As the ancestors were having their little discussion, Valdis' entire world felt dark, with the only source of light coming from a silvery blob of metal.
Truthfully, after forming a connection with the blob, he didn't know what he would do next.
Although he heard the Second ancestor's last statement to him, he felt it was unnecessary because as soon as he formed a connection with the silvery blob, he felt all connections to the outside world start to fade, and his ability to leave this space was the first to vanish, and his hearing was the last.
So the Second ancestor said he should envision a weapon that would suit him perfectly. A weapon that will seamlessly let him incorporate his fighting style and techniques as he uses it.
This made him love the weapon already, even though he hadn't created it yet, but he knew that whatever he would end up creating would fit him perfectly.
But there was a slight problem,
How was he supposed to do that?
This question frustrated him to no end because as soon as he entered this space, all connections he had to the silvery blob got cut off, and the worst part was that he couldn't ask the Second ancestor for advice on how to go about it, as he was stuck in this space.
"Are your thoughts always this chaotic?" a voice asked.
At this moment, all Valdis' thoughts came to a halt. His brain felt blank for a moment before he quickly pulled himself together, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling.
'I'm just hearing things. No one can be in this space with me' he thought to himself.
"Your thoughts make me worry about the Ebonhart's future because it seems you people are getting progressively dumber with each passing generation," the voice said again.
It was at this point that he properly listened to the voice.
The voice came from every direction, but sounded feminine and sweet, like warm honey poured over crystal.
It sounded Soft.
Lyrical even.
Each syllable carried a subtle cadence, rising and falling with effortless grace, as though even sound itself wished to linger upon her tongue. It was not loud, nor forceful — yet it threaded through the space and wrapped around his ear with quiet authority.
There was a certain charm to it
But not the innocent kind.
It sounded enchanting.
The kind of voice that did not demand attention — it claimed it.
A single word from her lips was enough to still idle conversations. Heads turned unconsciously. Breath hitched before reason could intervene.
For a man unguarded, it would be dangerous.
But at this point, it sounded like the scariest thing Valdis had ever heard.
Every hair on his body stood straight, and immediately he shifted into battle mode, preparing himself for anything.
Seeing this, the voice let out a helpless sigh.
"It seems the only thing everyone carrying the Ebonhart bloodline knows how to do best is fight. Even in moments when they absolutely have no need to, knowing full well that resistance is futile, but who am I to judge? That's one thing I loved about Lucien. That unyielding spirit."
The last part came from behind him, and without wasting a beat, Valdis immediately spun while propelling himself backwards, creating a space between him and the voice. Trying to catch the figure of the speaker
As he landed, he immediately saw no one there, but that didn't make him withdraw his fighting stance. He then pushed his senses to their absolute limit to prevent any surprises.
It was at this moment that a hand gently grabbed his shoulder while the same voice whispered in his ear, but this time it was accompanied by the warmth from her breath.
"Classic Ebonhart," the Voice whispered.
Valdis wasted no time driving his fist in the direction of the voice. His actions were swift and merciless, but all he hit was air, and immediately his figure blurred forward.
As he turned, and this time he saw a woman standing there, and just saying she was beautiful would not do justice to how enchanting she looked.
She stood in one spot as though the night itself had chosen a shape.
The black gown she wore clung to her like poured ink, seamless and fluid, its fabric absorbing the light rather than reflecting it. It traced the elegant line of her shoulders before flowing downward in a dark cascade, embracing every curve with deliberate grace.
The dress did not reveal too much — it did not need to. It suggested. It implied. It allowed the imagination to wander where it dared.
Her hair was a deep, vivid red — not the brightness of flame, but the richer shade of smoldering embers beneath ash. It spilled over her shoulders in soft waves, contrasting strikingly against the midnight hue of her gown.
But it was her eyes that held true danger.
Dark.
Not merely brown or black, but fathomless — as though light itself vanished within them. To meet her gaze was to feel the subtle pull, a quiet tug at the edge of one's awareness.
They invited.
And that invitation felt perilously close to stepping over the lip of an unseen abyss.
Her figure was sculpted with deliberate perfection. The gown followed the fullness of her chest before tapering elegantly at her waist, emphasizing the natural curve of her hips. The lines of her body were harmonious — neither exaggerated nor concealed — each contour balanced in a way that felt almost unfairly precise. When she shifted her weight, the fabric moved against her form like a shadow reluctant to part from its mistress.
There was strength beneath all that softness.
A poised stillness that suggested she could glide forward without a sound — or close the distance in a heartbeat.
She did not need to bare fangs to command attention.
She simply stood there.
And the air around her felt warmer… thinner… charged with something unspoken.
The scene looked beautiful.
Enchanting.
And unmistakably dangerous.
"Do you know that staring at a woman like that is incredibly rude?" She asked as she tilted her head to the side.
Her voice knocked him out of his stupor.
Valdis seemed to think about something for a brief second before he withdrew his fighting stance.
Seeing this, she asked, "You don't want to fight anymore?"
"What's the point of fighting a battle where there is no possibility of you winning and no possibility of you escaping?" he responded
His response left her speechless, and before he could react, she was already in front of him, scrutinizing every inch of his body. Finally, her dark eyes came to a stop at his crimson eyes before she smiled.
"It seems this Ebonhart comes with a brain."
After saying that, her figure returned to where she had been standing
"Forgive my rudeness from before; it's been a long time since I've teased someone, and as soon as I saw your confused expression, I couldn't help it." As she said this, she chuckled slightly
"What's your name?" she asked
"Valdis," he responded, "What about yours?"
"Where are my manners. My name is Nyxaria, former guardian of the House Ebonhart." As soon as she said this, she performed an elaborate bow.
As he heard her title, his brain went blank for the second time today.