on his forehead and massaged, feeling anger, helplessness, and many other emotions. He just hoped that Davis didn’t utter a single lie, or his daughter’s life was as good as ruined.
His chest heaved as he released a heavy sigh, "When are you taking us?"
"Now..." Davis uttered, "Get ready in five minutes without alerting Ezekiel Alstreim. I’m aware that he has gone out now, so if he comes to know, that means you had broken the minimal trust I had in you. I will leave you here without hesitation."
"As for you, Niera..." Davis looked at her with calmness, "You can choose to come with me or stay here for a month because I would come back here to take Ezekiel Alstreim at that time. After all, the current Alstreim Family needs his strength as it is almost bordering on the edge of war with the Yantra Family."
"Then... Isn’t it all the more necessary to take grandpa-" Nero Alstreim couldn’t help but utter from the side, but Davis quickly interrupted him.
"I told you that it has more complications if I brought him over now. I’ll additionally tell you that if it wasn’t for your daughter Niera, I wouldn’t be patiently explaining all of this to you, so move it. Time’s ticking..."
Davis narrowed his eyes, sensing that Ezekiel Alstreim was on his way back from exploring the Infernal Lightning Palace City. It looks like he had already found out that it was safe to enter.
"Fine...!" Nero Alstreim exasperatedly nodded.
Was there any junior who commanded him like this? But knowing that the terrifying wolf was just one step away from behind him, he couldn’t help but wisen up and not aggravate the both of them. For all he knew, his head could be severed with one swing of its claws, and he wasn’t foolish enough to test if it could really do that as he knew that it was the entire reason for exterminating the Infernal Lightning Palace’s vermin.
At that moment, he instantly understood that Davis was the sole reason that the magical beast targeted the Infernal Lightning Palace and not them. If Davis so wanted, with this magical beast’s concealment prowess, he could’ve killed them all, but he didn’t.
’He didn’t mention it to make himself sound more convincing...?’ Nero Alstreim couldn’t help but feel a bit more believing now.
’Fine, I’ll try believing in your words just like my daughter for once...’ He inwardly accepted, but the main reason was for him to see his first daughter once again. He inwardly made a decision and opened his mouth.
"Let’s go..."
Davis blinked, "You’re not taking your wife with us?"
Nero Alstreim shook his head, "I’d like to see myself whether your words are true or not. Besides, I don’t want grandpa to think that we left them here while having a chance at the outside world. Just let me write a letter to my wife and grandpa... That would be enough."
"Sure, but make it fast. The time limit’s the same..."
Nero Alstreim nodded as he looked at Niera, "You stay here and come after a month. Father will personally go with him to the other side and confirm if this man is suitable for you or not."
"But father...!" Niera looked aggrieved.
"Niera, you do not know how we humans can be deceiving..."
"But-"
"Niera, your father is right." Davis couldn’t help but laugh, "Humans are sometimes disgusting than any strange creatures that you could see in this world because the things that they would do to get what they want have no limits..."
"In this case, I wanted you for the belief and faith you placed in me but am I lying or not? Ahaha..." He laughingly shook his head, "You wouldn’t know until you see the other side for yourself."
Nero Alstreim looked at him with a complex expression, wondering what he was getting at, but Niera began to shed tears again. She took a step forward and held his cheeks as she kissed his lips.
Davis’s eyes went wide, and not only did he become shocked, but Nero Alstreim also stood there shocked as well. However, there was only silence as Niera slowly separated from him before her lips moved.
"If you lied, I won’t forgive you..."
Teary-eyed, she bit her lips.
Davis couldn’t help but smile as he caressed her head, "Don’t worry. This isn’t the last time I will see you as I’m not lying. Although I wouldn’t know if your father decided to lie to separate us..."
"You!" Nero Alstreim’s expression changed as he raised his fist, "Why would I do such a thing!?"
"Then you accept our relationship?" Davis blinked while Niera looked at him with her teary, hopeful eyes.
"That..." Nero Alstreim became flabbergasted that he stuttered, "T-That I haven’t decided yet!"
Davis shrugged as he held Niera’s shoulders.
"See, your father has a reason to lie..."
"Father..." Niera Alstreim looked at him in question.
"You...!" Nero Alstreim’s expression increasingly became exasperated that he couldn’t help but wave his hand, "Fine! If you are a truthful person, I accept your relationship with my daughter!"
Davis victoriously smiled as he felt that he had forced Nero Alstreim to accept their relationship. It was a difficult thing to do since they were already at odds, not to mention that his first daughter is already in love with his father.
Niera also looked happier that she ran off to her father and held his hands as she shook them.
"I love you, father! You’re the best!"
Nero Alstreim looked as if he was about to cry. He understood that he was duped and forced, but it was only a moment later. Moreover, he could not take back his words. Otherwise, he would appear even less convincing than Davis to his daughter.
Nero Alstreim didn’t bother anymore and wrote a letter to his wife and grandpa, stating that he was leaving the sealed space to test if Davis’s words were actually true and that he would return within a month or two. If not, it meant that it was simply because Davis lied, having a hidden agenda with him.
He looked at Davis and showed him the letter, causing Davis to smilingly shrug, "Sure, as long as you don’t tell about Grand Elder Elise Alstreim being in prison, you can write anything."
"This is enough..." Nero Alstreim simply sent the letters flying towards Niera.
"Niera, your mother is downstairs in my room, cultivating. Your grandpa should come back soon, so make sure you give these two letters to them and explain yourself."
"I will..." Niera looked scared, but she determinedly nodded her head.
Nero Alstreim returned the nod, feeling complex before he looked at Davis, "Let’s go..."
======
At the southern edge of the sealed space, Davis and Nero Alstreim stood, the latter looking at the millions of towering lightning strands as his eyes twitched. He couldn’t help but ask.
"How are we going to cross this Lightning Sea? Don’t tell that it’s through the ground? Because if that is the case, we will get shocked to death regardless..."
"Haha, if someone that stupid exists, I guess they deserve to die..." Davis couldn’t help but laugh. He walked towards the Lightning Sea in a daring manner amidst Nero Alstreim doubtful gaze when the Lightning Sea in front of Davis strangely reacted before suddenly parting from him.
Nero Alstreim’s eyes went wide as he sensed a vague aura that he found familiar, "This... This is the same aura from those words of lightning in the underground cave!"
"How perceptive..." Davis looked back and kept his smile, "Now are you coming or what? I don’t have time to waste as I can’t wait to see my wives."
Nero Alstreim was just about to take a step forward when his eyes expression fell, "Wives!?"
"Don’t sweat it. Niera already knows..." Davis chuckled and stepped into the Lightning Sea, the strands of lightning automatically spreading out from him as they were scared of him.
Nero Alstreim had many questions to ask, but looking at Davis leaving without him, he couldn’t help but quickly rush forward!
"Wait!"