Chapter 45 The Alluring woman

Nyx's POVThe Duchess visibly cringed under my harsh words her surprise evident.

Heh, she truly doesn't know how much Ethan matters to me. She can't possibly understand the depth of my care. I would never let anything happen to him—not even a single scratch. My eyes grew cold as I intensified my stare watching Altheria's expression closely determined not to let anything slip past me.

Altheria's expression shifted minutely several times. She had realized that I most likely wouldn't tolerate any excuses so she sighed and finally spoke.

"It's not what you think. You of all people should know that I'm not one of those idiots who had abducted younglings of the various races for blood farming in the past nor am I blood-crazed. I would never harm your disciple."

Her explanation didn't convince me. The crazed expression on her face when she first tasted Ethan's blood was still fresh in my mind.

"Haah. Okay," she admitted with reluctance, "I'll confess that I am indeed a bit interested in Ethan's mysterious bloodline."

"A bit? Haah," I sneered, my disbelief and mocking evident in my tone.

Altheria composed herself and continued in an even tone. "You know that at our level growing our power is too tough and it only progresses when we deepen our understanding of our affinities and their intricacies. Ethan's blood helped me glimpse that door for a fleeting moment, and I simply wish to observe him a little more."

Her voice grew firm as she added, "I give you my word that I will not extract or drink your disciple's blood. You have my assurance on this."

I remained skeptical but nodded nonetheless. I had already pushed her too far and she had complied with my demands so far. Asking for a blood oath would only strain our friendship further and losing her as an ally and a rare trustable friend would not be worth the risk.

Something crossed my mind and I decided to ask. My expression turned serious.

"What do you think is the origin of Ethan's bloodline?" I asked. If anyone could discern the truth, it was Altheria. Her knowledge of bloodlines and their origins surpassed even the other two dukes, especially with her family's connection to the Dark Moon Goddess.

Upon hearing my question, Altheria sat up straight and her expression grew solemn.

"What I'm about to say will shock you, so I suggest you sit down," she said, waving her hand. A tall black chair appeared behind me.

Without acknowledging her theatrics, I took the seat and waited for her to speak.

"Considering his surname, I can assume that he's from the LucentVoid clan, which was destroyed not long ago by the Ignisfel Lineage of the Empire of Infernal Sovereignty."

Her words stunned me as I had not tried to find intelligence on Ethan's background but Altheria's knowledge was obviously greater so I stayed silent as she continued.

"The LucentVoid clan was a good mid-sized clan with grade-4 Sky Realm beings among its members. Their bloodline granted them abilities related to mind manipulation, nightmares, and illusions."

"But," she paused meaningfully, "there was no silver radiance observed in their bloodline magic. This suggests that the bloodline running through Ethan's veins is either a mutation or…"

"Or what?" I blurted out, unable to suppress my curiosity.

"Or it could be an extremely rare or nearly impossible case where a bloodline traces back to its origin. And the origin of the LucentVoid clan likely reaches into a higher world."

I was left dumbfounded, the weight of her prediction settling heavily in my mind. My thoughts raced, and my eyes lit up with realization.

"Doesn't that mean…"

Ethan's POV

As I followed the girl Virelle, I feigned interest in the murals and the castle walls but in truth my soul sense was fixated on something far more enticing and that was her swaying hips and her alluring back.

My mind whirred with thoughts and considering her antisocial behaviour it didn't take long for me to conclude that she was a natural-born seductress.

Master and Aurelia were undeniably beautiful in their own right each possessing unique traits that made them captivating.

Master's domineering aura awakened a primal desire within me, a longing to conquer her and to assert myself against her overpowering presence.

Aurelia, on the other hand radiated a gentle and nurturing warmth that made me yearn to shield her from the world, to hold her close and never let go.

But Virelle... she was different. With every step she took, it was as if she was deliberately treading on my heart. My superior soul sense revealed the subtle yet hypnotic sway of her hips and the tantalizing rhythm of her movements.

Her full and proud D-cup breasts bounced ever so slightly with each step teasing me mercilessly. My mouth practically watered at the thought of cupping them in my palms, of feeling their softness and teasing her sensitive nipples which were poking through her dress with my tongue.

A shiver ran down my spine as the vivid fantasies threatened to consume me and I forced myself to rein in my spiralling thoughts.

Luckily, Virelle remained oblivious to the fire she had ignited within me. My expertise in manipulating darkness ensured that my changes went unnoticed and her own power which was reflected through my Eterna Nexus confirmed that she had recently advanced to the Elemental Sea Realm.

I noted her aptitude for blood magic and her affinity for the dark element that made her formidable in her own right. However, I couldn't help but smirk at the knowledge that I had been in the Elemental Sea Realm for two years now.

The constant battles, the dark energy-rich environment of Ebonspire Peak and Master's rigorous guidance had sharpened my skills and deepened my understanding of my powers far beyond what Virelle could likely comprehend.

Still, she intrigued me. Out of curiosity and perhaps an unspoken desire to know more about the temptress walking ahead of me, I projected her swaying figure into the Eterna Nexus. Moments later, the familiar voice of Auralis Prime responded with its detailed analysis,