Family system

Chapter 149 Getting out

As I stepped through the door, I found Nyx waiting for me on the other side. She lay sprawled on her belly, looking as if she were seconds away from dozing off entirely. Her half-lidded eyes lazily tracked my movements as I approached her. I quickly pulled the coffin out of my storage ring and set it down before her, the weight of my offering more symbolic than physical.

Nyx glanced between the coffin and me, her expression unreadable. Without a word, the coffin vanished. It disappeared so seamlessly that I stood there blinking in confusion, unable to sense any mana or energy being used.

I stared at the empty spot, bewildered. "How—"

"That's the first lesson for your divinity," Nyx interrupted, her voice calm. "Not everything you see is real. The real coffin was already moved the moment you placed it down. What you saw was nothing more than an illusion."

Her lazy eyes sparkled faintly with mischief as she casually dismissed my confusion. It dawned on me that the moment she had moved slightly earlier was likely when she cast the illusion. Despite her lazy demeanor, her mastery was leagues beyond anything I could fathom.

"Now," she continued, "let's begin your real lesson. Sit on the ground. I'll be imparting knowledge directly into your brain—it's faster that way."

I nodded, sitting down on the ground with my legs crossed. I channeled mana around my body, preparing myself for the influx of knowledge. Guiding mana to the brain was always risky, but when done correctly, it turned the mind into a cold, efficient machine. I braced myself, closing my eyes to focus.

A moment later, I felt the soft touch of Nyx's paw on my forehead. Before I could indulge in its heavenly softness, a flood of information crashed into my mind like a tidal wave. My mana surged instinctively to help process it all, but it was harder than I'd anticipated. The sheer volume of knowledge was overwhelming, and most of my mental capacity was consumed just passing through it.

The storm in my head gradually calmed as the knowledge settled into place. I opened my eyes slowly, adjusting to the newfound clarity. The lessons were primarily the basics of dream divinity, but there were fragments of advanced techniques scattered throughout. Enough to give me a foundation but leave plenty for me to master on my own.

"Good," Nyx said, her voice uncharacteristically approving. "Now that you understand the fundamentals, I'll help you unlock your hidden veins. Dream energy flows differently than mana, and the way you've been using it until now is woefully inefficient."

Experience tales with empire

I nodded and closed my eyes again, letting my thoughts center on those hidden pathways. Unlike mana, which traveled in structured and defined channels, dream energy moved unpredictably, weaving through the body in ways I hadn't fully understood. Nyx moved behind me, and her paw pressed gently against my back. A pulse of energy flowed into me, cool and calming.

I focused on the sensation, committing the pathways to memory as the energy carved an optimal route through my body. She repeated the process twice more, each pulse reinforcing the patterns until they were etched into my mind.

"Now, do it yourself," she said, stepping back.

I activated my dream energy, guiding it through the pathways Nyx had shown me. At first, it flowed smoothly, a stream of energy coursing through my body in harmony. I began introducing more mana, forcing the energy to expand and strengthen its path. The dream energy grew erratic, its chaotic nature resisting to the force I applied.

Still, I pushed it, widening the channels to make the energy flow more efficiently in the future. The effort strained my control, and a few mistakes resulted in minor damage to the pathways, but I quickly repaired them with healing magic. I kept at it, my focus unwavering, until my energy reserves were nearly depleted.

When I finally stopped, I exhaled deeply and opened my eyes. Nyx stood before me, her expression as impassive as ever.

"How did I do?" I asked, wiping sweat from my brow. I didn't feel noticeably stronger, but I knew the improvements I had made would pay off in time.

Nyx shrugged nonchalantly. "Your energy will flow better in the future, but don't let it go to your head. You're still far from special." She turned away, her tail flicking dismissively. "That's enough for now."

Before I could respond, space folded around me, warping my surroundings until I found myself back at the table with Eleanor. She sat there as serene as ever, sipping her tea as if she'd been waiting for me all along.

"Welcome back," she said with a small smile. "It seems your training with Nyx wasn't for nothing. I can feel the progress you've made in your dream divinity."

I nodded at her words silently. While she could easily read my mind, I still preferred to speak out of politeness. "So, what happens now?" I asked. Though I was happy to grow stronger, a part of me longed to return to my wives. Training was fulfilling, but nothing compared to the comfort of my wives' company.

"You've done enough for today," Eleanor replied, her tone as indifferent as her expression. "This realm has its chosen participants, and you are one of them. You can return whenever you wish—or, as before, you may find yourself summoned here when you've gone too long without a trial."

Her words lingered in my mind. "Does that mean I can leave?" I asked, just to confirm.

"Yes," she said, leaning forward slightly. "Unless, of course, you'd rather keep this lonely lady company for a while."

Her voice took on a teasing edge, and I shivered at the faint sense of dread it stirred in me. "No thank you," I said quickly, bowing respectfully. "Until next time, Eleanor."

Without another word, I vanished, the sensation of travel washing over me again. When the motion stopped, I opened my eyes groggily to find myself back in my bed, sunlight streaming through the window. As I tried to move, soft moans reached my ears.

"Ahhh~ Master~" Amaterasu's voice was a sultry whisper.

"Mmhm… Please let me sleep a little longer, Master," Kali mumbled, her tone groggy.

I looked down to see the three of them nestled against me. I sighed softly, closing my eyes again. The stress of training faded as I enjoyed their warmth.

'While I'm glad I've gotten stronger, I'd much rather stay here and train this way,' I thought, a small smile tugging at my lips. Soon, the others began to stir.

"Good morning, Master," Amaterasu greeted me first, yawning before planting a quick kiss on my lips. She slipped out of bed and headed to the bathroom.

"Morning, Dear," Seraphina said softly, her melodic voice brushing against my ears. She leaned in for a kiss, which I gladly returned, before following Amaterasu.

That left only Kali, still curled up against me. I chuckled softly, letting the peace of the moment wash over me.

I looked down at Kali, who was still nuzzled against my chest. Her breathing was slow and steady, her black hair spilling over her shoulders like liquid sunlight. She looked so peaceful that I didn't want to wake her, but I knew we couldn't stay like this forever. Gently, I ran my fingers through her hair, savoring the softness.

"Mmm… don't stop," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.

"Kali," I said softly, leaning closer. "It's time to wake up."

She groaned in protest, burying her face against me. "Just five more minutes… You're too comfortable to leave."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "If we stay like this, we'll never get anything done."

Kali finally opened her eyes, her green irises glowing faintly as she looked up at me. A small, mischievous smile spread across her lips. "And? What's so bad about that?"

Before I could reply, she sat up and stretched lazily. "Fine, fine. I'm up. But you owe me some alone time later."

"I'll consider it," I teased, earning a playful swat on the arm. She rolled her eyes before slipping out of bed and heading toward the bathroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I sighed, letting my head fall back against the pillows. The events in Nyx's realm replayed in my mind. The training, the fight against the spear-wielding monster, and Nyx's cryptic lessons about illusions and hidden pathways—it all felt like a blur. But, I couldn't deny the progress I'd made. My dream divinity was stronger now, and my understanding of its energy had improved.

As much as I wanted to rest, the call to grow stronger was always there, gnawing at the back of my mind. Eleanor's words echoed in my head: "You can return whenever you wish… or be summoned if you wait too long."

I sat up and glanced around the room. It was quiet now, the faint sounds of running water coming from the bathroom. I was thinking about some things about the future and before I knew the sound of running water stopped.

When the bathroom door opened, Amaterasu stepped out first, her hair still damp and clinging to her skin. She was dressed in a light robe, her presence filling the room. Seraphina followed, brushing her hair with her fingers, her expression calm and serene.

Kali emerged last, her typical fiery energy back in full force. She crossed her arms and gave me a pointed look. "So, what's the plan for today, Master?"

I smiled at her teasing tone. "I think we all deserve a break," I said, standing up. "Today, we relax."

Amaterasu's face lit up with a smile, and Seraphina nodded in agreement. Kali smirked, clearly satisfied with my answer. "Good. I wanted to get to know Seraphina a bit any way and I don't think that I am the only one." She looked over at Amaterasu who just had a silly smile on her face.

"I don't know what you are talking about." We laughed a bit before we went to the living room.

The four of us moved to the sitting area, where we shared a leisurely breakfast that the maids prepared for us. I could see them blushing as we walked past them and I felt that it was time to reward them for their hard work.