Nyxara
[Friday, Seraphelle 26, 4310]
It has roughly been a week since my home recovery started, and I have to say I'm feeling the changes. It is getting to the point where it is really sinking in that I am not human. I thought I was in good condition last week. I now know that was only human-level good condition. This week I'm feeling pretty superhuman. According to everyone else, I'm only at a quarter of what I'm fully capable of for my tier level.
My usual lesson with Azrail was cancelled 20 minutes into it because one of his spy reconnaissance teams had gone missing. When a person walked out of a darkened corner and kneeled, I threw a knife —yes, I'm required to carry knives on me at all times now because my siblings like to ambush me—at the man on reflex; Azrail caught the knife before it got near the man.
Before he left, Azrail told me I did well being on the defense, but if I was going to be throwing knives around, I needed to be faster and to aim for more critical targets. After the man explained the urgent situation, they both walked into a dark corner.
I don't feel jealous that all my parents seem to have a unique portal skill. Nope. I'm not making it a goal to have a great teleporting skill too. Nope, not me.
Now that my lesson has ended early, I decided to do something I had been wanting to do since the kin-branch messaged me that they wanted to do a video call with me. After getting myself washed up and dressed in a grey lounge pantsuit, I connected my laptop to my tv, got the video call room set up, then messaged my uncle asking if now would be a good time to do a video call with them, and I sent along the link to my call room.
I got an instant response with him saying they could do a video call as long as I didn't mind that they were eating dinner right now. I told them I needed to eat as well so we could all eat together virtually tonight. With a winking emoji and "We will see you in 10 minutes," I requested Lima bring me some dinner while I waited.
Anticipating my needs, "Mistress, your dinner will arrive in 5 minutes. Perfect timing for your call." She curtseyed with a dramatically pleased expression in her neon green and black maid dress. I blew her a kiss in thanks, which she snatched out of the air to put in her breast pocket.
My maid is so adorable sometimes. When my dinner arrived, Lima got me settled with blankets, a drink, and a lap table filled with delicious plates and bowls. When the ring of the call came, Lima accepted the call for me. On my tv screen was the image of five gorgeous people. It came to me at this moment that before now I hadn't seen an image of them.
Starting from the right, a lovely girl with braided dark sapphire hair and sky-blue eyes and smooth biscotti skin waved excitedly the moment the call connected. Her face and hair appeared to be an almost carbon copy of the youthful woman beside her. The woman looked more like an older sister to the girl instead of being her mother.
Her wavy sapphire hair, mocha skin, and yellow topaz eyes made her an enchanting beauty that seemed to seduce even through a camera. She smiled faintly, but her eyes showed she was happy and concerned. She appeared to be cataloging everything she could see of me. After a moment, she appeared to relax, and her smile grew to match her daughter's.
Across from them were another two copies—one younger and one older. The young one had short, fluffy black hair and sky-blue eyes the same shade as his sister's. His pale, white skin looked like cream—supple and unblemished. He held himself in a cold, mature manner, but when my focus turned to him, he gave me a warm smile, and he seemed to melt, looking more his age of nine. He gave me a finger wave before sipping from a goblet of what looked like thick red wine.
Ah yes. He is a young vampire. I am curious how blood tastes. I should ask Zen if vampires are the only race that drinks blood. I think it would be an interesting experience to try it at least once. It wasn't until the man beside the boy raised his glass in a toasting motion to her that her gaze turned to him. He too took a drink of blood, watching her like prey.
He is where Taen and Rhodri get their sky-blue eyes from. His practically burn like blue flames. His skin is tanned, probably from being outside managing his squad. His black hair is somehow both long and short, like it had been cut haphazardly—yet on him, it worked. Dangerously well.
When he placed his cup down, he appeared amused, but I couldn't guess what amused him. Moving my gaze to the last person at the head of the table, my breath caught. It was like looking at an almost identical male copy of my mother. How did I forget…he is Nimra's twin. His braided hair did not have a reddish tint to it like Nimra's. Instead, his has a silver tint to it. His eyes are not dark ruby red like Nimra's but are the pinkish red of rose red.
He observed me. Taking in everything he could see of me just like Aunt Zira, then he too relaxed, and the previously neutral expression changed to one bright with unshed tears. Looking down, I noticed that Aunt Zira and Uncle Hael were holding his hands that seemed to be clenching theirs.
Seeing him overwhelmed and unable to speak, I broke the quiet. "Good evening, family. You all look well and positively stunning." My words seemed to stun them in turn, so I couldn't help teasing them. "I knew we had good-looking genes in the family, but I'm a bit upset that no one here decided to share that the kin branch brings our enclave to a whole new level. I mean, Uncle Cornelius, were you and Nimra trying to compete in who could find the better-looking mates?"
I sipped my sparkling cider while the adults of my extended family chuckled and grinned. "Oh, my niece, lost your memory, and still you say and ask the same thing upon seeing my mates." Uncle Cornelius said, wiping his tears away.
"No, my dear Nyx, your uncle wasn't purposefully looking to compete with your mom. It just appears your mom and uncle were blessed by the Creators to mate with alluring people. Thank you for the compliment." Aunt Zira fluffed her hair, obviously smug now.
"Yes, I thank you too for the compliment. It is a pleasure to help keep the Ajei Enclave as an elite-looking family. By the way, you are becoming more stunning yourself since I last saw you. Have you gained another level? Is that why you seem to positively glow now?" Uncle Hael asked in a voice I swear should be outlawed.
Taking a bite of my food and sipping my cider to cool my reaction to him, once I'm calmer, I respond to the question. I pretend I don't notice the calculation in the adult eyes confirming they noticed my reaction to him.
"No, uncle Hael. I haven't cultivated to the next level. My condition from my incident and the ailment I was dealing with has caused side effects and damages I must heal from before I can focus on cultivating. Right now, I'm rebuilding and consolidating my foundation, so it's just the result of my week of reforging, you are seeing. I've removed people and things out of my life that do not enhance my life so I can better my life." I make sure they see the ambition in my eyes.
"I can't have my cousins catching up to me too soon. I have to keep pushing forward so they have even one more path to follow on their ascension. Isn't that the Ajei way?" I ask, then eat some of my food while they all look contemplative at me.