WHISPERS OF TWILIGHT CHAPTER 3: First meeting with Strange girl

"But what if everything you hold dear is forcefully ripped away? Will you then find yourself standing on the edge of life, torn between longing for an end or hoping for their return?"

              ­ -------------------------------------------------------------

In NIGHTNOVA clan mansion,

Regis at a banquet, engaging in conversations with other nobles while maintaining his cold demeanor and a polite smile. As the evening progresses, the guests begin to depart, making their way back to their respective mansions.

Suddenly, Calista approaches Regis and informs him, "Regis, you can go to your room now. The important guests have already left, and the remaining ones will be attended to by the servants."

Regis responds in a warm tone, "Alright, I will take my leave then."

Regis ascends the stairs, following a grand hall adorned with magnificent antique pieces made of gold and silver. At the end of the hall, he enters his room. As the moon rises in the darkened sky, casting an ethereal glow through the large windows, two halls stand connected. These halls whisper secrets of tranquility and embrace the allure of nightfall.

The entrance hall is adorned with intricate wallpaper featuring delicate vines and blooming flowers. A lavish four-poster bed, adorned with plush, velvet drapes in shades of indigo, takes center stage. Soft, silky sheets and an abundance of pillows, each meticulously arranged, entice weary souls to rest their heads.

On either side of the bed, delicate nightstands stand like sentinels. Antique lamps, emit a warm, gentle glow. Shadows of Serenity, as this unique room is fondly named, is a testament to the inherent beauty and tranquility found within the darkness

  Regis proceeds towards the Living room hall, which leads to the washroom located at the end. Upon entering, he prepares himself for a refreshing bath.

In the washroom, a grand pool awaits, its spaciousness designed for luxurious bathing. Decorative arrows embellish the sides, adding an aesthetic touch to the surroundings. Regis begins to undress, exposing his well-toned physique that defies his young age. He steps into the pool gracefully and sinks into the warm water,

As the comforting water surrounds him, Regis closes his eyes as his  thoughts drift back to the mysterious meeting at the window, He can't help but think about what happened and try to make sense of it.

[ Flashback starts ]

"But what if everything you hold dear is forcefully ripped away? Will you then find yourself standing on the edge of life, torn between longing for an end or hoping for their return?"

Confused and with a furrowed brow, Regis questions, "What do you mean?" The girl standing at the window rises and begins to walk along the sides. She explains, "Imagine your loved ones are in danger. If you choose to abandon them and pursue your own freedom, they will perish. But if you decide to save them, you will be the one to perish."

Facing Regis directly, she points both hands towards him and speaks in a dark tone, "So, which will you choose: Freedom or Sacrifice?" A chilling wind sweeps through, as if the girl is preparing to consume him.

Regis, feeling uneasy and stunned by her reappearance, conceals his unease and responds with confidence in a cold tone, "If that situation arises, I will choose neither."

The girl's amusement grows, and she bursts into loud laughter, saying, "Hah! You think you can escape the consequences? How amusing!"

In a serious tone, the girl fixed her piercing eyes on Regis and said, "Fate has a funny way of catching up with those who try to outsmart it."

Regis tries to maintain his composure, his eyes narrowing, and his voice coldly assertive, "We'll see about that."

The girl, with amused eyes, loud laughing said, "Hahaha! You are interesting." With more amused expression, she points her hands at Regis and remarked, "You are interesting indeed."

The wind howls fiercely, and in an instant, the girl vanishes. Regis, witnessing her sudden disappearance, hurriedly scans the surroundings, searching for any trace of her presence. However, she is nowhere to be found.

Regis wonders aloud, "Who was she?"

Just then, a servant bows and informs Regis, "Young master, the lady is calling for you."

Regis nods and replies, "Alright. You may go now."

The servant acknowledges the instruction and departs from the scene.

[Flashback ends]

Regis emerges from the depths of the water, his eyes blinking open.

He ponders aloud, "Which clan could she be from?"

Deep in thought, he pondered "the seven powerful clans that hold authority and strength within Infernum. The first is IRAE, distinguished by their emerald eyes and fiery red hair.

The second is his own clan, NIGHTNOVA, characterized by their silver and black hair or eyes.

AVARITI, the third clan, possesses striking blue hair.

VORAGO, the fourth clan, boasts grey hair.

INVIDEIA, the fifth clan, has captivating pink eyes.

SUPERBIA, the sixth clan, has dark black hair.

Finally, ACEDIA, the seventh clan, dons white hair and often has closed eyes."

As Regis dresses himself, he stands before the mirror, placing his hand over his eyes' reflection. He murmurs softly to himself, "Who am I to pass judgment on her appearance when I, too, stand apart from my own clan?" He gestures towards his eyes, which differ from those of his kin.

With a clap of his hands, he switches off the lights, plunging the room into darkness. Yet, even in the absence of illumination, his opulent bed in the center of the first hall glows with an ethereal radiance, showcasing its luxurious allure.

Without hesitation, he settles onto the soft mattress, finding solace and tranquility in its inviting embrace, drifting into a deep slumber almost instantaneously.

Some time later, Calista opened the door to Regis' room slowly, entered, patted his head, and quietly closed the door behind her. With a determined expression, she proceeded to the study room and gently knocked on the door. A voice from within responded, "Come inside." It was their father, Remus.

Calista entered the dimly lit room, where Remus was seated in his chair. She approached him, bowing respectfully, and in a relieved voice, she spoke, "Father, don't worry. Regis is peacefully sleeping in his room. The Irae clan siblings did not meet him."

Remus, still filled with concern, replied, "It is a relief to hear that from you, but I cannot shake off my worries. The brothers claimed they brought their youngest sibling, yet there was no sign of her. I fear that if she has already met him, then-"

Interrupting her father's thoughts, Calista embraced him from behind, offering comfort and reassurance.  said, "Father, don't worry. The prophecy mentioned by the Acedia clan head will not come true."

In a more worried tone, Remus responded, "I truly wish that it was false, but the Acedia clan has always been accurate in their premonitions of future fate. Just as they said when Regis was born..."

[Flashback]

In a luxurious room, Acedia Somnium Fidelis, the white-haired adult man and head of the Acedia clan, sits with his eyes closed. Ludex Noctis di Remus, the clan head of Night Nova, appears worried and shocked as he listens. Remus asks, "What are you saying? How can that be?"

Fidelis, with a serious demeanor, responds, "Believe it or not, your child's life will change after his first childhood ceremony. The person he encounters during that time will be the source of difficulty throughout his life. They will make his life miserable, and that person will never let him escape."

Anxious and concerned, Remus questions, "But can't I protect him? Can't I prevent him from experiencing that difficulty?"

Fidelis, wearing a sorrowful expression, answers, "That is not possible. The person who will bring this hardship is more powerful than both you and me combined. I'm sorry, Remus, but there is nothing you can do... However, there is one potential solution."

Anxious, Remus asks, "What is it?"

Fidelis, his expression growing more serious and conflicted, continues, "Your son's fate is entangled with two powerful individuals. One will bring crises, but... the other's impact will depend on your son's choice. This person can either save him or bring about his destruction even earlier."

Confused, Remus inquires, "Two individuals?destruction?"

Fidelis adds, "And the remarkable thing is that both will meet him on the same night. Their fates are intertwined with your son's choice. The fate of this world hangs in the balance, depending on your son's actions."

[Flashback ends]

Calista, with a tear streaming down her cheek, says, "Father, we'll protect Regis. Even if that prophecy is true, we'll stand by his side and fight against any hardship that may come."

Remus, calming down a bit, holds Calista's hand tightly and says, "You're right, my daughter. I'll protect Regis and You no matter what happens. I won't let any harm befall on you two."

      - - - -- - - - - - - -- -  - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - -  --  - - -

Irae clan mansion,

At the same time, inside the grand mansion of the Irae clan in Infernos, there is a study room with a window overlooking the surroundings. Standing by the window is an adult man, lost in his thoughts. Suddenly, there is a knock on the door. The man replies, "Yes, come in." Auris and Solaris enter the room, followed closely by a girl who moves silently like a shadow.

She approaches her father and calls out, "Father."

The father turns, kneels down, and opens his arms to embrace his daughter. The girl hurriedly hugs her father, and he leads her to sit on a comfortable nearby sofa.

At the same time, the brothers Solarius and Auris greet their esteemed Father while kneeling on the ground. Wearing dark red attire, with piercing green eyes that seem to see through everything, and short red hair, he is Irae Luxurai di Raven, the Head of the Irae clan.

The girl playfully engages with a flower vase on the table nearby, while Raven remains standing. He first focuses his attention on his sons, his gaze penetrating through them. He asks, "The banquet?"

Solaris, speaking cautiously while still kneeling, responds, "Father, the banquet proceeded smoothly, but..."

Interrupting with a glare, Raven asks, "But what?"

Solaris, seized by fear, stutters, "Sister... took matters into her own hands and... spoke directly to their son."

Raven's voice resonates with anger, "What? And where were you at that time?"

Filled with fear, Solaris apologizes, "I apologize, Father, for my shortcomings. We were not able to follow sister's traces."

Raven points out the ring on his finger towards Solaris and says, "Is a mere apology enough?" The scarlet red gem on the ring starts shining, and Solaris feels immense pain in his chest, falling down to the floor.

Raven, in anger, says, "You should be punished for incompetence."

Solaris, putting his hand on his chest, says, "Ahh... argh... Father... I apologize... Will not... again... please... stop... it."

Raven fixed his piercing eyes on Solaris, with a smirk on his face, and says, "It's early. taste it a bit longer."

Auris closes his eyes, bracing himself for what's to come. In that moment, the girl reaches out and grabs her father's hand, causing the ring to stop shining. Solaris catches his breath and sighs in relief, while Auris exhales a sigh of gratitude.

Raven, in an angry tone, says, "Sinistra, what are you doing?"

The moonlight shines on her from the window. The girl is Irae Luxuria Sinistra, with a dark and playful personality. She has dark shadow-green eyes ready to swallow everything in her sight and deep black hair that would devour all the light. She is the youngest child and the firstborn daughter of the Irae clan head. Despite being the youngest, she has the most strength among everyone present, even equal to her own father.

Sinistra talks in a dark tone, "Father, don't punish these brothers of mine. If I'm the one who wants to go, then nobody has the strength to stop me."

Raven starts laughing non-stop, says "Haha... yes, you are right. I was foolish to think that they would be able to keep their eyes on you."

Solaries, observing her sister with a mix of surprise and fear, softly whispered, "She stopped that ring!"

solarius pondered "In Infernos, each clan's leader possesses a ring adorned with their respective gem. It serves as a symbol of their status as the strongest individual within the clan. When someone joins the clan, they must imbue a part of their soul into the ring, signifying their loyalty to the leader. This requirement extends even to Blood realted family members, who also contribute a portion of their soul to the gem. The ring's sole allegiance lies with the strongest individual in the clan, responding only to their wishes......Could the ring have recognized her as the new head?" as Solaries pondered to himself.

Raven asked "So, my dear daughter, tell me, what do you think of their son?"

With a sinister smile playing on her lips, Sinistra reminisces about Regis' intriguing response. "Hehe... he was truly interesting," she murmurs, her voice dripping with dark amusement. As she pushes flower vase off the table, shattering it into countless pieces, Raven, Solaris, and Auris stand in stunned silence, their eyes fixed upon Sinistra, who radiates a charm of wickedness in her eyes.

Raven's laughter breaks the silence, filling the room with a chilling tone.

Solaris lets out a weary sigh, softly whispered, "That boy is in grave danger now."

Meanwhile, Auris wears a twisted smile, his mind consumed by lustful thoughts. "Calista, soon you will cry and beg before me," he whispers, his lips curling with desire, as he vividly recalls Calista's enraged eyes.

Outside, the moon hides behind a blanket of clouds, as if shielding its gaze from the unfolding darkness.