The Nocturne Estate never truly slept.
Even at dawn, movement existed everywhere.
Servants crossed polished hallways carrying silver trays and stacks of documents. Guards rotated formations across the inner grounds with frightening precision. Messengers moved between wings of the estate under escort. Somewhere in the distance, steel clashed rhythmically from the training arenas.
Everything moved with purpose.
Everything watched.
And now…
They watched Riven.
The moment he stepped out onto one of the elevated stone walkways overlooking the inner courtyard, he felt it immediately.
Eyes.
Not hostile.
Not welcoming either.
Measured.
The estate was studying him.
Riven walked slowly along the terrace, hands resting loosely in his pockets as cool morning wind brushed against his dark clothing. His longer hair shifted slightly with the breeze, silver moonlight still faintly lingering in several strands despite sunrise already creeping over the horizon.
Below him, several younger Nocturne warriors sparred under supervision.
The instant one of them noticed him
Their movements faltered.
Whispers followed.
"That's him…"
"Tyrella's son?"
"They said he fought Rigor and survived…"
"No… they said he beat him."
"Impossible."
Riven kept walking.
Pretending not to hear.
But he heard everything.
His senses had become too sharp for ignorance.
As he descended toward the lower courtyard, another thing became obvious.
The guards.
They were subtle.
Very subtle.
But not subtle enough.
Two stationed near the western archway shifted positions the moment he changed direction.
Another casually mirrored his route from an adjacent corridor.
Not escorting.
Monitoring.
Riven sighed softly.
"Not even trying to hide it…"
"You noticed?"
The voice came from behind him.
Nyss.
Riven glanced sideways as she approached, dressed far more simply than she had been back in the Fourth Order. Without royal attire and ceremonial markings, she looked strangely freer.
More real.
Still beautiful though.
Painfully so.
Riven quickly looked away before his brain betrayed him again.
Nyss crossed her arms lightly.
"You're being observed."
"I figured."
She looked around the estate grounds carefully.
"It's because they don't know what you are yet."
Riven smirked faintly.
"Neither do I."
That answer lingered heavier than expected.
Nyss noticed it immediately.
Before she could respond, a group of passing servants suddenly froze near the fountain walkway.
Not because of her.
Because of him.
One of them stared directly at Riven's eyes for half a second too long before quickly lowering her head.
Another whispered nervously:
"The pressure…"
"It's leaking again."
Riven blinked.
Pressure?
He looked down at his own hand.
Sure enough
Tiny streaks of black and silver aura flickered unconsciously around his fingers before fading.
His core was unstable again.
Or perhaps…
Too active.
Nyss stepped closer quietly.
"You should suppress it more."
"I am suppressing it."
"That's the problem."
Riven frowned slightly.
Before he could reply
A small voice suddenly rang out nearby.
"Hey!"
Riven turned.
Three Nocturne children stood near the courtyard pillars staring at him with blatant curiosity.
One pointed directly.
"That's him!"
Another gasped.
"The shadow-eyed one!"
The youngest tilted his head innocently.
"Are you really Lady Tyrella's son?"
Nyss immediately looked like she wanted the earth to swallow all three children alive.
But Riven…
Actually smiled slightly.
"Yeah," he answered calmly.
The children stared harder.
Then one suddenly blurted:
"Did you really kill a First Order monster?"
Nyss choked slightly.
Riven scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"…Long story."
The youngest stepped closer.
"You don't look scary."
A pause.
Then another child immediately whispered loudly:
"That's because strong people don't need to look scary, idiot."
Riven couldn't help it.
He laughed quietly.
For the first time since arriving at the estate
The tension around him eased slightly.
Then a sharp female voice echoed across the courtyard.
"You three are supposed to be training."
The children froze instantly.
A female instructor stood nearby glaring daggers at them.
The kids scattered like frightened rabbits.
One shouted while running:
"Nice meeting you, Tyrella's son!"
Riven blinked.
Then sighed.
"…I'm never escaping that title, am I?"
"No," Nyss answered immediately.
"Definitely not."
They continued walking.
Deeper into the estate grounds now.
The architecture slowly changed around them.
The lively atmosphere of the outer estate gave way to something quieter.
Older.
Stone pathways replaced polished flooring.
The air cooled noticeably.
Even the sounds of training and conversation faded.
Until eventually
They reached the inner meditation courtyard.
And immediately
Riven stopped walking.
Someone was there.
An old man sat beneath a massive silverleaf tree in the center of the courtyard.
Perfectly still.
Cross-legged.
Meditating.
At first glance, he looked ancient.
Long white hair flowed down his back like falling snow. Deep wrinkles marked his face, yet none of them suggested weakness.
Only age.
Only experience.
Even sitting still
The man radiated pressure so dense it made the surrounding air feel heavier.
Riven's instincts immediately reacted.
Danger.
Not violent danger.
But overwhelming existence.
The old man slowly opened his eyes.
Silver.
Sharp.
Ancient.
Then he smiled faintly.
"I see you, boy."
Riven stiffened slightly.
Nyss herself instinctively took half a step back.
The old man stood.
Slowly.
Yet somehow
Riven lost sight of him for a fraction of a second.
And suddenly
Lucien Nocturne stood directly behind him.
Riven's pupils contracted instantly.
What the
He didn't even sense movement.
His body reacted purely on instinct, nearly activating Shadow Step automatically before Lucien chuckled softly.
"Relax."
Riven turned quickly.
"How did you"
"Hm."
Lucien circled him slowly, studying him like an artifact rather than a person.
"You're a curious one."
His voice was calm.
But impossibly heavy.
"Your body…"
He placed a hand lightly against Riven's shoulder.
"…battle hardened."
Riven felt the pressure immediately.
Not an attack.
An evaluation.
Lucien narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Interesting."
He continued circling slowly.
"Your muscles carry combat memory far beyond your age."
Another pause.
"It almost feels as though you've lived through centuries of battle."
Riven swallowed slightly.
Even Nyss remained silent now.
Lucien stopped directly in front of him.
Then his gaze shifted lower.
Toward Riven's core.
And for the first time
The elder's expression changed slightly.
"…Fascinating."
Riven frowned.
Lucien stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"The ascended Night Wolf energy…"
"Impressive."
His eyes narrowed further.
"But this second core…"
A pause.
"…that one I do not recognize."
Silence settled over the courtyard.
Even the wind seemed quieter now.
Lucien's voice lowered slightly.
"It is dangerous."
Then unexpectedly
He smiled.
"But also beautiful."
Riven didn't know how to answer that.
Lucien stepped closer again.
"Tell me something, boy."
His silver eyes sharpened slightly.
"What ability have you mastered?"
Riven blinked.
"…Ability?"
Lucien nodded.
"Every Nocturne develops one eventually."
A faint grin appeared.
"Your uncle has Dead Calm."
Nyss glanced toward Riven curiously.
Lucien folded his hands behind his back.
"What about you?"
Riven hesitated.
Then scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Well…"
"I do have something."
Lucien leaned forward slightly.
"Oh?"
Riven exhaled.
"It's called Shadow Step."
Lucien's eyebrow lifted immediately.
"…Shadow Step?"
Riven nodded.
"It's… kinda similar to Dead Calm, I think."
"Explain."
Riven thought for a moment.
Then answered honestly.
"When my body senses fatal attacks…"
"…my perception slows down automatically."
Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly.
Riven continued.
"My body reacts before my brain fully processes what's happening."
He looked down at his hand briefly.
"It moves on instinct."
A pause.
"Sometimes faster than I can consciously control."
Nyss blinked slightly.
"…That sounds broken."
Riven ignored her.
"Afterward though…"
"…I feel exhausted."
Lucien listened carefully the entire time.
Completely silent.
Then slowly
He began stroking his beard again.
"…Fascinating."
A long pause followed.
Then unexpectedly
Lucien burst into laughter.
Not loud.
But genuine.
"Tyrella truly gave birth to something absurd."
Riven blinked.
"That's… supposed to be a compliment?"
"It is."
Lucien grinned.
"Mostly."
Nyss covered her mouth slightly, hiding amusement.
Lucien turned away casually and began walking back toward the silverleaf tree.
"Well," he said lightly, "it was nice chatting with you, boy."
Riven frowned slightly.
"That's it?"
Lucien waved one hand dismissively.
"For now."
Then he suddenly stopped midway.
Without turning around
"Oh."
Riven looked up.
Lucien smirked slightly.
"Tell your grumpy uncle…"
"…this old man would welcome a rematch anytime."
Riven blinked.
"…You fought Eryx?"
Lucien scoffed.
"Fought?"
A grin slowly spread across the old elder's face.
"That brat challenged me fifty years ago."
Nyss nearly choked.
"Fifty years?!"
Lucien shrugged casually.
"He lost."
Another pause.
"Terribly."
From somewhere deeper inside the estate
Eryx's annoyed voice suddenly echoed:
"I CAN STILL HEAR YOU, OLD MAN."
Lucien laughed loudly this time.
Riven stared between them in disbelief.
These people…
Were insane.
But strangely
For the first time in a long while
Riven felt something unfamiliar.
Not fear.
Not survival instinct.
Not pressure.
Something quieter.
Something warmer.
Belonging.
And somewhere deep within him
The Night Wolf core pulsed once.
Softly.
As though recognizing home.The Eyes of House Nocturne
The Nocturne Estate never truly slept.
Even at dawn, movement existed everywhere.
Servants crossed polished hallways carrying silver trays and stacks of documents. Guards rotated formations across the inner grounds with frightening precision. Messengers moved between wings of the estate under escort. Somewhere in the distance, steel clashed rhythmically from the training arenas.
Everything moved with purpose.
Everything watched.
And now…
They watched Riven.
The moment he stepped out onto one of the elevated stone walkways overlooking the inner courtyard, he felt it immediately.
Eyes.
Not hostile.
Not welcoming either.
Measured.
The estate was studying him.
Riven walked slowly along the terrace, hands resting loosely in his pockets as cool morning wind brushed against his dark clothing. His longer hair shifted slightly with the breeze, silver moonlight still faintly lingering in several strands despite sunrise already creeping over the horizon.
Below him, several younger Nocturne warriors sparred under supervision.
The instant one of them noticed him
Their movements faltered.
Whispers followed.
"That's him…"
"Tyrella's son?"
"They said he fought Rigor and survived…"
"No… they said he beat him."
"Impossible."
Riven kept walking.
Pretending not to hear.
But he heard everything.
His senses had become too sharp for ignorance.
As he descended toward the lower courtyard, another thing became obvious.
The guards.
They were subtle.
Very subtle.
But not subtle enough.
Two stationed near the western archway shifted positions the moment he changed direction.
Another casually mirrored his route from an adjacent corridor.
Not escorting.
Monitoring.
Riven sighed softly.
"Not even trying to hide it…"
"You noticed?"
The voice came from behind him.
Nyss.
Riven glanced sideways as she approached, dressed far more simply than she had been back in the Fourth Order. Without royal attire and ceremonial markings, she looked strangely freer.
More real.
Still beautiful though.
Painfully so.
Riven quickly looked away before his brain betrayed him again.
Nyss crossed her arms lightly.
"You're being observed."
"I figured."
She looked around the estate grounds carefully.
"It's because they don't know what you are yet."
Riven smirked faintly.
"Neither do I."
That answer lingered heavier than expected.
Nyss noticed it immediately.
Before she could respond, a group of passing servants suddenly froze near the fountain walkway.
Not because of her.
Because of him.
One of them stared directly at Riven's eyes for half a second too long before quickly lowering her head.
Another whispered nervously:
"The pressure…"
"It's leaking again."
Riven blinked.
Pressure?
He looked down at his own hand.
Sure enough
Tiny streaks of black and silver aura flickered unconsciously around his fingers before fading.
His core was unstable again.
Or perhaps…
Too active.
Nyss stepped closer quietly.
"You should suppress it more."
"I am suppressing it."
"That's the problem."
Riven frowned slightly.
Before he could reply
A small voice suddenly rang out nearby.
"Hey!"
Riven turned.
Three Nocturne children stood near the courtyard pillars staring at him with blatant curiosity.
One pointed directly.
"That's him!"
Another gasped.
"The shadow-eyed one!"
The youngest tilted his head innocently.
"Are you really Lady Tyrella's son?"
Nyss immediately looked like she wanted the earth to swallow all three children alive.
But Riven…
Actually smiled slightly.
"Yeah," he answered calmly.
The children stared harder.
Then one suddenly blurted:
"Did you really kill a First Order monster?"
Nyss choked slightly.
Riven scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"…Long story."
The youngest stepped closer.
"You don't look scary."
A pause.
Then another child immediately whispered loudly:
"That's because strong people don't need to look scary, idiot."
Riven couldn't help it.
He laughed quietly.
For the first time since arriving at the estate
The tension around him eased slightly.
Then a sharp female voice echoed across the courtyard.
"You three are supposed to be training."
The children froze instantly.
A female instructor stood nearby glaring daggers at them.
The kids scattered like frightened rabbits.
One shouted while running:
"Nice meeting you, Tyrella's son!"
Riven blinked.
Then sighed.
"…I'm never escaping that title, am I?"
"No," Nyss answered immediately.
"Definitely not."
They continued walking.
Deeper into the estate grounds now.
The architecture slowly changed around them.
The lively atmosphere of the outer estate gave way to something quieter.
Older.
Stone pathways replaced polished flooring.
The air cooled noticeably.
Even the sounds of training and conversation faded.
Until eventually
They reached the inner meditation courtyard.
And immediately
Riven stopped walking.
Someone was there.
An old man sat beneath a massive silverleaf tree in the center of the courtyard.
Perfectly still.
Cross-legged.
Meditating.
At first glance, he looked ancient.
Long white hair flowed down his back like falling snow. Deep wrinkles marked his face, yet none of them suggested weakness.
Only age.
Only experience.
Even sitting still
The man radiated pressure so dense it made the surrounding air feel heavier.
Riven's instincts immediately reacted.
Danger.
Not violent danger.
But overwhelming existence.
The old man slowly opened his eyes.
Silver.
Sharp.
Ancient.
Then he smiled faintly.
"I see you, boy."
Riven stiffened slightly.
Nyss herself instinctively took half a step back.
The old man stood.
Slowly.
Yet somehow
Riven lost sight of him for a fraction of a second.
And suddenly
Lucien Nocturne stood directly behind him.
Riven's pupils contracted instantly.
What the
He didn't even sense movement.
His body reacted purely on instinct, nearly activating Shadow Step automatically before Lucien chuckled softly.
"Relax."
Riven turned quickly.
"How did you"
"Hm."
Lucien circled him slowly, studying him like an artifact rather than a person.
"You're a curious one."
His voice was calm.
But impossibly heavy.
"Your body…"
He placed a hand lightly against Riven's shoulder.
"…battle hardened."
Riven felt the pressure immediately.
Not an attack.
An evaluation.
Lucien narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Interesting."
He continued circling slowly.
"Your muscles carry combat memory far beyond your age."
Another pause.
"It almost feels as though you've lived through centuries of battle."
Riven swallowed slightly.
Even Nyss remained silent now.
Lucien stopped directly in front of him.
Then his gaze shifted lower.
Toward Riven's core.
And for the first time
The elder's expression changed slightly.
"…Fascinating."
Riven frowned.
Lucien stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"The ascended Night Wolf energy…"
"Impressive."
His eyes narrowed further.
"But this second core…"
A pause.
"…that one I do not recognize."
Silence settled over the courtyard.
Even the wind seemed quieter now.
Lucien's voice lowered slightly.
"It is dangerous."
Then unexpectedly
He smiled.
"But also beautiful."
Riven didn't know how to answer that.
Lucien stepped closer again.
"Tell me something, boy."
His silver eyes sharpened slightly.
"What ability have you mastered?"
Riven blinked.
"…Ability?"
Lucien nodded.
"Every Nocturne develops one eventually."
A faint grin appeared.
"Your uncle has Dead Calm."
Nyss glanced toward Riven curiously.
Lucien folded his hands behind his back.
"What about you?"
Riven hesitated.
Then scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Well…"
"I do have something."
Lucien leaned forward slightly.
"Oh?"
Riven exhaled.
"It's called Shadow Step."
Lucien's eyebrow lifted immediately.
"…Shadow Step?"
Riven nodded.
"It's… kinda similar to Dead Calm, I think."
"Explain."
Riven thought for a moment.
Then answered honestly.
"When my body senses fatal attacks…"
"…my perception slows down automatically."
Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly.
Riven continued.
"My body reacts before my brain fully processes what's happening."
He looked down at his hand briefly.
"It moves on instinct."
A pause.
"Sometimes faster than I can consciously control."
Nyss blinked slightly.
"…That sounds broken."
Riven ignored her.
"Afterward though…"
"…I feel exhausted."
Lucien listened carefully the entire time.
Completely silent.
Then slowly
He began stroking his beard again.
"…Fascinating."
A long pause followed.
Then unexpectedly
Lucien burst into laughter.
Not loud.
But genuine.
"Tyrella truly gave birth to something absurd."
Riven blinked.
"That's… supposed to be a compliment?"
"It is."
Lucien grinned.
"Mostly."
Nyss covered her mouth slightly, hiding amusement.
Lucien turned away casually and began walking back toward the silverleaf tree.
"Well," he said lightly, "it was nice chatting with you, boy."
Riven frowned slightly.
"That's it?"
Lucien waved one hand dismissively.
"For now."
Then he suddenly stopped midway.
Without turning around
"Oh."
Riven looked up.
Lucien smirked slightly.
"Tell your grumpy uncle…"
"…this old man would welcome a rematch anytime."
Riven blinked.
"…You fought Eryx?"
Lucien scoffed.
"Fought?"
A grin slowly spread across the old elder's face.
"That brat challenged me fifty years ago."
Nyss nearly choked.
"Fifty years?!"
Lucien shrugged casually.
"He lost."
Another pause.
"Terribly."
From somewhere deeper inside the estate
Eryx's annoyed voice suddenly echoed:
"I CAN STILL HEAR YOU, OLD MAN."
Lucien laughed loudly this time.
Riven stared between them in disbelief.
These people…
Were insane.
But strangely
For the first time in a long while
Riven felt something unfamiliar.
Not fear.
Not survival instinct.
Not pressure.
Something quieter.
Something warmer.
Belonging.
And somewhere deep within him
The Night Wolf core pulsed once.
Softly.
As though recognizing home.