After two hundred and eleven years forty-seven days and some hours, Lith was finally back home.
The familiar scent of roses in the air, the darkness of the night, the silver-crimson moon, the Victorian-styled gothic castle…
Everything brought peace and calmness to Lith's Vampire's heart.
Before he even knew it, three centuries had passed in this new world.
It certainly felt long, but also not as long. Things were strange, his perception was changed.
There were many things Lith had to reflect on now that he was home, but he put all the matters on hold and thought of spending some 'quality' time with his family first.
To Lith's dismay, he wasn't taken to the bedroom, but to the biggest rooftop of the castle.
There, his aunts and maids were sitting and having a tea party of some sort.
Lith smiled and waved at them, but before he could speak something, something wrapped around his waist and he felt a strong pull upwards, as if he had been slingshotted.
"What was that performance, nephew?" The first one to speak was surprisingly his dragon aunt.
"Yeah, what was that terrible performance? You could've done so much better." Lucifer, the one controlling a whip of Darkness element that hung Lith upside-down in the air, added.
"Nephew… There's so much you have to improve upon." Agalea too didn't say anything comforting this time.
Lith slightly furrowed his brows. What was this situation? Like usual, after an adventure, shouldn't there be a rain of kisses and beauties falling into his embrace because they missed him?
Well, he was joking, but that certainly was what happened every time he went out and came back home.
What's with the unusual atmosphere? Lith turned to look at his mother for an answer.
Lilith's eyes were lowered, she focused on her tea and not Lith, making his furrow deepen. It seems even his mother was on this time!
'What did I do though?' Lith wondered.
Mayzin took a step forward and locking eyes with Lith, said, "Recklessly charging at a boulder… Recklessly Recklessly charging into a Devil's dwelling… Recklessly charging at the church…."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe more Mayzin spoke, the more Lith frowned. 'Shit… They really are lecturing me…'
This was a surprise. After being so used to gentleness, getting scolded the first thing after coming home was like getting a sweet lollipop replaced from one's mouth with a bitter gourd.
It was anything but good.
Thankfully, the lecture lasted only for the next three hours.
Initially his aunts scolded him for being reckless, but then they handed out a lot of useful insights and things he could've improved upon.
A bit into the lecture, Lith realized on the surface his aunts seemed annoyed, but internally everything they were saying was full of concern and love. They wanted him to improve and be his best, hence this time around, they didn't hug or greet him, but went straight to the point.
They also mentioned that Lith was older now, a young adult to be precise. He had to take things more seriously and not be rash.
Being older meant having added responsibilities. Lith also took in disciples, he also had many wives and lovers to look after. If not for himself, he had to think about them while doing things.
Dying was not an option anymore. Lith had to be careful and weigh the consequences of his actions properly.
Lith's head felt heavy. Whether it was the weight of his aunts' words or the blood rushing to his head due to being hung upside-down, Lith didn't know.
A lot of teachings were given today in the span of the last three hours from all his aunts.
All things were noted down, thanks to the system in his mind. It came handy at times and was quite useful.
The maids stood with a professional neutral face at the sides, but their slight grin didn't go unnoticed by Lith.
A new comment was added in his to-do list as he watched them. It was to punish some mischievous damsels.
Eventually, Lith was let go, and Lucifer stretched her palms over head.
"I'm parched after talking so much."
Lilith put the teacup down and flashed a small smile. "Me too."
The maids stared at their madam as she said that and tried to hide their knowing grins.
Agalea and Mayzin were too innocent to understand the innuendos.
Mayzin massaged her shoulder and said, "Well then… I should get going. There's a lot of work that needs to be done."
Lith looked at her and said, "Why don't you stay for a few days, aunt? It's not everyday that everybody is in one place. Let's have a small party."
Despite the many years, Lith hadn't given up on pursuing his aunt. He couldn't outright ask her to spend time with him as that would be too weird, but he could for sure use this reuniting opportunity as a means.
Lith's tone didn't contain any malice. He didn't seem to possess any ulterior motives and nobody on the rooftop felt it, not even Lucifer.
Mayzin shook her head and said, "I would love to, but there's a lot of work piled up. Oh and, your crowd control was subpar at best. The way you put pressure on the church members was alright, but not the best. Come to the castle at a later date, I'll give you some pointers."
Lith blinked his eyes and stared at his aunt. He didn't achieve what he wanted to… but he was somehow still on the right track.
Mayzin bid everyone farewell and Lith gave her a hug before she left. There was nothing more to dwell on this topic and he could only watch her leave.
Once she was gone, Lucifer cleared her throat and said, "I don't want to be that person, and I've changed a lot in the past few years…"
Everyone turned to look at her, puzzled.
Lucifer looked back at Lith. "Why are you looking at me like that? As per the norms… Aren't we supposed to fuck now?"
The maids facepalmed at Lady Lucifer's bold comment, having heard it for the first time from her while Lilith and Agalea shook their heads with a smile.
Lilith got up and held Lith's hand. She looked at Lucifer and said gently, "You need to wait, Lucifer. I haven't seen my baby in a long while, there's a lot we need to talk about."
Lucifer clicked her tongue. "Can't you wait instead?"
Lilith raised her eyebrow and said with a smirk, "If I talk to him, he'll break through the King Rank. Can you assure me you can achieve the same?"
A flicker ran through Lucifer's eyes. She ignored the last question Lilith asked and focused on the breakthrough part.
"Are you sure?"
"100%."
"…" Lucifer fell silent and weighed the pros and cons. After a few seconds, she asked, "How long will it take?"
Lilith thought about it and said, "Not more than a month or two… I guess?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmLucifer's hands trembled. "Shit… Alright. It's just two more months. I can control myself."
Lilith let out a soft chuckle. "I suggest you focus on cultivation and stay away from triggers. Also, dont breastfeed in the coming two months. It'll help you more."
Lucifer gritted her teeth. "I'll manage. Bye."
Without waiting, Lucifer took off like a rocket and left the castle.
Agalea tilted her head in confusion and asked, "What was that all about?"
"Something important to her." Lilith said with a soft chuckle. "Anyway, I'll be needing your help in Lith's ascension."
"Mine?" Agalea asked, confused.
"More precisely, Alea's. This breakthrough would be beneficial to both." Lilith said.
Agalea nodded in understanding. "I'll bring her here then. I feel she should be breaking through as well."
"Lovely." Lilith clapped her hand. "Bring her over, I'll talk with baby until then."
Agalea nodded and vanished from her spot to get Alea.
Lilith then gave some instructions to the maids and walked away with Lith.
Lith was quite surprised by the sudden change of events. He didn't know where his mother's confidence stemmed from, but she sure was right.
He was feeling it himself. The breakthrough was near. He was a peak Half-King Rank and it shouldn't take long until he was a King.
However, that short time still amounted to a few years.
There were some laws he hadn't comprehended yet. He lacked in the aspect of Destruction, Wind, and Time.
Light was taken care of after his visit to Two Path Blind Mountain World, but those elements were something he barely touched after his ascension to Half-King.
Keeping affinities hidden to be used as trump cards was making Lith lack in them. He would forget to cultivate or look for opportunities about those elements in private or care about them only when his ascension was near.
This was not the first time it has happened.
In any case, his mother's confident comment made Lith wonder how the breakthrough was going to happen.
Would she teach him those elements and make his breakthrough? Or would she give him some potion or sort? Lith didn't know, but he was looking forward to it.