Acheron in Tensura

Chapter 22: 21. Family



At the ruins that were once a magnificent city, where the majestic Night Rose Castle once stood, now nothing remained but desolation and destruction caused by Veldora. Before the shattered remains of what had been, two figures stood silently over an ice coffin. One was taller than the other. Luminous, clutching tightly to her last thread of calm, held on to Acheron's presence as if it were her only anchor. Without Acheron, she would have succumbed to her rage.

"That stupid lizard," Luminous muttered, her voice shaking with restrained fury. "When I see him next time, he will know pain that's unimaginable."

Just as her temper flared, Luminous felt two mounds pressing gently against her head. Acheron had come up behind her and wrapped her arms around her. "Now that I think about it, you're more clingy than usual," Luminous remarked, half-smiling. "Not that I mind, but it's... unusual."

Acheron looked down at her with her usual calm, stoic expression. "When I was meditating, I've never felt something like this. How do I describe it...?"

"Lonely?" Luminous filled in the word Acheron couldn't find.

Acheron nodded slightly. "Hn."

Luminous's cheeks flushed a delicate pink. Despite the gravity of the situacion, she couldn't help feeling a spark of arousal, pressed against her head. But she quickly forced her mind to focus on the larger issues. The city was destroyed, the land tainted beyond repair. Rebuilding Night Rose here wasn't possible. She would need to relocate, and take serious measures against future attacks from true dragons.

As Luminous sank into her thoughts, Acheron watched her intently. Then, as if a light had flickered in her mind, Luminous's face brightened with an idea. "I know where to build the next city. And no dragon, no matter how stupid the lizards will be, they will not breach it this time."

Luminous broke free of Acheron's embrace and turned to face her. But as she looked into Acheron's eyes, she saw a hint of guilt in her otherwise emotionless face.

Luminous's expression darkened. "Don't tell me... you want to leave again, don't you?"

Acheron replied with brutal honesty. "Yes."

Luminous lowered her gaze to the ground, a knot forming in her chest. "How long?" She already knew how stubborn Acheron could be, beyond any reasoning. 

Silence.

Luminous stepped closer, her voice gaining a commanding edge. "Fine. If you don't know when you'll return, I will tell you when." She looked up at Acheron, her eyes burning with determination. "I'll give you around 200 years, and if you don't return by then... I will come for you."

Her words left no room for argument. Luminous closed the remaining distance between them and, with a possessive grip, grabbed Acheron by the collar and pulled her down to her level. "And when you return to my new sanctuary, you will be mine." Their faces were only inches apart now.

Acheron just nodded. Luminous noticed that the tips of Acheron's ears had turned red, and her usually calm composure showed subtle cracks of fluster. It was the first time she had seen Acheron this way. A mischievous smirk crossed Luminous's lips. "Well, I hope you cherish your freedom while you still have it," she teased, her voice low.

Luminous took the opportunity to enjoy the moment. She pushed Acheron's collar aside, exposing her shoulder. Then, without hesitation, she opened her mouth and sank her fangs into Acheron's soft skin. Acheron flinched slightly but didn't resist. Instead, she allowed Luminous to have her way. The sensation of warmth spread through Acheron's body, her heart beating faster than it ever had before. It was a strange and unfamiliar feeling—something new, something powerful.

Luminous reveled in the taste of Acheron's blood. It was rich, potent, and dangerous, filling her with a rush of adrenaline. After a few moments, she withdrew, licking her lips. "Acheron," she said, her voice softer now, "would you mind taking my family name?"

Acheron's face remained stoic, but her ears were as red as tomatoes, and even a little smoke seemed to rise from them. She simply nodded.

"This is my parting gift to you, Acheron Valentine." A soft glow enveloped Acheron, and to Luminous's surprise, the same glow surrounded her as well. She felt a strange sensation—a deep connection forming between them. 'Is this a Soul Corridor?' Luminous wondered, feeling the new skill awaken within her: **[Soulmate]**. The bond between them was eternal now, linking them in ways Luminous had never anticipated.

As the glowing subsided, Acheron brought her hand to her chest, where her heart was. Tears, unexpected and unbidden, welled up in her eyes and began to flow. It was as if something she had long been searching for in the emptiness of her soul had finally been found. Memories of Veldenava and Lucia whispered through her mind—this was what they had spoken of. But now that she had found it, she realized she couldn't stay. Not yet.

She was strong but there still were adversaries that were stronger than her. In her mind a Frost and fire dragon appeared. Velzard and Velgrynd.

Acheron looked down at the ground, her gaze falling on the last two flowers that remained amidst the ruins: a single black lily and a rose. She plucked a hair from her own head and then one from Luminous's, gathering the two flowers. With her Nihility aura, she began crafting something, infusing it with her energy.

"What are you doing, Acheron?" Luminous asked, watching the glowing light of creation around Acheron's hands.

An hour passed before Acheron finally completed her work. What emerged were two swords. One was a pitch-black blade, as thin as paper, nearly invisible under the night sky. The other was crimson, the hilt adorned with a rose motif.

"Black Lily," Acheron said, presenting the first blade. "And Night Rose," she added, offering the second.

(Pictures here)

Luminous stared at the gifts in awe. "T-thank you, Acheron," she stammered.

Acheron shook her head. "That's not enough," she whispered, stepping forward to hug Luminous once more, pressing her firmly into her chest. Luminous's face was once again buried in Acheron's soft mounds.

"See you later," Acheron said, with a genuine smile on her face. Her voice steady but filled with a new purpose. She released Luminous gently and turned away, leaving the ruins behind her.

(End of a chapter)


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.